mccaffrey

You guys take on some of the neatest runs.

You guys take on some of the neatest runs.

Guess I was 2nd best here 🤷 🤪 

Done

Damn, it’s that Putin price hike. For sure.
Agree on the seeing places with no snow by road. Love spotting trailheads and checking out everywhere whenever I can. The Spyder trips have been awesome for this. 
I like knowing where I am each time I cross a road no matter where it is. Can be very helpful maybe even lifesaving some day. 

Just sitting here watching the price of fuel go through the roof. Anyone want to take a guess at what we will have to pay per litre at the remote outfitters this coming season! I predict $4.00 per litre.
On another note Lisa and I did a driving trip in Quebec last week and stayed at the Delta in Jonquiere one night I have to say the new Boston Pizza is a very nice addition and has an excellent atmosphere. After we drove around the Lake we stayed at the Coronet for a night sure looks different when you drive in rather than arrive on your sled! We then headed east to Havre St Pierre and of course we had to travel through the Pessamit native territory the group responsible for closing the TQ3 last season! On the return trip we had to back track all the way to St Simeon because the ferry was canceled at both Godbout and Baie Comeau and as we neared the Pessamit territory there was a guy hitchhiking with a sign that said Pessamit I did not give him a ride!

Unbelievable!  And the States couldn't get enough snow for a full season of riding.

Unbelievable!  And the States couldn't get enough snow for a full season of riding.

Unbelievable!  And the States couldn't get enough snow for a full season of riding.

I just found this statement from the ministry of Quebec on the APTN website:
The Ministrie has been working with provincial and local governments to safely transport the polar bear back to its natural habitat or to the polar bear sanctuary of the zoo in St Felicien. Unfortunately, due to enforcement of current Covid regulations, all containers approved for bear transportation are currently occupied by those who have chosen to disobey said regulations. Since the Canadian government is still not approved to execute its citizens, the bear had to go.
The Ministrie would like to thank the offer from Thomas Rohlman to use his trailer to transport the bear, but unfortunately it’s only approved to transport large cats. We would also like to thank him for his subsequent offer to purchase the bear skin, which will now reside at pourvoirie kanawata.
Sincerely,
Jean-Donald LaGlace
Directeur, Ministrie du Quebec

Centimeters of snow in Murdochville 
load em up
 

Suffered a serious emotional blow monday.
A few of my friends here met Gaston my father in law.(mrs ice moms partner for the past 21 years).
A gentle man a truly fine well repected hard working soul. He was like a second father to me. I admired him so much. Trying to come to grips with all of it. To say everyone who he knew and loved is devastated is an understatement. 
 
The world has lost a humble, caring and loving man. 
 
Still in shock.
He died doing what he loved. He had no time to be afraid and he did not suffer. This brings us some peace.
RIP ti Gas
un vrai bon homme
 
 
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Mt Valin is very good right now, from the ski area to Escomins. Chapel will close after this weekend, dont know about Km31. Lots of snow, but cant imagine grooming will go much more than one more week. Other areas are showing alot of running water and trails closing. 

Nice run, awesome trip for sure!  Lot's of us QR's roaming around last week not ready to give it up just yet.  Please don't post any food porn for my benefit. When I start looking forward to another bag of chips or another poutine photo, PLEASE shoot me in the head).

Did the sled corral look like this Saturday night?  We were there as well, I should start wearing a QR hat when in the hotels, that way we can recognize fellow members.   
 

