One of the highlights of our trip to the
Madeleine Islands, was our over night trip to
Entree island, one of two regions in the
archipelago where English dominates.
The Island lies about 10K off shore from
the rest of the islands. One certainly could
kayak
there, given the right conditions. We
unfortunately went on days where strong
winds made for huge swells and white caps,
and our boats were left at home.
There are a few ways to get to the
island. A
couple of tour operators have passenger
vessels and interpretive staff if that's
what you want. The government offers a
small car ferry for a few dollars cheaper that
leaves out the frills. Finally, with a small
airport on the island, a small aircraft takes
passengers to and from Entree Island.
We got there in the morning, and our first
order was to find Suzanne from
Vert et Mer
. She operates a small campground
at
the foot hills of the community pasture land.
With some questions to the local
shopkeepers, we were pointed in the right
direction.
To say that the island is hilly is an
understatement. Thinking of the view out of
our vestibule, more than anything sensible,
we pitched our tent on the top of one of
those hills. With the wind gusts shaking the
tent that night, we hardly slept a wink.
There is one official trail documented on the
island, and it's called the James Quinn
trail. Quinn was a popular mayor of the area
a few years back. This trail leads you from
the area of the museum into the pasture
land, and up Big Hill, notably the highest
point of the entire archipelago.
Given the length of the trail, it sounds
like
simply a tourist attraction. The cool part is
that this trail is but only a launching point to
exploring the entire pasture land. The locals
certainly don't mind. As long as you
leave the cows in peace, you're free to
roam the hills. And that's certainly
what we did both days we were there.
Beyond the Quinn trail, there are no real
trails to follow. You see something cool, and
off you go! Occasionally, you'll find
ATV paths, but otherwise, cow paths
occasionally show you the best route
between hills. Note that these hills can be
very steep, and sometimes they slope to a
cliff into the sea, so common sense must
dictate where you go. One of the thoughts
that occured to me as we explored the hills,
was how great a place to hold an
orienteering course.
Some highlights we encountered included a
small scattering of cows and horses, a
keyhole rock formation, the small natural
terracing that contours the hills, the honest-
to-God super friendly people, and finally, the
huge treeless rich green grassy hills.
It's sureal. This is the premier "
must-do" when you visit the Madeleine
Islands. If you ever do bring your kayaks,
make sure you paddle around this little
island, and post it here on Trailpeak!
When you do come to Entree Island, stay for
at least two nights. If you want to pack light,
there's a B&B, a store, a terrific
museum and a couple of restuarants. You
got to speak with the locals for sure. this
place certainly has charm. After all that
walking, put your feet up and relax.
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