Inauguration of Les Éoliennes Trail
A Second Breath for the IAT - Qc
In L'Anse-à-Valleau, on Friday September 11th, the Les Éoliennes Trail was inaugurated, a trail loop connecting to the International Appalachian Trail in Québec (IAT – QC) in the Gaspé Coast area.
Gaspé Coast Committee members Jean-Marc Hardy and Jacques Chartier organized a press conference and officially opened the trail along with IAT – QC president Gaétan Roy and Cartier Wind Energy's public affairs director, Luc Leblanc. Mr. Frédéric Sainte-Croix, for Forillon Canada National Park and Mr. Éric Chouinard executive director and secretay for the IAT – QC were also present. Around fifteen people came to the conference and all were invited to walk the first 1.5 kilometers up on the trail to reach Jalbert Fall.
Gaétan Roy, président of the IAT – QC took the opportunity to thank Cartier Wind Energy for their support as well as the Entreprises Agricoles Forestières de la Péninsule, who undertook the building of the trail, and gave a special thank you to the men behind the agreement made in 2005, Mr. Guy Dufort from Cartier Wind Energy and Mr. Viateur de Champlain, president of the IAT – QC from 1996 to 2005.
"It is important for Cartier to contribute to the long-term development of the region,’’ said Luc Leblanc from Cartier Wind Energy. This leading company in the area of wind energy agreed to give the IAT - QC $30 000 for the building of the trail and $15 000 per year over a period of twenty years to maintain the Les Éoliennes Trail and to help the sustainable development of the IAT – QC.
This important contribution is coming at the right moment, mentioned Éric Chouinard, since the IAT – QC is working on creating a new business plan which will help perpetuate the trail. Mr. Chouinard also mentioned that the creation of short hiking loops such as the Les Éoliennes Trail wil fill a need for one-day hikes and help retain more visitors in the Gaspé Coast region.
Te 6.24 kilometer long loop features windmills in action and goes across various types of forests, including a cedar grove. The trail also features Victorin Lake and Jalbert Fall, which is one of the most beautiful of the area. This relatively easy, two-hour long hike is free and the trail can be accessed at any time during the IAT – QC hiking season.
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