mccaffrey

Decided to do a quick short loop in the Gaspe last weekend with my better half, and that it certainly was a short one.  Plans were to leave early Friday morning from Point a la Croix and go to Grande Nature.  Started early Friday morning by losing my wallet.  Searched high and low in the room, bags, back out to the bar, even up to the hot tub. No luck.  Had to call and cancel debit and credit cards. Frustrated now plus becoming to later start, went out to start the sleds and the 900 T was dead RRRRR!  Took the bags off got the booster pack out, still no go. Scratched my head, then tried the key fob off the 600.... everything starts. OMG mixed up the key fobs!  10:30 we start out and temperatures are dropping like a stone and the wind is strong.  Made it to the cable bridge all is good. Onwards to Groomers Clubhouse.  We land there and Kelly says she is very cold, wind has got considerably stronger and visibility had decreased.  All good, we change plans and off to the Select in Amqui. By the time we get there we were hitting serious white out conditions in the fields and the wind was biting cold.  Likely 30 sleds at the Select Friday night. Saturday morning it appear all 30 sleds stayed at to weather out the cold and wind.  Saturday consisted of eating, drinking, playing pool, hot tubs, and swimming pools for sledders. Plus found my missing wallet in my trunk bag! A great day. All highways in and out of Amqui except the Matepedia route were blocked and closed because of visibility. Sunday we headed back to the truck on some groomed trails and some ready for grooming that were drifted bad.  Big trip, about 180 miles! LOL A nice relaxing weekend that will be a great memory and laughs for a long time.  A few pics of our adventure.

Day 2: we leave LeCabanon at 8:30 and take 63 West to SMDS. From there we jump on the lake and take it up to Auberge Taureau where we pick 33 up. All fresh groomed right to Repos. Gas up there and on to Kanawata for lunch. We decided to head back to Repos and top the gas then take 345 to 360 and the barrage back to LeCabanon.  8 miles before Repos I broke the front bolt for the shock in the skid. My 2016 Apex is the first year for the single shot. Anyone familiar with it knows what a pain in the butt this is. I had changed out the air shock long ago for an Elka, but she likes to eat bolts. Thought we had it resolved but no. After an hour or so of trailside mechanics, we get it together enough to get back but forget the 345, we are taking the 33 all the way and retracing our steps from earlier. It’s the shortest route and it was groomed. Got back at 6:00 PM with 220 miles on the clock. Will have to pull out the spare for the rest of the trip

Got home from the Gaspe trip Monday January 30th, Decided Tuesday gonna head right back up Sunday the 5th for a week at LeCabanon. Just 3 of us on this trip, my 77 year old Dad will be leading this trip. He has been staying here since the mid 80’s and LaGlaciere before that. We leave at the crack of 9AM 😂 not as chipper as he used to be, it’s ok we will ride at his pace, he will lead. We head out on 23 in the East direction. Take that down to 345 and go check if Koubek’s is open, they are not on Monday’s apparently. We roll up 23 to 350 towards Lac Blanc. We take the gas there then continue up 349 through Lac au Clare back up to 23. We still head East and have a late lunch at the old Cabane Chez Hill. Forget the new name. After lunch double back on 23 to Sacacomie for gas then back 23 all the way to 345 and into LeCabanon. 200 miles for the day, trails ok not great, not terrible. They had an accumulating snow yesterday and the trails that were not groomed last night were a little loose and some bumpy, not bad

6 February 
quick and easy today. Great stay at Camp Taureau. Had a big room with lots of space fit all three of us. $80 each all in with breakfast and dinner. Sweet place. Will return. 9:25 or so out the driveway and to TQ33 all groomed all tge way to TQ63 and into St Michael then beyond right to Cabanon. Caught big tour group just after leaving town in St Michael. Took a bit to get by but we did. TQ23 from Cabanon nit terrible but 350 further down was rougher. Took trail through Lac Blanc nice crowd for monday. Sweet trail all the way to St Etienne and home. All in just a 204km day in driveway here a 1:15pm. 
 
Awesome trip with mostly spectacular trails. Great team. Don’t get any better. Very happy to be back. We will regroup and see what’s next. 
 
