viper2

Yesterday left New Richmond and rose to the Carleton clubhouse for breakfast about 35 miles. Was thinking of doing the big loop on the orange trails above Carleton but decided it would create a gas situation and add too much to the day so we continued on 5 West stopping at the Relay at L’Alverne. We then took the Orange trail across the street to bypass PALC then reconnected with 5 West toward St. Margarite. We saw the mechanics frantically working on Groomer’s dead pony but all things considered the trail was still pretty good. Got the gas then took a break at the Coulee Verte clubhouse. Stayed at the Ambassador Hotel for the night.

Yes Groomer his wife has a restaurant out there I guess and she helps at the snowmobile club. They live there now

Playhard here is a pic

Lots of snow up there now, always windy up top so the grooming doesn’t hold up too long

Yamaha makes a turn out kit for the exhaust. They come out like 45 deg. And they attach with pop rivets

Wow hope all is well

Today left Gaspe and took 5 in the direction of Percé but after the suspension bridge we took the right onto the Orange trail that heads to 597. Trail was in great shape and we had a quick run to 597. Took 597 South through the gorge section and onto piston alley making quick work of that we tackled the twistys to Chandler where we took some gas then continued up the trail to the Chandler clubhouse for an early 10:30 lunch. The nice lady cooking our meal asked where we were from and seemed surprised and impressed when we told her Pennsylvania. 15 minutes later her husband came through the door and came over to talk to us. He introduced himself, Jean Perron coach of the 1986 Stanley Cup winning Montreal Canadiens! We had a great talk with him then headed further on 5 West finally getting out of the twistys after Port Daniel. Traffic definitely picked up today on the South shore, we saw more sleds today than we did the entire week but trails remain good just a few stutter bumps here and there in the corners. Topped the tanks at Saint Godifroi then rolled to the clubhouse at Prebesiac for a break and a snack. Went out the back door there on the local trails and reconnected to 5 West and hit some great trails all the way to New Richmond. Staying at the Hotel Francis tonight.

We were not in Percé this trip but looks like Pkayhard has your answer. The trails are great up here right now and very little traffic. Starting to see some traffic today on the South shore but as you know that area is always more traveled

Mike it is a wind turbine and when you take the trail into the town of Gaspe it sits behind the first building when you come into town off the trail. I think the place is called Nergica it’s some kind research facility

Yesterday took 597 North from Murdochville to 5 East. Windy and cold a lot of drifting and hard to see the trail. Hoped to stopped at the Relay near Cloridorme but it was closed. Pushed ahead to Riviere Renard for a late lunch at the Relay then took 5 to Gaspe. Stayed at Hotel Baker, awesome rooms but a little hard getting into town. No restaurant at the hotel as they are remodeling but we walked to dinner at Brise Bise. Great dinner there.

Left the Riotel in Matane this morning and headed on 5 East to the St. Paulin Relay. They just got done plowing about the last 12 miles to the relay. After the groomer goes through there will be some spots you can jump off the road but a lot will be on the plowed road with logging trucks. Had lunch at the relay then headed South on 595. Lots of snow here first tracks and pushing snow all the way to the snow bridge. After that a couple tracks from yesterday and the closer to LaCache the less new snow. Get to LaCache and no lunch. They had problems with the generators last night and just got them up and running, at least we could take the gas. Head East on the Orange trail to Murdochville. Met the groomer coming from Murdochville not long after we left LaCache and it was a welcome site with the new snow. Checked out the mummies up on Mt. Lyall then continued on to Murdochville. Enjoyed the views but the fresh snow was tiring. At Hotel Copper for the night.

Thanks Don 👍

Left the Universal this AM with a few inches of fresh snow. Took 526 to 85 to 5 East to the 3 pistols clubhouse. Hoped to get breakfast there but they are closed Monday and Tuesday this year so we headed down 571 into 3 pistols and got breakfast at the cheese factory in town neat place. Took 518 from there East to 5 then 578 to 5 again into Matane. Staying at the Riotel, has a mix of conditions everything from fresh groomed to loose powder the closer we got to Matane. Hope to get to Murdochville tomorrow via LaCache

Does anyone know if the St. Paulin relay is open on a Tuesday? Heading from Matane to LaCache then onto Murdochville tomorrow morning and hoping to use it as morning stop

Good to hear they are cleaning the place up. I was last there 3 years ago and the cage was around the gas pumps then still

I agree guys, but the Indian reservation of Manawan is not anywhere near the Abiti. Manawan is only about 50 miles by car from SMDS. There are people that check this page that don’t have a lot of experience in Quebec and I don’t think it is good to recommend to them not to secure their sleds. I have been riding that area since the late 80’s and I remember when there were no doors on some of the houses because they used them for firewood (no shit) They also have a steel cage around the gas pumps in their own town. That’s all I am saying

I have seen someplace that they are grooming the old trail this year but even if it’s not groomed, unless you really need the gas it’s not worth taking the Southern route, Jackstraw states in the West from St. Come thread they are using the old trail they just went through there yesterday

I wouldn’t recommend that

I tend to agree Steve, but it would not be without sone sacrifice. Many years ago a business owner in St. Zenon did exactly that and many people berated him for it. Other businesses and patrons of other businesses had nothing good to say about him, everything from he made the trails go away from competing businesses to even being accused of burning down another lodge. Nevertheless he soldiered on and still helps to operate one of the most successful clubs in Quebec

Jack absolutely, such a tragedy. Staked or not I never fully trust the ice and we always try to keep a pretty good space between riders and try to stay off at night

Groomer, looks like enough guys there to just lift the front end up and turn it around

I think Trout Lake is closed this year. Le Bannik is a nice place to stay

Yes Bob for sure. Actually seems in this case like the group has some previous experience which may have been their undoing

Fuse, we stayed there last year, there are a few different size cabins. The one we stayed in was a 3 bedroom

Usually just drive to Mont Laurier now if we want to do a Western run, it's all far from NE PA but its all about the same