I see a lot of trails being turned Red (closed) on iMotoneige. Hopefully this is to keep riders off during soft conditions and not due to loss of snow levels.

Departure Saturday 7 March. 

Ok here we go again. Left Matane yesterday, had breakfast at 6:30 then on the road 7am. Today mrs Ice is riding shotgun with NHmoose. I have the conn of Snohorse’s rig, we had to run back to Shawinigan/Trois Rivieres to bring the mrs home, change trailers and swap out the Apex. 

Nice day to reposition, dry roads and sunshine. We make excellent time, just over 5 hours to Trois Rivieres. 

So it’s early still, NHmoose decides he is going to drive on today ahead of us and be in Forestville waiting for us tomorrow. He leaves the Mrs at Chez Ice and is back on the road headed Northeast. 

We have musical trailers to play at the shop and reload sleds on Playhard’s toy box. Swap places in yard move trailer back to Moto Thibault unload Apex get another. Finally trailer is loaded with 2 bullets, 26 XRS 900R and Black Tunnel Apex ready to be pulled wherever. 

We spend the late afternoon relaxing at home, cat’s are very happy to see us humans back. 

Went had fantastic dinner at Globe Steakhouse in downtown Shawinigan. While at dinner phone is making noise it’s NHmoose. 

Seems we have made a clear and classic blunder. Never bothering to call Forestville and Danube Blue is full. Large Hockey Tournament. Full Friday and Saturday. Rut Row. Foiled by hockey, Other hotel is full too in Forestville. The second hotel is owned by Same folks as Complexe Escoumins (pel chat) they send NHmoose back to Escoumins. Rooms there. 

Slept in this morning on purpose. Nice to be in my own bed. Light Rain now can see Ice on trees from freezing rain overnight. 

Time to kiss the Mrs and hit the road 11am. 

Light rain and Fog all the way east and through Quebec then Beaupre. Drying up a bit through Charlevoix and La Malbie for now. 

Damage has been done, time will tell but near QC city and along Autoroute 40 ugly. Baie St Paul in town ugly. Even La malbie. Surely in hills is different. 

5hrs we arrive in Escoumins. Gas/supplies at Petro Canada since the other gas is incinerated next door here. 

Light rain and wind. Now tonight. 

Tomorrow we go for it. 

We will see what we find. 

3 strong up TQ3 with some Bingo activity. 

Stay Tuned 

Photos of hotel were last night, its moist out there now tonight.

Two sleds on other side here, I recognize them. Thursday night they were in Matane parked right next to our room. I go over and meet Bobby and Josee from Victoriaville, awesome folks tell me from Baie Comeau to here (from 1-10 with 10 being the best) trails are 11.

We shall see. They are headed to truck in Stoneham via Delta, Saguenay.

Shut down for now.

Looking at last year there several contributing membership renewals in the month of February. So I figured that this would be a good time to do a membership drive.

One of the nice thing about the new software is that it automatically upgrades your account to the new member group upon completion of checkout. Next year you will automatically receive an invoice a week before it's time to renew. Cancel or renew at that time.

For the new system I have created new "donating members" groups. This will allow me to eventually delete the original "contributing members" group. The problem with the old system is I didn't have a good way to keep track of who paid what. PayPal only gives me an email address. Sometimes the PayPal email address matched the email address that was used here. Other times I had no clue. So once a member signed up once they remained a contributing member since their original payment whether they renewed or not the next year. This software will automatically take care of those situations.

By the end of February to early March I would like to eliminate the old contributing members group. There may be a few of you that signed up between March of 2025 to November of 2025 before the new donating members groups were started. Just PM me and I can manually add you to one of the new groups.

I have also added a regular donation link for anyone that would like to donate to the site that way.

Thank you for all of your support over the years. Without site advertisers like we had in the past we rely on the kindness of our members. It is very appreciated.

Thanks again!

