L’Escapade – The Getaway

Sun. 28 May:  L’Escapade – The Getaway

The Getaway

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

I wonder if they were thinking of the villain Charlie Wilson when they named this hiking trail?  

Charlie was one of the notorious Great Train Robbery gang, which in 1963 held up the Glasgow to London Royal Mail train, coshed the driver, and got away with £2.6 million.  Charlie escaped to Canada, living here in the small Quebec town of Rigaud.  All was well until, one Christmas, his wife phoned her parents back in London, which tipped off Scotland Yard.  Charlie was jailed. 

This all sounds like an improbable tale, as I stood at the foot of the gentle forested hillside, rising above the town.  Today, Rigaud is properly known for its magnificent stone built College Bourget, and the hillside sanctuary to Notre Dame de Lourdes.  Any fleeting memories of notorious train robbers have long since faded.

At the edge of a pleasant town-centre park, a sign proclaims the start of L’Escapade hiking trails.  These wide forest pathways extend over 27 kilometres.  I chose the steepest trail, La Cle de Bois, which in 2.7 km climbed 120m, or 393ft., before joining a wide network of trails higher up the mountain. 

Mont Rigaud’s gentle summit is 228m, or 748ft. above sea level.  It’s the highest point in this section of Canada bordered by the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers, until you reach Calabogie Peaks, 240 km west of here, which rise to 232m (761ft).

It was just a little frustrating to find that these trails seemed to avoid both the summit, and any viewpoint, at least on this side of the mountain.  The vista from the top would be superb, with the Ottawa River forming the Lac des Deux Montagnes, and the hills of Quebec behind.  Further along the hillsides is a small ski resort, and above that stands a cross on one of the rounded summits.  But no sign as to how to get there.

Nevertheless, it was a good workout.  I had to turn around after about four kilometres, returning down the rough rocky trail, sometimes quite steep, back to the sleepy town.

I saw few other people on the trail.  It felt amazingly peaceful for a Sunday afternoon. Getaway is very a good description.  Even when you haven’t robbed a train.  

An extensive system of trails on Mont Rigaud 

Gentle wooded slopes rising to the hazy summit at 228m (748ft.)

A devoutly Catholic Quebec town

I can smell these lilacs

Proud parents

Now that's a map!

In the forest

Magnificent College Bourget

Here the Ottawa River joins the St. Lawrence.
See location of Rigaud on the left of this map

The Hudson-Oka ferry