Hiking is easy. We put one foot in front of the other, we try not to get eaten by a bear, and that’s it. No more complicated than that.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
In fact, it’s a little more complex, there are a lot of things to learn. That’s good, Les Éditions de l’Homme have just published a Practical hiking guidewhich seeks to answer most of the questions that hikers ask themselves.
“I saw that there were a lot of destination guides produced in Quebec, but I didn’t see anything as a practical guide that went back to basics,” explains Alexis Nantel, co-author of the Practical hiking guide with Véronique Champagne. “I had seen guides who came from Europe, from the United States. I was tempted to do something that was a little more Quebec-style, that would speak a little more to Quebec hikers. »
A logical sequence
Alexis Nantel knows all about hiking. He hosts a program on TVA Sports, Alexis the Hikerin addition to doing outdoor chronicles on the radio at Cogeco Media and Arsenal Media.
“Writing this book was a logical next step,” he says.
There is also the fact that, during the pandemic, there was a rush towards hiking, with all that that entailed as a negative effect, with people who had no idea of trail ethics, who did not had no idea of the Leave No Trace principles.
Alexis Nantel, aka Alexis the Hiker
These principles are not limited to the simple fact of bringing back your waste: they are in particular a question of respecting wildlife and respecting others.
the Practical hiking guide therefore includes two chapters on ethics and the Leave No Trace principles. But above all, it seeks to answer the questions that hikers ask themselves: where to go hiking? What kind of shoes to buy? Are sticks really that useful?
“We see it on Facebook groups: we can ask 10 people for their opinion, we will have 10 different opinions. I don’t take a position on anything, but I explain how to go about shopping for equipment. »
Alexis Nantel and Véronique Champagne also talk about preparing for hiking, injuries to prevent and heal.
One chapter gave Alexis the Hiker a hard time: hiking with a dog. Although he has owned dogs before, he admits to hating dogs on the trails.
” It’s a way of speaking. I probably hate the owners more because often the rules aren’t followed, the dogs aren’t on a leash. There was a great need for ethics. »
In the guide, he therefore explains the reason for these rules. The hiker has responsibilities towards the environment, towards others and towards his dog.
Alexis Nantel had an easier time with the chapter on hiking with children.
“I’ve been living this for 11 years,” he explains. My twins were 11 days old when they first hiked, we had one each, my wife and I. »
He therefore gives advice on the type of hike to be preferred, on the progression to be made subtly to transform children into seasoned hikers without them noticing the stratagem.
Alexis le Randonneur ends the guide with two chapters on the fauna and flora of Quebec (yes, he tells us what to do to avoid being eaten by a bear).
Hike 201
If the Practical hiking guide corresponds a bit to a Rando 101 course, The long hikes of Quebec would constitute a Rando 201 course.
Frédérique Sauvée, an outdoor journalist, offers 25 routes of two days or more. It also offers a number of tips for carrying out such adventures: what size backpack to choose, how to train specifically, how to choose your hike, etc.
Obviously, it’s best to start with a weekend of hiking before tackling the International Appalachian Trail, which crosses Gaspésie over 650 km.
The guide provides several information on each circuit to facilitate decision-making: the length in kilometers is given, the average duration of the hike, the level of difficulty, the types of possible accommodation, the cost, the services offered (transport of luggage, shuttle) and even cellular coverage.
Frédérique Sauvée adds small information that can make the difference. Thus, 9 of the 10 species of blueberries listed in Quebec grow on the territory of Parc national des Monts-Valin, the site of a two or three-day hike. Thus, there is no need to bring desserts.
Practical hiking guide
Alexis Nantel and Veronique Champagne
Editions de l’Homme
224 pages
The long hikes of Quebec
Frederique Sauvee
Editions de l’Homme
224 pages
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