John

Become A Donating Member

Has anyone stayed there recently or does anyone have a better contact at the hotel?

TIA

I am late again posting. We were up Feb 28-Mar 3. 4 of us planned this trip, however two could not get up till Saturday afternoon. Being the patient person I am, Lawrence and I came up Friday night so we could sled all day Saturday.

Day 1. We did the 587 Loop between Pointe a la Croix and Amqui. We had a blue bird day and trails were groomed 10/10. Mac and Ben (Arctic Cat Boys) showed up mid afternoon Saturday, Ben is 19y/o and his first snowmobile trip to Quebec.

Day 2. Took off from PALC traveled to Albertville and stopped for breakfast. From there off through St Irene to the Mummy Trees. The sites there of course never disappoint. Then down the 571 to Saybec and through the orange trails to St Adelme for lunch. Eastward on the TQ 5, gassed at Cap Chat and to one of the Canadian cabins at Grande Nature for the night. Met a group from Ontario at supper, awesome food and hospitality. There was a snowmobile tour group there too, something you don't see often in the Gaspesie. 230 miles

Day 3. The day before a storm blew through the North Shore closing the trails around Mt Louis and the top of thee 597. We decided to back track and go south on the 595 to La Cache. This put us way ahead of schedule, so we decided to run to Murdochville and back, then down the 595 to New Richmond and the Hotel Francis. This place had more sleds parked outside then I have ever seen. Thy told me at the front desk it has been the best winter they have had in several years, good to hear. 285 miles

Day 4. This was the sad day....back to the truck. Only in the Gaspesie can you find train crossing lights on a snowmobile trail. Good going well groomed but there was no extra snow in places. The mild weather we are having now will hurt conditions there. Once back at the truck young Ben said again he had a great time and could not wait to come back, a future QuebecRider. 80 miles

Snowblower on the Road.

Departure 

Ok well behind the times on this, so I do beg your pardon. We are back out on trail.  Shout out to JD (lurking) in Mass. know that you are always welcome to come along.  Hope you are well brother. 

Rewind to last Friday Feb 27.  Finished up a short week and was home Friday around 1pm. Snohorse rolling in this afternoon to hangout for the afternoon and night nice to hangout at home beforehand and finalize all details. 

This will be Mrs Ice’s spring break trip. She has chosen a return through La Cache to Murdochville as her must do. It’s her week she got to pick. 

Along with us on this adventure will be Snohorse (duh) and NHmoose.

Playhard declined due to other adventures coexisting. However he plays (no pun intended) a vital part in this taking place. 

Nice chillaxing night at Chez Ice. 

Our flow chart has us using all of Saturday and it’s inclement morning weather to finish our preparations for a Sunday drive to Matane. 

Spent a lazy Saturday morning watching it snow then light drizzle but not long. Then by afternoon was clearing and colder with wind. 

Mrs got home later last night as she was off at a Ski Camp with her outdoor studies group. Just returning Friday evening after 2 days away. She is finishing her laundry and packing her stuff. We head to Cap de Madeleine to play trailer swap and switch. 

Snohorse and I both have 2 place trailers. But need three sleds would rather trailer together so…… enter Playhard, he has offered up his toybox.

So earlier in the week on Monday afternoon after I got back from the last trip I emptied out his toys at Moto Thibault and took his trailer to defrost and melt off in the shop. After a day or so it was melted and dry. Roof clear of Ice. Tires great✅ Good new Spare tire✅Lights✅ it passes the visual underneath inspection.✅Jacked up check wheel bearings all seem awesome.✅Give them some grease for good measure ✅and Bob’s your uncle. 

Will tow it with Snohorse truck. 

To the shop with Snohorse truck and his trailer. We drop his sled on ground, his trailer will stay here in the compound until we come back for it. We Hook up to Playhard’s trailer. Roll out and load the XRS. Has had a Fresh oil change and chain case oil. She has had a full look over and is ready says the Snohorse. Not a doubt in my mind. 

