GT Rider Posted February 27, 2019 Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 OK 4th try to post. We trailered up to Matane Saturday. We are trying out our new GT 900T. Sunday we head out of Matane. It’s 21f with gray sky’s. We take 591 toward Sayabec. The trail is in nice condition. I’m liking the feel of the new ride. We get on 5 toward Amqui. The trail is good. We ride to the Albertville club and gas up. Then we take 587 south. Again the trail is in nice condition. We take the local to L’Ascension-de-Patapedia. We are going to the lookout. The trail is a single track in deep powder. We make our way and take some pictures. Back to 587 toward Matapédia. It starts to snow. 587 is good. We reach 5 and head for Causapscal. The trail is showing signs of Sunday traffic. We make it to the hotel at 4:30 and the snow is coming down. We went 197 miles. At the hotel I am offered a spot in the car port. When I hit reverse to move the sled I get a message reverse failure on the dash. I found that one of the linkage bolts was missing. Now I have to get to the dealer tomorrow. towing, mikerider and PLAYHARD 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 (edited) Some Sunday pics Edited February 27, 2019 by GT Rider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 Ok pics not uploading. Monday It was one heck of a snow storm. I couldn’t get out of the hotel. The owner offered to take us to the dealer in his pickup. What super nice people. We go to Hallé ski Doo and they take care of me quickly. Great service many thanks. We get back to the hotel and I convince my better half to go for a ride. The trail is one track with high powder. We head over to the Albertville clubhouse. It’s a long 15 miles. When we reach the clubhouse we see a groomer without the drag opening up the trail. We stop for lunch. Then we head up 5 toward the radar mountain. 5 was opened up until Amqui. We got on 587 and we were in single track powder again. When we reached 591 it was impassable. We had to turn around and head back. On the way back we found that JG had passed through and left a white carpet for us. We went 60 miles. towing, nyskidooerinnewhampshire, PLAYHARD and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 Tuesday The hotel owner made some calls for us to check conditions. There is 100km winds. Roads are closed the schools are closed. We decide to stay put for today. I have to cancel a bunch of reservations. Tonight 3 people rode in from Carleton. It took them 6 hours. They said drifting on 5 was huge. towing and PLAYHARD 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 (edited) Test Sunday Edited February 27, 2019 by GT Rider dooright, towing and PLAYHARD 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 Monday PLAYHARD, Northbound, towing and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 27, 2019 Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 Seems you start your trip with a bit of challenge! can't control mother nature... have to get the best of it I wish you many blue jay days to let you progress more easily and enjoy even more your trip. the forecast is encouraging... good luck Alain GT Rider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groomer Posted February 27, 2019 Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 good morning !!! still windy ...on my way grooming tq 5 shortly ....nice pics of the deer... took a few seconds to recognize tq 5 on the albertville side !!! jean-guy GT Rider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 Hi Alain We have to take what mother nature dishes out. It’s a bit disappointing to cancel all the plans we made but that’s snowmobiling. Thanks for the well wishes. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 Wednesday We are ready to hit the trail after waiting out the storm. We are going to try for New Richmond. It’s -3f and windy. We head off to 5 and it’s freshly groomed thanks JG. We have 10 miles of white carpet when we catch up to JG. We stop to say hello. JG said if I need help he will be at the horn in an hour. We are anticipating big drifts. He tells me stay in the middle away from the trees there are ditches to the sides. Off we go. When we reached the horn I stopped to access how to attempt to get through. Well I got myself stuck. Out comes the shovel and winch straps. I pull the sled out and walk the drift to feel it out. It looks like I can get through. As I return JG pull up and smacks through some big drifts. You can see that he has done this before. It was a site to see. We get some advice on the trail and we head off JG said it will take him 30 minutes to get this drift in shape. A few miles down we hit another big drift the looks impossible for us. I decide to wait for JG. I try to turn around to get out of his way when he comes. Well I managed to sink into the trail. Out comes the shovel. I am digging and sinking making slow progress. Here comes JG. He is able to clear out a nice path for me in a few minutes. We get out of his way and watch him do his thing. He cleared that monster drift in about 30 minutes. We thank him and head toward the bridge. After crossing the bridge the trail is a one track goat path. I look for a place to turn around. New Richmond is out. We head back. towing, Northbound, MrGutz and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 JG arrives the first time. MrGutz, Northbound, mikerider and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 The second drift. It looks like waves in a ruff ocean. It just too long to pass for this two up. I was switching camera and iPhone. I can’t post camera shots on the trail. Northbound and towing 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 We have a nice fresh trail to ride back. We have not scene any one yet. We get back to Causapscal and decide to go check the trails toward