Friday 24th
After a great day Thur. with everything falling into place it was time to move on and Phil1 had a plan to run through New Brunswick Via Moose Valley for lunch so he could say hello to his favorite gal in N.B. Josie. Off we went on 587 to local trails and into N.B. and meant the same quality trails and super scenery that we enjoyed in Quebec. Made it to Moose Valley for a great lunch and Phil1 got his wish as Josie was working.. After lunch Phil1 was leading the pack down through Edmundston and then pointed her north west on a super smooth FAST T.Q. 85 with his sights set on RDL and the last leg of our trip where he didn't disappoint with his pace!!
Got into RDL around 2:30 and loaded em up for the ride home.
I'd like to give a great big thank you to Phil1 and Scranton1 for the awesome job they did as our team leaders!!! Thanks guys!
One hell of a week with a great bunch of guys! Not only there riding ability but there Team Spirit and attitudes as well!
1303 smiles!
Tuesday-21st
Up and at em back up the local to 5. Trails are better this morning that yesterday afternoon. We cruise on 5 down to the local and into Perce and the Rock! The trail in is in great shape compared to past yrs. according to our leaders Phil1 and Scranton1. The weather is great and were able to climb to the top of the mt. for great views and pics!
After taking in the sights off we go back to 5 down to 597n where Scranton1 sets the pace on his 850 for the run to Murdochville and the Hotel Copper for the night.
bienvenue !!!
all groomers can do a great job i guess...you just separate the good ones from the bad ones when there s bad conditions...deep snow...drifts ..etc
when i started grooming back in 00 with sur-trac...it was a ts 110....was doing a good job...but once in deep snow and drifts....wooowww...extra work compared with the gilbert i have right now...but ..the ts 110 had only ...90 hp....going down to st fidele cb with gilbert , i save 3 hrs compared with sur -trac....more hp ...climb hills way faster....without abusing
i always liked sur -trac drag....was working great...but only 9' compared with 10 for gilbert
back in the old days with sur-trac...local sledders in town told me often that my trails were staying in better shape longer than the br in albertville
sur-trac was doing a good job...but traction was very poor compared to gilbert ...with the gilbert ...you climb right on top of the drifts !!!
we could talk and compare about groomers for hrs ...
on my way back...stopped home for a few mins ...then ,once back on tq 5 ...saw a sledder at the stop sign waving at me....went a few hundred feet...to clear corner...
surprise !!! it was yeti !! first time i see him ....great thx for stopping and taking time to talk a few mins !!!very appreciated !!! merci !!!
started grooming at 5 am...it was still warm...then on my way back while climbing long hill west st fidele cb...noticed it was colder....windy a bit ....then snowing lightly...bit of sunshine in ste florence....then back to grey sky !!....-10c right now !!!
hard to tell....an extra 4 '' this morning...8-10-12 '' ...depending where i was on the trail !!!
jean-guy
Gonna start this post here then continue in the Saguenay LSJ forum tmmrw when we get up there.
Its the beginning of the end and as all good things must come to an end, this season is no different. I've got 3 rides set up back to back to finish out my season.
The first started this morning from Shawinigan and Chez Ice. This is a week i have bee waiting for as we got two QC rookies with myself and Playhard. We are 4 strong. My brother in law Al and our mutual friend Andy are with us for a 5 day ride. Both have minor sled experience but have experience on quads and streetbikes. They get it. Today was set up as a orientation day and easy 100 miles just to St Raymond.
Cold as hell, did I mention that? Wind is wicked and these new guys gonna be baptized by fire and learn what January feels like usually even though its March. Was 5F with a biting wind most of the day.
Dressed and sleds loaded. We left my house at 11:45. Guys got in late last night as My brother in law flew up from Florida to NY yesterday landed at 1:15pm then they had a stop in Mass to grab gear and up to Auberge Drakkar at 12:00am. 9am they are at my house and we go to pick up the toy box at Moto Thibault. No hurry we got all day. Grab trailer and kick some tires in the Showroom. We are back in truck northbound back to my house. We unload sleds and head inside the guys need to pack their saddlebags. This is done now we gear up and load sleds. Mrs Ice gets home just in time to say farewell as we cruise out the driveway and onto TQ3. Frozen just as suspected but no scratchers needed enough dust to keep things cool.
Some corners are rubbed off and it is slippery without the iceripper or studs it's borderline dangerous.
Playhard will set the pace for the new guys i will run tail gunner. Better this way. He is much more patient than me and has a way of teaching the basics. It's perfect. We are moving great these guys are quick studies. TQ3 to m-something to 23 then 351. All same rock frozen hard. With some loose dust on it. Some places glare ice, road sides hurting, gas stations, resto's, and motels bare pavement. So far.
351 thru St Tite to 302. Cold but we are plugging along. 302 to St Adelphe. River is frozen but just bare ice. We cross and up through town on some bare sides of the road.
302 and back to TQ23 we run this up to 353. We go to St Ubalde for lunch. Much needed warm up break its 2pm. Halfway to St Raymond. Out of lunch at 3pm. Ready for the sprint up to Roquemont. 353 to 73 nice trail. Everything flat some corners icy and wiped clean but its Saturday and we are seein more traffic closer we get to St Raymond. Down Railbed TQ73 its real nice. Not far out of St Raymond the guys see their first groomer. He is heading up. He pulls over and i watch as the guys squeeze on through. We sail on into Roquemont gassed up the guys with wheels (all of them) not me. Wheel on into the sled Corral i grind my way in as its bare in the lot and the Corral. Packed with trucks and trailers here. Unbelievable how many.
Nice dinner and some micro brews and we will call it day one. We lose that hour tonight and we have 7am breakfast.
TQ23 to L'Etape then up to Chicoutimi for Tmmrw.
So Dad and I probably had one of if not the best year so far in Quebec!
Starting from the begining we drove to Montmagney from Northern NY the first week of February. Our goal was to make it out to the Gaspe' Pinninsula and make it around the whole loop after trying two other years and not making it one due to not enough time and the other was due to snow storms. well this year we made it. And I have to say it was a great experience! It was everything I have heard. I'm sure there was a bump or two along the way but I just can't seem to remember them! At one point Dad asked me why we would even think about going anywhere else. At that time we had been riding on the best trails we had ever been on in our lives! And that says a lot because we have riden somewhere around 12 or 13 thousand miles in Quebec by that point. A seven day trip and we put on 1521 miles.
