GT Rider

Amen.  Prayers to the families.  You are only fooling yourself if you don't think anytime you saddle up the risk is very high.  Ride on in the afterlife our fellow brothers.  

Amen Amen,
Can't say I've ever thought of Hot Pockets & Red Bulls & Gatorade as a last meal, but they were where they wanted to be, doing what they wanted to be doing.

R.I.P. brothers 
 

And yet 3 guys die in an avalanche there in late March. Still blows my mind. Hasn’t even been a week yet. I feel so bad for their families and the guy that made it out. I hope they all find peace in time.

BRP isn't the only Quebec business looking at dismal numbers.  There are lots of motels, restaurants, relais, and a hundred other businesses that have had a terrible winter.  The area around Quebec City had nothing to speak of for snow.  This was the first time in 25 years I haven't sledded in the Gaspe.  Trailered to the Quality Inn Matane then on the ferry was it.  Sledded 5 days in Baie Comeau, Forestville, Mont Valin area, first time ever to measure snow depth in inches instead of feet.  Pretty well every business we stopped at said thanks for coming, and appreciated our business, they all said numbers were terrible.  

March 15 : Baie de Shawinigan 
That’s it! The season has officially begun for me!
It was too much of a nice day to not enjoy the water. 
It was quite a workout to get to the water and come back but I managed. Had to slide with my board on the thin ice. My leg went right through as I was getting closer to the end, but fortunately I’m wearing a drysuit. It was cold though. I also wear my hypnose under it. 
Sadly, I noticed a dead deer floating on an ice flow, as I got closer seems like it had a front broken leg. 
 

I'm here/there, last week there were TONS more trailers @ Escoumins and trail traffic, this week very few of both, mostly locals, and they're grooming more than they're showing on iMoto, that plus the rock hard base could be good for a while if temps stay low...

Thanks! For your report and the solidarity! I've been feeling bad about failing to report the past 4 days of pure joy out of Complexe Hotelier Pelchat - Hotel Les Escoumins!
More soon, but for now... GET UP HERE! It's pretty easy to find the relatively small green area...
 

I am a little slow getting the ride report out of our Feb 27 trip.
Our original plan was to trailer from Nova Scotia to Pointe a la Croix Feb 27, then snowmobile to Matane catching the 2pm boat Feb 28.  However with mild weather and rain forecast on the 28th, we trailered directly to Matane the 27th.
Feb 28
Got up from the Quality Inn and on the 8am boat to Baie Comeau.  Off loaded, it was above 0 but still lo rain.  We took the orange trail behind the ski hill going East.  What an amazing scenic trail.  It ends on the TQ3 at the warming shack between BC and Godbout.  Stopped at the shack and put a fire on, it was a heavy mist at this point. No one was wet but we were in no rush either.  From there we went to the Travelodge for the night in BC and supper at 3 Barils,  Great food.
Feb 29
Flash freeze overnight, what a jack pot!  Handle bars controls all frozen solid!  Took off scratcher down.  Groomers were out in a few sections to help break up the hard crust.  Good trails all the way to Sacre Couer and stay at the Coronet.
Mar 1
Out from the Coronet and up the TQ93, it was the best I have ever seen it right to where you meet the first orange trail.  From there to the Chappel was good but not as good as the 93.  Lunch and off, backtracked on the TQ93 to the orange trail and turned east. One short plowed section by Domaine L or paste but great running to were the 330 meets the TQ3 above portneuf sur mer.  Right where the 330 ends we did a quick off trail to the other piece of the TQ3 avoiding running to the coast.  Into the Econolodge in Forestville for the night.
Mar 2
Original plan scrapped over drinks the night before, no ride to Sept Iles.  Boys wanted to go back to Mt Valin.  Back we go the way we came back to to a little more riding on the mountain.  Late lunch at the Chappel then most of the way back the 93 to the Debut of the 330.  Traveled east on it, another great trail. Stayed the second night in Forestville.  
Mar 3
Sunny warm day, took our riding back to Baie Comeau for the afternoon ferry.  We were starting to see some patches starting to bare up.  It was easy to tell the end was near. Loaded on the 5:00pm boat and back to Matane and the truck.
A few pictures to share.
 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-HGnsSJNa.thumb.jpeg.eeaf7e98597fad013548a2716a4f412b.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-8Lj004g9.thumb.jpeg.bb93e473115bcf665292c6c3e3fb50f7.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-PUNrRBgs.thumb.jpeg.492cb75c76202fd788253c7d812047dc.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-am64lTui.thumb.jpeg.0686c4fdbad58f721adcb860d950e046.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-P5OxEgEg.thumb.jpeg.1a055f1007c844814ec4d53e7e0cb0aa.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-QB6mQwDG.thumb.jpeg.6548b33999eb626504f261536f953455.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-8Y4kjjSp.thumb.jpeg.de324d632b2f8c10b6d5f3fd8cbaefb1.jpeg

