P Hardy

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March 15 : Baie de Shawinigan 
That’s it! The season has officially begun for me!
It was too much of a nice day to not enjoy the water. 
It was quite a workout to get to the water and come back but I managed. Had to slide with my board on the thin ice. My leg went right through as I was getting closer to the end, but fortunately I’m wearing a drysuit. It was cold though. I also wear my hypnose under it. 
Sadly, I noticed a dead deer floating on an ice flow, as I got closer seems like it had a front broken leg. 
 

Have ridden 309 a few times.  Haven’t been out that way since 2018, but gas wasn’t a problem.  Here’s a screenshot with gas stations from iMotoneige.  
 
 

Longue-Rive today!!

I'm here/there (sorry for not posting detail!), last week there were TONS more trailers @ Escoumins and trail traffic, this week very few of both, mostly locals, and they're grooming more than they're showing on iMoto, that plus the rock hard base could be good for a while if temps stay low!

I'm here/there, last week there were TONS more trailers @ Escoumins and trail traffic, this week very few of both, mostly locals, and they're grooming more than they're showing on iMoto, that plus the rock hard base could be good for a while if temps stay low...

Day 4 , went out of Forestville,  east on Tq3 about a mile then all local orange trails . Definitely keeping sleds cool was a challenge after it being 50° ish yesterday and below freezing today  .  Awesome day on the trails for sure  👌! 
Forecast for the weekend looks promising,  6+ inches hopefully..  but we're outta here for now on the way back to Vermont  . Cheers 
 
 
 

Thanks for the report Steven. Not perfect conditions but beats sitting on the couch!!!

Thanks! For your report and the solidarity! I've been feeling bad about failing to report the past 4 days of pure joy out of Complexe Hotelier Pelchat - Hotel Les Escoumins!
More soon, but for now... GET UP HERE! It's pretty easy to find the relatively small green area...
 

I am a little slow getting the ride report out of our Feb 27 trip.
Our original plan was to trailer from Nova Scotia to Pointe a la Croix Feb 27, then snowmobile to Matane catching the 2pm boat Feb 28.  However with mild weather and rain forecast on the 28th, we trailered directly to Matane the 27th.
Feb 28
Got up from the Quality Inn and on the 8am boat to Baie Comeau.  Off loaded, it was above 0 but still lo rain.  We took the orange trail behind the ski hill going East.  What an amazing scenic trail.  It ends on the TQ3 at the warming shack between BC and Godbout.  Stopped at the shack and put a fire on, it was a heavy mist at this point. No one was wet but we were in no rush either.  From there we went to the Travelodge for the night in BC and supper at 3 Barils,  Great food.
Feb 29
Flash freeze overnight, what a jack pot!  Handle bars controls all frozen solid!  Took off scratcher down.  Groomers were out in a few sections to help break up the hard crust.  Good trails all the way to Sacre Couer and stay at the Coronet.
Mar 1
Out from the Coronet and up the TQ93, it was the best I have ever seen it right to where you meet the first orange trail.  From there to the Chappel was good but not as good as the 93.  Lunch and off, backtracked on the TQ93 to the orange trail and turned east. One short plowed section by Domaine L or paste but great running to were the 330 meets the TQ3 above portneuf sur mer.  Right where the 330 ends we did a quick off trail to the other piece of the TQ3 avoiding running to the coast.  Into the Econolodge in Forestville for the night.
Mar 2
Original plan scrapped over drinks the night before, no ride to Sept Iles.  Boys wanted to go back to Mt Valin.  Back we go the way we came back to to a little more riding on the mountain.  Late lunch at the Chappel then most of the way back the 93 to the Debut of the 330.  Traveled east on it, another great trail. Stayed the second night in Forestville.  
Mar 3
Sunny warm day, took our riding back to Baie Comeau for the afternoon ferry.  We were starting to see some patches starting to bare up.  It was easy to tell the end was near. Loaded on the 5:00pm boat and back to Matane and the truck.
A few pictures to share.
 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-HGnsSJNa.thumb.jpeg.eeaf7e98597fad013548a2716a4f412b.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-8Lj004g9.thumb.jpeg.bb93e473115bcf665292c6c3e3fb50f7.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-PUNrRBgs.thumb.jpeg.492cb75c76202fd788253c7d812047dc.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-am64lTui.thumb.jpeg.0686c4fdbad58f721adcb860d950e046.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-P5OxEgEg.thumb.jpeg.1a055f1007c844814ec4d53e7e0cb0aa.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-QB6mQwDG.thumb.jpeg.6548b33999eb626504f261536f953455.jpeg
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_03/pro-8Y4kjjSp.thumb.jpeg.de324d632b2f8c10b6d5f3fd8cbaefb1.jpeg

Today was the day. Bridge was craned into place. 
650 ton lift
 

Coming along….
 

Found some big changes at pourvoirie Pipmuacan .. all new huge building replacing the old . 
Top picture of what was there last year and under today  .
 
Didn't see any signs of if/when it'll be reopened  ? 

Day 2 .. Ran northwest of the Pipmuacan today on mostly local trails n such  . Really warm this morning (50°f) swapping to some snow this evening back here at Km31 .  220 miles for today  
 

Great write up and pics, thanks for taking the time! You did catch some good trail for sure. Unfortunately, more proof that every corner is a crapshoot, just hope the oncoming riders learned something too..
 

Great write up and pics, thanks for taking the time! You did catch some good trail for sure. Unfortunately, more proof that every corner is a crapshoot, just hope the oncoming riders learned something too..
 

