SkippyDoo

No, we where going to finish but my sled (2016 Rene X 600 etec)started overheating Friday morning for as of yet unknown reasons. Nothing I did seemed to help.  The temp just went slowly up and up until the light came on. I tried to push on but we weren't making good time. The coolant was full, getting the sled in loose snow didn't help either. Acts like the Tstat is stuck. Then as we where towing my sled back to the copper with the ol ladies Artic cat the other guy in the group hit the bridge just north of the copper on 5 and bent his control arm pretty bad. (Yamacat) plus it's making a noise like the cooling fan is hitting something. Apparently he was nearly ejected over the side of the bridge. The rear of the sled was sitting up on the cable at a 90 degree angle to the bridge. That was the story being told by the 2 female observers that where behind him. Hopefully he learned the value of self preservation while riding when 2 days away from the truck. He was going too fast. We had two ladies with us on this trip, and even after the deluge and mostly miserable weather and trail conditions we had rode in for the better part of 100 miles they still where having a ball. My  woman worked with the brother of the owner of the copper and came up with the rental car on the back of the flatbed idea. Somehow. Not sure how they pulled that off with  the language barrier bet they did. I was outside with my sled ripped in pieces trying to find a problem. DNF's are unacceptable. In my mind at this point We where going to finish somehow.  They first said there was a bus back to RDL that runs every day but we had missed that. Then they offered a helicopter ride that started out as 800 bucks back to RDL to get trucks. That turned into about 3500 when they wanted to charge to bring it in from Gaspe to Murdochville, then to RDL and back to its home port which I understood to be in Murdochville.  The helicopter ride would have been fun and a good story but not for 3500. The flatbed and rental was 1350 split 2 ways minus the rooms we no longer needed plus gas food and beers, subtract US to Can dollar conversion and it was nearly a break even expense. And now I can cross off driving a car out in the Gaspe. 132 is a nice ride. The trip ended well with no regrets, lessons learned and a good time had by all. I'll be back next year with a rain suit and a shiny new Renegade X 1200. This was my first time in 11 years of riding in Quebec that I got a DNF, and first trip to the Gaspe

I think I will like it. I tried a short ride on a 900 ACE that was in the group and gotta say that was an impressive sled. I didn't get a chance to really work it out but on sport mode it was very responsive. It seemed pretty light for a four stroke too. Nice sled. The helicopter ride would have been cool for sure but an expensive way out. The group handled everything well. I'm pretty happy how it all turned out all things considered. 

Just got back from what was supposed to be a four day trip. There is plenty of snow everywhere however parking lots roads etc where completely melted down and dry. The road into the copper was bare. Sentier Chic Chocs was not in good shape but passable. We crossed that in heavy rain, fog and winds. Tough sledding.  The trail was narrow and moguled up in places. One massive crater at least 4 ft deep that nearly ended my trip right there. It was a very surreal experience. Nothing like that I have ever been through before  You could see the massive amount of snow that they had just got though.  We left Murdochville via black trail in a rental car that the flatbed we needed brought us.  It was all good into PALC from RDL, good into New Richmond and 595 was great up to lacache. Trails looked great leaving RDL by truck this morning but they are going to get hard and icy for sure. Some cold temps and a little fresh snow thrown in for good measure and they will be in great shape. 

hi steven !!!
 
hahah !!!
pic has been taken almost at the bottom of the hill before esso gas station...the gm dealer was on the left side of the snow cruiser back then!!!
behind last sled on the right...white building ,another gas station !!!
still cold...-27c ...blue sky !!!
 
jean-guy
 

Yeah in 2007. Middle of Feb, -40, short windshield and no gauntlets on an 06 Rev. 50 mph right down that rail bed.  My hands where cooking on the inside and froze on the outside. To this day I don't know how I survived that run. Tall windshield and gauntlets, don't leave home without them. 

Yeah in 2007. Middle of Feb, -40, short windshield and no gauntlets on an 06 Rev. 50 mph right down that rail bed.  My hands where cooking on the inside and froze on the outside. To this day I don't know how I survived that run. Tall windshield and gauntlets, don't leave home without them. 

Yeah in 2007. Middle of Feb, -40, short windshield and no gauntlets on an 06 Rev. 50 mph right down that rail bed.  My hands where cooking on the inside and froze on the outside. To this day I don't know how I survived that run. Tall windshield and gauntlets, don't leave home without them. 

Yeah in 2007. Middle of Feb, -40, short windshield and no gauntlets on an 06 Rev. 50 mph right down that rail bed.  My hands where cooking on the inside and froze on the outside. To this day I don't know how I survived that run. Tall windshield and gauntlets, don't leave home without them. 

There was a press conference this past Friday at the comfort inn in Tremblant to announce the openning of a new trail that will link St Faustin to Tremblant re establishing the the route from St Agathe to Tremblant lost by the closure of the Petit Train de Nord a number of years ago. Here is a link to the announcement roughly translated on the Diable et Rouge club FB page.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1085133484930832&id=115355755241948

I'm sure a lot of people will chime in here, but for your drive time from Ottawa, Comfort Inn Mt Laurier/Laurentides region or LaCabanon in St Zenon/Lanaudiere region are good choices for doing week long day trips out of. Many loops available from both places right at the mileage you are looking to get. The downside to these areas is that they get busy on the weekends. Mt Laurier has the famous Devils Mt and Black Mt is easily ridden to from LaCabanon. Both have food available on site, gas across the street from Comfort Inn, On site at  LaCabanon, but pricey there. 1 day,3 and 7 day passes available at the counter at LaCabanon, not sure about Mt Laurier but I believe they are. FCMQ has an interactive trail map you could look at. The paper maps for the area's should have suggested loops to make it a like easier to plans. If I where choosing between the 2 areas, LaCabanon would be first choice as they make their living catering to snowmobiles.  I offer these two choices for the simplicity. There are many more. 

I'm sure a lot of people will chime in here, but for your drive time from Ottawa, Comfort Inn Mt Laurier/Laurentides region or LaCabanon in St Zenon/Lanaudiere region are good choices for doing week long day trips out of. Many loops available from both places right at the mileage you are looking to get. The downside to these areas is that they get busy on the weekends. Mt Laurier has the famous Devils Mt and Black Mt is easily ridden to from LaCabanon. Both have food available on site, gas across the street from Comfort Inn, On site at  LaCabanon, but pricey there. 1 day,3 and 7 day passes available at the counter at LaCabanon, not sure about Mt Laurier but I believe they are. FCMQ has an interactive trail map you could look at. The paper maps for the area's should have suggested loops to make it a like easier to plans. If I where choosing between the 2 areas, LaCabanon would be first choice as they make their living catering to snowmobiles.  I offer these two choices for the simplicity. There are many more. 

Sacacomie is very nice, but i would not call it the most sled friendly. They rent sleds to Tourists mostly European and provide guides too. Parking for sleds is a hike from the front door you can not ride near the place. Don't get me wrong it is something out of this world to see, but i been there done that. They don't need my money. 

All that wet heavy snow will make for a nice base in a few days! This year with all this heavy snow ,  ,it will be tough keeping the trails clear of branches ,also that kind of snow will take some patience to groom.Glad to hear the trip is ticking along nicely . The trails above repos are some of the best in Quebec :)