GT Rider

We are heading to Perce. I want to take some photos. There is a road bridge crossing we went over that was melting fast. I don’t know the name of the town. After that the trail was kind of beat up. It seemed like a reroute. We crossed over a new bridge. The trail was back in nice shape about a mile or two before the Perce turn off. Heading toward Perce the blue sky is turning to gray. The trail looks like it has been just groomed. As we approach a street crossing there is a big buss load of people cross country skiing up the trail. There are emergency sleds with trailers ready for the skiers. I was flagged down and asked to use caution. We continue on and the fog gets so thick I had to stop at one point. It’s not going to be a picture day. We made our way to Rolands and had lunch.

As we approach Rivière-au-Renard we pass a groomer. I did not expect to see one on a warm day like today. We went as far east as were going and head toward Gaspe. It’s a blue sky and probably the warmest we ever had on the trail. We stop at the multi gas and fuel up. The street crossing is going to need some snow. Back on the trail and it’s smooth sailing.

The trail is in nice shape so far. Then we hit an open area where the snow looks thin. Thankfully the trail has a good base. I am not sure if wind or the sun was affecting it. Plenty or wind mills around. A bit farther East the trail gets twisty.

Day 2 231 miles We had a nice stay at Grande Vallee. We get packed up and head off shortly after 8. The trails are a bit thin getting out of town. Just out of town the trail is looking good. We spot the first of many wind mills traveling East. There’s no one at the clubhouse.

We are using Sena. Very happy.

Hi Mario, We should be in RDL next Sunday. We will be there a few days. It would be nice to meet up again. Happy Trails. Hi Tom, Thanks. We are going to make the most of it. Best of luck with your new ride. It looks darned nice.

We are heading to Perce then Murdochville today. We will post conditions later.

A Few more on the way to Mont-Saint-Pierre.

Day 1 208 miles. First day since a year. Shaking off the rust this morning. Off to a late start. Trails were in good shape out of Matane. The first chop we hit was around Tourelle after Ste-Anne-Des-Monts. The trail in and out of Marsoui was choppy. Over all it was a good start. I noticed the climb at Mont-Saint-Pierre was in pretty nice shape. The steep climbs are usually beet up. We fueled up at the Esso in Ste-Anne-des-Monts. It’s about a mile and a half down a street. I’m glad we have wheels because the snow was running water down hill. I think today is supposed to be the warm day. It’s going to need snow for sure. Here’s some pics on the way to Cap-Chat

Hi Alain, Thanks for taking us on another ride. You hit the mountain at the perfect time. Sony made one heck of a camera in 2005. Kristine really knows how to use it. The photos are terrific. We hope you have great weather and smooth trails on your vacation.

Thanks Iceman. I hope you and team hit nothing but white carpet. Have a great run.

Hi Alain Thank you. I too am a late planner. Last week of February! You and Kristine have had some nice trips from home!! It’s so nice to follow along with you. Thanks for the photos and video.

Hi Mike We have 4 days at the Universal. We are looking forward to seeing you. We have to try the pub / restaurant out.

We rolled in to the Quality Inn in Matane with 780 miles on the black trail. We are going to try last year’s plan. We got snowed out last year after day 1. We saw snow from Albany all the way to Matane. There were people riding sleds in Monteregie! We haven’t seen that in a few years. We are heading to Grande Vallee tomorrow. I’ll post conditions.

Hi Jack, just wondering how you like the oxygen helmet. it sounds like you all found a great lunch stop. I am filing it away. thanks Jim

JG, We are sorry to see that your sports car went Kaput. Last year you came to our rescue in it. Its not your bad luck its ours. I think we almost lost you at the end of the last machine. It was giving you a lot of trouble. When you have to make long runs like yours a high quality machine should be a priority. I hope they recognize that now! We want to thank you for all the years of hard work making the white carpet we enjoyed. The club will surely miss having a man with your great skill. Thanks for being a great ambassador!

No Ice bridge this year. Translated from TVA Nouvelles Because of the winter, which is too mild, the inhabitants of Île Verte, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, will not have access to a marked ice bridge this year. This is a first in over 70 years for islanders. "There have not been enough cold days in a row this winter, so we will not mark the bridge this year," said Thursday, the mayor of the municipality of Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, Louise Newbury. To access the shore, the 26 permanent residents of the island will therefore depend on a "sometimes capricious" helicopter service offered three or four times a week. "If it sells too much, if there is too much snow or if the visibility is not good, the helicopter will not take off," explained Gérald Dionne, a native of Green Island. Islanders will therefore be deprived of direct access to several basic services, because on the island, there is no grocery store, convenience store or service station. They usually have to cross the 2 km of frozen river to reach the shore and its basic services. “The ice bridge is really the only way we can get out and back to the island when we want. It really makes our daily lives easier, "said Mr. Dionne. Unusual situation For more than twenty years, Jacques Fraser has been responsible for marking the ice bridge on Île Verte. He never had a winter without an ice bridge. "Normally, in December, we can mark it up and go over it," he said. The bridge is usually marked with long branches of conifers to indicate to snowmobilers that the river is frozen and safe enough to cross it. "I was born on the island and there has always been an ice bridge," said Mr. Fraser. Before, there were even three. Now there is only one left and the ice is getting more and more late [in the season]. ” Is global warming at issue? To find out if this late frost is linked to global warming, a geography expert from UQAM says that it is important "not to make short cuts". “We anticipate that in the St. Lawrence River, the winters will be milder and the ice will be less present. This is a general trend, but we could still have very cold winters, ”said UQAM associate professor Ursule Boyer-Villemaire, who specializes in adapting to climate change in the maritime sector. "Although this situation is new, it could still happen in the future. We shouldn't be surprised, she added. We have to think of alternative means of connecting Green Island to the mainland. ” - With Charles D'Amboise / QMI Agency No relief to mark the bridge The responsibility of marking the ice bridge on Green Island weighs heavily on Jacques Fraser, who has been responsible for this task for two decades. Considered a real "pillar" for his community, the 62-year-old now wants to pass the torch. "I've been saying for a few years that I don't want to do it anymore. The world tell me: "tag, Jacques, tag! What are you waiting for?" But it's me, afterwards, who doesn't sleep at night. ” With the marking of the bridge which becomes more and more complicated, Jacques Fraser fears the worst. “I would not like what happened to Lac-Saint-Jean to happen when the snowmobilers fell into the water. If one day I mark the deck and a snowmobile stalls, I could not bear it, ”he said. In order to be reliable and safe, the bridge must be probed frequently by humans, who have acquired this rare knowledge over the years. Jacques Fraser has already asked the mayor of Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs to be replaced, but, for lack of relief, he must continue to take care of the bridge.

HI Jack, Best of luck with the new helmet. We also will be trying out the Oxygen. Funny how that wet diaper turns into a block of ice if you take the helmet off outside. I have trashed a few microphones over the years. Best, Jim & Gemma

In 2015 no signs no grooming had to turn back 25 miles short. In 2018 white carpet all the way to HSP. I guess you just have to catch it at the right time.

Hi JG, That should take care of the big drifts around the horn.

Thanks for the info Mike. Hope to give it a try soon.

Thanks Iceman. I'm taking notes.

Groomers club is on TQ5.

I tried to order one. I can't seem to switch the address form from Canada to USA. Did any one from the us get one yet?

Thank you Bob. Very nice!