Amqui. On the way we spot a deer that is eating and doesn’t want to move. We waited for a while and slowly passed it didn’t run. PLAYHARD, Northbound, MrGutz and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcstar Posted February 28, 2019 Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 Wow those are some drifts! It's always an adventure, we plan all year, take our vacation time and have to make the best of it, stay safe, hopefully the next few days you will be able to make up some time! GT Rider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 We made our way to the clubhouse and gassed up. Trails were wind blown on the other side of the river. We passed the groomer with no drag. We head north on 5 still no knowing where we are going. Trails are ruff in open areas. We pass through Amqui and head north. When we get to the east west 5 we go west. We are thinking BSL might be in better shape presently. We take 5 all the way. It’s a mixed bag any open fields are drifted. We hit a few nice sections where we were making time. It seems that the trail was rerouted around Mount-Joli. 5 did not follow my gps map. We did not go through Mont-Joli. Just passed the 5 / 587 intersection I managed to slide off the trail. At first I thought not a big deal but that changed to not again. I get out the shovel and start digging. 2 guys pulled up. It turns out we had met at the Caribou last year. We try to reposition but it’s digging. Out comes the ropes the closest tree is 200 feet and getting there is a chore. The winch pulls it out. We thank the guys for helping us out. Off we go. Just passed Valga we hit fresh groomed trail. We take 579 to 578 into Rimouski. A lot of open farms all drifted wind blown. 170 miles today. PLAYHARD, MrGutz, towing and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 Pics PLAYHARD, Florida Snowman, towing and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groomer Posted February 28, 2019 Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 bonjour jim and gemma !!! great meeting you yesterday ....glad i helped a bit ... many thx for the pics...seldom i have pics of me while seating in my office i noticed the deer tracks behind church last night ...can see they are struggling -30c ...on my way to groom st alexandre and the lake merci !!! jean-guy MrGutz, towing, PLAYHARD and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 Thanks again for all the help and advise. It was fun to watch you at work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted February 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 Tom The boots are working nicely. Thanks. Florida Snowman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida Snowman Posted February 28, 2019 Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 Hi Jim & Gemma, As we’ve been riding these last 4 days I’ve been thinking about you both. Mother Nature’s timing can really affect our “vacation” time eh? Things should be better today. Any groomer with a full fuel tank should have been running last night in all of Quebec! Have a great day today! Best, Tom GT Rider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smclelan Posted February 28, 2019 Report Share Posted February 28, 2019 Jim & Jemma, Wow what a battle you are having trying to get a few miles on. I hope the groomer gods start working in your favor. Glad to see Jean Guy was able to help you dig out twice. Beat the trails down, I am heading up soon for a Gaspesie loop. GT Rider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted March 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2019 Hi Tom Sometimes you hit it right and sometimes things just don’t work the way you planned them out. We were lucky to hit Havre-Saint-Pierre last year. It groomed all the way no less. Hi Steven I like your quote “the Gaspe never disappoints”. It threw us a curveball this year (along with everyone else). We are happy to be here regardless. I will have the memory of JG in his machine cutting down those drifts like a hot knife through butter. Florida Snowman and PLAYHARD 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted March 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2019 Thursday We are headed to RDL today. We get off on a late start as it’s not far. It shows 10f on my gauge but the sun feels strong. We have our blue sky day. We take 578 to 5 and get on 5 east. The trails are great. There is some wind blown drifting in open areas nothing too bad. towing, MrGutz, Florida Snowman and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted March 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2019 We get on 35 west. I really like this trail. It’s in top condition and we see 2 sleds all the way to Squatec. We decide to head for Cabano and get some pizza. Shortly after the 35 / 571 intersection we pass a drag on the trail and it looks like a dozer had gone through without the drag. We went a few miles and came to a fairly steep incline where the dozer slid around climbing. I was having thoughts of my roll down hill from last year. I decided not to risk my new machine and we turn around. We met another two up and were informed that the trail was closed. I felt happy I didn’t push on. We head back to Squatec and fueled up. We take 571 west we are headed for Trois-Pistoles. The trail is good but I got spoiled on 35. We make our way to 5 and stop at the clubhouse. We spot a tour group getting lessons on snowmobiling in the parking lot. MrGutz, towing and PLAYHARD 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grampsledder Posted March 1, 2019 Report Share Posted March 1, 2019 Been reading your adventure posts. We head up Saturday for a week. They are tracking another Nor’easter for Monday. Glad you finished the trip with some good riding. Pam and Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.