 

Yeah every two weeks isn't cutting it. That's the point. Even with a fresh groom the mogul memory will be there and it'll be rough by Friday if it isnt already.  I experienced the same thing when we were up there 3 weeks ago.  I found they weren't getting 83 back flat either.  Seems like they do 83 weekly and 345 down to Casey every other week.  I get these are long difficult groomer runs.  They're probably 20 hrs to leave Parent, go the Wemotaci, go to Casey and return to Parent.  Then something similar to go to Clova and back in the other direction.  It does come back to a management issue though I'm sure.  The unit will run 24 hrs if you can staff it.  Either that or the brand new groomer is causing them lots of headaches.  I'm not one to complain as it's a thankless job and I've done it.  But sure would be nice if they could get the grooming frequency on these sections up.  The clubs other groomer out of Fer a Cheval has no issues keeping up with traffic.

Finished breakfast got squared up and geared up. Much warmer today not quite Aruba but not nortb pole anymore. Under Layers back to normal operations. 
 
There was a big group here also from Montana Adventure, Martine said they are out of St Alexiis des Monts they were 7 or 8 with the guide all french from France. Nice to see some big tourist groups. 
 
They were already outside almost ready to leave i had spoken to the guide they were doing stricty trails. Last night they were in La Tuque, to Windigo, and now to Gouin tonight. 
 
Long story short they beat us out the driveway as they are westbound too toward Wemo on TQ83. 5 minutes head start. 
 
We are good. I catch last guy in under 5km of the driveway from Windigo. Damn gonna be a long few KM. Cannot pass here way too much snow dust and not safe. Trees have been cut but they still are sticking close to trail not worth the risks. 
 
I know a good guide will be stopping at the junction with TQ83 and counting his ducklings. We will scoop them here. And we do without any drama. Westbound and hammer down. 4-6inches of cream cheese on trail. 4 others left Windigo early. They are obviously ahead as there are tracks here. 
 
Fast run into Wemo, os Snohorse said later it was one of the smothest runs through Wemo ever, for sure the fresh snow helped alot as did the new trail dropping into town up over the mountains with the Scenic lookout. This also reported earlier by Team Vermont. Thanks guys.
It’s this kind of intel i find the most helpful. When a trail changes and you kniw about it then when you get to ride there it’s nice to know before.
 
Leaving Wemo westbound immediately after the gas station you cross the first single lane road bridge then continuing on you come to a right turn onto another small single lane road bridge. 
It’s here we stop to pay our respects to my great friend and father in law Gaston. He died here Easter Monday in his beloved Mack semi doing what he loved. 
Emotional day as this has weighed on me the entire trip knowing if eventually this ride gave us it all….we would pass here today. 
Gaston’s memorial cross is covered by the snow, but its there in the woodline. 
Miss you everyday mon ami. 
Now we are off to investigate this plowed section of TQ83.
 
left Gaston a Team sticker 
 
 

We love her 😉
 

Living in Ottawa has its perks as I get to ride Ontario and Quebec on the same day. I thought I would give you guys a little taste of my local riding area.
I live on the west end of Ottawa right on the outskirts of the city with an rail bed that the club grooms right in my back yard. Thursday Bucky and decide Thursday is the day to ride as Friday is going to be numb biting. The plan is to cross the Ottawa River at Fitzroy Harbour where the clubs on the Ontario/Quebec were given permission to use an old train bridge to get over the river, ride up past Shawville and then to Ladysmith Hotel for lunch and then back home. Easy 300km ride.
Just a few pics of the new Bridge, Warm up shack at Campbell’s Bay and of course the infamous Ladysmith Hotel.
The W1 trail looking back at Ontario.
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The bridge crossing the Ottawa
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The warm up shack.
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The Ladysmith Hotel
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Not sure what happened here but we were feeling a bit sideways after 😜
 
 

More pics other days
 
 

Good to finally meet the ice man and crew very cold for most but not for us short ride but a lot of fun at Lac A Jim to night  Look at this delicious Fondue chicken and beef 

Few pics
 
 

30 January 
9:30 am no rush. No stress. Patience. Bust out the driveway and swing onto TQ3 est. Trails been groomed but did not show on Imotoneige on this morning’s update. This will become a discussion for later tonight. Nice smooth ride through Shawi Sud as we retrace our path from yesterday’s end of the day. We arrive on local trail back near rail yard and no dice this morning, another train blocking the crossing. Oh well back to turtle lac then to the River trail to join with 23. River smooth too. Open to go either way on 23. Marked and still closed going north to Mattawin. 
 
