First Time Gaspe Trip Report: 02/28 - 03/01

[themainer]

Finally took time to get the pictures off my phone. This was my first trip to the Gaspe, Dad’s 3^rd time but first since 2001. We only ended up doing a 3 day trip out of the 4 originally planned due to the snow on Wednesday and lack of availability of rooms near Perce. All in all, a good trip though. 775 miles in 3 days, had perfect weather for the north shore, and saw everything worth seeing (from what I was told) besides Perce Rock, but that can always been seen on another trip. Trails overall were a 6/10. With the warmup and subsequent re-freezing you could tell the groomers were struggling as I think at least 90% of the corners had chop on the inside half the entire trip. Trails definitely weren’t what they usually are in Quebec, but still good enough to have a good trip. Weather was warm, didn’t have to break trail in over 18 inches of snow, and didn’t have any mechanical issues, so really the best luck we’ve had on a saddlebag trip the last three seasons. Here’s the route:

 

 

Day 1: The Squall (Green Line)

 

Left Pointe A La Croix at a comfortable 17 degrees with fresh groomed trail. From researching on this forum, decided to head east for 9 miles, then take a local trail back across to 5, the across to the 587 regional trail around the Matapedia Valley. Good decision as Trans Quebec 5 in this area was pretty beat. Had a great ride on 587, probably the best grooming of the whole trip. Let the 800 etec breathe pretty good in many places, so got terrible fuel mileage this stretch! Fueled up and headed toward Matane for lunch. Ate at the A & W Root Beer restaurant chain that I like to frequent while in Quebec. Checked a few work emails, took a couple calls, then back on the trail heading for our final destination of Sainte Anne Du Monts. While heading east towards our destination I saw pitch black Thunderstorm looking clouds off in the distance and knew we were going to get something, either rain or snow as it was over 32 degrees on the skidoo air temperature gauge. Ended up getting caught in a snow squall that was nuts. Being from Northern Maine I’ve seen it snow 3 feet in a storm and every type of snow you could think of, but I’d never seen it snow this hard in my entire life. Just pouring out of the sky. At times you couldn’t see 25 feet and Dad following 50 feet behind would loose sight of me frequently. Luckily we were in the woods the entire time during the squall cause Im not sure you could have found your way in a field. After about 20 minutes it cleared out and was almost back to sunny again. Stayed at the Hotel & Cie which was a nice place with a good restaurant. 275 Miles total.

 

Looking at Pointe a La Croix, QC and Cambelton, NB

587

Matane suspension bridge

Snow squall. Picture doesn't do it justice at all.

 

[themainer]

Day 2: Change of Plans (Red Line)

 

 

Got up and on the trail bright and early at 6:30am for our trip over the North Shore bound for the town of Gaspe. Dad only had terrible memories of this stretch doing it in the rain and fog back in 2001. We had a beautiful mostly blue sky day. Absolutely beautiful scenery around Mont Sainte Pierre, pictures don’t really do it any justice. Near Mont Sainte Pierre met a mother moose and a calf on the trail who refused to leave. Kept shutting of the sleds and waiting, then going again. After 10 minutes they finally got off the trail. Was a little skieved out at the cliffs on some of the trails, pretty amazing where they put these trails. Got to Riviere Renard after about 180 miles at 1:00pm for lunch and decided we would push on the last 70 something miles to Perce. Sitting in the restaurant I called the hotel in Perce and they were booked. Found out there were no other hotels with rooms within 50 miles of there that showed up on the internet or the map. Dad told me the rock really wasn’t worth the trip as he’s seen it and there isn’t really anything else worth seeing near there. Finally we made the decision we’d head to Murrdochville to Hotel Copper if they had a room. Called and got the last one, but only one bed in the room… Said frig it, we’ll take and I’ll sleep on the floor if I need it. Left the lunch stop and 2:30 to push on the last 110 miles planning to get in at 7pm. Topped off fuel in Gaspe and got down to the local trail and started squeezing the throttle. Awesome cruising stretch of trail. Hit the 597 and hit the throttle again. Saw the tracks at a bad horseshoe corner where apparently someone had missed the corner and died at 10:00am that morning we heard later. Makes you think… Made it to Hotel Copper just before 6pm. Whole lobby smelled like cigarettes. Asked the guy at the front desk (the owner) if they had any extra blankets so I could sleep on the floor. Since he didn’t speak the best English (and I don’t speak much French) he said we don’t have cots. I said, no I’d just like some extra blankets (with some charades to get the point across). He talked in french to a worker, the worker looked depressed, headed for the basement and came upstairs with an extra Mattress and blankets! Thanked them both multiple times as all I wanted was some extra blankets. Worked out perfect really. Had a good dinner and went to bed. 292 miles total when we were only hoping for 200.

 

 

Sunrise in Sainte Anne:

 

 

Clearcut:

 

 

The first avalanche I’ve ever seen. Definitely would have pushed a sled off that few hundred foot cliff had it hit one when it let go:

 

 

Pictures don’t do the scenery or steepness justice. Needed the parking brake on.

