The little secrets of the fall hike

Finally, the top. An open area allows you to admire the valley with its trees that are beginning to turn red. It’s time to sit down, get out your snack… as well as your very warm down jacket and toque. Fall is probably the best season to go hiking, but you have to adapt to new conditions.

Mary Tison
The Press

“In the summer, we’re in shorts, in t-shirts, and thank you good evening, we’re leaving,” says Renée-Claude Bastien, coordinator of the adventure tourism program at Cégep de Saint-Laurent. In the fall, it’s very important to use the multi-layer system, because during the hike, we’re going to be straining, we’re going to be a little less dressed, but as soon as we stop, for the picnic or for a point of view, we will cool down quickly. »

It’s time to leave cotton at home, since it retains moisture while losing all insulating function. “You have to move towards natural products such as wool or synthetic products that will wick away moisture,” says Ms.^me Bastien.

Dry feet

Who says autumn, says rains, sometimes cold, and mud on the trails

Renée-Claude Bastien also recommends wearing gaiters. “When you have bad shoes and don’t have gaiters, you tend to go on the sides of the trails to avoid the mud, which promotes soil compaction and the widening of the trail. Having good shoes keeps your feet dry and does not damage the trails. »

The professional guide also suggests re-waterproofing boots and clothing. To cope with the rain, she does not hesitate to bring an umbrella. “It protects the backpack and upper body. We are therefore not obliged to walk with waterproof-breathable clothing which may be too hot for the autumn temperature. »

She took this stuff from British hikers she had the opportunity to guide. “If there’s a reference for walking in the rain, it’s them! »

She also recommends bringing a bag cover or, at the very least, lining the inside of the backpack with a plastic bag.

In the fall, it’s also a good idea to bring a pair of hiking crampons: the trail can be dry in the valley and horribly icy at higher elevations.

Renée-Claude Bastien recommends bringing a thermos with tea or chicken broth, as well as a good snack.

You also have to slip a headlamp into the backpack, with spare batteries. “We fall into the season where we lose luminosity. If there is an unforeseen event and if it takes longer, you have to be able to see. »

Good planning

The professional guide also insists on planning: before departure, you must check with the territory managers to validate the opening of the trails. The dates for the different types of hunting vary from region to region. Territory managers may close certain trails or impose restrictions. A bright orange bib is obviously a good idea.

It’s also a good idea to check websites that illustrate the status of colors in different regions. Do not forget to reserve your access to visit certain parks, in particular those of the Society of Outdoor Establishments of Quebec (SEPAQ).

And after the leaves have fallen, should the hiking boots be put away? No way !

“It’s a season that I like because the forest becomes clear, launches M^me Bastien. We see capes of rock, marshes, streams whose existence we did not know. »