Three of us took a little Gaspesie Loop and contrary to popular belief the trail conditions were spectacular!! I have a short report and a very few pictures, I apologize for the pictures but once you have done this area as many times as I have you don't take as many,
Day 1
We left from Pointe a la Croix, it was a little scratchy out in front of the motel but by the time we went 1 kilometer or to the first look-out the trails were great. We traveled the TQ 5 till we got to the local trail that leads to Albertville, we went and had a coffee with Groomer (nope he didn't have wine!!! LOL) We left there taveled into Causapscal where we took the local trails up through Saint Alexandre, Saint Tharcius, and Saint Vianney coming out on the east side of Matane. We continued east and had lunch at the St Paulin Relais, then to Mont Saint Pierre for the night 285 miles. The trails were perfect all day.
Day 2
Took off early from MSP, stopped at the look-out for a picture or two then south on the 597 to Murdochville. After a call to Patsy we decided against Perce. We continued south on the 597 for about 50 miles till we got to the local trail that goes east out to the coast just south of the town of Gaspe. The trails to this point were some of the best I have ever ridden on. We then turned North on the TQ5 the trails here were great as well, however there were two sections one around Sunny Bank and the other a few miles north of there again ( both right around the town of Gaspe) they were scratchy and bare by spots both around 3/4 of a mile in length then back to great snow. We continued around the tip through Riviere Renaud, Petiete Vallee, etc... We stopped in one spot and took a picture of a guy that had shoveled the eves out on his camp to get at it ( over 9' of snow on the level!!). Great trails all day. We ended the day back in Murdochville giving us a 305 mile day.
Day 3
Left Murdochville and headed to La Cache, again great trails. The last 10 mile going into La Cache is rerouted and the scenery is spectacular to say then least. The last mile going into La Cache was a bit scratchy as well with a few bare spots, not the end of the world. Going out of La Cache toward St Paulin you have about 7 miles that have been plowed and you have to travel on a hard ice base. I put the ice scratchers down on my sled and there was no issues, one of the other guys had to duck off into the edge every now and then for a little loose snow and lubrication, none of us had any issues. We stopped for lunch at St Paulin again, then on toward Matane. We went west of Matane and onto the 591 stopping at the Abrupte in Sainte Paule for a coolie. We parked for the night at Pastili in Amqui. 175 miles. Another day of great trails.
Day 4
After drinking too much the night before, we left Amqui and headed down to the Albertville Club for breakfast (no sign of Groomer, I suspect he drank too much the night before too). We then took the 587 back toward Pointe a la Croix, this trail has also been rerouted and is now very scenic. It was very bare for about 3/4 of a mile going through the town of Matepedia other than that this trail was fabulous. 140 miles for the morning. We got back to the truck by noon on Sunday and very regretably headed for home.
Trip total was 904 miles and maybe 3 miles of poor trail. Everything was groomed to perfection, no traffic, great weather and great people all along the route.
Three of us took a little Gaspesie Loop and contrary to popular belief the trail conditions were spectacular!! I have a short report and a very few pictures, I apologize for the pictures but once you have done this area as many times as I have you don't take as many,
Day 1
We left from Pointe a la Croix, it was a little scratchy out in front of the motel but by the time we went 1 kilometer or to the first look-out the trails were great. We traveled the TQ 5 till we got to the local trail that leads to Albertville, we went and had a coffee with Groomer (nope he didn't have wine!!! LOL) We left there taveled into Causapscal where we took the local trails up through Saint Alexandre, Saint Tharcius, and Saint Vianney coming out on the east side of Matane. We continued east and had lunch at the St Paulin Relais, then to Mont Saint Pierre for the night 285 miles. The trails were perfect all day.
Day 2
Took off early from MSP, stopped at the look-out for a picture or two then south on the 597 to Murdochville. After a call to Patsy we decided against Perce. We continued south on the 597 for about 50 miles till we got to the local trail that goes east out to the coast just south of the town of Gaspe. The trails to this point were some of the best I have ever ridden on. We then turned North on the TQ5 the trails here were great as well, however there were two sections one around Sunny Bank and the other a few miles north of there again ( both right around the town of Gaspe) they were scratchy and bare by spots both around 3/4 of a mile in length then back to great snow. We continued around the tip through Riviere Renaud, Petiete Vallee, etc... We stopped in one spot and took a picture of a guy that had shoveled the eves out on his camp to get at it ( over 9' of snow on the level!!). Great trails all day. We ended the day back in Murdochville giving us a 305 mile day.
Day 3
Left Murdochville and headed to La Cache, again great trails. The last 10 mile going into La Cache is rerouted and the scenery is spectacular to say then least. The last mile going into La Cache was a bit scratchy as well with a few bare spots, not the end of the world. Going out of La Cache toward St Paulin you have about 7 miles that have been plowed and you have to travel on a hard ice base. I put the ice scratchers down on my sled and there was no issues, one of the other guys had to duck off into the edge every now and then for a little loose snow and lubrication, none of us had any issues. We stopped for lunch at St Paulin again, then on toward Matane. We went west of Matane and onto the 591 stopping at the Abrupte in Sainte Paule for a coolie. We parked for the night at Pastili in Amqui. 175 miles. Another day of great trails.
Day 4
After drinking too much the night before, we left Amqui and headed down to the Albertville Club for breakfast (no sign of Groomer, I suspect he drank too much the night before too). We then took the 587 back toward Pointe a la Croix, this trail has also been rerouted and is now very scenic. It was very bare for about 3/4 of a mile going through the town of Matepedia other than that this trail was fabulous. 140 miles for the morning. We got back to the truck by noon on Sunday and very regretably headed for home.
Trip total was 904 miles and maybe 3 miles of poor trail. Everything was groomed to perfection, no traffic, great weather and great people all along the route.
Edited by smclelan