Cote Nord Trip 🐳

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.

Edited March 28Mar 28 by iceman

Good luck.

Cote Nord Trip 🐳

Trail Day 1, Sunday 8 March

Light showers as we crossed over to Restaurant for breakfast. Our 7am breakfast with time change (spring ahead) became 7:30. Snohorse takes the long way to detour to get a closer look at the carnage at the pump. Rain is on and off but we aint rolling off like that. 

We enjoy our breakfast and watch it rain ever so lightly. More coffee mmm, conversations and weather discussions. No hurry. All good. We return to hotel around 8:45. 

Launch is delayed for one hour, radar shows snow pushing in, we will wait it out. Got all day and extra daylight that we will not need. 

9:20 snow is mixed with rain. Soon its big flakes of snow. Then more reasonable snow is on now. 

We still have the toys in the box. Sleds slept in trailer last night. Colder for sure since breakfast. According to radar, Snow won’t last long, but will be messy for an hour or so. Wet snow on shields. 

Hoping as we gain elevation this all is different. 

Outside unloaded and out back trail from hotel at 9:48. Snow sticks to shield, constant wiping it seems. Trail is nice its not crazy soft or mushy. Pretty solid. My two friends Bobby and Josee pulled out at 9:30 they are only tracks i see. Either direction on fresh frosted trail. TQ3 west direction Relais Bouleaux Blancs. 

Amazing ride like always here. Maybe a KM before Relais, I catch two headed up. Close to Relais so I wait. They pull in but, i see no sleds here. Stop for a picture and the two guys go on. Ok. 👍 

Arrive at TQ3 junction Local trail (pel chat) they split first straight up second guy left down TQ3. First guy brakes and without hesitation begins backing up down middle of trail. Interesting. 

All good we are clear and hammering down up to 330 before arriving at junction large group coming from chalets for sure 8-10 sleds with toboggans. Headed out. We move on. To the 330  pel chat trail junction. We go right 330. Snow no longer sticks to shield it is tapering off. Direction Portneuf sur mer. Beautiful run to Portneuf sur mer and TQ3 saw another sled on TQ3 but its been 125km since last traffic. Gas in Portneuf sur mer. Wheels needed. But trails fine. It got melty here too but will be fine. Road crossing and parking lots it’s march people. Sun is high and lot’s of it. 

Onward to Forestville. Great run up. See two more sleds going down. As we arrive in Forestville. Here we head out and run up the local Canyon trail. Ripping here. Two sleds in front of me much slower. They see me quickly and nice big trail lots of places for them to safely yield way. NHmoose reports smelling hyfax. 10-4 i stop and deploy scratchers, Snohorse deployed one side. No more issues. Trail was loosening up, We roll on. We take left fork direction Chenail du Nord. Further up trail splits. Un-groomed to Chenail. But grooming to the left. Gotta go till we cannot. So we do. Cool trail nice views. Mrs will like it up here she never been up here. Big views, and looks like potentially another river for her to paddle here. At the end of the grooming we went just a little further. 

Will say deep and soft where not groomed. Not easy to turn around but we extracted ourselves from the situation. Getting warm now sun peeking a bit some hints of blue sky. Backtrack to left turn on Local trail past relais, then close loop joining back on local trail we went up on.

Back to TQ3. Into gas and depaneur, (wheels)then to Danube Blue(wheels). Only 5 rooms rented tonight. We have 2. No other sleds. 

Very aware tomorrow will be warm again, then we have potential meteorological activity that could affect progression. Time will tell. 

In the meantime we will carry on. 

If we need to recalculate we will. 

Tomorrow the forecast will be more solid and we will plan accordingly. 

So far so good. 

Just gonna send it

Stay tuned! 

I hope you can have a good day today.

The canyon trail is a nice ride. Wow, wheels are a must now.

Just now, smclelan said:

Wow, wheels are a must now.

Yup. I intend to put them on my next sled, and any I buy in the future. That new Roller Ski looks good.

Cote Nord Trip 🐳

Trail Day 2 Monday 9 March

Great food and service at the Danube Blue. 