Day 4 Monday
 
Great night as usual with the gang here at Pouvorie La Dore. Gonna get up here this summer for a weekend for sure. Said goodbye to our new friends. They are very excited as soon they will get their one month break in April before starting season in May. Been a busy winter with advertising on I motoneige. Was a good move. 
Little colder thus morning making it comfortable in the gear. Seeing some grooming near restaurant du chef. 
 
Out to TQ93 and back to orange to Chef. Sweet grooming here. White asphalt. Gas at chef for the last time this season. Continue on still beautiful here groomed right to bridge on TQ93. Up TQ93 to 373. Getting used up in spots for sure. Seeing more and more ground less snow. Still good bit of nice trail. After one road crossing the Mrs is shooting wicked snow from right ski. We stop and it’s the curse of Bullwinkle. Rock jammed in snow tracker. We get sled tipped up, got the Mrs holding it while I try to extract the rock, rubber mallet and leatherman tool get er done. 
 
373 across to TQ93. Up to Girardville still cooler today have seen no sleds. Just at turn for Girardville one sled. Ruins our no sled day. We decided to go see if relais Lac des Coudes was open for lunch but got nothing more than a small bonus ride up and back. Closed on Monday. 
 
2pm at truck we decide we will sleep at home tonight, so it shall be. 
 
Great few days on great trails. Not as nice trail as last week here but very nice. 
 
So this year Caro saw three regions different. Escoumins in January, February saw her in RDL first time there and then to the Honey hole in LSJ and the Oasis in La Dore. 
Solid rider and gaining experience each day. 
 
She learned how to get rock out of Snow tracker.
And put her first middle rider in the bushes. 
 
 
Sweet ride back to Home. Great time. Dry road. 
 

Day 3 Sunday
 
Decided to shake things up today as we headed to the relais Lac des Coudre just north of Girardville for breakfast. It was great. Today we are going to Pouvorie La Dore. But as usual in a roundabout way. Decided to fill in the bingo a bit with center orange and west side orange then TQ93 back towards La Dore. Some traffic but light. Saw 17 sleds all day. Trails holding up nice in spots but by late afternoon very soft and the big sun taking its toll. 
 
With the exception of Friday when we got here and trails were concrete and very icy. I have had the Mrs. leading and she is doing fantastic. I want her to read the trail adjust for conditions and navigate. She is good. I am having her check signs at intersections and tell me which way we want to go. Then when we return through an intersection from another direction i ask her if she has been here before if she doesn’t recognize it straight off. All in all great experiences. Not to mention her pictures. 
 
Today we wind our way to La Dore stop for gas and supplies and head toward our destination on TQ93
 
Getting close to the end between La Dore and intersection with orange trail to resto du chef on TQ93 powerlines. Lots of mud and rocks here.
 
TQ93 still nice up to entrance to Pouvorie. 
 
We are minding our business heading in this feeder to Pouvorie. Its small in spots and tight. Around corner comes this guy riding like he is all alone. Right on a corner. Right turn for Caro left for him. She is as far right as possible like always. He is right up the middle. He was more scared than her. He missed her. I immediately radio, watch out he is surely not alone. Here comes the girlfriend following. She aint got the same skills. I see her eyes from behind Caro. Big saucers. She swerves from middle to the right, ski goes off on corner and she pins the gas and hits the tree. Bang stuck there. 
Luckily it was only minor damage no one hurt. Caro has stopped around corner and is asking me if she did anything wrong. I told her absolutely not. You cannot ride the middle like they did and luckily she hit tree instead of you. Almost taken out by nonsense. Innocent victim. But that is every trail everywhere. 
 
I help the guy pull her out some plastic broken, but no mechanical issues. He says merci. Yeah ok. 👍 
 
Onward to Pouvorie it’s a bit in her head now as she still is questioning if she did something wrong. Told her repeatedly you did nothing wrong. You were on your side and they were not. Chalk it up as first one you ran into the sticks. It happens. 
 
Arrive at the Oasis and tabernac still alot of sleds here at 4pm. Say hello to Stephane and gang, busy with the crowd. We head to chalet and have happy hour on the deck outside. Real nice. 
 
We have company for dinner 6 locals from their camps nearby are here too. Stephane gave us some homemade dry sausage wow really good. Caro tried the dried Bear meat sliced right from hind quarter but was not for her. Thats ok more for me.
 
After pine liquor shooters then back to chalet where we take time to sit outside and just admire the sky. Unbelievable the stars it’s totally clear and beautiful. 
 
Another successful day.

Drove up from Vt to Forestville Sunday and met up with Roadrunner our friends from Maine .
Left this morning on rock hard  local trails towards Chenail du Nord  After a quick stop we're off to the Pipmuacan Reservoir. Dropped on down to pourvoirie Itouk to say hi to Luc    the place was rocking on a sunny Monday afternoon  !  Next stop La Chapelle then off to Km31 for the night  . 215 miles for the day 
Was awesome this morning to see and chat with Trailblazer in Forestville and meeting Linda sled girl here at the 31 ! 
Tomorrow,  we'll see . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Someone loved her first time ever to a Pourvoire
 
 

Way behind on my report. Had some interesting events in the last 2 days. Will get all tyoed up for you tomorrow. Landed at truck 2pm. Loaded up. Stripped down to the Hypnose under gear. We R Trucking. 2:30 departure. Black trail to St Hubert Roberval. Then South bound for Shawinigan 155 dry and rolling on. Touchdown 6:55pm. When the black trail is dry you can make time up there. Nice to be home.