So  we had 3 areas on our radar last week but was waiting on the weather Wednesday to pass before we left. Based on the great reporting of Iceman we were debating Val D'or or LSG. Gaspe  I figured would be too soft as well some areas were getting quantities of snow and likely not the best trails without time. So Early Thursday am on the black trail to Saint Raymond. Arrived by noon. Anxious to try our very late arrival new sleds. Route was to be the Delta for the night and then over the mountain to a place Des Cedres? for Friday night and back up through the orange Saturday to Alma and truck Sunday. Well 10 miles in buddies new machine is not purring like a Cat and chain case not sounding good.  Turn back and bring it to the dealer next to the Roch. Turns out assembly at the factory missed a ring and gear was moving. Chain and other internals need replacement but all parts available and ready by 4. Great service. So new plan now. While I have never been to this little place they have and wanted to return. OK so if we take the 3 across we could potentially get there in a long day. I was not as enthusiastic on this as I never seem to find the 3 in nice shape. But being a Friday, albeit one after a rain storm it might be ok. Well turns out it was a white carpet. Incredible smooth. Some areas likely not ridden in days. Passed 2 locals all day. Only hick up was when we came across a section marked closed. Didn't see that on the app. Trail looks good though lets carry on. Not long after we see why. Its a water crossing and yes there looks like there might be some water. We joke we have floater suits and off we go. Appears to have looked worst that it was was. Next day might not be the same. Well as the day progressed my thoughts we're turning to the Fairmont for the night. It was about 4 when we were in the area and was starting to rain and it was an easy sell to the other 2. This Des Cedres place will have to wait another year. Other than the rental sleds there were 2 others in the garage. I miss the buffet but have a food porn pic for some of you sicko's from breakfast. Saturday plan now to cross at Tadousac and take the 93 up and over to the Delta. Well the rain and cold temps had the trails challenging in that they were darting like SOB till be got closer to the Ferry. Again only passed a few sleds west of the ferry. Rode to Sacre Coeur for Lunch and topped up. After the morning tight twisty trail the 93 was a welcome site. Double wide and smooth just the way our turbo's like it. Made short work to La Chapelle and was good till about the last 5 miles before the mountain sleds wrecked it all. Went in for a break you know support the locals. Not sure who does the hiring but all very healthy. They indicated even though there's an abundance of snow they will close after next weekend. So trail was beat up from there down to the ski hill. After that was very rideable and into the Delta about 5. BP for dinner and breakfast and nothing special here.  Maybe 8 other sleds in the compound over night. I think  there was a ground of 3 from Maine, rest Quebec plates.  I was really expecting purple when i woke up Sunday morning. Was cold enough over night i felt to groom but at 7 am wasn't showing me what I wanted. Well after breakfast I was rechecking the route and wow it was updated and there was purple every where, alleluia!  Route now changed as we take the 83 to the 23. Used to take the Bill trail but doesn't show as an option now. Well in hind sight who cares. This was perfectly groomed and well set. Great fun with the hills etc. Into Mt Aptica for gas & sugar pie a little after 10. Passed a few sleds but expecting to start seeing more coming north. They will also be closing after next weekend. Onwards the trail was a solid 9. Great sections to stretch  out the turbos again. Maybe 35 miles from St Raymond noticed a corner had been missed. Stopped and there was a burnt out 2 up sled hard against the tree down the hill. Hopefully they are ok. Just the skeleton of the machine as a reminder. About 20 miles from St Raymond as we get lower the trail is now soft mush but at least its smooth. Pull in at 1 and load up. 640 miles for the 2/12 day riding. Forget that its April this was some of the best riding I've had in ages. For the most part great weather, light traffic and rarely a bad trail. I think the very cold weather helped this season for solid base. While there's lots of snow places are now closing off. Its really too bad but its the economics of it all now. Hopefully next winter will bring many of you easy access to come north again and rekindle your love affair with Quebec.
Didn't take a lot of pic's as frankly more often than not trail was so nice I didn't want to stop but  will upload some that i took later.

2 April Saturday  End Game
 
Out to face this last day for this adventure and for this incredible season. Feeling especially thankful this morning for having great friends like these two to spend time with doing things we love together. Teamwork makes the dream work. On and off the trail. 
 
We are on sleds and rolling out around 8:30. Was one other sled in corral. Gentlemen came from St Raymond through Lac Edouard up to St. Felicien. Today he was going over the Lac and to Chicoutimi tonight. Back to St Ray on 23 Sunday. 
 
The plan was, as usual, mutually agreed upon. We leave uo 373 through Relais Buttes. The cold overnight has made it all crunchy. Not icy, but scratchers are deployed. Amazing how a little bit of heavy flurries last night can be emptied outof fields by the wind onto the trails making nice fluffy drifts. We get to 93 and head toward La Dore. Tank em full. We head off on 93 direction Sciere 54. Leaving La Dore near groomer garage. Two guys are there they look like club guys. I pay no real attention other than notice them sitting there. Trail All drifted here has not been touched in a while. We plug on. It gets better then sketcy. Not far up i arrive at right turn and there is no more trail, been opened up by a bulldozer. Game over here. Playhard arrives and says he got flagged down by guys at groomer garage and from what he got from conversation with them was fermer, no go that way. Sounds about right. So like all other times we pivot. There is talk of going around through Resto du Chef and trying to bypass the bulldozed section. However we decide juice aint worth the squeeze. We were going to do 45 miles up and turn back just to check it out. Not today. 
 
Next.....back on 93 to 373 across through Normandin and over to 93 again up to Girardville all mint trails here in our “honey hole” no need to look any further. We initially plotted plan b as riding the 373 passerelle trail east from Girardville opposite what we did the other day. Got some gas in Girardville then up 93 to 373. Passed one two uo and saw 2 other sleds headed west near Normandin. Ripping fast and smooth all the way to Chalet Relais there. We start to head down other side and we were feeling it. Not gonna do it. It’s just not uo to our standards. It was a solid 7-8/10 trail but I knew as did my brothers that back in the “honey hole” were all 10. Back we go down 373 to 93 then its a small part of 93 up to Lac Jim we have not been on yet this run, this is perfect as it will help complete the Pac-Man. After Jim we stick on 93 down the bump out. Up the orange a bit to gas in St Thomas. Then retrace our steps to 93. Getting warm now. Trail has started to turn to mush. Time to get this over with we have ridden the good out of it here. Back to local orange past site touristique chute d’ours and hook up with orange across river back to 373 and down through Relais Buttes. Squshy trail now sun is making things very melty. Soft but good all the way home. 
 
Wrapped uo a fine 2 weeks. 
End of the season 21-22 that started for me in December just after Christmas and finishes today 2 April. 
Nice to have the boys back in country. Just missing one. Next year we fix that. 
 
Thanks all for being along for the ride.
 

Amazing to still be riding across staked lakes and rivers in April. Trails are still amazing, but soon the sun will take its toll and the brown spots will multiply. The groomers will stop grooming, and that will be that until next season.
After some initial equipment malfunctions where flexibility and a sense of humor got us through, its been an amazing 2 week long season ender with 2 great riding partners.
 
Hope you all enjoyed the ride along with us!
 

Headed for Sageunay Sunday thru Thursday.