As a professional development project for college and to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society, Alexandra Mansion and Frédérique Jodoin, two Adventure Tourism students at CEGEP Gaspésie, or team “Ambition” on the Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Fighter – Sweat website, finished hiking the 138.3 mile (222.6 km) Maine section of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) on Sunday, June 14th and are looking forward to hiking about 234 miles (377 km) of the IAT in Newfoundland starting Saturday, June 20th, for a total of 372 miles (600 km), or about 50 days of hiking.
After shaving off all their hair to donate, the two started their big adventure on May 31st and climbed Mount Katahdin on June 1st before their hike on the IAT in Maine. By June 9th, they had finished the East Branch and Matagamon to Houlton sections of the trail for 85.7 miles (138 km) and took a “zero” day on June 10th in the “Shiretown” of Aroostook County.
Although they at first had problems with their stove until a kind gentleman helped them fix it, and they ran into lots of rain at first, as well as a “tornado” of blowdowns between Deasey and Lunksoos Mountains, they were always “very enthusiastic and motivated” according to their Facebook page (https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=801985286503247), which is in French. They thanked the IAT-ME people who had helped them with information and gps data, thought the people they met along the way were “so nice,” and said when they finished, “Wow it was really a nice trail!”
During their walk, they will continue to talk about the cause and are trying to raise a goal of $2,000. You can contribute to their cause by going to their website: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/NationwideIFE/IFE_QC_?px=6234203&pg=personal&fr_id=19067#.VRA4E410zIU.
We’re so glad they enjoyed the trail in Maine and wish them the best of luck in Newfoundland!
