mccaffrey

We took the shuttle late last week.
the driver was great and quick. We waiting < 5 mins to be picked up for the first two and maybe only 5 more minutes for the second two of our group to arrive !
they are making the best of a difficult situation 
Schooter

On the trails today, 30 miles to go heading to matane on quebec 5 east. Snowmaster2112, Motonick, Emily and Andre. Trails are great, sun is bright, Snow is deep, the air is cold, perfect day.

Second trip to Quebec 2025
Day 1.  Landed in Pointe a la Croix from Nova Scotia about noon Tuesday with 8 riders!  How it ended up being that many is another story...ending with me never saying no. Headed out on the TQ5 west to the 587, first stop St Irene store/pub. From there dropped on the 591 to Matane and into the Quality Inn.
Day 2.  Loaded on the ferry to Baie Comeau from there took the TQ 3 toward Forestville. The new rerouted trail before the Betsiamates River is awesome to say the least. Some beautiful viewscapes. Gased sleds and bodies at Forestville and pushed on. Took the short cut eliminating running down to Portneuf sur Mer and the second one to the Escomins club. Landed at the Coronet about 5:30.
Day 3.  Left early from Coronet and within 3 miles one of the sleds was overheating and puking antifreeze. One guy went back to town for a jug while we tore the sled apart looking for the problem.  Ened up driving it into a drift to get the nose in the air force coolant to the skid. Started working again, figure it air locked some how.  Rode the TQ 93 to Mt Valin and the Chapel, it was first time there for a few in the group. They understand now why it is a must stop destination. Left at noon headed back down the local toward Forestville, on to the 330 then took the short cut across the river to the other orange trail rolling us into the Econolodge late afternoon.
Day 4.   Took the orange trail right out of Forestville to the outfitter at the end. Heard the trail was called the "Canyon", it did not disappoint, spectacular views. Back down to some of the other orange trails and into Forestville for gas. Gas and go back to Baie Comeau for the night.
Day 5.   Left early for the 11am ferry in Godbout. Of course this is when the sled mentioned earlier overheated and puked antifreeze again.  Got the nose in the air and back underway. At this point we realized the thermostat is sticking closed then open because the sled won't come back to temperature. Made the boat with time to spare, the trail was freshly groomed. The boys know why that is called the roller coaster trail. Off the ferry west on the TQ 5 then on the 587 over the mountain, into the lookout/ghost trees and to the Select in Amqui for the evening.
Day 6. Woke up to about 8" of fresh powder, first track right to the Cable Bridge. From the likely met 30 sleds getting back to Pointe a la Croix.
Overall there was a ton of snow everywhere, amazing grooming, and perfect weather. Largest group I have traveled with in many, many years but actually went very well. From the fasted sled to the slowest never more then 3-4 min wait to have everyone catch up. I will try to post picture in sequence.
 

We are four at Normandin, Levi’s. Motonick, wife, Andre #1 and I.
heading to Universal today in RDL
cold and windy but plenty of snow…..Yippie !!
hey…..it’s my birthday….another one spent in Quebec. Also the 2 year anniversary of the “big debacle “ in Degelis but we’ll be having NONE of that today.
here this morning, and for Iceman
 

This is to justify the $15 a sled next season in the Zec’s.
 

I'm still using paper maps and compass to have success I'm in big trouble  with this sport but not giving up yet

Day 5
 
Dolbeau to Chicoutimi (Tour du Lac) 
223 miles 
 
Said out goodbye to La Dilligence for this season. Out the trail 9:15. Rough here through TQ93 in Dolbeau. We arrived in Albaniel and here club Geant has things top shape like always. Fresh groom on the 373 here and we are off on our tour du Lac. 
 
