P Hardy

Thanks for the reply! Hopefully you'll hear a little more in the next little bit, this could be a great shortcut to get to your area from Campbellton. Some nice to see new trail getting added and not taken away! Now we just need a new trail from Amqui to LaCache.... Thanks!

Hi Jean Guy, Awesome to see some current grooming pics! I see on the Moose Valley Facebook page that there is a new trail from New Brunswick to QC. Their quote after google translate is "A new path to the ascension-de-Patapédia will be in operation in the next week. A front door in gaspésie & Campbellton." Do you know anything about this? It would be great to have access to QC closer to Campbellton. Thanks!

Looks awesome Jean Guy. Now you have me thinking of another trip!

Cool Pictures! We were running short on time too, or we would have liked to try to find our way up. Likely be next year now. I think I have a bit of an idea of where that trail is, thanks for the map!

Groomer, do you know anything about the odd shaped building on top of the hill in Matapedia? I saw it this year but don't remember seeing it last year. Thanks!

Great Pics Groomer! I'm surprised last week's wind didn't blow all the ice out into the Gulf...

Great write up and pictures! Thank You!

Mundles is typically the tow truck most seem to use their number is (506) 759-8881. Didn't see any tracks across the ice when I was up on the weekend, so I typically don't risk it if the locals aren't going. http://www.mundlesservices.ca/trucks.html

Hey Jean-Guy, We were fortunate enough to be some of the first tracks on your fresh groomed trail Friday morning and they were fantastic! Had a couple great days of riding. Thanks for all the time you put in, it's greatly appreciated! Preston

Great pictures, thanks for posting!

Don't know which way you are going but the trail from Moose Valley to Amqui is an option.

You could try Motel le Portage. It is real close to the quality Inn. Never stayed there, but have eaten there a few times and the food was really good. The restaurant was neat and clean. http://www.leportagematane.com/ There is also the Hotel-Motel La Vigie, it is across the road from the Portage, don't know anything about it. https://www.lavigie.com/ Best of luck

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.