On September 18 at the IAT Annual General Meeting in Gaspésie National Park, Québec, the IAT welcomed France to its growing network of trails in Europe, where the mountains were formed through the same geological events that formed the Appalachian Mountains in North America.  At hand was Armand Ducornet, Secretary General of La Fédération Francaise de la Randonnée Pédestre (French Rambling Association), with over 200,000 members in 3,000+ clubs and associations. (L-R) Eric Chouinard – Director, IAT Quebec; Claude Duguay – Quebec Hiking Federation; Armand Ducornet – Secretary General, FFRP; Daniel Pouplot – Quebec Hiking Federation; Don Hudson – President, IAT Maine; Paul Wylezol – Chairperson IAT/IATNL; Richard Anderson – Founder IAT The FFRP is a national not-for-profit hiking federation that manages 180,000 kms (111,850 miles) of marked paths and trails in 98 counties, with support from government and private partners. During the AGM Monsieur Ducornet gave a presentation on the FFRP, as well as one on the European Ramblers Association (ERA). He later confirmed his intention to recommend to the FRRP that France join the IAT as its 13th European Chapter, and as with all IAT AGMs, was promptly given an opportunity to toast! FFRP’s Armand Ducornet making a toast with iceberg ice from IAT Greenland and Newfoundland Below are highlights from the FFRP and ERA presentations. Presentation on the FFRP Presentation on the ERA For more information on the French Ramblers Association, go to www.ffrandonnee.fr. For information on the European Ramblers Association, go to https://www.era-ewv-ferp.org/.

On September 18, the IAT held its Annual General Meeting at Gîte du Mont Albert Hotel in Gaspésie National Park, Québec.  The event was held in collaboration with the Québec Hiking Federation and SÉPAQ (the Société des Établissements de Plein Air du Québec), and followed the 14th edition of the Québec Hiking Festival on Saturday, September 17. The AGM weekend was hosted by the Québec Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail (Sentier International des Appalaches) which was celebrating the 10th anniversary of the completion of the IAT in the province.  The festivities began Friday evening, September 16th, with the opening dinner at the park's Discovery Center.  Official welcomes were extended by IAT Québec Honorary President Andrew Wake, IAT Québec President Gaétan Roy, IAT Québec Director Eric Chouinard, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IAT Founder Richard Anderson.  Maine Chapter representative Will Richard concluded the meeting with a slide presentation on Iceland (proposed site of the 2012 IAT AGM), on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge separating North America from Europe and Africa. The 14th Annual Walking Festival and 10th Anniversary Celebration of IAT Québec began Saturday morning after breakfast, with IAT members and festival participants departing on four different hikes.  These were followed by exhibits at the Walker's Village organized by the Québec and Maine Chapters of the IAT, the Québec Outfitter’s Association, the Gaspésie Tourism Association, the CLDs (Centres Locaux de Développement) of Avignon, Matapédia, Matane, Haute-Gaspésie, and Côte-de-Gaspé, and Télécommunications de l’Est. Also on Saturday a group from IAT New Brunswick and Newfoundland Labrador traveled by car along the scenic north shore of the…

On August 24, a Group Of Seven IAT adventurers set out on a 2-day adventure that began with a 2-hour zodiac boat ride on Canada Bay from Bide Arm to Englee, continued with a half-day hike along the French Shore Trail from Conche to Pillier Cove, then finished with a day-long longliner boat ride from Pillier Cove to Hare Bay to Conche Harbour – all in pursuit of the abundant icebergs lining the historic French Shore.

On August 22, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol, IATNL Vice Chair Arne Helgeland, and IATNL Signage Director Delano Pittman made the first thru-hike of the IATNL Iceberg Alley Way between St. Carol’s and Great Brehat on the tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula. They were joined by hiker/filmmaker Mark Flagler, who was in Newfoundland beginning work on his IAT North America adventure documentary.

On August 2, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol took advantage of a rare and beautiful free day to make a solo east-west traverse of the Blow-Me-Down Mountains on the south shore of the Bay of Islands. The goal was to find an IAT trail route connecting Cape Blow-Me-Down to the Hummock and Blow-Me-Down Brook Trails in the lowlands near Frenchman’s Cove.

For most of its 1,000+ kilometer route, the IATNL follows a series of backcountry mountain trails connected by logging roads and the Newfoundland T’railway. However at the small west coast city of Corner Brook – headquarters of the IATNL – the trail follows the well-developed Corner Brook Stream Trail along the namesake Corner Brook, from Main Street near city hall, past the lower marsh to Glynmill Inn Pond, then on to Margaret Bowater Park.

On July 29 after a meeting of the new Parsons Pond adventure tourism committee, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol led some of the members on a tour of the new Jacques Cartier Memorial Trail on Parsons Pond Head. Continued development of the trail is one of the items on the committee’s agenda, as well as development of improved docking facilities at Parsons Pond and the creation of a “trail park” in the Parsons Pond watershed.