373 is awesome its colder with today big sunshine. Wind from the north. Drifting the edges of the east west trail we are on, here through the fields, Its not an issue and the grooming is super. 373 groomed all the way to TQ93. Back down now and into La Dore all great. Seen 2 sleds and we now take the local trail orange from La Dore gas. Its also been groomed and is in great form. It just keeps getting better. We are spoiled rotten with great conditions as we now arrive at TQ83. That is another bingo on this trip rode trail end to end both ways. TQ83 now and its first time on this section this year. Its stellar and even the trail to the gas was perfect. TQ83 now and through to Chambord its just incredible how lucky we been with trail today. Not a bad place yet. We continue to 383 and its fine as well some loose drifting snow in fields nearing Alma and then we take TQ23 past ski bee doo and on down in Hebertville. Very few sleds so far all day. Very fortunate with that and the trails are mint. 
 
Now back on TQ83 and through Auberge Presbytere even the hill climbs here are decent. We continue on and its just awesome all the way to Jonquiere then on to Chicoutimi. 
 
Awesome day, the ride of the trip so far. 
223 miles in 7 hours door to door. 
 
Sorry not a single picture today. 
 
Came across a recovery taking place near Chambord. When we stopped these people explained they were just coming along and saw this guy way down this incline stuck. I couldn’t see where he missed any turn or anything, they said the guy was playing hors piste (off trail) sorry i aint going down there, he chose to go down there I aint up for this. If it was an accident or someone missed a turn ok. They had 6-8 people there with shovels and sno bungees, have at it. Nonsense the guy goes down there and he was alone. Darwinism. 
 
Tomorrow gotta bail south 
 
 
Until next time. 

Day 4
 
Dolbeau to Dolbeau 
200 miles door to door
 
About 2-3” snow last night. We are off to nowhere again. Had our makeshift breakfast of leftover pizza. Had a quick look at grooming just because. We roll out of the Dilligence our home here in Dolbeau. Very clean, comfy and has great shower pressure.  
 
Gang of 2 ups 5 strong fist thing out back of Hotel headed for TQ93. Took a bit but finally they stopped and we roll by them before turning Left on TQ93 which was Groomed last night, all tracks i see here are headed the other way. Sweet running here all the way to the other side of town and beyond into St Monique and we arrive at Junction of 373. Seen a few sleds headed the other way so far. Here 2 guys take off up trail in front of us. We quickly close in and they see the writing on the wall. We are past. This trail all was groomed last night at least to Lac Eden is my guess. Its mint but soft a bit. We run on up to 373 ouest and continue on sweet groomed trail. As I thought from imoto groom ends here at trail to Lac Eden. Have not been there yet but i need to go check it out. I emailed them and never got a response so that doesn’t sit well with me. Maybe they don’t need my money? 
 
Upon turning left here at Lac Eden this section of trail has not been groomed last night. It has fresh snow and further we push on deeper it is. 6-8” compared to 2” in town. Its warming up we are following a few sleds for sure thr trail is hard to read the tracks all over the place. Several groups of wide track machines going tge other way all with the big utility boxes it seems to be the in thing to have the box if you got the wide track local runner. Year of the big boxes. Ha!   Hey, Nice box.  Seriously can fit lots of stuff for sure. 
 
Catch up to a group here,  now i see now why i am confused by sled tracks i am reading. These guys are riding nose to tail all over the trail. Using it all. Painful but got nothing I can do with it, not going. I wait it out. Arriving at the relais in the  center of the trail the other 4 of this group of 7-8 is there taking a break. They stop and we roll by. Hammering on now it’s fresh groom here to Girardville side, nice ride back to TQ93 into Girardville gas with 100 miles. Gas n go. Back up TQ93 time to finish the bingo here. 
Up to the middle orange and left turn down. Usually never disappointed here and today no exception. Super groom no one has gone down all traffic up. SWEET. Down to Normandin then 373 back to Albaniel and TQ93, we turn and burn back across 373 to orange middle at Normandin and thats a Bingo  time to bingo some more . Up to rejoin TQ93 and Bingo, down to Albaniel on TQ93 and on into Dolbeau for another night. Warm thiscafternoon, almost felt bad, as for sure trails are taking a beating, surprised how quickly the asphalt is clearing off with one warm day. 
 
Dinner from St Hubert delivery to us. No fuss. 
 