Back to Chez Ice we load 2 more sleds now we are just needing our gear in trailer in the morning tomorrow and we go. 

Sunday morning 8:33 we leave home. Quick 3 stops at 

1 grocery store (happy hour supplies)

2 pharmacy (contact solution for my bride) 

3 Tim’s (coffee and other necessities)

9:20 we are eastbound on the highway 40 direction Quebec City. 

Truck pulls trailer fine, its windy however and she takes some finesse. Road dry and traffic not bad at all tons of trailers going west on 40 and we cross over and take 20 east now.  Lots more trailers going west. Nice ride with gas and quick break in RDL. Looking boney by gas station very icy there. Need snow near town. 

East through Rimouski then to Mont Joli and on into Matane rolled in at 3:10, Made great time. We get unloaded get sleds parked and put away the truck and trailer. Mrs Ice unpacked the gear and has everything organized in room. Got lots of time now for (Netflix for Mrs) and Happy Hour and Nascar for me and Snohorse.  Waiting on NHmoose he has 6:40 eta. 

NH Moose rolled in and we didn’t wait long we went to dinner. Much smaller menu here at Quality Inn since my last time here. Was all good. 

Everyone here now all pieced together, tomorrow we start our little Gaspe abbreviated tour. 

Not many sleds or too many trucks and trailers when we got here but now wow parking full. 

Cold here tonight (Sunday) outside with no gloves? Not for long. Wind is biting cold. 

Going to be cold tomorrow. 

I gotta get caught up. It’s Tuesday night now 11:11pm 

Still two days behind on this report. 

Soon to be three. 

Chaos started on our way up Tuesday with a broken leaf spring on the trailer about half way there due to a flying tire on 90. Waited 5 hours for someone to bring a replacement trailer and arrived at our hotel in Ottawa at 4:30 AM. Quick nights rest and some breakfast and we head north to the parking lot in Messines.

Hit the trail at 11:30 am. 6 of us, one on a brand new, less than a mile on it, ski doo enduro 850. .9 miles into the trip, blown turn, totaled enduro and broken back on the rider. Sad trip for the rider considering it was also his trailer that broke on the way up. Get him and his sled back to the truck and he and his brother head for the border to seek medical attention. Just to clarify, none of us were riding out of control. I think this was a classic case of someone on a brand new sled that he wasn't used to and it reacted differently in a corner than what he expected. Just a really bad situation and I believe he may have overreacted to it.

We continue on to our first night, Notawissi. The route we took was 322 over to 53 and then up through St. Anne Du Lac. Excellent conditions the whole way. Most excellent meal at the club. I was actually quite impressed and felt it was considerable better than Meekos.

Thursday we head for Barrage Gouin, north from Notawissi through the locals over to 53 then down to 33 across to 355 through Kanawata and up. Perfection the entire way. Like way good. I can't even find a negative thing to report. Awesome day! Great food at Kanawata as expected. Haven't been to Gouin for about 20 years, but nothing seemed to have changed.

Friday we continue on to Fontbrune via Parent with a stop at Fer a Cheval, seeking Onion Soup. This will make the 4th time I have stopped for Onion soup there and came up empty. Had a beverage and a snack and headed south. Again, most excellent trails other than a few bumps on the local cutoff to FontBrune.

Saturday am, back to the truck, headed through Gatineau and down 322 from Le Classic. Excellent trails the whole way.

Total of about 800 miles in the 4 days and for the fist time in my life I can't find one mile of the trip to even attempt to complain about. Everything was totally dialed in. The Clubs are doing a great job!!!

Back to the broken back......couple days in the hospital, total spit on the T11, in a brace and bed rest for at least 3 weeks and then re evaluation.

RollerSki X

After confirmation by Martine, Pourvoire Windigo's trail is maintained and in good condition. The trail shows as closed on iMotoniege. They are looking forward to sledders this winter.

