smclelan

Great pictures Groomer. The snow was a little bit deeper last winter, you had said the stump was just under the snow. That being said as I remember from the summer the top of the stump is at least 6' high. There is lots of snow there. The pic on the bridge is taken from where we worked on your tire isn't it?

Great picture Andyman!! That has to be the most photographed bus in all of Quebec. I will be there next week and will take another picture, they were supposed to get another 30 cm last night. Do you suppose that will be enough to bury it??

This is a non-issue!! Just read the thread on HCS, the sled was not registered anywhere! In Quebec it is law you have to have your sled registered. The person that started this should have listened to the police offficer that was writng out the fine.

Some really nice pictures!! I like the one of the sled on the lake and the camp behind it. Also, the one with the moose stand in the background.

Those are some fine looking trails.

LOL The expression "Slacker" came from a friend of mine, at Lac Des Huit Miile, a native from the area no less. I think he had a glass of wine in his hand when he said it!!

Come on, your a slacker!! You can't spend all your time on the couch. You spent all fall laying around the camp, now this. Maybe you could go help the boys groom the 587.

Welcome to our addiction.

When you have the right clothing the temperture really doesn't matter.

Do you have an approixmate head count for this most excellent event?

I am not sure what kind it is but it sure is fast, all I can see is white from the snow dust it left behind.

Good to hear, that was a great place to stay, the food was incredible!!

There are some big piles we drove past a couple of miles east of the Saint Paulin club. It will be too bad if this is what they are going to get, it could ruin some very good trail. Hopefully they will leave room on one side or the other to get by and use a big fleet of trucks to finish quickly.

It is up to someone in the club to report trail conditions. If this is not done then it is assumed to be closed. Groomers section is 10 out of 10 and is not shown as open yet. I believe a lot depends on good communication between the clubs and who they report to. Patsy on Quebectrails .com does not call any clubs, if they call her then she updates her site. From what I saw of the trails up the 595 and west you will have absolutely no issues.

Macdav and I went for a little New Years Blast of the Gaspe for a couple of days. DAY 1 We left New Years Eve day and got back Janruary 3rd. It looked from Patsy's site that all the trails were closed and rumors were there was no snow after the rain. I am here to dispute these stories. We left early on the 31st from Pointe a la Croix heading east toward New Richmond. The trails were hard but there was lubrication and no shortage of snow. We then went up the 595 stopping at La Cache for a coffee and on north. We stayed the night at the Relais Chic Chos just outside Sainte Anne Des Monts. This is the first time I have stayed there and would certianly recommend it to anyone. DAY 2 The Metro Media had called for 1-3 cm of snow, as per the north shore of the Gaspe we woke up to 8'!! Headed out in the morning toward Chap Chat for gas, did you know the two gas stations in Chap Chat are closed New Years Day. We then headed out back toward Sainte Anne Des Monts for gas. After about two and a half hrs driving we were back to the end of the trail for the Relais Chic Chos. Were we ever making good time. Our next stop was one I always make, the St Paulin Clubhouse. I stretched the TZ1 Turbo out on the straight aways on the way into there. We stopped at another favorite spot in Sainte-Adelme but it was too early or it was closed because of it being New Years Day. From there we skirted around Matane and went down the local trail from Saint Luc de Matane to Saint Vianney and into Amqui for the night at the Auberge Ambassadeur. This was also a great place with indoor unheated parking. The food was good and the waiteress were friendly and could speak english. DAY 3 Took off on the 587 toward Mont Joli then switched onto the 579 till we hit the TQ5. We went west till we landed at the Auberge Le Relais just outside Rimouski. Had lunch and a brown pop there, lots of sledders coming and going. We then headed back east on the TQ5 till the intersection of the 587, we followed it till the 591. We stayed on the 591 going through Saybec and to the TQ5 at Lac Matepedia. We sailed from there to Amqui and stayed at the Ambassadeur again. Day 4 Took off up the TQ 5 to the 591 where we went to Auberge Le Pente Abrurpie for breakfast. This place was closed, so we said we would stay on the local trails and have breakfast in Saint Vianney. This restaurant was also closed. Getting very hungry now. We stayed on these back local trails through Saint Tharcisius, Sait Alexandre des Lac all the way to Eight Mile Lac. We then headed toward Causapscal which is where we met Groomer. I strongly recommend trying some of these local trails they were all in good shape, great scenery, and low traffic. We lunched with Groomer and took off back toward the truck. We stopped at the new cable bridge and just pasted that took another local trail to L'Alverne. There was more moose traffic on this trrail than snowmobiles. However about 3/4 the way through we hit a plowed road and had to follow it for a few miles. Had a beer at the clubhouse there and landed back to the truck right before dark. The trails were 8 out of 10 or better everywhere we went. The whole trip was about 740 miles and I don't think we met more than 12 sleds. Everyone we did me was on a corner though. Macdav at the bus Cable Bridge at Chap Chat Intersection of the 587 & 579 Does this look familar longridersSS Just outside Saint Tharcisius A strange looking chap we met along the trail

Did anyone travel this trail last winter? There seems to be conflicting stories if it is still open or not.

Is Lac Temiscouata at Cabano frozen yet if you travel on Trail 548, or would you have to go down trail 569?

The Excel Sheet revrnd did up is a great tool.

Does anyone know if Camp De La Haute Maeleine is going to be operating this season. This outfitter is set up about 5 miles east of the Northern intersection of the 597 and TQ 5 above Murdochville. A group of us stayed there last winter, it was an incredible spot. They did not advertise on the Gaspe Trail map this season as they have in the past. Sent an email but have had no response so far.

I will third that, I always have them packed in my saddle bags. I would rather be looking at them, than for them.

25 more days and counting...

Check with Saguenay Bill about the Choko Claw. These are a 3 finger glove. When you meet a sledder signal there is someone behind you and don't worry about telling them how many. The main concern with gloves is to have warm hands. The last person in the group can signal with the fist up.

Merry Christmas one and All.

I picked up the second sled today. It sounds very nice, and looks just as nice.