Next trip, after a few short talks about where to go for our March trip, which included Dad and I and my three best freinds, it was no doubt we were headed back to Gaspe'. So for me a 13 hour ride from North Carolina to NY then a few hours of sleep and a 9 hour ride in the truck we are in RDL on Friday march 3. Leave RDL Saturday morning and off to Amqui. A little windy but trails a 10 for sure. Sunday a ride south and meet Groomer and Linda and company at the club house. An honor for sure! Leave club house and make the loop on 587 through Metepidia and back up 5 through Amqui up to the Sugar shack in St Paul. At this point we learn that we can stay an extra day!!! WOO HOO! So off to Murdocville via La Cache. Call ahead and learn the Copper only has one room,BUT, they have a house avallible! So we march on across the Chic Chocs. Trail had been groomed the day before and was spectacular! I think we set a time record! Get to the house in Murdocville ans it is very nice! I highly recomend it for a group. I think it had 8 beds. A very nice bathroom and shower. And of course a full kitchen. Next day we are off to Rimouski. A little bit of a long day across 5 through Mt St Piere because of the up and down and turs. And a little bit of freezing rain getting in to Rimouski. Next day back to the truck. Rain,freezing rain,sleet,snow just about everything mother nature could send our way. But every face still had a smile on it! Like Dad likes to say its going to be an Adventure! And that it was. Back to the truck by 11:30 load up and some lunch and home we go! Some where between 950 and 980 miles depending on which sled you went by! Dad and I tallied up 2470 for the year. Well at least I did he was lucky enough to get an early 2 day ride in in January for around 600 miles. Not sure how I feel about my riding partner going without me but he is my dad so I guess it's ok.
Thursday morning in NY (Clayton) dad and I decide its time to go see the dealer. A short talk with the salesmen and our 2015 800 etecs are of the trailer and in the dealers barn and the new 850s will be here in the fall!
Now I am back in NC after another 13 hours in the truck (Broke it up into two days. Stayed in PA last night) I am sitting here writing this and thinking how great life is and how great it is to have a Dad and friends that love to to do this as much as I do! Next year is TOO far away!
That was an awesome ride Phil. I been to the Gaspe 7-8 times always mid to end of March. Don't think I've ever passed more then a dozen sleds in the whole 1200 mile loop. Trails groomed, tons of snow and no one there. It's a beautiful thing!!
took a tour of the back roads around 10am....huge snow clouds time to time....
still warm....-3c...
then landed at clubhouse around 11 am.....just too bad...missed a qr member by less than 3-5 mins according to waitress !!!
while waitress was calling me...cell was in my truck , while in the house for a few mins !!
very windy in the fields on my way back !!!
At breakfast this morning we spoke with several people who were calling it quits and heading home because of the rain that was falling. We looked at our weather apps and decided to give it a try. All I can say is WOW, did we ever make the right decision. Headed east on 5, looked like it had just been groomed overnight, took a right onto green trail 565 it was perfect a few inches of crusty new snow and not a single sled track on it. Then a right onto green trail 571 to Squatec for lunch. We back tracked to a left onto green trail 544, again new snow and no other tracks but ours. Finished up on 85 back to the Universal for the best 160 miles of riding this year. This place, the Universal is great, nice rooms, great meal plan, super easy access to the trails. A very easy road crossing to the those great trails. As Arnold say, I'll be back!!
The Red was the less challenging parts of the ride, the yellow would be more challenging.
Trip Summary
(Here is a summary, by day of the correspondence we posted over the past 2 weeks)
Our Cote Nord/ Lab loop trip starts this coming Wednesday. I plan to get a few picks and adventure reports on when we can.
The itinerary looks like this, but certainly subject to change based on weather, mechanical and snow and ice conditions.
We have 8 guys going on this trip, 3 from Maine, 2 New Hampshire (603 backcountry), 1 from Mass, 1 Nova Scotia, 1 from Lab.
Feb 22 Wed Depart Forestville for Sept Isle
Revct, we had a great day, as many of you guys know, that run from Forestville to Sept Isle is a mix of everything, from the old burn in Baie Comeau, to the roller coasters between Comeau and Godbout, then piston alley into Sept Isle. Just a little of everything! We had a good 295 mile run, a minor, but could have been major breakdown. Fixed and into Baie Comeau by 5pm, we were into Port Carter at 2:30, but needed repairs. Funny, pulled into the repair shop, and who is there, but the remaining part of , our crew also in the shop for repairs. Each of us with rear axle bolts broken.
Nice scenery today, a couple of the guys had never been over the big bridge, they loved that.
The rear axle bolt on one of the 154 free rides broke and disappeared, just north of Godbout. If the rear axle had come out, it wood have been a yard sale of parts flying and possibly a spoiled track. We noticed it, McIvered a hd wire tie wrap thru the rear axle and tied it off to both rails to keep the axle in. It worked for 50 miles! We lucked out for sure!
On 2/22/2017 at 9:03 PM, Northbound said:
Roadrunner, I am anxiously following your trip. We've been only as far as Sept illes several times which is far enough for us. Today we were traveling towards baie comeau from godbout and we think we saw two in your group heading east. One of the sleds looked like the lime and blue colored sled in today's pic. Stay safe and have a great trip
Jeff and Sandy
Northbound, we fueled and left Baie Comeau about 10:30 and were near Godbout around 12 :15. You should have met 5 of us, but we may have been spread out a bit? This is what some of the sleds looked like.
TB, we are hoping for decent wifi along the way, met some guts tonight who got hauled out of the Cote Nord on a car carrier today, said the trail was very rough. We are hoping that their rough and our rough are two different things!!
Hope to have wifi to report more tomorrow
Headed for havre tomorrow, we suspect ..bye bye to those great groomed trails
Thurs Feb 23 Sept Isle for Havre St Pierre
182 Ray, At dinner last night, I asked the group of 8 , how many have done this run to Blanc Sablon, we all chuckled when we discovered, none of us had, and it was Robs only time on that trip in 2006ish, and that was his only time out thru. It's not very often we put a trip together that most of us have not find lol. Rob lead the group today
We got an early start, on the sleds around 7, we were off on our journey!
We wanted to get ahead start on the weather system coming in, You hit the report perfectly, the first 25 miles were great to the Mosey River, then the next 45 miles, would make you ask your self I am doing this because I want to right? This section had the machine thru without a drag, a long time ago. But not marked particularly well, rough, but rideable, helps greatly to have a gps.
This section, would be ugly, after or during a snow storm, we lucked out today with decent visibility and some sleds have been thru. Than after 45 miles, and crossing river Tortue, bang, there was a fairly fresh groomed trail! Wow, should have checked fcmq and the groomer surfacing report, we would not have been so shocked, from there on in we rolled it out fast, checking into to Hotel du Havre around 2 PM and 170 miles on. A great first day on out journey, prepared to rough ride it in, but very happy, the last 100 miles were great!
On to Chevery tomorrow!
We had a small delay today with the sleigh, the Sleigh manufactured by Jean guy... Sleigh Masters Inc.. had a tie down bracket failure. The sleigh is owned by Robs, Team Maine. Fortunately, we had the warranty, service rep with us from Jean Guy Sleigh Masters for the repair. The ultimate issue is who pays. Team Maine claims defective material!, Jean guy Sleigh Masters claims product abuse! We see a warranty claim dispute on the horizon!!
Having a great time with a great bunch of guys!
