Shaggy

23 Jan
-5c    4-5” snow overnight, now Ice pellets mixed with snow. We shallsee what the afternoon brings. I’ll let ya know.

Shout out to Shaggy and his unit of the NY Air National Guard. Once again taking Team Iceman to Antarctica and the South Pole. Godspeed to you all. Thanks for all your service and your representing Team Iceman. See you up in Quebec mon ami. 

Well another year has passed and it’s time to get your trail passes and break out the hardware.
I must say so far some encouraging signs for November. Been fairly consistently cold and we have frost in the ground almost a foot in places(according to my excavation buddy). Icy mix all night and today here. With snow in many places already things are looking much different than last year. Now we wait and see.
Stay Tuned here for all the action and real news not “Fake”news. Be it Good or Bad. 
Standing by.

Nov 19
2c 
mix turned to snow before noon now a nice white coat of snow, not alot but ground covered and enough to have the roads being plowed along with parking lots etc. The snow removal crews getting their first action here. 

It's the little things that kill.....

Can't seem toupload video to YT onYtube from Caribou wifi, outbound speed is  s l o w.Some stills from today.. 
Anyone want to play bridge?
Iceman wants to play
As if you haven't seen a pic of the rock....
 Mark made it to the rock on his maiden Gaspe trip
John (NH Moose) obligatory rock photo
 From the lower lookout pull off up Chemin Mt Ste Anne
Further up Chemin Mt Ste Anne, new lookout looks like a diving board
Trails terrible into Perce, whooped, not recommended.  Some sections of 5 out this way are amazing, but mot is pretty lumpy, feel right at home....just like the New Hampshire trails I remember ;<)
 
 
 
 
 

Every summer I say I'm going to learn to speak Québecoise.
So... I figured when Steve @ 4 Saisons Yammi in Gaspe asked about my slides he was being thorough.
We did discuss "ICE RIPPER 144" TRACK" and "JACKSHAFT & DRIVE SHAFT BEARINGS" and I did hear the words "IN STOCK".
Oh well. I'll yield to Iceman's narrative for the day when he gets to it later.
In the meantime, while he's wheeling us both in the U-Haul (spanking her like the rented mule she is), here's today's eye-candy:

 

 

 
Under semi-protest, Blue no like box trucks where there's perfectly rideable trails right outside. 

 

Breaking News......
Mrs Ice and the ladies are Champions of the Coupe Burrows Trois Riveres
3 more wins today, 
6-0
5-1
5-0
great job took no prisoners 

PLEASE don't tell anyone about the orange trail over Carlton!
Seriously, this loop bounces our fav (the 587) down to JV...
 

 

 

Keep on truckin up to La Cache if you like!...

 
You could land a plane up in here. We did our best to take flight (cue NHmoose video)...