One mare day up here then we bail out south. 
 
Until next time. 
 

 
 

Just put a garmin tread 2 on my Lynx… 500 miles and it’s the best one I ever had…comes preloaded with all North America… it does a lot … it will take a while to learn all of it but basic important stuff is very easy…699$…amazon 2 day prime … 15 minutes to install and hook up to usb port if you have one 

Next time we stay  .. i swear im swapping the fridge door swing ! 

New trail to TQ83 from 
Pouvoirie La Dore
Approximately 
 

Day 2
 
Windigo to Pouvoirie La Dore 
228 miles
 
Wonderful perfect stay at Windigo. Great breakfast and we are last to say our goodbyes. At least we made it once this year, never enough days here. We left before 9 and back tracked to Relais 22. Took the gas and chatted with Sean at pump, he says to the river Tranche on TQ83 first 30 miles not bad, but Roberval side not good. He was spot on. Crossed bridge where hut used to be before its relocation this year. We are back in Gaza here like trail has been carpet bombed. Ridiculous, very bad.
 
No choice onward we go, I am not into bullshit trail. And this is more than bullshit. First opportunity as we headed up , we jump off trail and use road that is not plowed and not groomed but better then the real trail by far. Luckily no transport in Zec Lievre here it’s finished for this year they are elsewhere working. We use the road and do not feel bad at all about it. We reach the real access road which is plowed but was light snow last night and it’s not heavily sanded, you betcha staying with it. The trail is horrible, We Run Zec road down to where I could get some Champagne and as sure as Bob is your uncle. We have arrived in the promised land. 
 
Beautiful groom here as always and we take TQ83 to Local Orange trail. No complaints here and just better and better as we cruise into La Dore gas with 100 miles on the tank. Apex getting good mileage by my standards. Took 29 liters the 850 etec took 24 i think. I will never get that good mileage but was happy. 
 
Its early still,  before 1pm so off we go for some trail bingo. TQ93 to 373 to river crossing near Relais des Buttes. Then orange trails to Normandin and back to 373 and then to TQ93, headed down crossed new bridge there in La Dore, then turned around and crossed back over bridge and returned to local trail toward Chute des Ours and then circled back over river again and then 373 back to TQ93 and this time up to local orange trails to Resto du Chef. All trails up here as we want to see them. We paid the price of admission now it’s time for the show. 
 
Gas and supplies and off out the back of Chef to TQ93 not bad at all up and into Pouvoirie La Dore. Maddy was grooming trail for us into the lodge. Stephane and his crew and family here do a fabulous job. If you never been here you are missing out. Awesome lunch too. Alex the chef is super. After dinner he came out to give us a shooter of the sapinette. Liquor made from pine trees. Interesting. 
 
Big chalet (just one this season more to be winterized soon) 4 bedrooms 2 baths i will post all the photos. Stephane is great, super friendly and great hosts here. You can rent the chalet and have it all to yourselves. We are just two enjoying a private VIP stay. Love it here, another paradise. Just feels right here. Had awesome dinner. Had great conversation with Stephane for over an hour. 
 
Now for a couple of  QuebecRider.Com exclusives. 
 
Remember you heard it here first. Lets see how long until it gets brought to FB 
 
First off TQ93 was closed to Chibougamau because photos posted online of the bridge being used were forwarded to the MRNF they were the ones who closed it. 
Before it was publicly shown they were kinda looking the other way with one club grooming to one side and the other club to the other. But they did not appreciate seeing it posted and reacted. Demanding club mark trail closed. I think he said 67 kilometers will not be groomed from scirie 54 to Barriere du Nord. People still using trail but will not be maintained in this part. 
 
How about a second exclusive tid bit?
Remember where you heard it first
 
Stephane here is purchasing a Groomer and has all the permission in place from the municipality and those responsible to groom a private trail to TQ83 trail using a summer road. 
Might be one Team Vermont is familiar with. 
It will be a link from TQ83 to the Pouvoirie. 
If not mistaken trail is 28km long and would make the run to Relais 22 about 80km or 50 miles. Sounds very interesting. I am coming up to ride in the groomer next season gonna do some grooming while here. 
 