DM, great to hear from you, yes, those areas that look like low snow coverage , are actually in a burn area, they are wind blown and boney, once you get down out of them, there is plenty of snow. I figured you were following along, Will keep posted as we can.
From what it sounds like, if you want to experience the Cote Nord East and don't want to wrestle with the 45 miles of marginal trail, east of the Mosie, some people trailer to Havre, and head east from here. An option, unless your a die hard rider, like many on this site, than you pound out the 45 miles of rough stuff to get to the good stuff lol
it sounds like the further east we go, the more the trail gets used by some visitors and lots of locals, we will find that out and report in
Friday Feb 24 Havre to Chevery
Yes Jack, we broke down a list of things we wanted, and rather than have 4 of everything and the accompanying weight we broke that list out among us. We took pics of what we were carrying and started the packing process. Here is a sample pick of some assorted small hardware that is in a small pouch on my sled.
The planning process is part of the fun. Couple that with an extensive back up of parts or the ability to locate parts in Lab city that Rob has with his Team Maine connections there, Robs wife, Tina is usually near her phone and has all our Spot/inreach devices addresses, so she can relay messages and report locations back to us if we get separated, or find the parts and arrange transport if needed. Rob and Tina from Team Maine are big assets for a trip like this!
Currently , we have the 1200 expedition with some sort of a fuel system issues, it is running, but very iradic at low and mid range. No engine alerts so not an apparent problem that we could find on the buds system. We hope this will work its way out this am and not become an issue. We will see!
SM, we all got a chuckle out of that one. We made it to Chevery, 247 miles. Pics are limited due to wifi restrictions. Will get a trail report up later. Great blue sky day today, a lingering problem with the 1200. More reports later. A great ride, all in all! RR
Well, we started the day, where we ended it yesterday, with issues with the 1200 expedition and the fuel system. So what do we do, we are 10 miles out of Havre on a beautiful blue sky day. So we use our "one" lol phone call to dial up our 1200 expert. QR's one and only 1500 HD, we call him tell him what is going on and he says, pull the top off and check the coil wires, than possible the electric throttle, or the rear draw tank has an issue. So trail side you tear it apart. We jus happen to have "5" top mechanics Trailside and off they go. Pulling this thing apart like we are in an Indy race. Coil wires are all connecting well, but one of our crew notices a kink in the draw tank feed line. We think that as this line gets warm, it collapses and plugs of the fuel venting. So we by pass the draw tank and set it back up like stock. Sled goes back together and runs great. Off we go in search of the "white road"
to be continued...
it should be noted, that Dixon, our Artic cat guy, who had problems yesterday, was somewhat celebratory that one of the skidoo had issues today! It's a tough crowd!
Once we get rolling, it is a quick 50 or so to johan beetz, groomed with 4 to 5" of fresh snow. You can't beat that. Than from johan to Aguanish, well... go back and read the description yesterday of the trail after the Mosie river. Yup, 50 miles of......enough said! You probably don't want to do this section unless completely,
prepared.. we bang thru this and once we fueled up and had a sealed packaged egg salad sandwich for lunch, we were off for the white road. Groomed trail, here and over to Natashuan, where the original white road used to leave from. We pick up the old white road here, but it is not maintained by the ministry so it leaves a bit to be desired if groomed trails are what you like. Now the 138 goes all the way to Kegaska, so the official ministry maintained white road starts here now.
once you hit the white road in Kegaska, it is like grand central, we met 50 plus sleds on this super highway this afternoon, all the locals were heading somewhere and also a few touring trail sleds. This trail is marked with a stake every 50 feet, seriously! A blind squirrel could find his way down this. So into Chevery we go. Only to have the 1200 start acting up again 30 miles out of Chevery, very confusing. Tonight our best mechanics in our group are changing fuel filters that Misty River lodge rounded up for us locally and a heated garage to do the repair! Great hospitality. Tomorrow, Lance au Clair....with the 1200 We Hope!
Jack and Sandi, today we were riding off road on the white road, no road base exists here. The snow trial is what the locals use to get around in the winter as they are land and water bound during the rest of the season. Talking with locals, they really lie winter because they can leave their communities by snowmobile instead of boat or plane. Tomorrow from vieux fort to Blanc sablon is where we will find the road system that is or used to be converted to a trail in the winter. We will verify that tomorrow as some think the road is plowed now with a trail beside it?
It also appears that if someone wants to ride the white road,and not put up with the intermediary trail to get to it. You would trailer to Kegaska and leave from there. If so this would be a very easy, safe, ride east from that point in Kegaska To Blanc Sablon, and the communites are awesome! Happy trails RR
Sat Feb 25 Chevery to Lance au loop Lab
Some of the trail and views from Johan beetz over to aguanish and onto Chevery yesterday afternoon. Note the stakes or tripods every 50 feet👍 The single track sections are between johan and aguanish. The staked trail and very new warming huts are on the ministry maintained trail between Kegaska and Chevery
To add to RR's post the scenery has been fantastic and the people warm and welcoming Wifi is slow some pics wil not upload will try later
Spectacular scenery from Chevery Quebec to L Anse au Clair Labrador
Harrington Harbor Quebec this morning, it is actually an island we had to ride across the sea ice from the mainland to and from.
All of the communities between Kegaska and Vieux fort have no road access from outside, they are isolated and have only local roads in their communities. In the winter, the roads are not plowed and the snowmobile becomes the normal mode of transportation, These people are very accomadating, friendly and glad to see you. Winter is their time to be able to move around and socialize. The Quebec transport ministries contracts for the white road to be groomed by large snowmobiles and rear drags, also the stakes and signage is done under this contract. An amazing process to experience and see in operation
Markus, loosely marked would not do justice to the piece between Kegaska and Vieux fort, as I mentioned earlier, that is marked every 50 feet, great signage, and maintenance. A very enjoyable ride on a clear day. You understand why they need markers however,as this is a major transportation corridor in the winter for locals and in a snowstorm, you would want every marker to get you to the next survival shelter!
Revct, you are right in that interpretation, the best way to experience the white road without running into loosely marked trails and unbroken conditions. Would be to go to Kegaska or Blanc Sablon to start. This section rivals the Gaspe in experience. The views are as amazing as the Gaspe and the white road trail is a very special experience not comparable with the fcmq system,
At the Quebec/ Labrador border this afternoon, just east of Blanc Sablon, Team Maine's Early rider has organized and lead this trip. He and his wife Tina have been awesome in the planning of this trip, we are very appreciative of his efforts and knowledge
DM, we got the 1200 as far as Vieux fort, a generous local man hauled it to Lance to brp for repairs. It never came out of it, very strange, backfiring, hitching, but Early rider was able to drive it to Vieux fort for his owner and repairs. The changed the core fuel filter screen and changed battery terminals. A weird issue for sure. Tomorrow its gets tested again!
