Fuse6

Would like to make this meetup but it is Thursday and or Friday we will be riding through Groomers area.

At Roland in Perce Rock having a late lunch. Perfect day to sled!!!

Our crew is in Mont Saint Pierre tonight. Started at Mont Joli this morning. Trail were great once you got out of town. Bit choppy in spots as you would expect after the warm spell. Heading for Gaspe, Perce Rock and Grande Rivière tomorrow

Excellent report and resource Playhard. We are doing the exact same route starting Monday except starting in Mont Joli so won't be making the run to RDL. A few questions: 1. Is it a nice ride down the 587S from Amqui to Campellton vs taking trail 5 2. To get gas at LaCache is it far from the Junction of 595 and Murdochville trail. We will be leaving Murdochville full heading to New Richmond so may not need to gas at LaCache if it is far off route. 3. You did find gas in Mont Saint Pierre???? On the map and GAS BUDDY I didn't see any. we are staying a night in MSP so would be great if can gas there. 4. Any part of your route you would avoid if doing again Thanks, Steve

It's 1,340 km as shown. First 3 days are all 320 km (200 miles) third night will be at the Francis hotel in New Richmond. From there it is 400 km back to trucks in Mont Joli. We have 5 days available if needed. Have spend so much time planning this and now we have gone from 5 guys to 8 I would be amazed if the plan goes as planned. It will be the first Gaspe trip for 6 of the group so maybe stopping more for pics etc than people that have been there multiple times.

Phil, I'm a farmer, I hate rocks but we will still go see the Rock. Wanted to stay at Roland's but they never responded to 2 emails and one phone call. Thinking English may be the issue.

This is the route we are planning on doing . I did a lot of research of all the old posts on here.Received some Input from some of the veterans like Snowfarmer,SMclelan,Iceman and others. Many people said the Murdochville to LaCache was a "must do Trail" For lodging go to Quebectrails.com for some ideas. I had a couple nights was having problems finding rooms. Called Louise at Quebectrails (speaks very good English)and she had us rooms books in minutes. The only way they benefit is if you buy trail permits from them. So 5 from our group ordered permits and she courier to our starting hotel in Mont Joli. We are started the loop on Monday Feb 27,

We arrive in Mont Joli This Sat Feb 25. Depart Sunday morning going clockwise. Wish we were starting 2 days later. Should be lots of snow, maybe to mild for the groomers on the weekend? Group of friends are arriving in RDL tonight. I will text him late Thurs for a trail report. Mont Saint Pierre to Grande Vallee is showing fair on Quebectrails.com. I'm guessing they are still trying to deal with the drifted snow from last week, and conditions will improve. Can anyone confirm that? Are the grooming maps updated mid day or just 6:00 in the morning thanks

No I have never posted pics from my phone, doing our trip a week from now so was hoping to figure it out. Seen from a few others having problems with file size.

That looks like it was worth the drive. Great pics, are you posting from an iPhone?

This made me laugh. I raised 5 boys. Had to teach them all to ski, I figured out by the 3rd one if you give them a little push at the top of the hill the smart ones figured it out pretty quick. What a gong show getting everyone ready to go to the hill, By the time I got everyone dressed, loaded the Suburban, Sorted skis and pole, boots on etc etc. By the time I had everyone's skis pointed down the mountain I would be so aggravated it would be happy hour before I'd get my sense of humour back. First of January we went to Panorama B.C. Skiing with 3 of the kids, they are grown up now so much more enjoyable time. Modern ski boots have a major design flaw. Wife can't get hers on either. Was going to tell her to lose some weight might help, thought better not when she had a ski pole in her hand. I put a wrap of Saran Wrap around her foot and slid into boot much easier. Only advantage of a ski hill is much better chance of finding some rich old widow that could possibly finance future sledding trips. Seems like you have to humour woman a bit to do what we really want to do: SLED. Just last week took my wife to Mont Laurier for a few days to ride. BUT on route we had to stop in Ottawa to skate the Rideau Canal. For those not familiar with the Canal in the winter they plow and flood 7 km that winds through the down town. Of course the only place could find parking for the truck and 4 place trailer was at the very south end of the canal. Had to skate up hill the full 7 km to get to the down town center by the parliament buildings, then another 7 km back for 14 km round trip. High light was stopping at one of the shacks they have right on the ice for some Poutine. If you like skating it actual is a neat experience . Well back to packing my saddlebags for next weeks boys trip to the Gaspe

Will be arriving in the Gaspe next Sat Feb 25 to start our clockwise loop at Mont Joli. Should be passing through your area Thursday Groomer. Looking forward to riding your trails that have seen so many pictures of. This will be my first tour of the Gaspe

David, excellent trails, great friends and charming accomandations, does it get any better than that. To bad your new sled had problems, frustrating being brand new. I'm doing the Gaspe Bay tour end of the month so this area will have to wait until next year.

http://www.traversiersbourbonnais.com/en/about-us/history/ For anyone travelling from central Ontario, New York State, PA etc there is a very easy way to avoid travelling through the down town and city of Ottawa on your way to various destinations in Quebec like Mont Laurier, Montipeller, Saint Zenon etc The trip through the city is a zigzagging, full of stop lights and several highway changes to get you from the 417 S of the city to HWY 50 N of the city that you will want for destinations N and E in Quebec. To catch the ferry stay on the Hwy 417 travelling east, 417 turns into Hwy 174. The ferry is approx 10 miles east of Ottawa right on 174 at the village of Cumberland. There is lots of signs. The ferry runs 24/7, Usually 3 ferries running and never wait more than 5 mins to board for a 5 min ride across the river. Does cost me $18.00 for my truck with tandem 4 place trailer. (worth every penny) you off load in the village of Masson on the Quebec side . From there it is about 3 miles straight N to Hwy 50 to continue your trip to the N or E. in Masson there is fuel, McDonalds, Subway etc if need food or fuel. If you don't know the route through Ottawa avoid it at all costs. Very difficult to get back on route of you miss a turn off.

