Fox Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 7 hours ago, bunker said: Yes he guided us in as well, very helpful! I was surprised to see everything shut down even Mc Donald’s. We made out ok with carbides also, think there was a layer of ice and enough snow. We were stuck in Gaspé the next day after traveling out 50 Klm’s the groomer told us to go back. So Wednesday with trails still not opening we got a large flatbed and trailer as well as 2 cabs and went to Chandler. Dropped there and rode sleds to New Richmond. Very eventful to say the least! We got into Gaspe after you that night but got to McDonald’s just before it closed at 11:00. We checked in and proceeded directly for food. The next day we broke 25 km of trail (3 feet of snow) east across to Murdochville. Some people were still stranded in Murdochville for the 3rd night where we arrived. We then abandoned or plan to get to New Richmond and headed north to Staint Anne Des Monts. Very interesting trip that I will never forget. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC+YA Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 We were in New Brunswick when it hit. The winds lasted almost 3 days but we traveled the 2nd day. We went west along the ocean from Caraquet back west into mountains by that afternoon to find the trails in open areas gone! Our last 8 miles to Campbellton were done on the roads because following the trails had become too painful since they were unused local connectors. What a day followed by reaching the ice crossing back to Quebec only to find a 30 foot drift blocking access to the ice. The grated bridge was not passable and we were promised that our sleds would be fined and possibly taken if caught. The tow company would add 3 or 4 hours plus $360 to our trip and it was already 7:30pm and dark and less than 5 miles from our motel. Patrick called all the guys to get together and climb and kick the tops off all the drifts blocking our route. We worked together and rode the sleds up and over the tough but much easier drift and found access to the ice crossing. The tree line had been covered or blown away, but the guy in the last gas station told us to look for the big lights of a parking area at a store on the other side of the river and then drive back along the edge to find somewhere we could climb off the ice to a road. It was scary but he said the ice was 6 feet thick and safe. We made it and took the main road north to the Motel. What a long day. It took 1 full hour to go the first 5.3 miles. We lost a sled at that point and he was able to nurse his old clutch back to the BRP dealership and get it rebuilt AND find a ride to meet us that night at the motel. He won and beat us to the motel. Too bad but most will not load? Just like most of the time. 4C6F3963-A1DA-4CC7-8532-EAAC2D21FA45.MOV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 18 hours ago, revrnd said: That's quite the distance! Yes, it was......and a lot colder than going through the trails, especially after being damp and wet from digging sleds out from what seemed like every other corner. I recall stopping in NL around 2 or 3 in the afternoon for some food, there was 8 of us, we knew it was going to be dark in a couple of hours, we already had a hell of time getting that far with all the snow that just fell, so rode the highway shoulder to KL! That trip in general was a blast though....it was my first Northern ON sled trip, we still laugh about it when it is brought up! Anyone recognize these lovely ladies that we had the pleasure of spending the night shooting pool with on that trip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ox Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 20 hours ago, bunker said: Yes he guided us in as well, very helpful! I was surprised to see everything shut down even Mc Donald’s. We made out ok with carbides also, think there was a layer of ice and enough snow. We were stuck in Gaspé the next day after traveling out 50 Klm’s the groomer told us to go back. So Wednesday with trails still not opening we got a large flatbed and trailer as well as 2 cabs and went to Chandler. Dropped there and rode sleds to New Richmond. Very eventful to say the least! There was too much snow for snowmachines... There was too much snow for groomers. Yet, you could find a transport or whatnot to load you up and run you out of the snowbelt? This story just keeps gitt'n better all the time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunker Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 13 hours ago, Ox said: There was too much snow for snowmachines... There was too much snow for groomers. Yet, you could find a transport or whatnot to load you up and run you out of the snowbelt? This story just keeps gitt'n better all the time... I guess you had to be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PISTON LAKE CRUISER Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 23 minutes ago, bunker said: I guess you had to be there. A group we know from the Elmira On. area got as far as Amqui in that same storm. They stayed there overnight and the next afternoon they got a tilt n load to take the sleds to New Richmond. The following day they could only ride a short way past Chandler and had to return and stay there overnight. Ox, you need to remember that the majority of the sleds on these trips are 137" with 1.25 paddles and heavy luggage on the rear. They don't / won't go through what your 165" paddle tracked Summit will. Most of us don't have much experience in riding that quantity of snow. And yes, the roads would have been getting plowed more than the trails groomed before, during and after the storm so getting the tilt and load ride was likely a good decision given that many of the riders would need to get finished the trip on time and back home to their work on schedule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunker Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said: A group we know from the Elmira On. area got as far as Amqui in that same storm. They stayed there overnight and the next afternoon they got a tilt n load to take the sleds to New Richmond. The following day they could only ride a short way past Chandler and had to return and stay there overnight. Ox, you need to remember that the majority of the sleds on these trips are 137" with 1.25 paddles and heavy luggage on the rear. They don't / won't go through what your 165" paddle tracked Summit will. Most of us don't have much experience in riding that quantity of snow. And yes, the roads would have been getting plowed more than the trails groomed before, during and after the storm so getting the tilt and load ride was likely a good decision given that many of the riders would need to get finished the trip on time and back home to their work on schedule. Thanks, you describe it well. A couple of the moves we made allowed us to continue our trip. Unlike another group that we met back up with at the end. They were a group of 3 who ended up in a cabin up there for 3 days with nothing more than a couple of chocolate bars. I was much happier to be in our position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ox Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 27 minutes ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said: A group we know from the Elmira On. area got as far as Amqui in that same storm. They stayed there overnight and the next afternoon they got a tilt n load to take the sleds to New Richmond. The following day they could only ride a short way past Chandler and had to return and stay there overnight. Ox, you need to remember that the majority of the sleds on these trips are 137" with 1.25 paddles and heavy luggage on the rear. They don't / won't go through what your 165" paddle tracked Summit will. Most of us don't have much experience in riding that quantity of snow. And yes, the roads would have been getting plowed more than the trails groomed before, during and after the storm so getting the tilt and load ride was likely a good decision given that many of the riders would need to get finished the trip on time and back home to their work on schedule. I didn't start life on a 165. And I've packed gas, and gear for week long tours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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