smclelan

Welcome Doug,
There debate on whether wheels are necessary or not could go for pages. Personally I have traveled in Quebec for 18 yrs without wheels, however I got a deal on a used pair thanks to Andyman the last year I was up there.  I will never have another sled without wheels. Are they a necessity, no....but I would rather be looking at them, then looking for them. The ease getting around gas stations, restaurants, motels, or ferry terminals makes it worth the price to me.
Sounds like a great trip you and yours Buds have planned, awesome scenery.
 

We are supposed to get another foot here in Nova Scotia!  I would be happy to send it to Quebec if I could!

Worst case you run down the highway.  Ideal no.  But its a short jaunt.  I wouldn't change your plans over it.

900 with all this gear and my big a— on it

Thanks for sharing Chris, great pictures, maps, and fly overs for each day.
 
 

We are supposed to get another foot here in Nova Scotia!  I would be happy to send it to Quebec if I could!

Thanks for sharing Chris, great pictures, maps, and fly overs for each day.
 
 

Chris dude here. We have been saddle bagging all over. We haven’t been on 83 much as we are not heading back yet.
we left from the Delta and are making the loop counterclock wise.

We are supposed to get another foot here in Nova Scotia!  I would be happy to send it to Quebec if I could!

Don't send it UPS if you do ....It won't get there until Summer!

We are supposed to get another foot here in Nova Scotia!  I would be happy to send it to Quebec if I could!

We are supposed to get another foot here in Nova Scotia!  I would be happy to send it to Quebec if I could!

My thoughts on Perce 
Travel the TQ5 past the Perce trail, if it is groomed go in for sure, it is just a step.  If it is not groomed it will take longer for sure.  What are you missing if you do not go in......a picture sitting on your sled in front of one of the most iconic viewscapes in all of Quebec.  If pictures are not important, no loss, otherwise unless you plan on another trip you will never be any closer.
 

We are supposed to get another foot here in Nova Scotia!  I would be happy to send it to Quebec if I could!

Just pulled the trigger on a 2024 Lynx x terrain brutal 850...trading in the 2020 extreme...lighter sled without the two speed transmission with XRS suspension...and 4 more wheels in rear skid and a 7.2 cluster...all the Linq accessories swap over...great trade and 1.4 interest...putting my faith in many more great winters ahead of us...and hopefully the best is yet to come this season...like ice said...IT ISN'T OVER!!

Alright, here I am!!! It was a much-needed get away as lots of my friends teachers are gone on sick leave and report cards to be done by Monday. I had to be in the nature for a bit. 
I don't know if we're lucky or what, but we got some great trails considering the kind of year that it is. Born and raised in Quebec all my life ... I have never seen it like that ever. Even I'm surpised. Never had to fully open my jacket in February... 😳

Love the new helmet, I get a better look when I cross the street, there is no air leaking through which will be great in colder temperature since my previous helmet had the air vents on my chin broken open. I also love the color/look  turquoise! It's also much lighter than my other one so I feel the difference after a couple of hours of riding. 

New radios are great too. My favorite? It's to hear other people talk when we're set in mesh... I like to spy and sometimes jump in the conversation!! ahahah like yesterday! I almost got free chips! 

Like lover said, was the first time passing people, i'm not the fastest but not the slowest either... I was getting bored behind them... I don't understand why they never let us pass them. When I see some people catching up to me I tell Don and we let them go by. I mean if you caught up, you should pass us, no? They had several occasions (road-crossing) and the leader of the pack never really looked back. Anyway, we got through, one of them got nervous a little. 
I thought I was back on an old trip in April in Matane at some spots like you can see on the pictures. BUt the rest was really good. I'm happy!!

It was the second time that I passed the bar of the 300 km in one day. Proud. Even though I was maybe too tired for that, and the boys never stop for lunch. 😒
 
First real riding in the pack with Snohorse cause I was the middle. I felt safe knowing he was behind me. 
I also got to lead most of today, calling out coming sleds, studying the turns on my own, basically reading the trails for myself, looking where  it goes and all. I also got to ride on my private groomed trail, you know, the one all the way on the right!! 👌 Best place to ride. Some turns were mushy so a little harder to deal with for me, but I managed. 
Even yesterday at the end of the day on the TQ5 coming to the hotel I still had my private trail even though hundreds of sleds had passed by.  Got to love it!  

To the next time, I truly believe we'll get more snow ... I mean it's QUebec here.
Otherwise I'll be shocked that that was the winter 2024. (But it would mean an early start of paddling season with a small spring flood. ) 🙂 
GOt to have more than one hobby. 

Til next time. 
 
IMG_2117.HEIC

Saturday Feb 10
Rain and freezing rain overnight. Got up to survey situation 7:30. Not raining, radar showing worst is past so, off to breakfast then we will make a go out to check things out. Its warm though. 
 
Dressed down best we could, first damn helmet I had that doesn’t leak air. Solid and warm. 
 
Mrs Ice has to do class work for monday so we are going out and around back early. The plan was perfectly timed as we returned to Univerel it began to rain again an still gray and sprinkling on and off. 
 
Left hotel and another first this trip, I neglected to mention yesterday it was the first time for Mrs to negotiate through a pack of 5 two up sleds as we passed. I will let her tell you. Nicely done. Cleanly safely and politely. As could be. 
Today the first is over the bridge right here to the orange trail. Hey it’s the little milestones that keep me going. This is a new trail for me as was the 518 yesterday. Still nice here but we are sweating, Jackets open and snow soft. Too warm to enjoy. But not raining. 
 
