P Hardy

Wow, fantastic pictures, great find!

Hope you have a great day Jean-Guy!

Those fellows wore out before they rusted out..

It sure has come a long way! Pretty much committed once you started on those loops..

Love the old pictures! Even my back was reminiscing about how soggy those old late 80's early 90's Formulas were, and the triples were ungodly heavy!

Awesome story!

At the end of February 2006 my new Yamaha Rage only had 110 kms on it. Trying Quebec was always in the cards for “someday”, but with a shut out for snow in Nova Scotia, someday was now! Thankfully, two other friends also had new gear with no miles, so the arm twisting was minimal! We set off from PALC on an early March morning, and by the time I reached the top of the ski hill I knew that I would be screwed for ever sledding around home again! In 2008, five of us did the Matane, Godbout, Chicoutimi, Quebec City loop. Met Saguenay Bill and had bookings with Bernard at the Motel Safari until a blizzard changed our plans. Called Bernard to cancel and he told me “That's fucking sleddin”. I never did get to stay there or meet him. Actually only ever got across the St. Lawrence that one time. So much good trail from St. George to Gaspe that it gets hard to justify trucking further.. In 2008, flogging it for the ferry in Matane, I came around a corner after the St. Fidele cable bridge to meet a New Holland groomer with a heavily bearded operator in it. Being half shy and a little short on time, I missed my chance to meet Jean-Guy and have never been able to catch up with him since. Same goes for Andyman, positive I fueled up beside him in Amqui that very same day. Met Eddieskidoo in a blizzard on the Gaspe in about 2014. We turned around and him and Skidoo420 kept going towards Mt. St. Pierre. If I remember right, they never made it and had to get trucked back. Wild snow, I think that there was 70cm by the end of it. Anyway, I am trying to talk a little more to the folks I meet on the trail in case they are members here. Always nice to put a face to a name. I haven't bought a local trail pass in a few years, one local mile is harder on gear than 10 up there. That, along with the hospitality and availability of services, makes it hard to turn a track at home. Some year though, I am going to sled up there right from my door, just to say I did it. One of the cool things is; of the two guys I went with in 2006, I have always gone up with one, if not both of them every year since. Sometimes you just gel with certain guys. As others have said, this website is the icing on the cake of the best sledding I have ever done! Thanks to all the contributors for their time!

Old Forge is a beautiful area, I could only imagine the traffic there.

Figure I'll throw this in here. How does the Upper Peninsula of Michigan compare to Quebec?

Thanks for the info!

Sounds good. Let us know what you find. One thing to bear in mind is that two rivers meet right at Matepedia, so be cautious around any ice.

Thanks for the reply GT Rider! There is actually a new trail from Moose Valley to l'Ascension that isn't on the map yet. From my understanding, it joins onto the trail going from St. Irene to Moose Valley. I'm just trying to figure out where it is and what the mileages are. Is this the one you are referring to? Thanks again!

I have poked around Matapedia a few times looking for the same thing. Judging from the tracks on the river, it would appear that locals are crossing, but there is no clear or marked way from NB to Quebec.

Hi Jean Guy, Did you happen to notice the turn off to L'Ascension? Just wondering how far from St. Irene the turn off is. I was in St. Irene yesterday and wanted to try to loop around to L'Ascension but didn't know how long it was. Thanks!

Great Pictures!

Baker Lake is quite close to that loop, more of a village than town. There is a beautiful looking restaurant right on the lake where the trail passes, it wasn't open the couple times I have been by. The trail from there to Edmundston is actually very nice, and has been in excellent shape anytime I have been on it. It would appear that the majority head east towards Moose Valley and these trails seem quite a bit lower traffic. I thought the area was pretty neat and have looped through a few times now.

This is an option for day one: Option for day two: Mirimichi does have some nice trails, but their grooming isn't quite as consistant as it is further North, it's great when you hit it right though. The Bathurst club has a huge area, 3 groomers and groom constantly. They even groom to Serpentine which is 180Km one way. http://www.bathursttrails.com/en/conditions As you can see on the map, there are lots of loops to extend your day, and the miles go quick in NB, we've seen a moving average of 70km/hr up there, which is good for being able to stop lots and still not get in late.

I have stayed at the Days Inn, just a little further south of Edmundston. They have good rooms, very snowmobile friendly, very close to the trail, large parking area with no issue leaving your truck and trailer there. Only real drawback is proximity to food in the evening, they do have a decent continental to get you going in the morning. For your first day Edmundston to Bathurst I would go via Serpentine Lodge which is very close to the intersection of the 23 and 58. Alyre the owner is quite a character and serves up a good burger. Fast trails in this area, you will click off miles quick. The trails around Mt Carleton are nice if they are groomed and you have time. Just a heads up, in the interior you are buying fuel at the lodges and club houses and they are all right around $2.00/liter - bring cash. Second day I would personally explore the trails north of Bathurst and end up in Campbellton for the night. Jacquet river area trails are nice and have lower traffic. Third day would be Campbellton to Edmundston via Moose Valley. Easy day. The 17 out of Campbellton is a nice winding railbed. On a clear day, The Squaw Cap lookoff on this railbed is worth taking the time to see. Moose Valley is a real nice area, wide fast trails, nice lodge with good food, a destination for sure. If you need to get to Edmundston quick from Moose Valley, the 17 is fast. If you have the time, the trails to the north that that parallel the 17 are a little more scenic, albeit slower. Just my two cents

They have a beautiful lodge, it was closed for a couple of years and just reopened this year. I have never seen the inside a room, but know many that have stayed and were happy. You may want to contact them and ask what is available for services and open times. The Atlantic Host in Bathurst is an option in that area and always a sure bet.

Day 4 Option: La cache 595 north to St Paulin Relais (TQ5 intersection) then backtrack the 595 South and end up in Carleton for the night. approx 320km but the 595 trail is quite brisk and the top part is very scenic, no hardship to backtrack on it. Hotel Baie Blue is popular https://baiebleue.com/en Day 5 Option: Carleton to Matane - via 587S, Approx 310km. The 587S in my mind is one of the nicer ones in the Gaspe.

Thanks for taking the time to post Alain, it is greatly appreciated by those of us who don't get out near enough!

Not a club, but I had a great meal at Resto Bar Le Stela in Cabano the other year.

The black and white pictures sure suit the old Bombi!

Ate at this restaurant/motel/bar the other year. https://www.leportagematane.com/ On the same trail as the quality Inn, just before it. Just a small spot, but the food was really good and the place had a real local flavour, I was going to try a night there next time in Matane, but haven't made it back. From what I remember room prices were pretty reasonable.

I never realized that there was once a trail there, I didn't start sledding up there until the mid 2000's. That certainly would be a long haul in a groomer! It's hard to get operators here for a few hours, I can't imagine getting people pinned down for 24. Are there roads to take you from the end of the trail at Lac de Huit Milles over to the local trail that goes from Carleton to La Cache? I've been through that trail a couple times and it's nice country, I'd like to do a little off trail riding in that area someday. Also, If you ever do quit grooming, you'll be busy at your camp with those prices...