Special Ops

Day 3 Saturday
  Light dusting of snow overnight in Amqui. Out of town we retrace the run to Groomers clubhouse. TQ5 is very nice. Groomed overnight from Amqui to where Groomer takes over. Trail to clubhouse still excellent, we get the gas just next to clubhouse. Quick stop to beautify the clubhouse. We are off. 587 is the choice. It does not disappoint. Although not groomed for a long time it did not need it. Giddy up here. Love this run one of my favorites for sure in all of QC. Down to Matapedia and more gas. Then onward on 587 to JCT 5. We go left on TQ5 back west. 5 is good but everyone uses it and it shows with the hills a bit chewed up and the corners a bit bumped up but nothing serious just you can tell how many more sleds run the 5 compared to the regional or local trails. Good stay on 5 everyone. It's the best way to go. No doubt. Disregard whatever I say stay on 5. Merci.  Up to local orange trail we turn right toward the clubhouse in L'Alverne. Ahhh this trail. Let's just say we have history here. Last year it was mint like it is now absolutely amazing but don't take it, no no no. Stay on 5 merci.  This trail was quite a bit different 2 years ago on our march run. We arrive at clubhouse on other end it's snowing like a bitch and blowing. We are headed to Caupsacal. Through Pointe a la Croix much longer. The guys take off over the road and i'm wondering what the giant snowbank is all about? Well this trail was closed. No grooming deep deep snow. Two weeks earlier it was perfect but not so now. Well i did not learn it was closed till we reached the 5 (which everyone needs to stay on please, merci) there i see the Sentier Ferme' sign. That was quite a workout, but we made it.  Today none of that, blue sky and big sun and white asphalt. Sweet.  To JCT5 and we stop for lunch in L'Alverne. Nice break and we are off. Surprisingly very few sleds out even though its saturday. Very light traffic that we have seen. Hey perfect. East on TQ5 through the hilly parts here. Trails are super. Pinch me is it really almost April? Somebody stop me! We run to the suspension bridge in Nouvelle and turn left to go get gas. Then its time to backtrack. We run back a few miles and take a hard right onto the local trail, through town a bit on the bare pavement. These other guys have wheels. I am not into that. I can do just fine without. We find ourselves another gem here. This trail is a goer and despite dodging the scattered remains of a deer or three, I'm guessing torn up by coyotes? This is awesome it runs us up north of Carleton where we arrive at a warming hut and find tge Trail to La Cache but its marked as a quad trail says 87 km to La Cache. Also just through the woods there up a short trail we find what we believe was a dragstrip groomed six groomers or more wide, but it's really an airstrip i believe. Whatever it was boys will be boys so lets race. We have a ball running back and forth and the head back down the Local Orange checking out the windmills near Carleton on the way in. Into Baie Blue in Carleton  240 miles i think.  Full house here. Many sleds. But sure did not see them on the trails.    Want wish Mrs. Ice and her hockey team luck tonight in the Coupe Burrows tournament in Trois Riveres. So far 2 wins 3-0 and 4-0. Going for win number 3 tonight. To move on to Sunday. To win it all.  Let's go Ladies kick some ass.    Tomorrow to Murdochville. 

What did we learn today: White trails on the FCMQ updates might mean they just don't need grooming!...
 

 

 

Radar lookout to spot Radar golf ball? Too overcast...

On the hill behind Ski St Irene?...

Uh huh!...

Getting closer!...

Ah hah!...

Actually, it's less like a golf ball & more like a soccer ball...

Been a while since this was taken...

Check the box!

NHmark, not just an experienced Groomer... He fixes 'em!

 
NHmoose (MacGuyver) etc:

 
Thinking, thinking, thinking...

 
Yeah OK, whatever, let's RIDE!

Day 2 continued
out of Sawmill and trail is ok but could use some love. It has not been groomed is over a week. It's not terrible but not like the rest we seen. We push on. The biggest thing were the road crossings the berms at the road were big and it was not the easiest you needed to be on your game to cross the roads and manipulate your way up and over. We found the usual 2-3 water holes (sippi holes) first being 50 km from sawmill headed north. (Will probably change but be advised) it was a pretty big washout on the right. Those of us who actually ride the right would be the ones in danger. Those of you who ride the middle are not affected.
I meet a guy southbound solo at a road crossing. He tells me the 'gratte" is headed south about 10km north coming my way. Well thank you my friend, we move on now I'm on guard cause i don't know if i trust this guys estimate of where surfacer is. Where i can see i go all out. Where my "spidey" senses tingle i take it easy. Well its 20Km and there he is i see him on a long straight coming our way!. Sweet!
we pass. Now its just heaven we roll on and, About 80 km north of Sciere 54 there is a big wet lowspot on the southbound side. Another sippi hole. We arrive to Relais Barriere du Nord(closed) and from here up is like tge section from La Dore to the mill. Hard and big frozen solid. Nice trail. We light it up. We cruise on up the 50 km to Petro Canada to gas up. It's noticeably colder up here and the trail shows it. Very nice. Its 3pm. We go 93 direction Chapais. Into Chapais and its too early to call it, so we go on to Club house on 93. Here we take a local trail down to a lake just because. Then we circle back and run 93 back to Chapais. Into Motel Routier sitting pretty. 
235 miles happy 😊 
tomorrow we double back and go local trail into Chibougamau and judging by the grooming i see on the App. We are gonna be loving the ride up to Mistassini. 
Big snowbanks at the road crossing
 

Well lookey here

Please sir may i have another?