Julie at dinner was great. Then Denise this morning at breakfast. On it. It Makes a difference when you have competent people on your restaurant floor. Or anywhere these days i guess, more than ever. Shortage of real customer service. 

8:32 start track. Out back of hotel we are only sleds here. Local Trail groomed from here to Junction with TQ3 here groomer went West. 

Sad but actually did not need it. We head east first run further up than Forestville in six seasons. Doesn’t seem possible. Last time in 2020 we finished our ride we were in Les Escoumins I call home and Mrs. ice was saying hey there is this Virus and they are talking of closing schools and maybe the border. What?

Crazy train. All aboard. 

Well back to it. Happy to be here and riding this section. Trail is very nice. Hard too. This time is almost simultaneous the call from Snohorse and NHmoose “smelling slides”

We deploy one scratcher each it would not ge needed long. Getting warm. 

Alot, of all new to me trail here. Like I have never ridden it before because most I haven’t. The big new bypass and reroute is awesome, cannot believe no one mentioned how wicked awesome the views are now, Big mountain views, valleys and lakes. Lots of Poweline gone. Love this new route. Trail is spectacular and private. Have seen no one. We cruise on east. Here the trail is familiar soon we arrive at warming hut Bolide des Ragneau. Trail is mint. But It’s hot getting very sweaty. Decided to change out and remove heavier layer. While i was here. Turned out to be the best thing, so much more comfortable. Leave warming hut and zoom through valley there and almost at the end where trail goes hard right headed east. 5 sleds headed west. First sleds all day. We continue on and arrive at Chute des Outardes. Here the trail is the reroute and is snirty bad here still passable but ugly here on of road on bunny trail. Then need to ride on RT138 to cross bridge. 

Typical Quebec, it’s ok 👍 you Can ride on RT138 Baie Comeau Cote Nord, but it’s a no go 👎 requires a trailer service for RT132 in Riviere Madeline in Gaspe. Makes perfect sense. 

We gas at the Esso before getting to big bridge. Continue on east and stop to take all the pictures at the famous bridge. 

We are all alone. 

Time to move on going to explore. 

Never been up this 444 trail today that changes. A trail I will return to when here, wow. The beginning is like practice for the roller coaster trail. But the payoff on the other side. Spectacular run up and back. Love the chalets like mini towns and some all alone. Real paradise up here 25-30 miles north of Baie Comeau. We go to Lac Baleine turn and burn. Pass two headed down from chalet towing toboggan. We love this trail. Back track to 443 left turn short orange local back to ski hill in Baie Comeau and TQ3. This here a mini roller coaster trail of its own. Its been getting very grey for and hour now. Big wind and it starts spitting rain. Just enough from Ski Hill and past trail to ferry. Gets us just damp enough. Trail disintegrated here in town. Wow TQ3 is rough in this sector of town. Totally different not far from here. To gas and dep for supplies then right next door up trail to Travel Lodge. Never been here. Seems like it has the required resources. So it’s a wrap on day 2 all good. Fun times had by all. Making it up as we go somewhat. Bingo of the 444 was planned, it was on radar. 

Now tomorrow……hearing trail is not spectacular from here to Riviere Penticote 100 miles give or take. Spoke with only two other sleds here. Said not great. They came from Riviere Penticote heading for truck in Tadoussac, from Laval. 

We going for it gonna see what it is. After that section should be great all the way to end of grooming at Riviere Moisie our target this run. 

Then big storm to deal with and deciding where to hold up if need be. Temperatures looking favorable after tonight. 

Stay tuned.

Nice. That bridge and that river are very impressive. I was there a few weeks ago for the first time in 21 years. I hope you have a good day today, and you can navigate the incoming weather.

Looking good guys. Thanks for posting Don. Have fun.

Cote Nord Trip 🐳

Trail Day 3 Tuesday March 10

Leaving Baie Comeau this morning is ugly. We know we have run out of magic. Trail is frozen mashed up frozen hard and slippery as hell. Scratchers deployed from the jump. We are in denial but it doesn’t stop us yet. 