6 to 8 gallons of Extra gas is good, or you gas up at every opportunity and you will be fine with a safety 3 or 4 gallon brp tank.
a great trip to put on your radar!
Sun Feb 26 Lance to Mary's Harbor
TB, today's ride was not the blue sky days we had been blessed with. But that's what makes an adventure right? Today we had fog, rain and the 1200 sled gremlins are still with us. We rode like all the sleds were connected to each other and a cable hooked to Rob's expedition extreme. Low visibility made you realize how good Rob is. Running by gps alone near zero visibility at times and not marked like the white road!
When the 1200 gremlins kicked in with zero visibility, Rob took a vote on how to get to mary's with a bad sled. Along came TLH.
TLH is great snowmobile club, but they sand the the middle of the trail?? What's up with that. Anyway, we made the last 40 miles on the TLH in the fog and rain to Mary's harbor for the night. All done by noon! 100 miles for the day.
Cooling temps tonight and off to Cartwright tomorrow
DM, So far we are on plan, we had reservations here at Mary's Harbor. We are looking for someone who can take the 1200 to Goose bay , 275 miles for what we think may be a tps sensor or electric throttle. BRP buds is not helping us diagnose this. One of the harder issues to find is an electrical gremlin. Certainly very frustrating for the owner!
Markus, today's ride ,was more like you described, loosely marked and a very occasional emergency shelter. Lab is rightly named "The Big Land"
Rob and Dixon from Lab city are planning tomorrow and tuesdays ride now. Looking at tracks and planning the route. Lots of stuff. Sea ice, trap lines and lake Melville are all in the mix.
Should be a good run either way!
Thank you Markus, there are some things you mention that we have not addressed. We are scratching our heads at this point, the brp tech thought he had it last night. We will look into these suggestions and keep you posted. RR
We really appreciate all the input the you guys are sending back. Every time something new is mentioned we are out on the sled checking it out. Currently it gets trucked to goose for the Brp dealer to look at. We checked coil connections markus had mentioned and pins to make sure all pins were connecting, but it could be still in this area. The run relay keeps coming up too so that gets tested and changed this time too. We will no know more by Tuesday. Ugh! It's tough in the big land, everyone is very helpful but distances to dealers are huge. A long ride and couple of days for the owner again.
Monday Feb 27 Mary's to Cartwright
We had a spectacular blue sky day today, ran the ice and portages to the remote village of Black Tickle, definitely a Team Maine Custom tour today!. Gorgeous ride! More details to follow RR
More pics of the ride from Marys Harbor to Black Tickle and onto Cartwright today. Lots of Sea Ice, Gorgeous scenery and Black Tickle is very special!
Florida snowman and Mike R, that would be one heck of a trip, we may need to start working on accomadations for 200!
Iceman, the Blanche road is a must for you that's for sure!
Skeld. We were able to run the ditches probably 30% of the time.
Todays ride left Mary's Harbor and we took a combination of the old tlt trail and bays to get to Port hope Simpson.
Gassed up there and rode Robs gps tracks along the coast and inner bays over to the the trail that is maintained from Cartwright to Black Tickle by the government for that remote eastern community. 120 people live in Black Tickle. A polar bear sighting here recently as well as a herd of 20 Caribou last weekend
The conditions this morning were very hard after the rain yesterday, but a blue sky day for sure. Running the coastal route today taught many of us the joys and awareness that is needed to do this. Sea ice, like any ice is good in some places but needs respect in others. We saw plenty of areas that you would not want to wander into during a snow storm or at night unless you had great knowledge of the area.
The scenery here on the south coast of Lab rivals what we saw on the white road and in the Gaspe!
Black Tickle was a first visit for everyone in our group today! That is amazing in it's self!
Two Quebec gentlemen pulled in tonight heading in our same direction. They will join us tomorrow on our way to Goose Bay!
182, I can understand the under whelming experience you might get from the Trans lab Hiway, from the bits we have seen, Somehow on a snowmobile, following the coastal shore it seems to change that experience.
The boys from Montreal Quebec that were running a day ahead of us apparently. Said they had done fine until the grooming stopped at Red Bay lab. No problems on their ride along Cote Nord.
From there, they have had a bit of trouble finding their way along the relatively unmarked and unmaintained trails. We got ahead of them yesterday somewhere , probably while we were on our "Team Maine custom coastal route" as they stayed in port Hope Simpson the night before, just north of Mary's Harbor, but tried to come by trail. The gps trail map they had purchased was inaccurate up here. They had done this loop 10 years or so ago, so not a first time. They seemed pretty happy when Rob asked them to join in with us. Great guys, we will have a good time with them joining in.
The boys have ski doo 1200s and were strapping on spare windshield washer gas jugs last night for the run tomorrow. Approx a 180 to 200 mile run without a fuel stop.
A great barbeque at Dwight Lethbridges in Cartwright tonight, awesome hospitality! !
The motel here does not serve breakfast, but has a kitchen fully stocked. They told us we can use the kitchen and make our own. We have two "master chefs" from our crew lined up to cook breakfast in the am. Can't beat that!
Revct, the snow cover is actually deep in the areas where it is not wind blown, as we move off the coast we will begin to see how deep, snow forecast for the next several days so that will change things too! The coast just gets scoured by the winds.
Tuesday Feb 28 Cartwright to Goose Bay
Well, some people like to find the miles of the greatest white sand beaches in the world, and go in February to get to hang out on them in 80 plus degree temps, loving every minute.
There are a few that prefer the white beach, but like the temps at about 7 above zero, and want to glide down along these white beaches for miles on end!
That kind of best describes this morning! Fantastic!
As I mentioned above, Today's ride was awesome as yesterday, 204 miles of winter wonderland, the first 50 miles was the bay out of Cartwright and the white beaches of Labrador. We had problems with sleds overheating on the bay, so off come the side panels for additional cooling, strap them to the rear and go, once we got to the beaches we had lube along the shore, and than the 125 mile run up Lake Melville, was hard but provided lubrication. 30 mph winds provided for white out conditions at times, but a picture perfect day to get into Goose Bay for mid afternoon. We were 1 and 1/2 hour ahead but are back now to Atlantic time. We had the cat destroy the primary clutch 40 miles out so that got towed in. We mat be here an extra day getting that resolved before we head west for Churchill. Our new additions to the group did great today. They are planning to continue on with us for the trip.
Here are some more pics of today's winter in The Big Land" ride!
Happy Trails in Goose Bay/ Happy Valley Labrador
DM, we deployed everything we had, all 4 scratchers were down on my free ride and that kept me from overheating, many of the other sleds needed all scratchers deployed and hoods off too. It was more the shorter 146 sleds that have a shorter heat exchanger. The 1200 checked out again, no failures changed , all grounds tightened, 90 miles of trouble free test riding this afternoon. We are doubtful however. We will get another chance tomorrow to test!
This trip definitely looks easier in pictures than in person, I can personally attest to this. This trip must be taken with extreme caution as there are vast stretches between fuel and help. Also many challenges with sea ice shelfs and unpredictable weather. With the proper planning and supplies it can be done.
