NSHM

Very sad day...Real was bigger than life.and worked extremely hard at delivering a top shelve product with a smile... and made many friends...Heart felt condolences to his entire family.

Wow, that's to bad. I have stayed there with the boys and the wife many times. Real was always good to us,food and service was good. In the 25 years going to Quebec, Real's was the only place we ever got a drink on the house !
RIP Real Masse'

Day 1 Friday 
Loaded up and trucked out. Debated long and hard and it was tough to choose. I had rooms lined up in Matane, but it’s game over there. Cancelled. Had  Escoumins too it was there or since we already been there this year, I considered going long to Forrestville. Then a run to Baie Comeau is easier for the Mrs. We aint riding a week. This is 3 days and done. 
 
I felt Cote Nord was very safe play. But after seeing last week up here decided to pull the trigger and head right back to the “honey hole” 
 
Ugly from Lac Bouchette right to St Felicien. The road is closer to the Lake so for sure less snow but the rain did serious damage to already non existent base of nothing. It rained quite a bit up here more than i thought. Oh well let’s see what it looks like in Girardville when we get there. 
 
Surprised to find it not bare everywhere. Lots of ice in parking lot. Seeing sleds all along from Normandin and to Albanel.
 
Touchdown at just before 2pm. Get in room drop the iron and suit up. Out on icy but not bad at all trails. Little more traffic and warmer temps its gonna loosen up nicely. Up to check middle orange dowm as it shows groomed after rain storms. It does not disappoint. Scratchers down not even trying without them. Quick 40 miles and back in. All alone we are here. Snohorse the mrs is loving the place. I think i will keep her. 
 
Chez Ben for some grub and all is good. 

Yes even with the limited snow base it was possible to get good riding on cold winters days but mother nature throw us another a warm sequence ahead and it seems that this will be the end... I considered trying St-Donat tomorrow that is still open but with rain on the forecast I think we will stay home.
I confirm you Real Masse has passed on February 27. There is actually a wave of tribute comments on the web about him, he was very appreciated by most people who crossed his path. I have not seen the official obituary yet but will post if I find it. Condolences this his family and friends 

I try an approximate translation here:
Dear customers,
It is with sadness and much sorrow that we announce the departure of our dear Réal.
This past February 27, our beloved left us for his last trip to the heavens.
Since 1986, Réal has made it his duty to offer the best to his customers.
The family is committed to continuing the current activities of the outfitter, and to providing the same service that you have received for all these years.
In this moment of mourning, we ask you to respect the need for a moment of rest, so that we can live this moment as a family.
Sportingly yours,
Réal Massé's family
 
 
 X2

We heard you the first time 🤣

Looks like they ran the groomer around there. He probably stocked up on more bingo cards! It is definitely not going to be the Gaspe. 

Good luck!  Cold weather will be harder to find.

I've tried ,but you can't ride on imagination. We were up the end of January from Bernieres to RDL on a mixed bag of conditions and said, they just need one more good storm and it never came.
Canceled a couple of trips in Feb. Timing and driving mileage didn't allow going up to where the snow was. Some of us have to work.😂
Worst winter since my first time riding Quebec since 1979 at Hotel Motel Sawyerville with the berm in the middle of the trail.

Looks like they ran the groomer around there. He probably stocked up on more bingo cards! It is definitely not going to be the Gaspe. 

Good luck!  Cold weather will be harder to find.

My guess is Ice & Mrs Ice are going to end up at Pouviere La Dore and that area
probably a swing and a miss but we’ll find out soon 

Worst year I can remember as far as snow, and I have been riding Quebec since 1989. We got lucky and got 2 trips in, neither had a tremendous amount of snow but good enough. The trip last week to the Gaspe from RDL was a gamble that paid off. As we rolled back into RDL last Saturday it literally felt like the trail evaporating around us and it literally was. Our annual Maine trip is a no go, supposed to be leaving tomorrow but bare ground like most of Quebec. Next year has to be better 

Use your imagination come on

Good morning Alain,
Another great report by you and the Mrs.! Glad to see you were able to get out. However, I saw a post from someone yesterday,  that Real had passed. Have not seen anything official, however, if you could confirm this, and possibly post the obituary, that would be great. My condolences go out to Nancy and family, such great people, and such a beautiful spot they have there. It’s always a pleasure to go there, as you say, their food is outstanding, very kind staff, and great accommodations. Real can be very proud of his accomplishment there!
Thanks,
Hank

No mention of snowy trails or frozen shores?    lol

LOL….to be fair I had (for the first time ever and even not now) the entire winter off that year. 
just seems harder and harder as you get older and fighting the weather and the economy to get seasons in like we used to. 
I hope to make it to full retirement someday and have enough Ching left to ride at least half the winter days. I’ll be able to beat Mother Nature then LOL  
my buddy sent me some pics today from some French Facebook I think page. Outside of Parent/Clova somewhere 
WARNING GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING CONTENT   !!!!!!!!!!
 

AWESOME write up and trip Fuse6. !!!!!
 
that stick jammed up in the running board wins the ingenuity of the year award. BRAVO !!!!!

We’ve done the Cote Nord this week leaving Hotel Pelchat in Les Escoumins Sunday morning. Baie Comeau Sunday night, Sept-iles Monday night , back to Baie Comeau Tuesday night.
Trails have been excellent for the most part. Godbout to Sept-iles going out and then back the next day we’re a F1 slot car course. Groomed both directions and almost zero traffic. Days you dream of for riding conditions.
Sunday night we were the only sledder group at La Manoir in BC, Tuesday night few more sledders. We did the big loop north of BC both days and it was excellent for snow cover and grooming.
Arrived in Forestville for Wednesday night. Very light rain Wednesday during the day, almost unmeasurable. During the night it rained more. Today Thursday morning it was cold and trails were hard as rock. We did the 200 km loop north of Forestville. More snow north of Forestville than anywhere else have seen. 8 sleds in our group, 5 with scratchers, 3 without. No problem running with scratchers, guys without had some cooling issues. One bush fix got a 1200 back to the hotel.
The loop north of Forestville is a real gem, scenic. Was concerned because grooming map showed not groomed for several days. So little traffic run up there conditions were perfect, not a bump.
Seems like half million people in Mont Valin and very few doing Cote Nord.
This trip from Feb. 25 until tomorrow finishing up back in Les Escoumins has been a 9/10 for conditions.
 

That sucks, may he Rest in Peace

The man with the famous mustache has passed away. Condolences to his family and friends.

Yeah, I think that about kills it. 

Always fun hooking up with fellow Quebecriders out in the bush. Iceman runs with an amazing crew. Windigo never disappoints. Plenty of snow up there. It’s just the access points are dissolving fast. A little creativity and there’s a lot of riding to be had still.