On April 16, 2008, a group of officials from the International Appalachian Trail/Sentier International des Appalaches (IAT/SIA) will visit Prince Edward Island to spread the word about this exciting international hiking trail project. The 1900 mile long trail linking Maine, New Brunswick, Quebéc, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland / Labrador is the longest international hiking trail in the world. The route winds through the northern Appalachian mountain chain from Maine’s Mt. Katahdin to Crow Head at the northern end of Newfoundland.

At the 2007 Annual International Meeting held in Iona, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, participants decided to invite Prince Edward Island hikers to join the project. Geologists have determined that Prince Edward Island is a remnant of the ancient mountain chain and the IAT/SIA visitors plan to visit some of the rocky coastal outcrops that represent Prince Edward Island’s connection to the Appalachian Mountains.

The visiting team will include:

·         Dick Anderson, President of the Maine Chapter of the IAT/SIA

·         Walter Anderson, IAT Geologist and Maine Chapter Board Member

·         Thomas Urquhart, Author and Maine Chapter Board Member

·         Herb Hartman, Maine Chapter Board Member

·         Jim Vance, Nova Scotia IAT/SIA Trail Group

·         Bob Melville, Nova Scotia IAT/SIA Trail Group

·         Poul Jorgensen, New Brunswick IAT/SIA Trail Group

The visiting team has been working with Denis Dunne, Island Trails, P.E.I., to finalize arrangements.

Activities will include meetings with Prince Edward Island hikers and government officials. Confederation Trail Maintenance Manager, Leo Gill will guide the visitors to some of the Appalachian outcrops in the Charlottetown area where pictures will be taken for posting on the trail’s website, www.internationalat.org.

Presentations by Dick Anderson and Walter Anderson on the history of the IAT/SIA including spectacular sites along the route of the trail will be held April 16 at the Murphy Centre, Charlottetown, P.E.I. Island Trails Board members invited guests will attend a 4:00P.M. session and at 7:30P.M., there will be another presentation that will be open to the public. Hikers throughout the Province are invited to attend the public presentations to learn more about this exciting project.

For more information, contact Denis Dunne at ddunn@islandtelecom.com (P.E.I.) or Walter Anderson at waageo@verizon.net (Maine).  

 

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