Day 4 Monday
 
Great night as usual with the gang here at Pouvorie La Dore. Gonna get up here this summer for a weekend for sure. Said goodbye to our new friends. They are very excited as soon they will get their one month break in April before starting season in May. Been a busy winter with advertising on I motoneige. Was a good move. 
Little colder thus morning making it comfortable in the gear. Seeing some grooming near restaurant du chef. 
 
Out to TQ93 and back to orange to Chef. Sweet grooming here. White asphalt. Gas at chef for the last time this season. Continue on still beautiful here groomed right to bridge on TQ93. Up TQ93 to 373. Getting used up in spots for sure. Seeing more and more ground less snow. Still good bit of nice trail. After one road crossing the Mrs is shooting wicked snow from right ski. We stop and it’s the curse of Bullwinkle. Rock jammed in snow tracker. We get sled tipped up, got the Mrs holding it while I try to extract the rock, rubber mallet and leatherman tool get er done. 
 
373 across to TQ93. Up to Girardville still cooler today have seen no sleds. Just at turn for Girardville one sled. Ruins our no sled day. We decided to go see if relais Lac des Coudes was open for lunch but got nothing more than a small bonus ride up and back. Closed on Monday. 
 
2pm at truck we decide we will sleep at home tonight, so it shall be. 
 
Great few days on great trails. Not as nice trail as last week here but very nice. 
 
So this year Caro saw three regions different. Escoumins in January, February saw her in RDL first time there and then to the Honey hole in LSJ and the Oasis in La Dore. 
Solid rider and gaining experience each day. 
 
She learned how to get rock out of Snow tracker.
And put her first middle rider in the bushes. 
 
 
Sweet ride back to Home. Great time. Dry road. 
 

Someone loved her first time ever to a Pourvoire
 
 

I plan on spending quite a bit of time in Canada this summer but in Ontario on the St. Lawrence. Hopefully the weather is better this summer than last. 

Canada is a great place to ride a bike… the scenery is incredible…221 is impressive… no denying the Honda Wing has a bullet proof engine… I’ve owned countless bikes over the years…never had a bad brand… but I’ve never got near that mileage …65k on a Honda 750 in the eighties… that’s when I knew they were good… currently on a limited… have a great summer…

Great place to ride, already thinking of routes.
 

Simply budget what was not spent this year on sledding

Considering the winter for most of the places we go and stay at was bad for them financially as well. Maybe consider a vacation in Quebec this summer. I know alot of QR’s do visit in other seasons. But just putting it out there if you never been when there’s no snow give it a try. Lots of stuff to explore. 

The snowmobiling community is certainly one of the best alive... This relay (Relais Champlain on 23 near l'Étape) has certainly saved the lives of 2 hikers in recent days. Without this relay, which is accessible 24/7 and has a wood-burning stove at its disposal, we'd currently be searching for 2 bodies in the Parc des Laurentides.
 
Situation: Two cross-country skiers and snowshoers had set out 7 days earlier on an expedition that took them from Quebec City to the Saguenay using the national trails through the Réserve Faunique des Laurentides. At the time of their departure, the weather forecast did not indicate the presence of the extreme cold front and torrential rains that preceded it. The rain hit them hard, and temperatures plummeted to -35 (felt). They soon began to show signs of hypothermia. One of them even fell into a stream while trying to find shelter.
 
Luckily, they came across trail 23, and at the same time a snowmobiler passed by. He told them that the Relais Champlain was less than 15km away. They set up temporary camps and warmed up with the wood stove while waiting for help. Help arrived more than 24 hours later, on Friday morning. One of the two hikers had frostbite on both feet and needed medical attention quickly. Two snowmobilers picked the hikers up from their seats and transported them to l'Étape, where they were helped back to Quebec City to see a doctor.
 
