Eudore Fortin
Born in Saint-Urbain in 1930 and the son of an authentic woodsman, Eudore Fortin was the main builder and guiding spirit behind the Traversée de Charlevoix. He lived for a long time near the Parc des Grands-Jardins, knowing every nook and cranny, and even serving as the guardian of the tower at the top of Mont du Lac des Cygnes for a few years (back when fire observation towers still existed for forest fire monitoring). It was he who developed most of the trails surrounding the Lac des Cygnes, which has since become a provincial park. This industrious worker inherited from his ancestors a taste for hard work and a love for nature.
A first shelter and a few trails
In May 1977, with the assistance of the Fédération Québécoise de la Montagne, Eudore began the construction of a first shelter, accompanied by a network of trails leading to the base of the climbing walls found in the area. In the fall of 1978, using topographic maps and field surveys, he initiated the project of a long-distance ski touring trail. Indeed, the unique terrain of this portion of the mountainous Charlevoix backcountry lent itself to the practice of this sport, an activity nonexistent in Quebec at that time.
Our dedicated worker explored the area, cleared land, and built shelters along the trail. After several months of concerted efforts and significant work, the Charlevoix Traverse ski trail became a reality. At this stage, the clearing and marking of the trail throughout its entire length (105 km) were completed, and bridges were erected to cross the numerous watercourses that crisscross the territory.
It was also at this time that the construction of six shelters covering the entire route was completed. These shelters were designed to accommodate groups of skiers wanting to experience this journey, now recognized as one of the greatest outdoor experiences in Quebec.
After more than a dozen years of involvement in this project, the Fédération Québécoise de la Montagne handed over the planning and organization of activities for this long-distance trail to a regional organization: La Traversée de Charlevoix Inc., a private non-profit organization whose objectives include contributing to the development, maintenance, and administration of the Charlevoix Traverse trail network, with Eudore now serving as its president.
In 1991, the organization undertook the construction of six log cabins, assembled piece by piece without a single nail, using the Scandinavian method. More spacious than the shelters, these cabins increased the total accommodation capacity to nearly one hundred and forty people. The cabins are equipped with wood stoves, propane lighting systems, furnishings suitable for the construction type, and are always located near potable water sources.
Since then, various development projects have made the trail accessible to hikers and mountain bikers.
In recent years, the Charlevoix Traverse has enhanced its offerings for outdoor enthusiasts, making long-distance hiking more accessible and safer by introducing a new product: the Deluxe Traverse. This service includes trail usage rights, accommodation, baggage and food transportation, as well as the transfer of vehicles from the starting point to the final destination.
On July 25, 1997, the Dôme cabin, which had been destroyed by the forest fires of 1991, was inaugurated. This cabin can accommodate about twenty people. In November 2005, the Eudore cabin, able to accommodate around fifteen people, was added to increase the accommodation capacity of this fabulous trail. Eudore and his team refined new summit trails radiating around this latest cabin, allowing less experienced hikers on long journeys to connect from the starting point of the “Charlevoix Traverse” to the summit of Mont Dôme, Lac à l’Empêche, as well as Mont Du-Four.
Since May 17, 1998, the renowned “Charlevoix Traverse” has become an integral part of the “Sentier national au Québec” (National Trail in Quebec). The trail is also one of the segments of the “Trans-Canada Trail.” This achievement is part of a broader project to develop an uninterrupted hiking trail connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The story doesn’t end there. Eudore, a tireless builder, earned the title of “Tourism Personality of the Year 1998” at the Grands Prix of Tourism of Charlevoix, thanks to his contribution to the world of outdoor activities and adventure tourism.
In 2001, the Charlevoix Traverse received the “Silver National Award – Outdoor and Adventure Tourism – fewer than 10,000 visitors” at the Grands Prix of Quebec Tourism.
In 2004, Aventure Écotourisme Québec awarded Eudore Fortin and the Charlevoix Traverse its “Coup de Coeur” (Heartfelt Appreciation) prize.