GT 2023

[GT Rider]

We are heading west and the trail is good but a notch or two below yesterday. Funny how you notice trail smoothness while on a two up. We weigh in at around 1260 fully loaded (thoughts of Universal and not carrying all this stuff). I installed Elka stage 4’s just before leaving for the this trip. I’m happy with them. 
 

We have a very nice ride across with very little traffic. I see that the few tracks on the trail had stopped at the warming hut when we passed.

[GT Rider]

We stopped a La Cache for fuel and a quick bite to eat. I got my tank of Team Ice Super. We sat down for a little while. It wasn’t mobbed like yesterday. While walking out to get ready I hear my name. Quebec Bob, Zeusand and their friend pulled up. We chatted for a little while. It’s nice meeting Quebec Rider’s on the trail. They were having a great trip. 

[GT Rider]

We headed off to the north side of 595. This is where we finally saw our first moose in Quebec. The trail is again in nice shape. We’re having a good ride. Gemma reminds me in 01 we spotted a wolf just past the old saw mill. This time around we didn’t see any wildlife but the scenery was great.

[GT Rider]

When we reached trail 5 and headed East I could see our luck ran out. The trail was beat. I think that last 14 miles to the hotel felt like 1400. Not every trail can be perfect. 
 

all in all we had another great day.

[Snobeeler]

Hey Stan, what are you riding these days? 

[GT Rider]

19 hours ago, Snobeeler said:

Hey Stan, what are you riding these days? 

I believe he’s riding a 1200 GSX.

[GT Rider]

Saturday 228 miles 

We had a nice stay at Hotel & Cie. The restaurant was open last night. When we checked in we had several choices for breakfast. They delivered breakfast to the room at our chosen time.

while headed out of town we pass the ambulance station. Back in 08 my battery died while passing. My machine was fuel injected and died. One of the guys drove me in town to get a new one. They were super nice people.

We hit the trail and found that it had been groomed overnight. What a relief. We going back to Matane to swap out our clothes.
 

On day one I had a weld let go on a bracket I had made. I had to toss one of my bags in the woods. It was still there. I plan to drive back and get it. 
 

We have a nice ride back to Matane. We pass several groups headed east. I don’t see many tracks on our side of the trail. 
 

 

 

[GT Rider]

The pictures are not in order.

We made the clothes swap and we were thinking of going to Albertville. We can see that the snow is thinner going west of Matane. The trail is in good shape but a bit softer. While passing St Ulric I see Quebec Bob, Zeusand and friend. We stopped for a few minutes and chat. Gemma and I continue on and I realize I missed a turn. My GPS map is zoomed out too far. We run down a local. When we get back on the trail there’s two machines running fairly slow but it’s not easy to pass in this section. We make our way around them and I’m going just a little to fast for a sharp turn and go off trail. A few minutes later 5 guys pulled up and picked up the front of my machine and turned it around. That was fast! 
 

Back on the trail we get gas at St Damase. Then take 5 along the lake towards Amqui. It’s a very nice ride. We pass a sign for Restaurant JoJo and that’s our new destination. 

[revct1]

Sandi and I have been following your posts and pics.  Great ride and great scenery.  A lot of trailers here at Universal, RDL.  Many of them heading out to Gaspe I'm sure.  The trails here have been excellent.  It is amazing how many miles of trails can be groomed each night.  Hats off to the groomers.

It is nearing spring and the road crossings and parking lots are showing some melt.

Jack & Sandi

[GT Rider]

We had a nice lunch and we head off to see the mummies. 
 

I soon find that my GPS is not following the trail correctly. We ride around for a bit and decided to head to Mt Joli for the hotel. 
 

It was another great day on the trail.

[GT Rider]

5 minutes ago, revct1 said:

Sandi and I have been following your posts and pics.  Great ride and great scenery.  A lot of trailers here at Universal, RDL.  Many of them heading out to Gaspe I'm sure.  The trails here have been excellent.  It is amazing how many miles of trails can be groomed each night.  Hats off to the groomers.

It is nearing spring and the road crossings and parking lots are showing some melt.

Jack & Sandi

Hi Jack,

Trails have been very good for the most part.

We are heading to BSL. I hope to get a few days in before conditions go south.

It’s nice to ride this time of year but it the warm weather has it’s consequences.

 

[GT Rider]

Sunday 170 miles

http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_03/image.thumb.png.9c5e9d5e0ac22ed1c681268d17328898.png

 

We stayed at La Gaspesiana.

We are heading to Degelis today.

The trail out from the hotel looks like it was groomed overnight. We take 578 to 5.

 

[GT Rider]

It seems we’re having some good luck. Trail 5 is in top condition. We take 5 to 35.