Scranton Are you familiar with the Ferry you can take about 10 miles east of Ottawa at Cumberland, crosses to Masson on the Quebec side . You can completely avoid downtown Ottawa and the zigzagging trying to get to highway #50 if your headed N to Mount Laurier or Montipeller etc. I think the highways through Ottawa were laid out by a drunk fur trader. Takes a good wheel man and a better man on the GPS to navigate through the city unless you know the route. The ferry completely avoids the chaos.

I thought about going there this week Feb 8-12 as I have never ridden that area. Unfortunately they were all book when I tried getting reservations a couple weeks before hand. Is there a lot of road crossings there?

My wife and I just arrived at Village Windigo tonight at 6:30. Was dark when we arrived but wow what a beautiful place. The Wood Runner Trail that Mark just posted gives you all the lodges for options if you don't want to base out of town. In ML for hotels there is Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, Best Western and a new Super 8. Comfort Inn is my first choice, great restaurant on site, good trail access to go N or S from town, nice rooms. Quality Inn, stayed there 2 weeks ago, nothing bad just the place is getting old, rooms a bit tired. Trail access is bit of a scrape across the bridge if no fresh snow. Decent Resturaunt on site, Boston Pizza next door. Super 8 is right across Rd from Quality, Driving by an hour ago didn't see any sled trailers , not sure there is much parking? Best Western, never been there looks nice on the web. Don't think there is a restaurant on site and don't think any thing walking distance. Comfort Inn and Quality will let you park while you are gone for few days, might be a small charge. $10.00???? A day. Neither is a gated secure lot. Over years have stayed both places for 4 days each time never had problem, not any recent truck theft that I know of. Village Windigo, Rasaka, Club Frontbrune are all best part of an hour N of ML by truck.Only 40 km but a rough road. never driven to Mekoos, think a bit further. They are all very nice lodges, definitely more enjoyable experience vs hotel. Not positive what your wanting to do. One suggestion would be trailer to ML, stay first night in hotel then head out, maybe head up to 100 Lacs lodge for a night, about 100 miles N of ML. Circle around and stay at another lodge next night. Will never be to far away from ML but there is all kinds of excellent trails to keep you busy for a few days. I know getting lodging for Friday and Sat nights is becoming a challenge. Do you use a GPS. TRakmaps is a huge help getting around and staying on route in villages or trail junctions etc. The Wood Runner system has installed a lot of new signage this fall, Finding your way around is easy if you know what lodge is near direction you want to go. I assume you look at the FMCQ interactive map. Those orange trails that look like minor trails on the map; most of them are beautiful trails. Look at the grooming map 7:00 AM and head for the greens. once you get out of town even the trails that haven't been groomed for a couple of days are still normally in great shape if it has been cold and have stayed setup after grooming. Steve

Is trail #53 from Mekoos going N as nice as it is from Mekoos going S? Love that trail, fast, twisty but open enough can see on coming riders.

Any experts here on the use of the Spot3 or similar emergency beacon units? Normally we are riding in a group of 4 or 5 and always thought if a bad incident did occur would hope for the best. Late last winter took my 18 year old son to Quebec for the first time. Was just going to be the two of us and I wanted some backup if there ever was a bad accident. This week heading out with just my wife and myself. So I bought a SPOT3 but still figuring out all the details. I understand if the need ever happened and someone pressed the SOS button the GEO systems mother ship receives the signal which will give our exact GPS location via satellites so cell phone reception isn't required. They then contact emergency people in the area. What I'm not clear on is the chain of events that will take place once they receive the signal. How do they know if need ambulance, fire truck etc.etc. On the SPOT web page in my account looks like there is a box I can type a message before depart on trip that would help dispatch determine needs. can some one confirm this. As an example could I type: " On snowmobile trip in Quebec between Feb. 8-12, if SOS signal is received require immediate medical assistance, on trail only accessible by snowmobile " i realize there is the other options that you can send check in messages or tracking options. My main concern is understanding the SOS system in case of a true medical emergency. I see in Towing pictures he rides with a unit mounted on his bars. Thanks Steve

Enter Mont Laurier into the search at the top right corner you will get lots of good reading. You want to stay in town in hotel or N of town at one of the lodges. How many of you in your group, how many miles you like to do in a day. I can add lots more later, heading to pack, we are leaving Wed morning for Mont Laurier for 3 days of riding. Think this will be my 5 th time to the area. Linda's suggestions are very good, will want to do most your riding to the N and E.

Will be arriving Wednesday afternoon, spending 4 nights at the Village Windigo with the wife. Weather forecast looks great for this week.

I would like to donate my $42.00 to a Gratuity Fund for all the well deserving Groomer Operators and other dedicated club members. Would be nice if all these people realized just how much we all appreciate their efforts. Lot of dark, cold lonely nights spend grooming so the rest of us can have our fun. Hats off to all you men and women that make it happen.

Received your Parking plans Mid Range, Thanks My son and I hope to be in Maniwaki about noon Friday, then head out from there.

This was just posted on Facebook, never been on trail 311 from Shawville to 43 so not sure if open all the yet or not. We are going to trailer to Maniwaki Friday morning then sled up to Mont Laurier area. Just working on lodging now for Friday and Sat nights.

Here's a map showing the two spots you will want to see after you leave the Rabaska Lodge in the Devils Mountain area Waypoint #1. Chutes Du Windigo which is the water falls Waypoint #2 Top of Devils Mountain with the lookout. There is a Resturaunt at the top. It's not always open, depends on the weather. Both spots are close together, good signage once you turn off 322