Revct, you are absolutely right, this trip probably sounds easy and trouble free. We have had our mechanical issues, but generally great weather. As the two boys from Quebec can attest. This is more challenging than it sounds at times. You need to be fully prepared or have a good guide and good coordinated riders. Not to be taken lightly!
We have both in Rob and the Team Maine riding group. Many of us have ridden together for many years and understand Robs trips and what is expected. Put that together and you get an epic trip
Wed. March 1 Goose back to Goose
Hearded west this am to break out trail to Cache river, back in Goose again tonight
Funny you should mention this, CBC radio did an interview with Rob and Jean Guy this morning before our trail breaking run today
Today, as we had mentioned, the trail from here to Churchill is not broken, so we figured we would break half today, and the better half tomorrow. We did get 75 miles open, but it was a full day. Different riding for sure, but a blast! Should sleep well tonight!
Mark Pelley, here in Goose Bay has been awesome with support for us. He has provided his pick up for transporting around town and been around for anything we needed! Lots a great people here in the Big Land!
Yes rev, we got a full work up today, but as you know ,we do enjoy that too. And you are right the video does not capture that slope, once you committed, you were on gravity after that. We looked at it a long... time before committing lol!
On 3/1/2017 at 5:38 PM, Scranton1 said:
I see an easy business'entrepreneurial opportunity with a tour!
Where do you sign up for next year?
I think Rob is considering that, only problem is Cains Quest, next year, takes tons of prep and his time. If someone has time this March let him know, he will provide info or assistance as your needs might require. As you can see he is an avid rider and loves promoting Labrador and northeastern Quebec, he will help anyone who wants info on this trip. PM me or him, "early rider" if you want more
We had a way around , thank goodness, the FR154 is much more nimble in the deep stuff but does not have the bull capacity of an expedition, definitely a trade off. They both have their place!
Thurs March 2 Goose to Churchill
Churchill Falls tonight from goose bay not any groomed or broken trail here
Yes he does, and you still cannot keep up with him. We joke about the sleigh, it has been thru Cain Quest when it was mandatory to yo drag a sleigh. It does not slow him down one bit!
It was a full day for sure, 185 miles of unbroken trail. many sleds stuck, 30 miles of ditch riding and 10 miles of trans Lab highway. But a blast still. A blue sky day this morning and some gorgeous power line running. Deep snow with now base in places, and settled snow on the wind blown areas. The Team Maine trailer and support crew provided fuel and food for the mid day as there is nothing in between. The Team Maine proto type 850 Freeride got put to its test today. It did very well!
Churchill is a company town for the Churchill hydro power. The only civilization in central Lab. Tomorrow off for Lab city!
The Trans Labrador trail was an initiative started a decade or 2 ago to connect the Labrador communities and promote tourism. It has fallen onto complete disrepair in the Remote regions of Labrador. The huge runs between these villages with minimal services created obstacles that they apparently could not overcome. It's a big shame, because this ride and experience could be enjoyed by many with a commitment to better signage and trail maintenance, even if it was similar to the white road program in Cote Nord, where they use smaller more nimble machines to do the trail with, it would be awesome.
The scenert,people and hospitality in this region is second to none. Just really great people!
The Trans Lab, Quebec loop would also take coordination between both Quebec FCMQ and Lab to make a success. That can be difficult too.
Maybe it will come back sometime with a coordinated effort. Tourism is such an important part of local economies today.
It should be noted that some sections of trail activity are being done nicely. Fremont Quebec, to Lab city to Esker siding Lab are maintained on a regular basis, Goose Bay maintains an active schedule of grooming too. And the trail from Blanc Sablon thru too Red Bay are maintained. Sections that would need attention are Red Bay to Goose Bay approx 400 miles, and . West of Goose Bay to Esker siding. Approx 220 miles of that section would need to be brought back into service. RR
Friday/Sat March 3 Churchill to Lab City
It was -15F this morning in Churchill with a stiff northwest wind, putting wind chill numbers way down. We dressed accordingly and headed out. It was 120 miles up the Esker road from Churchill to Esker siding. This road was built back when Churchill dam was constructed in the late 1960s. At that time no 500 road existed, so the only way to get construction equipment into the dam site was over this 100 mile road to Churchill. The Schefferville Sept Isle train unloaded the trucks, turbines, trailers and construction equipment to be hauled in over this road.
In Churchill , which is a company town, for the power station, the town center is like Mall village. The grocery store, school, hotel and restaurant and shops are all located in this company facility. Kind of neat
Today, It is not groomed but was fun to ride and imagine the activity 50 years ago. One of the structures for water control is pictured below. We stopped at Esker siding and got a fire going in the warming hut. Spent an hour thawing out gear than off to Lab City where Rob's wife Tina cooked us all an awesome home cooked meal of Baked ham, Mac and cheese, potatoes, green beans and muitiple types of salads and Rolls and deserts. Wow that was awesome after ten days on the trail. A down day to tomorrow with minor sled adjustments and than off bright and early Sunday for Gabriel Quebec, near Manicougan reservoir.
Yes Skeld, I enjoy hearing about the history of how things developed both here in the Canada wilderness and our own North Maine Woods. Great stuff. You mentioned the alders and brush that have grown into the TLT trail system that is no longer active. It's unfortunate, many of the warming huts that were placed along this network are also in disrepair. 100's of miles of grown in trails.
We were pleasantly greeted at Esker siding by the White Wolf snowmobile club trail system, maintained to perfection all the way to Lab City. The best trail conditions we have encountered in Lab. Compliments to this club!!
Sun March 5 Lab City Hold Over
DM, we were all OK without a day of riding however, we do have some minor repairs under way after one member found a rock on the power line into Church 2 days ago. Back and going by mid afternoon, ready for an early AM ride to Gabriel.
Snowfarmer, I agree, we just need a trail reporter riding with us like Iceman, his reports are the best!
Monday March 6 Lab City to Gabriel
"THE DAY"
What a gorgeous day to come down the St Marguerrite river and reservoir system today, after a 30 mile exploratory long cut on a trapper line at the end of our river run, looking for alternates routes into Gabriel and a 30 mile round trip partial recovery of Rob's expedition with a blown transmission shaft. We made it to Gabriel as a late arrival ! All in a great day of riding. We still have recovery work to do tomorrow, some other sled issues to resolve, before the next leg to Forestville. Many more great parts to this story, will save for a later date, here are some pics of our 300 mile adventure today!
If we ever needed Iceman to scribe, it was yesterday! Ooh Ice ,why did you miss that opportunity? As mentioned earlier, there are lots of parts to this day, can only do justice once we get everything back together and sorted out. But the 11:07 pm arrival at Gabriel kind of helps set the stage.