Will attach a map with about where trail will be. 
 
We are in position now , we will not be going to crazy far. Gonna use up these trails here where they know how to groom it nice and keep it that way. 
 
Until next time. 
 
No set destination tomorrow, probably Dolbeau. We shall see. 


 

Day 1
 
Shawinigan to Windigo 220 miles
 
2 players in the game on this excursion,  myself and Snohorse. Missing NHmoose as he attends to some urgent business in the south. Oh how I was so on the fence as to where this ride was going to take place. 
 
With the big snow careful consideration is in play. There are groomers down, and it takes several passes to groom in that much snow, not to mention temperatures are warmer and combined with high traffic and the sun higher in sky. It can cause problems. Am I thinking about it too much? Maybe, however i like to hash it out and make a best guess. 
 
Though about a run west. We only are out 7 riding days. From home that’s 2 days out 2 back. Leaving 3 days out west. Not nearly enough. Will wait on Hotel Matagami to be rebuilt then return to the west next season. Not in the cards this year. 
 
Gaspe…well no Chic Choc trail to stitch together the 595-597 and the shuttle thing. Combined with it just opening for the full tour. Yes, they usually handle big snow the best. But no, for Gaspe. 
 
Its gonna be back to the old reliable. Lac St Jean. Maybe a dabble in Saguenay but we shall see. 
 
Snohorse arrived at the house and let himself in. The Mrs and I arrived not long after.
He already had rehooked the trailer he left here last run. Unloaded his sled and my machine was ready to hit the earth. We settled in after stashing sleds in garage Spent a nice evening at home and prepared for putting on our snowmobiles in the morning. 
 
Hate Saturdays but a necessary evil this run. Did i mention i hate Saturdays.
 
Out n at it 8:11 out the drveway. We had 50 miles on tank from last ride so gonna need the go go juice before running to La Tuque. 
 
Surprisingly great conditions on TQ3 all the way through to Local Trail to Lac A Tortue. Here the orange trailis lumpy not groomed in a few days. Continue on through CN Rail Yard in St George then on the way to the TQ23 junction groomer headed at us. We will take it. Short section then to TQ23 through Herouxville and to St Tite catch a gang of 5 here i pass one but the others are nuts to buts up the middle in the dust, I am not getting in this mess. I know we are gas bound in St Tite ….so perfect they go left on TQ 23 and we go right 351 to gas to the right there not far from JCT TQ23
 
Gas and go back up to TQ23 not bad at all… we go on to a favorite of Scorpionbowl the 360 to St Joseph de Mekinac. Its a beauty all the way to the 355 Junction. 
 
Now the misery begins. 355 pipeline junk and junk all the way to TQ73 
 
From there into La Tuque not bad. Arrive at parking near Marineau and we see 2 police getting ready to join the fun. We scoop by and from here to airport and club garage is good. Cross road to go to gas at Irving and its like we landed in Gaza. Rough and whooped up. 
 
Get to the gas and behind us pulls in the 2 SQ police on sleds to gas up. We gas and have a candy bar. The police left and 5-10 minutes later we’re out. Leave out to join trail in back and here goes the 2 SQ headed up TQ73. 
Damn now rough beat up trail and I am on the heels of 2 Police. All the way through town down past the waterfall and to the steel deck bridge. 
Awesome here we have a local group of 2 ups and a few single riders with one sled stuck on bridge just spinning the track going nowhere. When in doubt. Gas it. Traffic jam on bridge. Finally get across group stops to let police go, well we going too. 
 
On by and now Police are hammering pretty good I am thinking dame this trail sucks bad but they are beating through it good. Not far up on plowed road trail bails left, i knew this, they obviously did not as they blow past the turn. All we see is brake lights as we make the turn and scoop them. 
 
