The Canadian Camino eh?

[jirit]

Has anybody actually walked this pilgrimage route in Quebec Canada?

http://www.sentiernotredamekapatakan.org

The Canadian “Little Compostela” is a 215 km walking trail that brings you from the Saguenay fjord to the lowlands of Lake St. John. It begins in the breathtaking mountain passes along the fjord which offer stunning views over the magnificent Saguenay River. It then runs along the shore of Ha!Ha! Bay and the Saguenay River through the urban community of Chicoutimi, cradle of the European presence in Canada's northern regions. After leaving the urban area, the trail runs along the Rivière aux Sables (Sandy River) and across the farmlands of the Hébertville plain before reaching the pastoral banks of Lake St. John and its panoramic landscapes. Veering south and moving away from this beautiful expansive lake, often compared to an inner sea, the trail then runs along the Metabetchouan River, through secondary roads and old homesteader’s routes, ending at the national shrine, “Ermitage St. Antoine” in Lac-Bouchette

 

[Anemone del Camino]

There are quite a few "Quebec Caminos": one goes from Montreal to Ottawa, another Montreal to Ste-Anne de Beaupré, another I think pushes towards Gaspé, and there' the Chemin St-Rémi:

http://www.chemindessanctuaires.org/
http://www.cheminstremi.quebec/
http://www.chemindesnavigateurs.org/
http://diocesegaspe.org/testimonial/
http://www.chemindesoutaouais.ca/

What you have to know about these is that you have to book your spot in the new year as typically 4 people leave on set days to walk set etapas: this is because there are not a lot of accomodations and they have to ne preplanned. In that way they are like the European Peace Walk.

Second thing you need to know is that distances here are great, and you will not find a cafe con leche at every turn. In fact you will not find much of anything, and what you do find en route from what etapa to the next is going to be fast food. It will have you missing the Camino's Pilgrim menu. Say hello to poutine and "steamés", aka hotdogs with steamed, not grilled, sausages. Breakfast is likely to be an American style breakfast of eggs, french fries, commercial white bread, and weak drip coffee.

Weatherwise, it will be hot an humid. Weather reposts here, in winter, give you temp and windchill factor, in summer temps and humidex.

But you will never be alone: there will always be mosquitos all around.

You will spend the night in a church's presitary, school gym, perhaps a lovely b&b. You will have to carry your backpack, and your water as you will not find fountains along the way.


Amd you have to pay a few hundred C$ to get the map, info on where to stay, etc., plus paying upon arrival for your bed of course.

Oh, and considering all of these are in Quebec, the thread title should have been "The Quebécois Caminos, hein?".

 

[Freewalker]

Interesting as didn't realize there were so many in QC... however Anemone del Camino - you don't make it sound terribly inviting....

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I certainly wouldn't sign up: fixed dates and rythm, stuck with the same other 3 people, in the heat and humidity of summers here and mosquitos? And let's not forget watered down drip coffee... nah, I'd rather pay for a trans-Atlantic flight and be jet-lagged.

 

[oursonpolaire]

I have spoken with a pilgrim who has done the Kapatakan and describes it in a way similar to Anemone's report-- in her case she was walking with a recent widow and two other friends. I am not sure if Anemone's description is entirely accurate with respect to at least one of the other routes-- the Navigateurs, which goes through a well-served collection of little villages, many of which I have visited (and where espresso can be found!). Two friends have walked this, and quite enjoyed themselves at restaurants and B&Bs along the way.

I have driven the Outouais so that I could advise a friend planning it, who cannot handle certain types of terrain, and it primarily follows country roads (two-lane blacktop for the most part). Once upon a time, villages in eastern Ontario were 15-20km apart but, with the advent of the automobile, they have largely disappeared in favour of centres 35-50km apart, making it challenging for a pilgrim. The organizers have done their best by relying on billetting and other means.

What needs to be remembered is that these are very RC-focussed pilgrimages and most of the accommodation and support is in the homes of hosts, or presbyteries (or senior-citizens' residences), and that French is the working language--- English can be used to a limited extent, particularly on the Outouais route (which is partly in Ontario, and franco-ontarians would be ready to be quite clear on it not being a Québécois route) but is not found frequently in rural Québec.

There have been mutterings about Caminos starting up from Guelph, Ontario, to the Shrine of the Canadian Martyrs at Penetanguishene, as well as in New Brunswick, but I have not heard anything specific in the last year. Professor Matthew Anderson of Concordia recently organized a pilgrimage in Saskatchewan (http://www.prairiepost.com/news/sw-...pilgrimage-along-the-historic-nwmp-trail.html) but I gather it was a one-off event.

 

[mla1]

A couple of years ago forum member marylyn walked this route (Kapatakan) and said she enjoyed it very much. My understanding was that on the Kapatakan route you can arrange your own accommodations - and so it is different from the other ones for which you have to register.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Each of these routes have been developped by different people and have their own twists. For example, I think it's the one is Gaspésie, you sleep in the same place everynight and are shttled to the start of a different etapa in the am, picked up and returned to accomodation in the pm.

For more info on the Kapatakan, the organisers have made a video which I was able to get for a donation. I bought it at Centre La Tienda. Perhaps they would mail them to thise interested?

 

[jmcarp]

There are quite a few "Quebec Caminos": one goes from Montreal to Ottawa, another Montreal to Ste-Anne de Beaupré... \

Speaking of Ste-Anne de Beaupré, here's a link to Ann Sieben's (a.k.a. "The Winter Pilgrim") 4134 km pilgrimage from Denver to Ste-Anne de Beaupré from November, 2015 through Easter, 2016: http://winterpilgrim.blogspot.com/p/north-american-martyrs.html
Note that the posted link that says "To read the blogposts for the pilgrimage honoring the American Martyrs, start here" is incorrect; the correct link for the detailed blog of this pilgrimage is http://winterpilgrim.blogspot.com/2015/11/winter-is-again-nigh.html

Ann is amazing woman who has dedicated her life to being a full-time mendicant pilgrim. Her Blogspot blog chronicles her more than 25,000 miles of walking pilgrimages since 2007. My wife and I were privileged to meet her and walk with her in 2015 on the Camino del Norte a Chimayó pilgrimage in September, 2015.