For just a piece of yesterday, In order to get the busted expedition out of Lake Garemand and into the uniforest railsiding , where we left it for the night, we had to tag team 2 -154 sleds in line to pull the hills in the loose snow conditions. We kept those sleds tied together for the entire 15 mile pull into the abandoned uniforest rail siding. More chapters from the beginning! Later on. RR
Sunday started like any normal big day ride, we are heading out for Gabriel, the only outpost between lab city Fermont area and the manicougan reservoir. What should have been a 250 mile ride thru some of the most remote areas we had ridden in. Rob is at peace here, he loves remote explorable areas and he has worked this area hard. Many of us have also scoured the area east of Gab on our early Dec rides that we have shared in previous years. So a few more of us are familiar with the area on the last half of the ride today. (Key to how this story plays out😉)
It was a cold, perfect blue sky morning as we drifted down the perfectly groomed trails out of lab city and Fermont. After the grooming ends, 30 miles or so, Finally we all get to run the river and lac systems of lab and Quebec and down onto the St Marguerite river and reservoir system that we have all watched Rob do from his spot beacon! Our missing link
There were five us. 2 completed their loop in Lab city as that is where Rob started from when he met us to the first day. But Rob is our leader and he will guide us down thru, The 1200 gremlin is in Rob's trailer to head south and they plan to meet us in Gab. We roll down thru the river systems , portage trails and trap lines that Rob has pieced together, making great time on a blue sky day. Into the "Wildlife Camp" time to refuel from our sleigh and take a short break before we ride the "Falls" and down onto the reservoir. Things are going great, a few trail episodes of guys stuck ECT, but normal stuff. Rob winds us down the small , at this point, but flowing St Marguerite river. He takes one of his Portage's around the Falls and Wamo! We are on the very upper end of the reservoir, very cool! High fives, gorgeous scenario of a big winding river bed, laid out ahead of us ,surrounded by mountains. Another 50 miles down stream and we are "relatively" at home in the shadow of the Grouix mtns. Our back yard!
Let's roll! So down the river we go, "Wows"and "Oh My's" galore.
We arrive at our next stop, a cabin that has a retired gentlemen and his wife living in there during the winter and running trap lines. When you stop, the hospitality door opens wide, they love seeing and talking to Rob. Many of us have been here. It's all down hill now folks. We have a nice snack and Rob talks about a trap line that goes out near the old Port Cartier Fremont trail? Maybe we could just check this out? After all we are only 100 miles to Gab, in our "back yard"
Woops. Did I mention that we forgot one SAT phone in Rob's truck this am and Rob's survival bag got left behind? Also that Rob had borrowed fuel here a time before so we dropped that can off as we should be fine into Gab, it's only 100 miles and particularly if the last 45 miles has been broken open? Nobody knows the answer to that question!
We are all feeling kind of giddy, Rob says let's go check out the trap line and punch that out. It may be a touch shorter, so we all head up the line with a brillant mid afternoon sunshine on our backs! The snow is deep, as we climb up one elevation, onto a lake, up another elevation on this perfectly smooth but very narrow trap line, over an open Brook, out onto a small bog, ah a little slob on this one, keep your sled going on this because you don't want to stop! This keeps going, obtain another pond, between a set of narrows and Robs sled nubs a "chunk of ice", near a real slobby area, I nub over that ice chunk as well and gas it up over the slob and into the woods on the other side. Kind of fun and this just may work thru?
No sleds coming? Finally after a bit three other sleds catch up. The " ice" was a big rock, the third sled stopped hard and the rider got tossed into shallow but now open water! All is fine!
We get to this next lake and the nice beat out trap line stops, no obvious trail off the lake as we completely circle the lake looking for a way out, Rob sees what looks like an unbroken trail and steams into the seem, and there he sits, bottomless snow and this needs to come out backwards!
It's a touch later now, we are 15 Mile's into this trap line. I do some quick math, 100 plus 15 in 15 out, is trail broken from the siding to Gab? We are starting to get to the end of our fuel range. This has gone from 250 to 280 . Rob's says "We will bust this out and find our own way thru tonight if it's the last thing I do"😲 ...I have heard that determination before...... This could be a long night.😊
We tug, snow bungie, dig and pull his sled out backwards. Early in the day this is fun, at 4 pm, its time to talk. I do a silent look around the troops. I think we have a 4 to 1 vote to abort. You know who the hold out is!
Rob , realizing We are not Cain's Quest Champion caliber, concedes, and back out we go.
We just might make Gab for 6:30 or 7pm. Nice!
On the way out, we talk to Rob about.... reborrowing.....the 5 gallons we just paid back at the trappers camp.? If the last 45 miles in is not broken we will lap up the fuel. Rob says OK, good idea, he will stop, and a few of us know the way, so just go, he will catch up. The trapper loves company and he loves Rob, can he get the fuel and move on ,or do they talk about his trap line, flying, ECT. We suspect it will be a bit of both, but Rob will run us down like we are peddling tricycles, before we are half way to the siding, this is his and our back yard, we are home!
The first cardinal rule is never leave a guy to ride by himself, Even if he is your trip guide! We very seldom ever break that rule.
Second one is, if you break rule one, don't run beyond your comfortable fuel range in case the guy that is going to catch you does not catch you. If the last 45 was not broke, well we probably just broke both rules! We were potentially beyond our range if we went back.
But this is Gardner behind us, he is chatting with the trapper, his light will be on our backs soon for sure. We do a POW WoW half way to the siding near a set big drifts in the road, we go down into the ditch for 300 yards to get around them. Should we hang here or just get to the siding, maybe the locals camp there has someone in, we will call Tina on the SAT phone and she can tell us that Rob is just behind us.(Oh yeah our phone is in the truck)! Well, we have a back up " in reach " that will have to do.
Note, Rob's Spot battery had died sometime during the day as we find out in a bit!
Into the siding we go, a light is on, smoke from the wood stove, nice! We stop, leave one sled by the trail in case Rob goes flying by the camp. We go in and start the communication process. One guys speaks a few words of English, but he gets our drift. Offers us tea and coffee. We dig out the in reach! Let's start the communication process, sure wish we brought that SAT Phone!
Slowly we get text messages out and meanwhile Rob calls in to his Base Central, Tina is that hub but she is in Gab, very limited access, so we found help with a few others that are in the loop to liaison with. What's up. He is "down" half way to the siding, walked 2 miles back to a camp and was hold up there he is fine!
This is about where we had our PoW WoW.
Our Gremlin expedition and riding partner that was in the truck with Tina and Guy, from relais Gab are breaking trail in to the siding with fuel. Ok we are good now, trail breaking in progress, additional fuel on the way, three of us , turn and burn for what we call "Tims" camp, that is where he is held up. We leave one at the locals camp as our Communication director!