There is a traffic light there on the road. With a countdown. If you arrive and light is red must stop and wait for escort vehicle.

No signage there yesterday, but club has posted about it this morning.

Spent a relaxing evening at home last night. Snohorse and I got ready to roll again in the morning. This will be a 6-day ride…gods be good. 🙏🏻

It was a toss-up between heading out into the bush to where the Pouvoiries rule; however, it was decided just due to no reservations at all, figured much easier and lots of options and opportunities up at the lake. 

So it shall be. 

On sleds out driveway 8:08 a.m.

Light flurries mixed with some sleet here. 

Through Shawinigan and first tracks all groomed just to our orange local cut-through trail back to TQ 23. Up through Herouxville and St. Tite under a heavy grey sky with a real mix of light freezing rain. Left turn 360; so far, have seen no other sleds. Not far in here comes what looked like a James Bond Rev but more like Austin Powers as he was living dangerously, baby. He was not expecting me, but fortunately for us both, I’ve been looking for him since I left the driveway just like every other ride. Saw me lock up brake; now I see him fish-tail big time; he is sideways. He did pull it off, scary to watch in front of you. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The following is a public service announcement……

People of the Quebec snowmobile trails, you are not alone out there

ride like someone is coming around each corner and over every hill. 

Riding the center is not keeping right.

Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Now back up the 360 now in a thick fog as we climb up and over the mountain. As we descended the other side, we ride out, but here we have ice sticking to visors. This lasts to the gas in St. Joseph and to the junction of the 355. After that, it’s better for a bit. 

Pipeline 355 to junction at 351; here we have 3 sleds headed south. We continue up to the Local orange trail to rejoin TQ 73; here it’s snow flurries now. 

Right turn on TQ 73; trails all sweet. Burn 🔥 the 73 to 355 halfway up 2 moose on the trail, mother and yearling. We stop 🛑 and they wander off north but luckily not far on the trail, then jumped off into the woods. Excellent for all of us.

More freezing rain now, sticking a bit to the shield. It clears up as we hit the Lac Edouard crossing. We traverse the lake and head to the Co-op for hash and a break. 

3 hrs to Lac Edouard from home. Making time. 

Candy bar and red Gatorade. Northbound. 

355 is beautiful and taking full advantage of the conditions, we make great time. We’ve seen a few more sleds headed south. We weave our way through the logging area, forcing me to make yet another……

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The following is a public service announcement: 

People of the Quebec snowmobile trails: 

When riding through an area where there are forestry operations and there is only a single sled track, along a busy active logging road, do not ride like you are alone in the world. There is two-way snowmobile traffic.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Through St. André now on the 357, just cloudy now, no precipitation. 

Skip gas in St. André, Snowhorse’s 900r xrs is broken in now, getting great mileage. He is showing half a tank at St. André. I am below half by a good bit. 

At the junction with TQ83, we have a Trail Pass check by Trail agents. Just looking for stickers. All good and super friendly. 

Left turn on 83, then we go 383 through Metabetchouan and Gas and Supplies at St. Gedeon. Nice conversation with a young SQ police officer getting gas in his sled. Real friendly. Then onward to the junction with TQ23.

Snirty here near the lake along the road on 23 before Alma..

Left on the Orange trail and into Auberge des Isles tonight.

236 miles 7 hrs

We have Driven by here dozens of times, always said one day we need to try that,

Its super nice. And easy access. Great food. Room with a view of the lake.

Pool, hot tub, sauna. Nice. 

Not one picture today, it was a positioning move, so I was hammer down.

Tomorrow we will see what we find. 

Also, after we upgrade to v5 from v4.7 you will need to login with your email address. Screenname logins will be disabled for security reasons. For anyone that used an email address that they no longer use. It dose not matter. You just need to know your email address used for QuebecRider when you signed up and the password that you used here when you logged in via screename.