* SEPAQ was contacted before two other snowmobilers decided to transport them to ask for assistance (we're on their territory) and they simply replied "there's nothing we can do for you, sorry make arrangements".
 
 

More…..
 

 

Day 2 Saturday 
 
Noticeably warmer this morning after a cold night. We headed out after breakfast in no hurry to go no particular place. We decided to follow the groomer for a bit. So from here down the TQ93 then to the 373 all of it mint. Groomer has broken up the majority of the ice and yes still some icy spots and the usual south and west facing full sun areas starting to melt through. This is end of March conditions on the 2 of March. That is this season. 
 
373 across to TQ93 then down to orange trail through Site d’ours and over across river to Relais Buttes. Spent time talking with Gaetan there. Did you all know that the Relais closes all off season. It opens December 1 and he does Christmas parties for businesses then that carries him through until trails open. Then when trails are done so is the Relais. Interesting. Mrs Ice had the tomato and stars soup and she loved it. 
 
2 other sleds here. So far we have seen about 15 sleds all morning. We say goodbye to Gaetan sadly I won’t be back this way (not in the plan) as it’s noticeable the difference just a little bit further south here. I am bailing back north. The good stuff is shrinking must stay north. Not un rideable at all, just not what we are looking for. 
 
Up 373 to TQ93 took the gas just to take it at La Dore’. We did not know it until Mrs Ice saw on FB we crossed paths with The Snow Traveler from FB as our radio conversations were intermingled with the open mesh. Wish i knew I would have loved to meet them. Maybe another time. 
 
Debated on next move but ran back on TQ 93 then over the famous bridge from last weeks run (Mark and Phil sr love this crossing) lol. Complete the loop passing orange trail again and its TQ93 to the river lookout. Had to take the paddle boarder to see this river. Nice break here coats off its warm but there is a cool breeze. 
 
Back up to the TQ93 and still great trails all good softening up now and real nice. Run to Lac a Jim here a late lunch. Took time to ask about summer and paddle boarding Lac jim is 10km so small by my Mrs paddle board standards. Few other sleds here but been pretty tame for a Saturday. 
 
Straight shot back to Home sweet home Girardville. All alone again private accommodations. 
 
Great relaxing day. We aint here to set no records. Going to take time to look around and see. 
 
Plenty of time for the mrs to take lots of pictures so enjoy them.
 
Tomorrow we go on an adventure. 
 
Stay Tuned. 

I was seriously considering heading to the Island back to St. Croix USVI. Instead of this sled ride. 
 
Felt warm like the island this afternoon but trails will survive at least until Monday and that’s all we all looking for. Cannot have high expectations this year. Limited good trail. We aint looking for marginal. 
 
We got more than good.
little peek 👀 more later
 
 

Day 1 Friday 
Loaded up and trucked out. Debated long and hard and it was tough to choose. I had rooms lined up in Matane, but it’s game over there. Cancelled. Had  Escoumins too it was there or since we already been there this year, I considered going long to Forrestville. Then a run to Baie Comeau is easier for the Mrs. We aint riding a week. This is 3 days and done. 
 
I felt Cote Nord was very safe play. But after seeing last week up here decided to pull the trigger and head right back to the “honey hole” 
 
Ugly from Lac Bouchette right to St Felicien. The road is closer to the Lake so for sure less snow but the rain did serious damage to already non existent base of nothing. It rained quite a bit up here more than i thought. Oh well let’s see what it looks like in Girardville when we get there. 
 
Surprised to find it not bare everywhere. Lots of ice in parking lot. Seeing sleds all along from Normandin and to Albanel.
 
Touchdown at just before 2pm. Get in room drop the iron and suit up. Out on icy but not bad at all trails. Little more traffic and warmer temps its gonna loosen up nicely. Up to check middle orange dowm as it shows groomed after rain storms. It does not disappoint. Scratchers down not even trying without them. Quick 40 miles and back in. All alone we are here. Snohorse the mrs is loving the place. I think i will keep her. 
 
Chez Ben for some grub and all is good. 

Good morning Lamarche