The Chic-Choc Mountains, also spelled Shick Shocks, form a mountain range in the central region of the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec, Canada. It is a part of the Notre Dame Mountains, which are a subrange of the Appalachians.

History

The name Chic-Chocs comes from the Mi'kmaq word sigsôg, meaning "crags" or "rocky mountains." It has undergone many different spellings over time, including Chikchâks (1836), Shick-shock (1857), and Chick-Saws (1863).

Geography

The Chic-Chocs run parallel to the St. Lawrence River and are located some 20 to 40 kilometers inland. They are a narrow band of mountains approximately 95 km long and 10 km wide. The Chic-Chocs are heavily eroded, with rounded, flattened tops and steep sides. Over 32 mountains in the range have peaks higher than 1000 m; the highest is Mount Jacques-Cartier at 1268 m. Caribou can be found in the plateaus of this region.

Tourism

Although visited by just a few tourists, Chic-Choc Mountains became much more popular in the late 1990s as backcountry skiing gained popularity in Eastern Canada. Some of the most popular backcountry skiing areas in the region include Mont Hogs Back, Mont Albert, Champ Mars, Mount Logan, and Mines Madeleine. The mountains near Mont Saint Pierre are a destination for ice climbers. A network of trails, including the International Appalachian Trail, passes through these mountains. Quebec's Parc national de la Gaspésie protects most of the mountain range.

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