Grampsledder

Be prepared, you are heading to a very beautiful part of Quebec. Awesome riding, you will be glad you explored this new region. 

We’ve been riding Quebec for more than 15 years but never done Cote Nord.   Six of us are off in the morning on this new adventure.  Starting at the Richelieu-love this place.   Will post pictures.   
Russ and Pam

Congratulations!   Glad your wife was able to overcome her challenges and get back to the things she loves.    

Congratulations!   Glad your wife was able to overcome her challenges and get back to the things she loves.    

I finally got out of the shop @ 3 am Sat. morning, went home and packed, on the road @ 730 am, off to Universal in Riviera Du Loop to meet Sno Horse and his 17 year old son , for 8 days of adventure. Minor details, we lost the alternator in the truck 40 miles south of the border in Vermont, half hour detour @ Napa, fixed it pit-stop fast in the parking lot, then got thru customs fast. Arrived RDL at 430 pm, put sleds in locked down area and went to dinner, we were spoiled by the restaurant there at dinner and breakfast. We were on the trail by 8 am, trails are hard and fast all the way to Matane, many places faster than I will admit to!!  We were very fortunate, police were checking sleds at a road crossing 30 miles from Matane, and were writing tickets as we approached, they were so busy with the dozen sleds they had, that they waved the 4 of us thru. We took the ferry over to Baie- Comeau and arrived just at dusk. It is colder here and a LOT more snow. As we were riding in the dark a blinding storm dropped a quick 2 inches in less than an hour. Trails here are as good as it gets, no other way to describe it. Sno horses' son is missing a week of school, and he really misses it!! Great rider for 17, very impressive. I have a former employee along with me on this trip, another young guy, 24, he is in heaven, never ridden Quebec before, and he is starting at the top!! We checked in to the Comfort and  took a taxi to dinner@ Greco's, nice place, middle of the road prices, when I saw Jared and Phil's steak, I new I had ordered the wrong entrée. Other than a couple of wrong turns, that we quickly righted, the days ride was great. We are not expecting much traffic going North to Sep-tile and if the trail is reasonably passable we will continue East of there, we would like to be back to the truck in RDL by dark on Saturday. Tomorrow I will try to post some pics. Ice, sorry you could not make this trip. I changed the skis on the 850 Back Country for this trip and went with Simmons gen 3, 8 " wide, what a good choice, flotation in deep snow is amazing, 0 darting, much more planted and all the tippy stuff from being high and narrow is gone, only a tad more steering resistance, you would have to be unreasonable to even mention it, it may have lowered the mpg by .5, I will know better after another day. We are all looking forward to the trial in the morning...to be continued!!

Try Diamox next time.   Prescription diuretic.  We always take it when skiing out west.   Cote Nord for us in 2 weeks.   

It is a great trip for the women.  The riding is wide open. The Auberge du Ravage is top notch but be forewarned-it's pricy  Add in the Fairmont Richelieu and she'll want to go every year!   

There is a big relais with gas at Mt Apica.   It is cash only.   FYI- There is an overlook 1/2 mile north of the relais.    The view is great on a nice day.   

Rode 83 east to Local 22 to 383 to Ferland.  Had lunch in Ferland and found out that a local boy,Sam Girard, is an Olympian speed skater representing Quebec in the Olympics, from Ferland, population 500.  

mcstar is correct. X marks the spot.
N48.42058    W67.79793

We have done the loop 7 times, 6 days on the trail averaging 180 miles a day +/- .    It is a couples trip.    We prefer the north shore first but have done it both ways.  The mountains build in this direction making it an impressive run.   Your time will slow in this section so take that into consideration when planning.  We start and end at the Universel in Riviere-du-Loup so our hotels won't coincide with your plans.   We also like the Chic-Choc trail between Murdochville and La Cache.    It is 60 miles on a groomed trail but it has nothing on it.   On a clear day the view of the Chic Chocs from the  Murdochville end is great.   We went the first week in March last year and had great weather and lots of snow but as noted, it is variable.    Great trip.   

Yes.   We do like to know there is a place for us.   Hoping we could wait until the week before we leave so we don't have to rebook due to weather.   Sounds like that plan should work.   

This is what we expected-great scenery but the weather can change everything.  It will be enough of an adventure to make Sept Iles and back.   Planning to start/end at the Richelieu for the wives.  We’ve done the Gaspe 7 times and know flexibility w/storms.   Hear the scenery is similar.   We’ll read about “real” adventures in this forum.   Thanks for the comments.   Looking forward to it. 

I think the biggest reason is because it’s largely one route up, same route back no way to make a nice big loop unless you take the ferry across at Godbout to the Gaspesie. 

Reminiscing after reading your post.... Lunch @ Auberge duRavage Feb 2017 - Liam , Eddy , Ginny , Paddy & Bill.  A great day it was.
 

Pelchat trail

We've stayed at the Odanak a few times and would recommend it.    

Just got back yesterday from the region.   We stayed 2 nights at KM 31-the rooms are basic but have private bathrooms and are in the lower level so you walk upstairs for dinner.   The food and the service was great!    We like the location to the local trails in Valin.   Passion is at the ski area, Valinouet.   We've never stayed there because you have to walk or snowmobile to the restaurant.   We have stayed at Auberge Carcajou in the past and would recommend that too.   The place is nice and the food is home cooked.   

Pelchat trail

Pelchat trail

We passed you guys yesterday just South of Onatchway....Only sleds we saw all day
may see you on pelchant today

We got our first day of riding in yesterday after bailing on our Pittsburg-RDL-Maine loop due to trail flooding.   Great decision to come to Saguenay.    Left the Delta yesterday for lunch at Onatchaway and on toKM31.    Trails were in great shape. We passed a groomer on the 477 Orange trail. 93 fromPassion Quebec to KM 31 was the best we have ever seen it-no bumps.    Going to try the Pelchat trail today.  Thanks to Bill for recommending that we come up.   

Any updates on the region?    We’re canceling our trip to RDL and thinking of Sanguenay.    Lots of water here in Eastern Townships.   Only made 40 miles before getting one sled stuck.  

Just booked the Delta.   Coming up.   

Similar in Eastern Townships.   Tried to get to RDL from Pittsburg.   Made 40 miles.