DM, Rob did not have snow shoes, and had left his survival bag behind. That included a tarp, jet boil, fire starters, plus all the things you need to ride out a night. The last time a sled had been down this road was 2 weeks earlier when we met the boys in Port Cartier. It was their track from than. A couple of snow storms in between. The low spots were loose going, the hi spots wind blown. Either way not a fun walk. He did have our and his fresh tracks to walk in, but still not easy going. Because his spot was not working, no body knew exactly where he was other than his description over the phone. I felt I knew, where he was but Could not be 100% certain. Once we got to his sled, we proceeded very slowly in the dark,, watching his tracks in the trail, as we did not want to miss the point he turned off from and than run over our tracking evidence! In the end he was exactly where we thought he would be. He did not hear us drive up, so when I opened the door into the cabin, he was surprised, he had a fire going and a box of craft Mac and cheese on the table ready to cook for supper. He thought he was there for the night and very comfortable with that!
As you have read about the recovery process, everyone one got home to...Gabriel.. 😉 We got tucked into our nice warm beds, albeit after mid night!
We read bed time stories and dreamed of things like the Blanche Road, white snow beaches and the Marguerite.
Relais Gabriel provided excellent accommodations and everyone lived happily ever after!
That is "The day".
The troops got sloppy and careless, let our guard down, broke some rules,.... after all,....... "We were in our back yard"! .....Lesson learned!
.
Tuesday March 7 Gabriel to Forestville
And than there was just three! Once we settled the carnage from yesterday's ride into Gabriel, we determined we had three operating...reliable...sleds to make the 300 plus mile run to Forestville. So with Rob's sled out in the bush still 50 miles east of Gabriel this am, a trailer that would haul the impaired sleds, we saddled up what was left running. We borrowed a couple of sleds from Relais Gabriel to assist for the sled recovery , and should I say Guy was awesome last night keeping track of who needed help and serving dinner at 11:30 last night for the crew, but any way , most of the broken down crew was tagged for Rob's sled recovery, and three of us head out for Forestville under gorgeous sky's, a beautiful Manicougan reservoir and a special treat of a herd do 25 to 30 Caribou on the Outarde reservoir, about 100 miles north off Baie Comeau. You can't beat that for the final run in. A nice 320 mile ride. A few of us made the entire loop on snowmobile without any transport for repairs or illiness. Now you just can't beat that!
The recovery crew was also very successful, bringing the carnage expedition into Gabriel by 12:30 and showing up in Forestville for a final dinner by 6pm
I will go back and revisit the Gabriel run later, lots of great stories and reflections.
Snow farmer, the boys from Montreal that we met in Cartwright, made it as far as Churchill with us. The tough ride from Goose bay to Church caused to realize they were not as prepared as they needed and had the wrong sled for that type of ride. They phoned home for a transport.
Of the 8 sleds that left, we had 4 sleds that made the loop and we're ridden every day, albeit minor repairs. Those sleds were the 3 Freeride 154s and a 146 standard back country.
Robs extreme is a beast and is probably the most capable sled, but Rob way over uses the sled for what it was probably designed for we suspect!!😉 Hence the drive train problems.
There is no perfect sled, but for this trip a long track is your friend.
Yes DM , as you saw, the original sleigh horse had to be put down
The 45 miles of the manicougan was awesome, the Outarde was rough, but a straight line is better at times and many of the logging roads can be hard going if unbroken, or troughed out if Sleds have been down them!
One freeride has a bent tunnel but made the complete trip, 1 freeride changed brake pads, (he completed his loop in Lab City,) 1 freeride changed carbides, the standard back country still has front end issues (we did repairs in Lab city) but made the entire trip.
The 1200 gremlins never did clear out making the sled untrustworthy for putting deep into the bush, was used for recovery work yesterday though.
Iceman, glad to to hear you're appetite for this type of riding is active. You guys had a great trip with a good bunch of guys!
Rob is the guy, and he will help you any way he can. Reach out to him when you wish, be lives to talk snowmobiling and flying!
RR
This trip from Forestville, returning to Forestville was 2600 miles
We all agree, this was one of our best trips! Not doable without the extensive support provided by Rob and Tina of Team Maine. Thank you for making this an awesome trip experience
In the truck and back to Maine tomorrow.
Think Snow
RoadRunner
Mark US. 1500HD just shared this article from last year, on some boys from the Island doing a tour in south eastern Lab, a great read and hi lights your thoughts on preparation and consequences of a few chance, in the field, decisions! A great read
https://newfiebullettadventures.wordpress.com/2016/04/03/now-that-was-an-adventure/
Our last ride was on February 12th at Relais 22. Since this, busy with the job+ the bad weather but especially my life partner who was knock out because of pneumonia have thrown away all opportunities of riding. My Krikri, who was now a little better, was very frustrated to not being able to follow but she just begin to feel better and riding back on a snowmobile as a passenger at this time with the current cold would have simply ruined the gains she had managed to make In the last week.
So it was solo on my venture accompanied by our partner Snowcruiser that I saddle up. Having lost my official photographer, I had to managed to take some pics myself. It's why I have much less beautiful stuff to show you but still some decent pics.
Here is the path of our ride.
Saturday morning, beautiful sunny blue jay day -21C at start
It was very dry at start, the dozer of Carcamps snowmobile club of Berthierville had not groomed since the rain few days ago. With the scratchers down and going moderately we had did well.
A few miles later we entered the Joliette snowmobile club territory who have made a pass since the thaw, it already ride much better.
At the next intersection we seen the dozer of Joliette finishing his run and have just put some ice on the cake for us
Further along on the trails of St-Felix de Valois, the dozers also passed
Not alot loose stuff over the hard base but was ok. We did not raise the scratchers but it would ride without.
We chatted a bit with a couple of nice guys from Joliette before heading up toward Saint-Jean de Matha
The Black River north of Matha near the BRP dealer Géro was still very solid and easy to cross
The good thing in those conditions is that there are no bumps. Just beautiful, hard and very fast trails, here just south of Ste-Émilie de l'Energie
North of Ste-Émilie the big hills were beautiful, no ice at all
The altitude makes a big difference and at the top of the hills the conditions become winter one
Here passing in front of the Pourvoirie Bazinet
We followed the #63 and made a small detour on the local trail that goes to the Auberge du Vieux Moulin, starting point for the dozer of the area and which allows to make a loop and to take back the #63 farther. Very nice trail/point of view especially in the southern part
Here during a break on the #63 between La Glacière and St-Zénon village. Beautiful conditions and much loose stuff on the trail
With our late start it was already noon so we stopped eating at the Relais St-Zenon in front of Lake St-Louis
After a good meal we continued on the # 63 north
We passed the Auberge Le Cabanon and continued towards St-Michel des Saints, very nice trail
Here just before before arriving at St-Michel, we see the village in the distance
We stopped to refuel at the Harnois gas station near the Central. We took a moment to re-evaluate the initial plan, already 2:20pm and we were just about to loop around the reservoir ... we won't be back home soon! After consulting, we agree to keep the initial plan and took the lake shortcut to quickly reach the Auberge du Lac Taureau.