 

[insightful-ear]

[quote
There have been mutterings about Caminos starting up from Guelph, Ontario, to the Shrine of the Canadian Martyrs at Penetanguishene, as well as in New Brunswick, but I have not heard anything specific in the last year. Professor Matthew Anderson of Concordia recently organized a pilgrimage in Saskatchewan (http://www.prairiepost.com/news/sw-...pilgrimage-along-the-historic-nwmp-trail.html) but I gather it was a one-off event.[/QUOTE]



Indeed there is a long established walk between Guelph and Midland organized by a fantastic group of community volunteers. I joined them once a few summers ago. Here is the web link https://ignatiusguelph.ca/programs/walking-pilgrimage/

 

[NiniSum]

There is also a Nova Scotia Camino along the South Shore of NS - however it is an organized event that only runs 1-2 weeks in early summer.
https://www.facebook.com/caminonovascotia/
And there is a group in Cape Breton working on creating The Seawall Trail, with potential for a Cape Breton Camino.
https://seawalltrail.com
And of course the TransCanadaTrail - which will officially be complete coast-to-coast in 2017 is now known as the Great Trail https://thegreattrail.ca. Currently, a young Canadian has been walking it starting in Victoria BC and is now somewhere in Quebec - she posts on Instagram @sarahrosewalks. No shortage of walks, but as mentioned above the infrastructure will not be like that of a Spanish Camino with cafe con leche around every corner!

Buen Camino!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Ninisum,

What are the sleeping arrangements on thr Canadian Trail? I always thought od it as a day hike, hop in your car to the mearest motel. No? To me, the albergue thing is what the Canadian trail is missing.

Thanks for the info on the Maritmes trails. I will look into them. After, in French, we do say "nul n'est prophète dans son pays".

Love the Cape Breton plan. The reason I have not been het is that driving around just didn't appeal to me, but walking **** LOVE IT. The Nova Scotia.. while I like that it is ,eant as a pilgrimage, not a holiday, it may be a little too much of an organised Church thing. So happy to help any way I can from a distance with the Cape Breton plan.

 

[Dunny Ramsay]

Thanks for the reference to the Ignatius Guelph link, insightful-ear. Will add it to my brimming bucket list, after I walk the CF in April/May 2017.

 

[Freewalker]

There is also a Nova Scotia Camino along the South Shore of NS - however it is an organized event that only runs 1-2 weeks in early summer.
https://www.facebook.com/caminonovascotia/
And there is a group in Cape Breton working on creating The Seawall Trail, with potential for a Cape Breton Camino.
https://seawalltrail.com
And of course the TransCanadaTrail - which will officially be complete coast-to-coast in 2017 is now known as the Great Trail https://thegreattrail.ca. Currently, a young Canadian has been walking it starting in Victoria BC and is now somewhere in Quebec - she posts on Instagram @sarahrosewalks. No shortage of walks, but as mentioned above the infrastructure will not be like that of a Spanish Camino with cafe con leche around every corner!

Buen Camino!

Thank you very much for this info as so appreciated !!

 

[NiniSum]

Ninisum,

What are the sleeping arrangements on thr Canadian Trail? I always thought od it as a day hike, hop in your car to the mearest motel. No? To me, the albergue thing is what the Canadian trail is missing.

Thanks for the info on the Maritmes trails. I will look into them. After, in French, we do say "nul n'est prophète dans son pays".

Love the Cape Breton plan. The reason I have not been het is that driving around just didn't appeal to me, but walking **** LOVE IT. The Nova Scotia.. while I like that it is ,eant as a pilgrimage, not a holiday, it may be a little too much of an organised Church thing. So happy to help any way I can from a distance with the Cape Breton plan.

As far as I am aware, there is no infrastructure as in Spain at this point in time. I agree, that as multi-day adventure it would be fantastic to not have to go off trail to find accommodation, or shelters as on the Appalachian Trail. Maybe in time different sections may develop B&B's that are close to the Great Trail.

 

[Dennis B]

Has anybody actually walked this pilgrimage route in Quebec Canada?

http://www.sentiernotredamekapatakan.org

The Canadian “Little Compostela” is a 215 km walking trail that brings you from the Saguenay fjord to the lowlands of Lake St. John. It begins in the breathtaking mountain passes along the fjord which offer stunning views over the magnificent Saguenay River. It then runs along the shore of Ha!Ha! Bay and the Saguenay River through the urban community of Chicoutimi, cradle of the European presence in Canada's northern regions. After leaving the urban area, the trail runs along the Rivière aux Sables (Sandy River) and across the farmlands of the Hébertville plain before reaching the pastoral banks of Lake St. John and its panoramic landscapes. Veering south and moving away from this beautiful expansive lake, often compared to an inner sea, the trail then runs along the Metabetchouan River, through secondary roads and old homesteader’s routes, ending at the national shrine, “Ermitage St. Antoine” in Lac-Bouchette

We walked it over two weeks (12 days) in late Aug to early Sept 2019 - all but our final two days, from Desbiens to lac Bouchette, due to knee pain. It's definitely worth the walk, with many wonderful memories. It took a bit more advance planning, because food and accommodation are much less frequent than on the Camino Frances. The guide book and website helped us, and sometimes we used Airbnb when the list for our rhythm of walking.