gade_guy

Welcome to 2013! Thanks groomer for all you do for us sledders! Cold weather to start 2013 and hoping you get your wish for a big dumping of snow very soon.... :wub:

Buying a business and 2 kids in college has slowed things down a bit for this season but planning on riding to Lab next season in/around Cains Quest time, will either go up this route or back down from Lab City/Fermont. With the race going out to the south coast other have of the loop will go that way!

"Quebecmtnrider, is the location you are talking about near the truck stop Gabriel on the road to labrador? I have heard that area is interesting, we stopped there in our vehicle last March on our way to Lab for the cains quest race" hThink je's talking about Groulx mountain and Groulx canyon area backcountry route from Baie Comeau to Fire Lake on way to Fermont & Lab City

where is the sled located? stock, or any mods? Can you link or PM me some pics? Thanks

Très beau reportage, merci

best start to the season in many years.... Looking forward to Alain's report after the weekend

looking good... bring it on. good pattern starting this season, let's hope it continues.

Thanks as always for the update... looking real good for early season can't wait to get up that way!

Awesome great start and I hope will continue looking forward to next month and 1st trip of 2013

J-G, great pics and evangelism for the Gaspe region coming from you as always. you make it look easy and fun always, but I am sure there are days... or 3am mornings when you are in the groomer ... when it doesn't seem so glamorous and a lot of hard work in that you do. Again thanks for all your efforts you do to promote the sport, way of life, and theGaspe region! GG

Or you can tow a sleigh like this and ride all the way till Labrador.......

very do-able and great area have spent some time exploring in and around there, but insure you're prepared, have extra fuel and emergency supplies & a plan should something go amiss because especially in winter can be a very remote area!

Speedy, I know you're saying you're looking to do loops from 1 location but the Gaspe is really ideal for saddlebag touring to really enjoy the diversity of the region. This year assuming no major meltdown in next 2 weeks you should have plenty of good snow especially on the north-side. couple of my favorite locations to stay at: http://www.villagegrandenaturechic-chocs.com http://www.gites-classifies.qc.ca/maiver.htm http://www.aubergelerelais.com

Yep, looks like Gaspe getting buried for end of season this year! Daniela and I are bummed we had to return to Germany and couldn't spend another week in the sweet powder in the Gaspe! 14 snow you and Marty might need to look into lighter sleds then those 4-strokes if you want to really enjoy snow conditions like this in Gaspe........

re-staked and frozen up solid again as of week of 21 Feb.

Groomer great we could finally meet you at the clubhouse last Monday, plenty of snow for sure for the 4-days we where in the Gaspe. Monday left from Pointe-a-la-Croix where we stayed Sunday eve @ Gite La Maison Verte (5* B&B to stay and depart from!!) afternoon rode from Albertville clubhouse to Sainte-Paule, plenty of fresh snow. Happy to be in by 4:30pm with nearly 12" of fresh powder on the trails. Awoke Tuesday morning and 1st tracks pushing snow of ~18" the whole way on the 591 to Matane, some 4' drifts in some spots, but the Gade did great breaking trail, only 1 stuck mishap near a road-crossing near saint-Leandre, a friendly local truck driver saw our mishap and came to the rescue.Then on the TQ-5 from Matane to Cap-Chat and on a local trail up to saint-Octave-de'l'Avenir and Village Grand Nature, plenty of snow and drifts but lot's of fun, and great place to stay in chic-chocs!!. Met a great group of 8 + 2 from Ontario from Wednesday back tracked from Cap-Chat to the 595 over to what was planned to be 595 to new Carleton trail, but gas situation and my 1st time rider friend either single track or breaking trail in 24" of new snow decided to go thru La Cache and onwards to New Richmond and then to Carleton for the night. Ultimately met on new friends from Ontario @ La Cache both ended up in Carleton for the night. 1st real grooming we saw since Monday was just outside New Richmond. Thursday awoke to very cold (-20C) and crazy windy conditions, short ride back to the truck in Pointe-a-la-Croix and encountered some sizable drifts along the way. Great 3.5day ride in plenty of fresh snow good time was had by all!!