The level is already well down and yes, it is the summer docks you see in the air in front of the chalets
The level is not yet at its lowest and even it is necessary to be careful there are not too many big slopes to pass, it ride well.
We see better here the level once passed the Auberge while the trail passes on the beach shore ...
The section from there to the junction with the #33 to the Repos had a bit of ripple, nothing big but a little less beautiful. Then the #360 eastward was really nice. This year it takes another route than usual because of wood transport . I loved this new trail a very beautiful and pretty fast path. We stopped at the dam for a few pictures but we did not stayed there long because the wind was whipping!
The rest of the #360 was just beautiful, at its best. Let's say we caught up some time there! Very quickly, we arrived at the bridge of the Mattawin river where we took a break away from the wind. I was able to heat up the kodak who was freeze and take some good shots
The #345 was perfect, I think this is best conditions I had seen there on a Saturday at the end of the day. In addition, a little further south we cross the dozer who was at making it another pass!
We stopped at the Cabanon to make a last fill up before taking the #23 south. Beautiful at first but we passed the dozer who was not grooming for nothing on that one! We stopped eating at Réal Massé around 6 pm. When parking, enduro reverse of my partner refused again to engaged ... He's been already twice to the dealer for that, the last time relays replaced. Maybe a gear problem like Iceman pointed in an other post? if anyone have more info on this issue, do not hesitate to comment because apart from that it is a whole nice machine but this irritant is intermittently there since the beginning of the season and he will have to go now for a third visit at the dealer.
After a good hot and comforting meal we left around 7:15pm for the last segment of our ride. The #23 was just a little worn out by the day's traffic and we crossed the dozer that was going up about midway to St-Gabriel's Brandon. We arrived at 8:15pm in front of an ambush south of the village of St-Gabriel. A small stream that was overflowing on the trail in between two hills. We saw that there were several sleds that have crossed it but we do not know the deepness of the water nor if it is mined below, at darkness is not evident. I was not really stressed to cross it on the throttle but my partner did not feel it, the prospect of a bath, even unlikely, left it ... cold! So why having to stress, we left in the morning to ride and a detour mean even more riding !!!
So we turned back and headed back to St-Damien of Brandon than headed west on #63 to join our morning path just north of the St-Jean de Matha slides site. We then followed our morning route integrally. We were pleasantly surprised to meet the Dozer of Berhtierville who was grooming the #43 trail near home in St-Thomas. We were finally back to our starting point at 10:00 pm with 285 mile on the dreammeter.
In summary still very nice winter conditions everywhere north of Ste-Émilie de l'Énergie. The last thaw left harder base that give outstanding trail conditions and very solids trails that are strong over traffic. Still plenty of snow up there. I know that there is again some rain/freezing rain on the forecast for the next days but feel it won't hurt so much, especially with the cold wave that it is also forecast after. We are already in march, season's is well advanced but not done for sure, still very good riding to do, in the best of what this winter have to offer to us, it is to you to enjoy it!
Alain
Day 2
Left Sept Isles at 8am. Had nice breakfast at Comfort Inn. Loaded up and off we go. Trail much like we left it yesterday no grooming and fresh snow, No tracks headed east. We will change that. We make good time to River Moise as expected. From here the adventure really just is beginning. The snow is deep and Randy and Mark are taking turns finding the way for us. This day was quite challenging. Perhaps the most challenging day I ever spent on a sled in Quebec.
They say "you learn something new everyday" well today I learned alot. Several things in fact.
1 This Team from VT don't play and they are pro's. Big respect for the teamwork and the skill showed today. Words here will not duly do justice to what we achieved today. I can tell you but unless you lived it, You just won't understand. Big thanks to them Mark, Randy, Greg and Dave. Would not be here without them.
2 I know now why the amount of people who have actually been to Havre St. Pierre by snowmobile is not very many. The trail is not a trail, its there, but not really. Especially now after 12" plus of snow and winds that created drifts throughout the powelines(which is the main route for most of the way) the size of Peterbilt trucks. Hairy shit.
3 My sled is quite capable of making its way in deep snow. just don't hesitate.
Ok now seriously you may want to go to Havre St Pierre. Great. Think again. Cause unless you got a GPS track and a solid crew of at least 4 experts. You are being foolish. There is no sticks, not many signs and you are on your own for more than 40 miles. Thats alot of decisions to make is it up there to the left? Down to the right? Up thst hill? Choose carefully cause your life depends on it. There are cliffs and drop offs that are so beautifully hidden with the drifts it's not for beginners.
Today was a long long day. I have never worked so hard for 100 miles ever. 8am-2:30pm to get to Rivere Tonnerre for gas and snacks. Yeah, check that moving average. Do the math. Not easy. Did I mention bring strong guys to help you out? Cause when you get stuck it's deep. I rode 5 or 6 today. Best place for me. We got 4 Doo's 3 1200's and one 900, one Sidewinder and my XTX. I needed to back down one big hill one cause the others dug such a trench they left me nothing to work with. One other time saw me just thrown too far right on a big climb. But just a pull on my ski loops and i was out. The same can not be said for our leaders they are making decisions on the fly and encountering drits that are incredible. We did alot of digging and studying to find where was the best way to get through. After Rivere Tonnerre there was more sticks to guide us, trail was in woods, but still powerlines here and there. Still drifted bad, but we make better time. 25 miles from Havre St Pierre we find fresh groom trail we are delighted. We exploit this for all it's worth and hammer down. Into Hotel Havre at 6:15.
Thanks to The Team Vermont and Trailblazer. I made it to Havre St Pierre. Mission Accomplished "failure was not an option"
Talks are aleady in the works for next years ride. Probably starting in Baie Comeau and shooting east of here as far as trail will let us go. I can't wait.
We were hoping to go 50 miles east of here then back but time will leave that as unfinished business for another time. But the objective has been reached.
Tomorrow back west to Port Cartier. Should be a different game now that we broke a trail through "no mans land"
in Rivere Tonnerre we chatted with some guys in the store they said last group to come through was last week. Thinking for sure was none other than Roadrunner. So no one else been through since them last week.
Big respect also to GT Rider who I know made this run 2 up with Mrs GT. You are so lucky it was not drifted like this was today my friend.
Tired.
I need to make a withdrawl. Ice needs a new Apex....
Wanna get to Havre St Pierre? Look for these and good luck!
RDL is back to its glory!
We rode east today to Rimouski and then southwest to Squatec and back to below RDL. Packed powder, groomed and beautiful snow packed trees along with lots of sunshine.
We then made a quick loop west of RDL, still good but they did not get as much new snow. Some places today looked like they had gotten more than ten inches. 275 mile day, Oilman, JAK and I were smiling the whole way.
Now in Room 209. (Remember still zip for any type of cell service).
mike
doonali got a reaction from groomer in Force's unite tour.
doonali reacted to Phil 1 in Force's unite tour.
doonali got a reaction from Scranton1 in Force's unite tour.