Welcome on the Grand Nature Club web site!

The Grand Nature Club comes from my passion for hiking and nature. I falled in love with hiking in 1998 when I was just hiking a trail in Québec. I would never think that I would be a hiking follower.

After hiking several years and having my own hiking club in Québec, I decide to move here in Banff for a year. The mountains and the magnificence of the nature here, just trapped me. During this year, I hike about thirty trails, more than 300 km and take the MPHIA's course. On my way back home, I stop by the Grand Canyon which makes me believe there's nice place for hiking everywhere in the world.

After six months in Québec, I cannot imagine myself away from the rockies and I have to come back. Since my return in May 2005, I have hiked a lot of new trails. I built a website which compile all the trails I walked here and anywhere else with pictures and my own rating. You can consult this website at www.marcpinel.com. Now, what I want is sharing my love for hiking and showing to people the beauty of the rockies.

I cannot count how many times I hike in the rockies by myself which is not safe. Now, I want to bring people together and give them the opportunity to enjoy outdoor and meet new people with the same interest. First a hiking club, I hope to count on volunteers who share other passion to organize other activities like biking, kayaking, skiing, snowshoeing...

Marc Pinel
Grand Nature Club Founder