 
 

Day 2 Tuesday 
after last nights happenings we were not moving too early. We go when we feel like it. Today we had breakfast and suited up bagged up and left on a perfectly groomed trail right from door of Hotel. On 373 direction St Felicien its groomed sweet but we are certainly not first tracks. That would soon change. We catch the first group. 3 singles and a two up. Easy pickings. Onward. 373 is still showing some sleds ahead. We move on. At the intersection for Auberge du Berges. There they are stopped and talking. 2 take off when they see us coming the other 3 are too slow. We scoop on by. Now we are gaining ground on the other 2. They arrive at the intersection of 373 and the orange local near the truck dealer in St Felicien. They are not sure what trail to take. Reading the signs. All we needed. We are past. C-Ya. They push hard not happy to be behind us. We toy with them a while then after the turn for Hotel Du Jardin, it's time to bid farewell. We turn it up and buh bye. Not seen again. Trail is utterly amazing but it usually is up here so we are not surprised. 373 to 93 and to gas in La Dore. 93 is freshly groomed as well and we are headed for the Sawmill. There is two sleds ahead I'm guessing by the tracks i'm reading in front of me. 
Now I must take a minute to give a big thank you to the club here. I have never seen this section of the 93 as big as it is this year. It was big and flat. Nicely done. Icey likey. Nice job of cutting the branches back nice and wide. Trail wicked fast and we are loving it. That last section of trail (15 miles or so) into Scerie 54 is ridiculous and very delicious. If you don't like this here then give up sledding. 
On into the Sawmill. Nice to see lots of Action here this year. It was a ghost town last year with just the caretaker for gas on site. This year it's full on as a camp for the forest workers. We arrive at 12:15. Was worried maybe guy for gas was on lunch break but he came right down to the pump. Gas is 1.47 a liter. Cash only like always and they have no change. He has a chart to tell him how much it costs for all the different amounts(liters). I ask the guy about traffic today. He say two went north earlier and before them two went south. We are 4&5 for the day. Wow wicked scary to think the tracks i saw were headed south I would have bet my life they were all northbound. I do not get it. Why is it these people have a giant trail and ride down the middle. Makes zero sense to me. 
To be Continued. After Happy Hour. 
Sleds in Roberval right where we can see them.

93 north (note the tracks right up the middle) 2 were headed south

Looking South (keep right for crying out loud)


gas Sciere 54

Been there....

The gang is taking the Lunch in the Cafeteria. 

Night 1
never a dull moment......
started when we got here, we park sleds and this guy walks up. He is high as hell. Out of his mind wacked. He says in French. Where did you ride here from? So me being the wise ass I am tell him we left this morning from Rimouski on the Gaspe, he says was it long? I tell him no we drive fast. Anyway he don't skip a beat and says "you got any spare change?" What? No I said I got no spare change, now go. He leaves then is circling back and just watching us unload stuff. I go inside and the woman recognizes me from 2 weeks ago. We had a conversation then about the tent here for sleds as she was trying to convice me it's perfectly safe especially cause it has camera on it. Ha! I asked her to tell that to the guy that lost his sled out of there last year and was waiting for a taxi to St Raymond when i got here. She knew nothing of that. 
So i ask her what us up with the guy begging outside cause I aint liking him hanging around out there. I said what is going on here in Roberval? She says she will handle it. We lock up cover sleds and head upstairs. Our room looks right down at machines as we are Parked right in front no hiding in back where no one watches or see's anything. 
2 minutes later Police are down there, guy will not be hanging around more tonight. 
Nice Dinner in the Bar, then we go to sleep. I sleep with earplugs (so I can sleep) then next thing I know Snohorse is waking me up. I look at clock it's 2am, i'm like what up? He says some guy has been kicking the door for a few minutes and yelling. What? My first check is the sleds. All good. Ok so a drunk guy thinks this is his room. He is now kicking the door like a swat team I'm thinking he is coming through. I'm yelling at him in French that he has the wrong room. He is yelling open the door between kicking it. Finally I call front desk. I tell them WTF? Get up here and find this guy his room cause I aint opening the door to deal with him and if it don't stop now I am calling cops. Guy comes up from front desk. They start arguing in hall. Drunk guy falls over i hear hit wall then floor. Poor front desk guy gets him up and up to the second floor they go. Now I am wide awake. Takes me another hour to go back to sleep. Damn. 
Always something, but this is a first. It's never drunk swedish twins why is that?