TQ23 through Herouxville then to St Tite. Big improvement in trail since yesterday but none was showing up as groomed on imotoneige but was definitely groomed. All the way to St Joseph de Mekinac 360 is sweet and up to join 355. We have seen a few sleds headed south then just near Train bridge a big group we pass on the road sectiom there 12 sleds easily. Trail is holding up nice and continues to deliver. Local trail to TQ73 right turn and hammer it. 73 is a slotcar track. Join back up with. The 355 headed north to Lac Edouard. Here tge trail is switched up from last year its running the quad trail almost alll the way to near Relais Trapper trail there. We continue 355 its ripping. Trail Down to get on lake is not a groomed trail so you need some patience. But the payoff is there as the lake is a beauty and snow is flat we can run here. Having fond memories of staying at Le Goeland and all the adventures there. Good times. Bypass Le Domaine and go gas at co op. Then up shortcut by post office to join 355. 
 
355 is beautiful and we have seen 4-5 other sleds. Very peaceful today. Beautiful trail up to section where the trail is along logging road. Bit of work needed on this trail through work area. Not the best. After this section its go time ad this trail has a nice flow to it. We get near the gas at Lac Bouchette. As we head up and cross train tracks there is a loader working not far there scraping trail down to ice. Not sure but at least was not very long section torn up. 
 
We gas up and decided to stop at Auberge Eva to see what they had to offer. 
We have never stayed here. I never even stopped before. Always driving on through to Roberval. Or further. 
today we said we are stopping here. 
 
scored sweet cabin great view down to Lac and free heated garage. Homerun and super well received. We will be back. Surely. 

28 January 
Not too many early risers at Chez Ice, this AM. All good no stress, going out for a shakedown run for Snohorse he is taking the Freeride on his Freeride 850 as the Backcountry is at the doo. 
 
We had played with syncing these Sena radios last night but we are all ready to go and we got zero coms. After using radios now I find it to be like riding with my GPS, do i need it? No, once you get used to something that improves your gameplay then it’s hard to go without. Nice to communicate while rolling. 
 
just could not get all 4 together. Finally we went with 2 radios myself and mrs ice. It’s Saturday and we take no chances. . We will straighten this out tonight. 
 
Geared up we bust on out. For Saturday we were expecting a little bit of everything. And exactly what we got. 
3 west near home like a Ukranian Highway after being shelled. We bailed on that after no long at all to hit the local orange trail headed for St Louis de France then on to Cap de Madeline. Not too shabby. Lets keep rolling these local trails so at Junction of 351 alongside autoroute 40 we go back up the local orange trail through St Maurice and join back with TQ3 in St Narcisse. Lots of fluff but smooth run really impressed with trails here. Some traffic but not crazy. TQ3 through St Narcisse here is best some but not terrible either. I seriously consider taking another orange local back through St Luc Vincennes to join up with 351 however we will probably return that way later so onward to the juction with local trail near St Stanislas that runs up to Relais Station in St Prosper. Been alot of traffic here. Real beat up we continue on we cross river in St Stanislas. Rough down here too but onward. Big detour as trail is rerouted to avoid completely the old Rogers Cabin. We ride on and continue down to join 351 and we go east toward St Anne de Perade. Here we pull it in to Ferme du Taurieu Microbrewery for lunch. 
 
Great lunch, my first time here we shall surely return. We bail out and hammer down for home 351 it is. Mrs Ice says she thinks she is tired of following me so i tell her have at it, I will follow you. I know she loves this run and run she does. This is goid trail here and we make time back to Cap de Madeline then on up to homebase. 
80 mile ride.
Got situated at home then the boys and I headed for Shawinigan Sud to eat at Shawinigan Smoked Meat. It did not disappoint. 
 