Complete garbage trail all the way to Relais 22 seriously consider this be prepared to suffer. Gonna take several grooms to halfway fix it good. Hope I am wrong. Near Rapid Blanc right on trailburned up carcass of a kiity cat turbo. Not much left. Horseshit trail, donkey path along plowed road, wow, paying dues today. Into Relais 22 a little before 2:30. Went in said hi to Christine, had the soup. Sat and relaxed a bit. Police pulled in as we finished soup. They gassed and ate and headed back south. I Chatted with groomer operator Claude they call him “ti poil”  sitting at counter he was getting ready to go down to La Tuque. I told him you got a big job ahead he laughed. We wrapped up our vist to the Relais 22 and decided to head out the old trail and take our chances on the closed bridge. 30km or so longer by the new TQ83 west. No issues not groomed and some single wide but better then most trail we seen today, we join back with the TQ83 here where most of this years fiasco began,  with the forresters bulldozing the trail for wood transport. More on this later. 
 
The TQ83 was not terrible here even being a new trail cut fairly quicky thus season. Trail of the day was driveway to Windigo. 
 
Love being here. Martine, Daniel and Stephanie. Better hosts you will not find. Love talking with Dan. Martine very upset at the poor communication and planning of forresters with snowmobile club. Each fall they meet and discuss where transport will be working and where they need what they call a pad, which is a trail to go along the trail being used for trucks. 
The forresters called the club to say we might need to open trail for trucks buti in reality the bulldozer was already opening it and they had no plans for a pad. No snowmobile clients stayed at Windigo until Jan 27, this is wrong….that in 2025 they cannot get things straight and hurt a small business like that. It took alot of work on Daniel and Martine’s part to get other agency involved like the association of pouvoiries of quebec to get the trail open. Should not be like that. Welcome to Quebec.
 
Only English speakers in town sat night. Met a husband and wife from Thetford Mines 
Arrived 8pm left St Raymond to Mattawin to Kanawata then said from Kanawata to wemo and just before windigo was a nightmare, Experienced rider, they rode almost 680km he said. He once did similiar loop alone left 7am st Ray did 987 km back in St Ray midnight. Other group came from Notawissi said horrible trail all the way on TQ83, i am not going out that way this year. Not happening. When the trail from Kanawata to Casey sucks then what? 
 
Headed back to Relais 22 and up to Lac St Jean in the morning. I hate Sunday too but a little less. 
 
 

Friday morning when we departed  Rivière-du-Loup It looked like 10-12" of snow had fallen. The trails hadn't been groomed yet.  I decided to take the more 
direct route straight down 85 to go back to Fort Kent vs. going to Squatec, and then 571 back to 85 in Degelis as I had originally planned. 
About 38 miles down the trail we ran into two policemen on sleds that warned us of the groomer coming. The ungroomed trail was not bad by any means, but fresh groomed was certainly nice. We got gaz at the Petro in Degelis. The Stiff breeze an at 10 degrees F freezes hands quickly.  It was about
 50/50 groomed/not groomed the rest of the way through Quebec and New Brunswick. All good going. We crossed the border in Fort Kent just 
after noon. We cleaned and moved the truck, then had a coffee and  then a quick loop in the County and  then loaded the sleds. Drove home Saturday without issue.
 Got a Beautiful view of Mt. Khatadin
from Patten, Maine.  Another 
nice trip in the books. No incidents, malfunctions or breakdowns. That's always a great thing. We are having interference
 with the Senas. We think it is when a microphone gets wet. I am using Sena because my wife and I had them when we rode on the same motorcycle together.
They are perfect for that, but there is no range at all when on separate vehicles. I haven't looked into it yet, but if conditions and health allow me to continue
 snowmobiling, I think I would look into something that is a radio, vs. BlueTooth. A couple of my friends have Chatterbox and seem to like them. What are your thoughts 
on Radio vs. Bluetooth? What are you guys running? Thanks.