Orange local along the 20 to St Andre here to 559 boney along roads and crossings. It is what it is. Otherwise very nice. Greens and orange. Everyone touring running TQ 5 and it shows. 
559 to TQ 5 east to 561 the to Club house for a break there. The 526 is next it was showing some use. Too warm but starting to get more cloudy and windy. One two up and a single holding us up a bit. The two up leading is one you have those dreams about. The one where you are in you lane minding your business and round next turn comes this guy keeping cemter left. Wow. 
Caro was leading us and she said I am so afraid watching this guy. Afraid I am going to see something I don’t want to. She gets it. Very proud of her progress she soaks it all in. The force is strong in this one. 
Finally they go left on orange to join TQ5 we continue 526 up to TQ85 railbed bike path holdind up great, after relay at TQ5/85 here its got some ugly looking spots by peat moss bogs. Bad.
Into town not worst i seen. Asphalt all bare basically everywhere.
back with whopping 75 miles but Wife had fun and so did we, too warm now starting to rain again. This adventure is being called. Until next time RDL
We will return
will it be this year?  Who knows
Mrs Ice gets all credit for photography 

 
 

Has anyone been to Sept Iles yet this season?  Looking at doing a quick loop up there next week from the Gaspesie.  Looking for real snow level reports.  From online info it looks to be as good as most places, decent but not typical.

Rode out of Jackman again
 
75 to 25 then local trail up to 535 to 55.  55 into Notre Dame des Pins and on of my fav pic spots at the covered bridge.  Then 75 to 535 again to 545 back to 75.
 
Trail were great again this day, avoided the high traffic areas.  
2 flocks of turkeys in that field had to be over 40 birds.
175 mile day

Conditions were good on 80% of the trails. The percentage of shirt is up a lot since yesterday AM.
Typical mid season warm up that looks like spring riding. We were lucky to get in to ride Tuesday on…as we guessed it’s changing. Not sure how they even groom some of the areas that are real thin…while others remain thin but very good.
 

Yesterday Sandi took a day off.  Dave and I went out for a little toot.
Once again the groomer map showed most trails done overnight.  We took 83 west to St Bruno and then 23 north.  83 was fine.  23 is showing the lack of snow thru Alma.  A lot of snirt where the trail runs in town and across the bridge to 93.
When we were at the bridge, I recalled the first time Sandi and I were there many years ago.  The trail stopped in a small park just before the south side of the bridge.  This was way before many of the businesses were there.  There was a pay phone in the park.  Remember pay phones?  The trail map had a phone number printed on it to call for the transport.  A dime went in the pay phone and I called the number.  I don't know where the phone rang but it was answered and I was told the transport would be there in a few minutes.  If I remember correctly, a van with a trailer came over the bridge to transport us and the two sleds.  It wasn't much money.  A couple of dollars per sled.  He brought us across the bridge and dropped us off at the Tourist Center's parking lot.  Off we rode.  Boy things have changed but that shows you how into snowmobiling the Quebec people were and still are.
Back to our ride.  There was a club member checking trail passes at the intersection of 23 and 93.  A quick look and he waved us thru.  I like the little re-route around Alma that was done a few years ago.  It gets the trail out of the yukky stuff in town.  As we approach the intersection of 93 and 367, I see a dozen sleds parked.  Must be a group of newbies reading the trail sign.  Nope, I see two Police officers checking sleds.  Odd to be out on a Wednesday.  Usually weekends are better since there is more traffic.  The officer asks for the paperwork for the trail pass.  He checks the pass number on the paperwork to the number on the sticker on the sled and waives us on.  Its good to see them out checking.  Of course we weren't going over the speed limit as we approached them.
The 8 mile stretch of 93 along the power line is fun and we turn left onto 367.  It is starting to snow a little.  What a pleasant sight.  Not hard but a nice light snow.  Just enough to kick up some snow dust into the air.  We pull into Vauvert just to see that it is closed on Wednesdays.  Off we go on the local trail to St Jeanne d'Arc.  There is a bar on the local trail just before St Jeanne.  We stop to see if they have food.  Just beer.  I wasn't sure of the French but he may have said food on weekends.
Off to St Jeanne and we tank up the sleds.  Back on 93 towards St Augustine.  Relais Érablière is open.  I haven't stopped here in a long time.  It has been closed whenever I've rode by.  Good stop for lunch.  Not many choices but soup and an all dressed hamburger with fries of course is fine.
Back down 93 to the 367 intersection.  The Police have left their post.  We turn left on 367 and run along to Evaion Peribonka.  Right on the local trail and then 328 thru Begin.  All nicely groomed.  At 93 we turn right and work our way back to the two bridges and back to the Delta.
Another lovely ride.  Around Alma and back in Jonquiere the trails are showing some snirt.  No snow in the forecast and worse that that, it is warming up for the weekend.  I think north of the river and down thru the park should be fine.  In town, the road crossings and parking lots I imagine will be showing more pavement.  The big fields are thin on the hills and corners.  Quebec desperately needs some snow.
Jack & Sandi

Nice looking meals.  There are some incredible meals served at some of these outfitters!  Excluding Repos! (Unless snowmaster2112 disagrees)