[GT Rider]

Trail 35 is also in great shape.

We stopped in Squatec for gas.

Then we take 546 to 571 to 544 to 565. I can see some sections of trail have moved since our last time through.

It’s a nice day. There’s not much traffic.

[GT Rider]

We get on 85 toward Cabino.

 I make a quick stop a the bank in St Louis du Ha! Ha!. Then we’re off to the pizza restaurant in Temiscouata.

 

[GT Rider]

We finished off the day with a ride along the lake. 

I noticed there’s no ice road on the lake this time around.

Great trails great day.

[GT Rider]

Wow we made it to Montmagny.

Tons of powder this morning out of Degelis. I managed to get stuck 5 times before 11am. My 2 up machine is not meant to break trail.

 

[smclelan]

50 minutes ago, GT Rider said:

Wow we made it to Montmagny.

Tons of powder this morning out of Degelis. I managed to get stuck 5 times before 11am. My 2 up machine is not meant to break trail.

 

I have  noticed a lot more people this year two-up on the 20" Expeditions.  They would be more stable and could wade more snow easier.....but the down side is certianly the challenge to get one out when you get in trouble.  Have you and Jemma ever tried one?

Really enjoying ride reports and great pictures. 

 

[GT Rider]

Hi Steven 

I have been mentioning to Gemma that may be my next machine. I would like to try one.

This is our third time out on this machine. I’m not ready to change it just yet but I like to plan ahead.

You and Andy had some great run. Very nice pics and reports.

 

[smclelan]

Just finished a loop of the Gaspe, thought we might cross paths but we seem to be a day or two behind you.

[GT Rider]

I read that you were coming back out after your big trip. We were looking out as well. 

[GT Rider]

Monday 176 miles 

We stayed at the 1212 in Degelis. Overnight I wake to the sound of wind whipping around outside. I can see trees blowing around. The weather report shows a few centimeters of snow. There’s winter storm warning’s out to the east.

As NH Moose posted there is no restaurant open this time around. I pack up an it’s a short jump to Tim’s.

We have breakfast and head out my plan was to take 85 to 563 to 35. 
 

I get on 85 rolling slowly as I glance at the gps I slide off the trail. Wow I am in deep. Good going Jim. Gemma gets off and I am trying to get out of a hole. There’s nothing to hook up to. Then a young man walked over he has a radio and called another young man over. They were from the fire department. With their help we get back on trail.

[GT Rider]

Now I’m thinking of just staying on 85 to 35. When we get next to the lake there’s a lot of drifting from all the wind. I’m south of 563 plowing through and I get stuck in a big drift. Just then 5 guys pulled up. They help me get out of the drift. They said they are going to break trail. I can see a spot a little bit ahead where I can get out of their way. I managed to get stuck again! The group goes around me then stopped to help. This time I am in deep enough that I had to use my winch to get out. I follow them up to where the Shell gas station is and they turn off. We see 4 machines coming from the other direction so we continue on. 

[GT Rider]

My gloves are wet it’s not easy to get them on so not much picture taking.

We make it to 35 and head toward Pohenegamook. Thankfully someone has broken trail. We are covered in powder. When I crack my visor snow gets on the back side of my glasses!

Its a real powder fest. We are somewhere about 1/2 way to Pohenegamook approaching a street crossing and I am seeing two trails. Which one? I go to the right and get buried in a drift. This is the worst. Gemma gets off. I see a tractor on the street coming over. The man points out the trail which is to my right but is drifted and not easy to see. The man let’s me hook up the winch to his tractor and I get out of the hole. I thank him for the help and we continue on. It’s slow going. I have had enough of being stuck.

We plow our way towards Pohenegamook. We see the clubhouse with the arches.

 

 

 

Edited March 7, 2023 by GT Rider

[GT Rider]

We are following tracks and I am trying not to get stuck again. I can see two machines ahead at a street crossing. We pulled up and the guys tell me we missed a turn. I turned around and I see the trail signs. No one has been through yet. I try to line myself up and get stuck again. The two guys pulled up and said they would break trail. They helped me get going. I had to backtrack and find a place to turn around. When we got back the trail was broken so we made our way to the lake and got gas. We traveled 70 miles and it was after 1:00.

My gps showed 199 miles to go. I scraped my original plans and navigated the fastest way to Montmagny. When we reached the rail bed there was no more powder. The trail was in very nice shape. We were able to make good time. We stayed on 35 until the orange local east of Montmagny. We made our way to trail 5. It was not in the best shape but ok. We rolled in at 4:15.

I wouldn’t want to get here a week from now.  There’s not much snow in town.