Ugly through this section near the Ferry junction and to Ski Mountain. Trail is glistening with its layer of Ice. We are Icemobiling. Scratchers doing their job, zero hyfax issues or overheating. But hard to handle. Slow is not fast, or easy as with frozen ski ruts from days past traffic its darty as hell. 

Fast is faster but razors edge. We push on to warming hut 23 miles or so from Baie Comeau at junction 445-TQ3. Take a break here and agree its unanimous we have never seen ice trail like this for this long ever. So what to do? Still in denial we push on. Roller coaster now over and to Franquelin then Godbout. Saw one local out with toboggan. Then no one. Stopped in Godbout ferry was loading, leaving 2pm. Last chance to change sides? It’s voted down. Trail is an Iceroad. Solid ice. Taking a toll on us. Very tiring this riding. But now we are committed to gas in Baie Trinitie. No choice but to continue up there. 

76 miles of Ice trail. Frozen solid. Concrete. 

Arrive at gas/market gas and red gatorade. Big Reese’s Cup time. 

Up out trail back toward TQ3. We stop and face reality….this sucks. If we continue we can get there  but at what cost? It will be great here with the new snow but that aint in time for us. We intend to turn and burn tomorrow back down, but it aint burning trail. Is tip toeing fast. On ice. 

IF we go up, then we need to ride it all again tomorrow back down. As we run back to Baie Comeau. 

Decision is made to abort. Sucks. But it’s part of the game. We been very blessed, so far each time out. Every at bat cannot be a hit. Today Sept Isles was not to be. Unfinished business for next time. 

Back track through same icy conditions roller coaster back over and just near Baie Comeau trail is starting to just loosen up a bit. Its not pretty. 

Back at Baie Comeau at Travel Lodge licking our wounds. Tomorrow we will try to run south and see where we get to. 

Snow is supposed to be worst starting late afternoon, forecast to snow most of day, so should be interesting depending on weather. 

Talk is circulating of just waiting out the grooming, as after this, it will be very awesome everywhere up here, when they groom. 

Not sure that will happen. 

Great experience anyway today. Icemobiling not like Snowmobiling. Not the same. Let it snow.

Let them Groom. 

Stay Tuned.

We've been there for sure with the white cement trail ... Struggle on my friends, it's better than sitting home

Doesn't sound like a great day but it will be one that years from now you will say " remember that time....."

Tomorrow will be a whole new adventure!

I certainly hope things improve for you. Days in a hotel are long. I spent four nights in Matane recently. I noticed there was a vandalized Team Iceman sticker at that Club L'A.M.M.I. warming hut....I had cloudy and fine snow sticking to the shield on my way to Sept ilses, but sun on the return trip. We stopped at the same market for fuel as you going East, and when we returned. Best of luck to you guys. I will be staying tuned.

Edited March 11Mar 11 by wng-2

1 hour ago, wng-2 said:

I noticed there was a vandalized Team Iceman sticker at that Club L'A.M.M.I. warming hut..

Not everyone is a supporter. No problem got plenty of replacement stickers.

Love that i live rent free in their heads

Haters

22 minutes ago, iceman said:

Not everyone is a supporter. No problem got plenty of replacement stickers.

Love that i live rent free in their heads

Haters

I love that statement! I may plagiarize it in the future. Have a good day!

It's truly amazing how just 2 days has changed the season so much...the new snow can certainly provide another 10 days with the forecast...but 2 of them may be lost to grooming...good luck

Icemobiling… no pun intended… if anyone is good at that … it should be … iceman!!

He better be, by the look of the forecast at his house. 20 to 30 millimeters (3/4 to 1 1/8 inch) of freezing rain starting now around his home area and the laurentians

according to my phone.

4 hours ago, quebec bob said:

Icemobiling… no pun intended… if anyone is good at that … it should be … iceman!!

I am sir.

2 hours ago, NSHM said:

He better be, by the look of the forecast at his house. 20 to 30 millimeters (3/4 to 1 1/8 inch) of freezing rain starting now around his home area and the laurentians

according to my phone.