Hi Iceman and Playhard have a great trip!

Smart move! Down around Quebec into Charlsbourg was lumpy. Hopefully flatter toward Casino today. 

 
What they built @ Valcartier is UNBELIEVABLE. Gotta see if trail gets us there. We took the 4-Points shuttle...

Moving avg tells me you're MOVING!
We took a bonus detour from Shawini to 4-Points and had a leisurely lunch at Roq:

Snohorse darted off for a cold beer w/o you :  ) . Don't you hate when your riding partner does that ? Safe travels.

Okay then, ran into Chris from VT. He was experiencing technical difficulties with his sled. Got towed 20 miles into L'Etape and was awaiting rescue from St. Raymond. Sorry to see a fellow QR broken down. But, cest la vie. Out of L'Etape and I was really struggling with what to do. I almost doubled back and down 369 to Beauport. But decided to push on up 23. To this point trail was super. After L'Etape until Apica it was not great. Really used up, we soldier on. As we pass Apica things greatly improved this section has been groomed much more recently. We hammer it and stop at 368 intersection. For a quick chat. Decisions Decisions. We are all dressed up and no place to go. 23 looks better so onward to Hebertville. Through Presbytre and across the Lake. We take gas at Petro 🇨🇦. Now more choices. It's 4pm mmmm? Alma or Roberval. Neither one of us ready to call it yet. So its 83 to Roberval. First part is unreal very fricking sweet. After the ice crossing and on the way to Chambord is a warzone. What the hell? This section is like no mans land it always is whooped out and used up. They must groom this just twice a month. Crazy. Trail is junk all the way to jct of 355. Then it is back to lovely, frozen flat and fast. 83 to 373 is super and we roll on into Hotel Roberval at 6:15. 315 miles today. 
Funny cause both Montana GPS were reset in my driveway this am. Mine reads 508km for the day, Snohorse Gps same exact one says 360 miles? Whats up with that he followed me the whole way. Strange. His Odo on the 1200 says 315 miles, 508 km is 315 miles. So what gives?
we shall see where the trail leads us demain. 

Well, well here we go again. Snohorse rolled into chez Ice at 3:45pm on sunday. We had a beer and we were off to Auberge Drakkar to say hello to Playhard and the guys. After visiting a short bit with the boys we gathered up Shaggy and Jess. We loaded into my car and we were off to watch Mrs Ice, play dek hockey. This was to be a first for snohorse, Scott and Jess. We arrived in plenty of time to grab a beer from the bar and settle in to watch the game. It was quite the match as Mrs. Ice's team was taking names and kicking ass. Finished with a score of 7-1. Not quite a nail biter but we like it like that. Took Jess and Scott(shaggy) back to Drakkar and we were headed back to chez Ice. We spent the evening watching tv and relaxing. 
Woke to a nice day to hit the trail. Up and dressed bags on and I gave Mrs Ice a kiss goodbye. We were out and on the move at 8:15. This trip is to be no real plan. We were gonna roll and see where the trail takes us. We jump on the TQ 3 headed east. 20 miles from the house i get a call on the radio to hold up. I brake and spin it around to find Snohorse undoing the birdsnest of what was left of his belt. The 1200 gave no warning just grenaded the belt. 4000 miles on the belt RIPieces. We do a Nascar belt change and carry on. Trail 3 east to 351. All fresh groomed and very nice. First tracks. We run the 351 east and then 302 to 23 and up into St Raymond. We visit Dion Moto to get a spare belt for the 1200. Then on to gas next to Roquemont and its 23 north direction L'Etape. Trails are very nice considering it's monday and there has been big traffic all weekend. Temps are falling and the cold is good. Bring it. We hammer it on up to L'Etape. I'm surprised at how many sleds are here on a monday. We grab gas and take a break. 
To be Continued......

25 January 
1c 
looking like a winter wonderland. Solid 10" new snow. Still some furrries. Got a bit of deneigement to do.
will post you up some pics a bit later
 
 

You will be pleased, they have done a nice job with the place and tgey go above and beyond for you. Redge is the man.