We did the Moose Valley run today. On the trail at 0822, back by 1622. Great trails. Thanks @mikerider. Had a soup and 8 liters of $11.36 per gallon gaz..Snow storm tomorrow.probably won't venture too far.
On the trail at 0822. We rode to the Moose Valley Lodge in New Brunswick. Some beautiful trails. 257 miles. 
https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6JNQ458x6
 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kkH2pwyiMXBRUCHc9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3tMWnMZL38cjbRvz8
https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6JNQ458x6

Not much for pics on this one.  Valentines run with the Mrs.  
Back to the same neck of the woods as last year’s valentines run.  I think I spotted team Vt. headed the other way on the 20 this morning.  

we use communicators for this very reason

Spent the night at Saint-CREAM and gave thanks to St Christopher (the patron saint of traveler and bad weather). Woke up and had one of the best breakfast bagels ever. 
Then headed down to Lac Brouillard. A couple sections of 383 and 83 were plowed. Ended up with a miscommunication and no place to stay (our error) the owner was very helpful and ended up heading us to Auberge Le Camp de Base. 
Had dinner at the restaurant and the local boys had to hockey game on the big screen (cell phone on the table).  Basis base camp no amenities, any port in a storm. 
Woke up, ran arose 301, a very scenic route, highly recommend. Continued on down to the double tree, looked like the groomer had some difficulty across one of the bridges on the 3 which explains why a large section of the trail isn’t groomed. 
The boy is headed back to Nova Scotia tomorrow to finish his last semester of university and parents are heading home to Oliphant. Had some good trails and some bad ones but it’s all part of the sport we love. 

They have found another bridge not conforming to standards. That makes 2 that need replacing or major repairs.
The first bridge with the one lane action was apparently never okayed for use by the MRNF(minister resource natural faune) they have the final say in the park up there not the MTQ, minister transport 
people are still going to pass through this trail for sure it just won’t be maintained and if something happens well then… too bad for you on a closed trail. 
 
 

Tabarnack!  Torchman failed to negotiate the corner…snow conditions may have been a factor.

Started the day with breakfast at Lac Eden and Guylaine told us the story of how they became the new owners. The property had been abandoned for 7 years when they took possession in January 2024. They’ve been working hard to make this place what it is today. This places had everything you needed and very reasonably priced. Started on the 373 met some locals from Lac Eden. 
Very hard day of riding. Stuck quite a few times, help others as they helped us. Tried to make it to Lac La Doré but unable due to drifts. Turned around and ended up at Hotel du Jardin. 
Woke up still pretty beat up from the day before. Rode around the top of the lake for a short day, stopped at the salon for a shot, then carried on to Saint-Cream (a renovated church) for the night. 

February 14, 2025. The original M&M tours are down two so only 2 McKENZIEs left Oliphant and one from Antigonish Nova Scotia to meet up in Quebec City at the Double Tree.  Saturday morning we unloaded and were off; lunch at Poutine du Boss.  Trail 3 was choppy but all things considered was good for a Saturday around Quebec City.  Continued on the 83, was in great shape all the way to Lac Moreau. (Auberge du Ravage) Treated great, had fresh halibut from the Saguenay River that was amazing. All and all great stay, if you’re ever there make sure you say “allo” to Coco the bird. 
Woke to freshly groomed trails. After an hour in and after many, many years of leading, Byrd passed the torch to the young lad, it’s time from him to get the experience as the leader. Rode up to the Grenouille, and the place was hopping, for those who don’t know, Grenouille is French for frog. Back down to Hotel Sagueneyenne just before the snowstorm began. Got our sleds parked in the garage and the food was great at the Tommahawk. 
Woke up to Beaucoup Neige, and thought: “don’t let bad weather and common sense keep you at the hotel”, so off we went.  Rode to BRP dealership in Alma for oil. They have Great deal on non-current sleds if anyone is looking. Continued on in the blinding snowstorm. 
On our way up to Domaine du Lac Eden. Breaking trail all the way. Came across a a few guys that were in a mess but the SnoBunji to the rescue. Had them out within 5 minutes. Continued on to our destination, cozy cabins and good chicken leg dinner. The M.R.S. is not happy with her 129”!  One of the toughest days we ever ridden in, but the mirror inconveniences are part of the experience. 















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