All done from home. Game over there for sure.

Cote Nord Trip 🐳

Trail Day 4 Wednesday March 11

7am breakfast downstairs at Hotel. Nothing fancy but did the job. 

Plan is simple we are running to the trucks now. 

Les Escoumins tonight. Out on sleds rolling at 8am trying to beat heavier snow and stronger winds forecast later this afternoon. 

Maxim (Max) manager at Travel Lodge him, along with Mia and Macey very helpful super friendly and speak English too. Great option in Baie Comeau, with by far easiest access. Very snowmobile friendly. Ski Doo Dealer on same trail. 

Its still real icy not alot of crumbs or anything some real glare ice in many spots. Scratchers are working. Just before big reroute to go on road over bridge in Chute Outardes, Along the road incoming from Snowhorse’s radio “cop” huh? 

I glance left and he is pacing us alongside on road. We are barely doing 60km its pure ice we are just trying to get out of town. He drives off. 

We pass the earthen dam at Manic 1 (I think that is it) and come to where the detour really starts. Right where you go out and down to the road over bridge. All on the single track trail. 

Cop is parked here waiting. Seeing us jumps out walks over, seen him from far. Pull up and shut it down. Asking where we going I tell him. He takes quick look probably for mirrors then says to the guys where are you from, the usual. Then asks for paperwork but quickly changes his mind once we begin reaching for it. Maybe a test to see our reactions to his request? Anyway he said in English to us nevermind, have a safe ride. I told him thank you and you be safe as well out there. We went our separate ways. But our shadow watched to make sure we made full stops at the road crossings there and the Employees parking lot you cross also. 

There is a sign in French at road over bridge says only one snowmobile at a time on the bridge. alternating sides if necessary. 

Interesting. Must be a gong show on weekends in season. We did the one at a time, as our shadow was parked up the hill looking I am sure. 

Apex hot now, showing Yellow light. Can’t scratch up frozen mud to aid cooling. All before bridge here its bare. I roll on and it took longer than I would have liked but light went off never saw it again. 

Once clear of town and past Club House Bolides Ragneau, this trail improves quite a bit still hard but some snow dust here. Its a start we are heading back towards snowmobiling not icemobiling. 

Absolutely love this new TQ3 configuration with the Pessamitt bypass. So great the trail and the views. We roll on two sleds pass other way going north, we exchange bonjours but they were anglophones like us. Heard them talking on radios before seeing them. 

Just at 10:30 snow begins here outside Forestville. 

Snowy in Forestville 

Gas and call to Les Escoumins to secure the exact rooms we want. 

We roll. There is new snow here, scratchers are finished. (Thank you for all you did for me, without you I would be nowhere far.)

Direction Portneuf sur mer, we take by pass and cut corner. TQ3 now to Escoumins, more frosting here trail still slippery under. We make great time

2hr 50 minutes to Forrestville from Baie Comeau 

Then 1hr 35 minutes to Les Escoumins. 

Arrive at trucks it’s blowing good now. Not the  worst I seen here as storms go. But it’s a good one. 

John and I make the run to Grocery store and are well provisioned. 

Will evaluate in morning. Snohorse and I are very interested to wait a day if necessary to see some purple. NHmoose is looking for weather window to extricate himself from up here its 10 hrs to home for him easy. We have hard stop for this run as I really need to be back on Sunday latest at home. 

Looking like Friday and Sunday are two black trail days, to drive out of here. When sleds are in box behind truck if I have choice it’s gonna be a black trail not a white one. 

No pictures today. Sorry. 

Will see what happens. 

Stay Tuned……

Good luck.

When we arrive earlier

Snowing much more now big winds

My friend in Levis just told me that there are a lot of power outages in the Province.

If you are heading back over the Ferry at the end of the Sanguaney can you publish a report on the snow conditions through La Malbaie, Cleremont and Baie St. Paul ??? I'm heading up to Grand Fonds (about 10KMs North of La Malbaie) next Wed through the following Monday.