Back home and we settle in. 
Tomorrow we ride again local Mrs Ice has other commitments and will join us for dinner. 

 

After the rescue and lunch, we ran back up 85 to 35 west.  35 is fine and goes around the top of Lac Pohenegamook.  I didn't see any stakes or tracks on the lake.  There was a red banner across the trail opening on the east side of the lake.  35 to 526 to 5 and back to Universal.
The best news is Relais Pohenegamook (two arches), Relais Explorateurs and even the little relais on trial 5 in St Antonin was open.  The season is upon us.
 
Jack & Sandi

Today 2/1 was Amosphere to Lac Failon, some grooming needed on the western side of 83 but as you get closer to Val-d’or It was what you expect for Abitibi, Senneterre to Failon was mint! 

Don't expect much at Lac Fallion,was there a couple of weeks ago.no cook either,micro-wave your self supper.breakfast was a toaster. seems more and more these remote places.

Lets get a collective together and create a private Quebec Rider lodge here. 

 

here the ride we did Sunday January 29 under a temperature of -12C with snow

Left St-Thomas near Joliette around 9:00 AM to go have a lunch at the Lac Blanc outfitter near St-Alexis des Monts.
Despite the snow, the visibility in the distance was correct, we could easily see the stakes, but it was difficult to see the relief of the trail. Luckily,all trails had been freshly groomed and with the deep cold night the conditions were perfect.

As usual in these snow conditions, visibility was almost perfect in the woods

Since the snow had just started, we chose to do the most fields section in the morning before there were too many snow blades. Here on #3 in St-Cuthbert.

This weather reminded me of when I was a kid and the school closed due to snowstorm and i was spending the day at playing in the storm.

It ride extremely well, perfect trail. We went through the #63 and then took the #350 in the St-Paulin sector.

To note in this sector, the gas station in the village of St-Paulin is closed on Sundays.

The trail was nice and beautiful snowy scenery


We arrived early around 11:15 for lunch at the Auberge du Lac-Blanc

It was wise to arrive early, the service was fast and impeccable and it was more busy when we left an hour later.

Although we had to come back home early for a family dinner, since it was still early we were able to stretch the ride a bit by going north on the trail à Gaston (#350 northwest).

Again, very cold temperature helping, the trail was mint and the beautiful 3" layer of snow that gave a smooth ride in powder

The little 900 ace is a lot of fun to ride in these mint wooded trail conditions.

The snow cover is getting impressive in Lanaudière/Mauricie, in the good ones that we have had for several years

We quickly pass by  Koubec 

And went back down south via trail #345 which was perfect.

We went through the Mandeville sector

I was tempted to take the marked trail on Lake Maskinongé but with the snow and the wind my sweetheart was not very comfortable with my plan so we kept on the land trail

The trails were a bit more rough in  St-Gabriel sector but I was not surprised because I had read they had a major breakage on one of their 2 dozers at the end of the week and they only have one left to groom their entire territory.
We went back down to the St-Cuthbert sector where we resumed the morning trail path to return home. There were more snow blades in the fields but it was still riding well

We were quickly back home around 3:40 p.m. with 232kms of happiness on the meter
The season is now with outstanding conditions and we finally have some real cold to freeze the trails and make them more solid. I expect the few rivers that were not safe yet to be ok by the end of the week with the weather forecast ahead.
Gentlemen, start your engines and go!

A few pics of Marina Chibougamau this am.

Started 1/28 from Drakkar, Reggie was a great host as always, nice trails up to Lac Edouard Presbyterre. 23/73 and 355 all excellent. Day 2 was 355 to 83&93 nesting in Normandin at Makadan b&b. Excellent place! 

Today Chibougamau to Amosphere , skimpy for about 10 kilometers south of Lebel sur Quev the rest is excellent.  
 

Got the 1970/2013 600ACE out on the snow today. Runs great.

26 January
-8c very windy with blowing snow
maybe around 8” so far