 

 

Looking down on Mont Sainte Pierre around 8am. Was fun watching the groups of snowmobiles leave the hotel looking like ants in the valley below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the valley on top of a 30 foot mound:

 

 

View on the opposite side of the valley. We were originally in that small bright white spot in the middle top of the mountain:

 

 

Cant remember this town’s name:

 

 

 

 

Snowblowing up at the windmills:

 

 

Another sheer cliff spot:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lights of Murrdochville:

 

 

Hotel Copper, parking on Main Street:

[themainer]

Day 3- Just a Dustin’

 

 

Left Hotel Copper at 7am bound for Pointe A La Croix. Little bummed about not seeing Perce Rock, but there is always next time. Cruised over the local trail toward La Cache breaking trail in a couple inches of snow, Hit the 595 and hammered down. Could only get the sled to hit 100 in 4 inches of snow. Started freezing raining closer to New Richmond and needed to scrape the shields every 30 seconds or so. Got to New Richmond and it changed back to snow. Ate at my first Dixie Lee chain restaurant which was pretty good, then headed for Pointe A La Croix as it turned to plain rain. Thank goodness for Gortex Klim geared. Stayed perfectly dry. Eneded the day about 208 miles. Couldn’t believe we finally had a trip that went mostly right after 3 years in a row of breaking trail in over 18 inches of snow, then losing my track in Riviere Du Loop last year, etc.. Must be the new sled got rid of the funk!

 

 

Snowin’ a bit:

 

 

Old Olympics and TNTs

 

 

595 Hammah Down!

 

 

Covered Bridge:

 

 

Nice Spot:

[snowfarmer]

Your got some really nice shots of your trip especially the ones of the north shore. Thanks for sharing !

[Snobeeler]

Great report, thanks for sharing. I have a lot of those shots in my memory bank.

[GT Rider]

Very nice report and photos. We were on some of the same trails.

I wanted to get a photo of that avalanche spot but my wife wasn't having that. 

Thanks.

[Js12ren]

31 minutes ago, GT Rider said:

Very nice report and photos. We were on some of the same trails.

I wanted to get a photo of that avalanche spot but my wife wasn't having that. 

Thanks.

My Wife didn't like that spot either Jim. I don't know what all the fuss was about?

[Ontariokid95]

I'm heading for gaspe bay on Wednesday to do a loop, I am staying in Mont saint Pierre on Thursday and hotel copper on friday, would it be to far to head down to perce and head back up to hotel copper?

[themainer]

22 minutes ago, Ontariokid95 said:

I'm heading for gaspe bay on Wednesday to do a loop, I am staying in Mont saint Pierre on Thursday and hotel copper on friday, would it be to far to head down to perce and head back up to hotel copper?

You'd be looking at a long day for sure. Around 275 miles if I remember right going out to Riviere Renard and around. That 597 trail is easy cruising  the last 80 miles in to murrdochville though. If you're used to big mileage days definitely doable. Would be a lot shorter to cut through the 597 all the way through and come right back up it.

Edited March 6, 2017 by themainer

[Js12ren]

16 minutes ago, Ontariokid95 said:

I'm heading for gaspe bay on Wednesday to do a loop, I am staying in Mont saint Pierre on Thursday and hotel copper on friday, would it be to far to head down to perce and head back up to hotel copper?

Its a short run from St Pierre to hotel copper. I think to Perce and back to copper will be over 200 miles.

[themainer]

2 hours ago, GT Rider said:

Very nice report and photos. We were on some of the same trails.

I wanted to get a photo of that avalanche spot but my wife wasn't having that. 

Thanks.

Yeah it was the first one I'd ever seen. Was cool to see. Pretty crazy the way they carved that training section out of the mountain too. 1 mile from valley floor to the top of that!

[Ontariokid95]

I was planning on leaving Mont saint Pierre and heading down to gaspe, then cutting across the orange trail and up to hotel copper, I believe that is about 200 miles?

[Florida Snowman]

Great trip, reporting & pics!  Nice riding with your Dad.  Something very special indeed.

Thanks for sharing.  

Tom

[quebec bob]

8 minutes ago, Florida Snowman said:

Great trip, reporting & pics!  Nice riding with your Dad.  Something very special indeed.

Thanks for sharing.  

Tom

Gaspe is always a great time/ adventure, would really like to do it this year, done it 3 times now, I live in western Mass. and would like to connect with someone or group to do it next week, mid week thru mid week, been riding Quebec 30 years, experienced and easy to ride with, thanks, Bob.

[Scranton1]

Great Pics

[Dynomite4224]

Just great pictures looks awesome 

[themainer]

3 hours ago, Florida Snowman said:

Great trip, reporting & pics!  Nice riding with your Dad.  Something very special indeed.

Thanks for sharing.  

Tom

Yeah, he's not the biggest fan of snowmobiling anymore. He used to really pound the miles on when I was younger and couldn't handle the 300 mile days. Now he's winding down as I want to ride bigger and farther. Hoping to drag him out to Chibougamu and Matagami next year with a group of people as neither he or I have ever been, not sure I have him convinced yet though. 

Edited March 6, 2017 by themainer

[smclelan]

Great ride summary and pictures!  Hard to beat the Gaspesie this time of year. You have had a good taste but enough to come back another time. The Rock is well worth the trip on a sunny clear day. You also need to ride north of la cache on the 595 stunning views. 

[P Hardy]

11 hours ago, Ontariokid95 said:

I was planning on leaving Mont saint Pierre and heading down to gaspe, then cutting across the orange trail and up to hotel copper, I believe that is about 200 miles?

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.