Macdav and I went for a little New Years Blast of the Gaspe for a couple of days.
DAY 1 We left New Years Eve day and got back Janruary 3rd. It looked from Patsy's site that all the trails were closed and rumors were there was no snow after the rain. I am here to dispute these stories. We left early on the 31st from Pointe a la Croix heading east toward New Richmond. The trails were hard but there was lubrication and no shortage of snow. We then went up the 595 stopping at La Cache for a coffee and on north. We stayed the night at the Relais Chic Chos just outside Sainte Anne Des Monts. This is the first time I have stayed there and would certianly recommend it to anyone.
DAY 2 The Metro Media had called for 1-3 cm of snow, as per the north shore of the Gaspe we woke up to 8'!! Headed out in the morning toward Chap Chat for gas, did you know the two gas stations in Chap Chat are closed New Years Day. We then headed out back toward Sainte Anne Des Monts for gas. After about two and a half hrs driving we were back to the end of the trail for the Relais Chic Chos. Were we ever making good time. Our next stop was one I always make, the St Paulin Clubhouse. I stretched the TZ1 Turbo out on the straight aways on the way into there. We stopped at another favorite spot in Sainte-Adelme but it was too early or it was closed because of it being New Years Day. From there we skirted around Matane and went down the local trail from Saint Luc de Matane to Saint Vianney and into Amqui for the night at the Auberge Ambassadeur. This was also a great place with indoor unheated parking. The food was good and the waiteress were friendly and could speak english.
DAY 3 Took off on the 587 toward Mont Joli then switched onto the 579 till we hit the TQ5. We went west till we landed at the Auberge Le Relais just outside Rimouski. Had lunch and a brown pop there, lots of sledders coming and going. We then headed back east on the TQ5 till the intersection of the 587, we followed it till the 591. We stayed on the 591 going through Saybec and to the TQ5 at Lac Matepedia. We sailed from there to Amqui and stayed at the Ambassadeur again.
Day 4 Took off up the TQ 5 to the 591 where we went to Auberge Le Pente Abrurpie for breakfast. This place was closed, so we said we would stay on the local trails and have breakfast in Saint Vianney. This restaurant was also closed. Getting very hungry now. We stayed on these back local trails through Saint Tharcisius, Sait Alexandre des Lac all the way to Eight Mile Lac. We then headed toward Causapscal which is where we met Groomer. I strongly recommend trying some of these local trails they were all in good shape, great scenery, and low traffic. We lunched with Groomer and took off back toward the truck. We stopped at the new cable bridge and just pasted that took another local trail to L'Alverne. There was more moose traffic on this trrail than snowmobiles. However about 3/4 the way through we hit a plowed road and had to follow it for a few miles. Had a beer at the clubhouse there and landed back to the truck right before dark.
The trails were 8 out of 10 or better everywhere we went. The whole trip was about 740 miles and I don't think we met more than 12 sleds. Everyone we did me was on a corner though.
Macdav and I went for a little New Years Blast of the Gaspe for a couple of days.
DAY 1 We left New Years Eve day and got back Janruary 3rd. It looked from Patsy's site that all the trails were closed and rumors were there was no snow after the rain. I am here to dispute these stories. We left early on the 31st from Pointe a la Croix heading east toward New Richmond. The trails were hard but there was lubrication and no shortage of snow. We then went up the 595 stopping at La Cache for a coffee and on north. We stayed the night at the Relais Chic Chos just outside Sainte Anne Des Monts. This is the first time I have stayed there and would certianly recommend it to anyone.
DAY 2 The Metro Media had called for 1-3 cm of snow, as per the north shore of the Gaspe we woke up to 8'!! Headed out in the morning toward Chap Chat for gas, did you know the two gas stations in Chap Chat are closed New Years Day. We then headed out back toward Sainte Anne Des Monts for gas. After about two and a half hrs driving we were back to the end of the trail for the Relais Chic Chos. Were we ever making good time. Our next stop was one I always make, the St Paulin Clubhouse. I stretched the TZ1 Turbo out on the straight aways on the way into there. We stopped at another favorite spot in Sainte-Adelme but it was too early or it was closed because of it being New Years Day. From there we skirted around Matane and went down the local trail from Saint Luc de Matane to Saint Vianney and into Amqui for the night at the Auberge Ambassadeur. This was also a great place with indoor unheated parking. The food was good and the waiteress were friendly and could speak english.
DAY 3 Took off on the 587 toward Mont Joli then switched onto the 579 till we hit the TQ5. We went west till we landed at the Auberge Le Relais just outside Rimouski. Had lunch and a brown pop there, lots of sledders coming and going. We then headed back east on the TQ5 till the intersection of the 587, we followed it till the 591. We stayed on the 591 going through Saybec and to the TQ5 at Lac Matepedia. We sailed from there to Amqui and stayed at the Ambassadeur again.
Day 4 Took off up the TQ 5 to the 591 where we went to Auberge Le Pente Abrurpie for breakfast. This place was closed, so we said we would stay on the local trails and have breakfast in Saint Vianney. This restaurant was also closed. Getting very hungry now. We stayed on these back local trails through Saint Tharcisius, Sait Alexandre des Lac all the way to Eight Mile Lac. We then headed toward Causapscal which is where we met Groomer. I strongly recommend trying some of these local trails they were all in good shape, great scenery, and low traffic. We lunched with Groomer and took off back toward the truck. We stopped at the new cable bridge and just pasted that took another local trail to L'Alverne. There was more moose traffic on this trrail than snowmobiles. However about 3/4 the way through we hit a plowed road and had to follow it for a few miles. Had a beer at the clubhouse there and landed back to the truck right before dark.
The trails were 8 out of 10 or better everywhere we went. The whole trip was about 740 miles and I don't think we met more than 12 sleds. Everyone we did me was on a corner though.
Macdav at the bus
Cable Bridge at Chap Chat
Intersection of the 587 & 579
Does this look familar longridersSS
Just outside Saint Tharcisius
A strange looking chap we met along the trail