P Hardy

Just my 2 cents.... Day 3 is going to be a steady day. 300km on the north shore is a long enough day. Lots of stick handling. Just a heads up that the section of 5 between the town of Gaspe and the trail into Perce has not always been very well maintained in the past. We typically avoid it by taking the orange trail just below Gaspe that goes over to the 597. As a bonus, it is one of the nicer trails out on the tip. Planning for a weather day is definitely a good idea, but if you don't have to use it, I personally would run from Murdochville to la Cache to Point a la Croix. Then the next day run from PALC to the Valga. Nice running up the Matapedia Valley. If you really wanted to treat yourself on the last day, you would go to Amqui via the 587 when leaving PALC. Food for thought

Great Pictures, I especially like the fox!

To see the Gaspe, it is pretty hard to not saddlebag it. But, if you want to do day rides in the Gaspe, one option would be to stay in Amqui and ride out of there. Nice area with a good mix of riding, very nice scenery, really good snow cover this year and a place where you are never really far from anywhere. Ride Options: South West - Amqui to Moose Valley, NB and back - approx 180 miles South loop - Amqui, 587S, Matapedia, Campbellton, La'Alverne, Amqui - Approx 180 miles, East - Amqui, Matane via 5, to the St Paulin Relais and back to Amqui via local trails from Matane - approx 170 miles West - Amqui, to Rimouski loop - lots of local trails and zig zagging, could be anywhere from 100-200miles - La Redemption snow mummies on this route. Hotels: Select Hotel Hotel Ambassadeur Just some options, maybe some others will chime in.

Thanks for the update, good to know before we head up!

Thanks for the replies guys. If the boys are feeling adventurous in a couple of weeks, we'll let you know what we find.

While in the area, did anyone notice if the trail just North of La Cache that goes down to the Carlton/Nouvelle area was groomed? I spoke with a local from New Richmond a couple of weeks ago and he said that they were supposed to resume grooming it this year. Nice trail, it would be great if they did start maintaining it again.

Awesome pictures Jean Guy! We were some happy to see the green warming hut on our way back to the truck on Saturday, it was -28 when we got there! Brr

The weather summary from Environment Canada is the only thing that I've found. It's not perfect and they don't keep the information up for long either, seems to be about 24 hours or less. https://weather.gc.ca/warnings/weathersummaries_e.html#QC

Certainly a do-able day, you will be in the 250 mile neighborhood if you take the L'Alverne short cut. Just watch the weather as the trail from Moose Valley to Amqui is lower grooming priority and isn't as well signed as others. Make sure you are topped right up on fuel at Moose Valley before you head to Amqui.

What route are you planning to take from Edmundston to New Richmond?

Don't know the exact mileage but I have done the identical route and it is an easy day on good trail. From the town of Gaspe to Murdochville via the orange trail is very fast and very scenic. I think the orange trail section is one of the nicer trail sections in the Gaspe, typically lower traffic and it stays in good shape.

If there is good enough snow to get into downtown Rimouski, we stay at the Gouverneur. Good rooms, good dining room and they have always had a real good breakfast buffet. Plus, you are close to everything if you want to go out. We stayed at the Hotel Rimouski once, it's down town right before the Gouverneur, It's fine as well, but we did prefer the Gouverneur. If the snow isn't good downtown we stay a the L'Empress but avoid the restaurant. The food might be alright if you ever get it, but it is hard to find the time for an hour+ for breakfast when trying to get on the trail.

Stayed there a few years ago and had fantastic meals, glad to hear they kept that up. Did they reno the rooms, they needed a little attention back then?

Thanks for taking the time to do your reports Alain, they are a huge amount of work but very appreciated by those of us cyber sledding along with you!