The International Appalachian Trail/The International Appalachian Trail/The International Appalachian Trail/ The International Appalachian Trail/

SentierSentier International des AppalachesInternational des Appalaches

Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference ––Vancouver, BCVancouver, BC

October 29, 2008October 29, 2008David B. Jones, Ed. D.; CTRS David B. Jones, Ed. D.; CTRS

Department of Recreation and Leisure StudiesDepartment of Recreation and Leisure StudiesUniversity of Southern MaineUniversity of Southern MaineUniversity of Southern MaineUniversity of Southern Maine

The International Appalachian Trail/The International Appalachian Trail/S ti I t ti l d A l hS ti I t ti l d A l hSentier International des AppalachesSentier International des Appalaches

• The IAT/SIA stretches from the northernThe IAT/SIA stretches from the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Mount Katahdin, Maine to the northernmost tip of the Appalachians Mountains at Crow Head, Newfoundland & Labrador.

• There are current plans to extend the IAT/SIA through northern Nova Scotia and across Cape Breton to connect with the Marine Atlantic ferryBreton to connect with the Marine Atlantic ferry to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland.

The Impetus for IAT/SIAThe Impetus for IAT/SIAThe Impetus for IAT/SIAThe Impetus for IAT/SIA

• Richard Anderson former Maine’sRichard Anderson, former Maine s Commissioner of Conservation, first envisioned the IAT/SIAenvisioned the IAT/SIA.

• His vision to create a peaceful recreational means to unite the people of Canada andmeans to unite the people of Canada and the United States was made during the gubernatorial campaign of Josephgubernatorial campaign of Joseph Brennan.

Joe Brennan, Governor of MaineJoe Brennan, Governor of MaineJoe Brennan, Governor of MaineJoe Brennan, Governor of Maine

• “I am confident that this narrow trail connecting gthe special wild places in each of our political jurisdictions will serve as a reminder that the mountains and the rivers and the forest are ourmountains and the rivers and the forest are our real heritage, our common biological and geological bond. They will outlast us all, and it is g g y ,up to us to see that their health and grandeur can be enjoyed by all the generations of humankind that follow us as inhabitants of thishumankind that follow us as inhabitants of this special corner of the Earth” (Brennan, J., Earth Day1994; Portland, ME).

Original IAT/SIA DesignOriginal IAT/SIA DesignOriginal IAT/SIA Design Original IAT/SIA Design

• Beginning idea – to connect the highestBeginning idea to connect the highest points of Maine, New Brunswick & Quebec

Mount Katahdin (5 268 feet; 1 606 meters)– Mount Katahdin (5,268 feet; 1,606 meters)– Mount Carlton (2,690 feet; 820 meters)

Mount Jacques Cartier (4 160 feet; 1 268– Mount Jacques-Cartier (4,160 feet; 1,268 meters)

The AppalachiansThe AppalachiansThe AppalachiansThe Appalachians

• Approximately 260 million years ago,Approximately 260 million years ago, drifting continental land masses collided and merged to form Pangea.g g

• The Appalachian Mts. formed as a result of this collision and uplift along the margin p g gof the closing ancient continents.

• 200 million years ago, forces deep in the y g pearth caused Pangea to break and disperse into the continents we see today.

IAT/SIA LongIAT/SIA Long--term Goalterm GoalIAT/SIA LongIAT/SIA Long term Goalterm Goal

• The long-term goal is to locate section of theThe long term goal is to locate section of the IAT/SIA in all the terranes that were once the Appalachian Mountains of Pangea. A partiallist reads as follows:* United States * Canada * Denmark * Greenland* Norway * Ireland * Scotland * England* France * Spain * Portugal * Algeria* Other West African Countries