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A snowmobile trip, destination: Gaspésie – Part 2
Here we are already at the second part of this adventure in the magnificent Gaspésie. If you did not have the chance to read the first part, I strongly suggest you start at the beginning!
For those who are up to date, your patience will be rewarded today 😉
Storm day!
As mentioned before, we were supposed to go to Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis but the announcement of a violent storm convinced us to take a break and settle in Murdochville for two nights. That’s not an understatement because we literally moved into the Chic-Chac Resort!
Beware! However, we did not stay still! After a buffet-style breakfast, a game of foosball during which I got washed out, we took the road to the Copper Motel which houses a collection of antique snowmobiles very well preserved.
Indeed, the owner Jacques Gauthier is a fervent amateur of old snowmobiles. All the mythical snowmobile brands are represented, but also lesser-known brands such as the Moto-Jet, the Snow-King, the Sno-Ro (yes, they dared to make a bad French pun 😅 ) the Moleba Ski, the Moto-Loo with a wolf as a logo, of course, and so on.
The most surprising thing is that all these brands, which unfortunately did not survive the ’70s, were of Quebec origin. In 1971, there were more than 20 snowmobile manufacturers. Jacques was able to salvage some of them and during a visit; you will take a trip back in time. On site, there is also an array of decorative accessories, old posters, clothing, there is EVERYTHING! This collection is worth a visit.
In the afternoon, the visibility was still not good enough for us to take the trail route, but we decided to ride our machines through town anyway. The streets are quite wide and I would say that drivers are quite used to sharing the road with snowmobiles.
According to the locals, the season has not yet started for them. Normally, tourists arrive with their machines in mid-February and leave in mid-April, or whatever Mother Nature has in store for late winter. Even if the trails are beautiful and the snow is there in abundance, it was not the same landscape two weeks before. We were more than lucky!
Back to the HQ for dinner and then to bed to be ready for the last day of our trip!
Day 4: Objective Mont-Saint-Pierre
Total: 70 km
When we wake up, the sky is clear and a magnificent layer of fresh snow covers every inch of the city and its surroundings. We decide to make a stop at the top of Mont-Porphyre to take some pictures. The view is simply magnificent!
It’s from there that backcountry skiers are dropped off by the Chic-Chac cat-ski or their helicopter to have a magical experience. As a skier myself since my childhood, I would have given anything to ski down the 870 meters of powder that this mountain had to offer. Enough dreaming, we have to get back in the saddle if we want to reach the goal of the day.
A little advice: Please follow the signs on the trails leading to the summit of Mont-Porphyre as it is not always accessible by snowmobile. You must also be careful, since skiers have priority and you don’t want to come face to face with them in a trail.
We leave by the R-597, which skirts the Chic-Chocs and the National park of Gaspésie in the distance. We are the first ones to tread the trails and the snowmobiles answer so well in the beautiful new snow.
This regional trail is ideal for those who leave from the Chandler area (MRC du Rocher-Percé) and wish to go to the north side of the Gaspé Peninsula. These two ends join the Trans-Quebec #5.
Once again, many curves but also passages in the plains where the wind can hit hard. If you feel like it, continue straight for a few kilometers on the country road at the T-5 intersection. You will be lucky enough to be at the foot of the wind turbines and have a pretty impressive view!
You feel tiny, but at the same time, you feel like you are part of something giant. The sound of the propellers is simply hypnotizing. It is a dull roar, but soothing. A bit like a giant cat purring over our heads.
After this small detour, we take again the way of the T-5 and we follow the indications to climb to the top of our objective: The Mount-Saint-Pierre. A narrower path leads us up there and suddenly we find ourselves elsewhere.
On one side, we can admire the river, which extends as far as the eye can see, and the houses, which are in the peninsula, although tiny, add to this view worthy of a postcard. On the other side, you can see the snow-covered forest and in the distance, once again, the Chic-Chocs Mountains.
I can understand why this village is called “the capital of hang-gliding”! It is precisely from the top of these 430 meters of altitude that many come to try the experience in summer. The winds are very strong at the top and it is sometimes difficult to stay upright, but the panorama is really worth it. I can only imagine the vision that one must have once in the void. If you only have one stop to make on your trip, you should definitely put the summit of Mont Saint-Pierre on your itinerary.
We take back the road reluctantly to cover the last kilometers which separate us from the end of our snowmobile trip. The initial plan was to return to our starting point, but the extra day we had to organize last minute has slightly upset the project.
We stopped for dinner at the Motel Saint-Pierre to wait for our transportation back to Cap-Chat. A nice little restaurant that has just changed administration and that offers us a very tempting menu. Moreover, a Tiki-Bar at the entrance, gives us the impression that it is 30 degrees and that we are on the beach.
Mario, the owner of the Motel Nanook where we had left our vehicles, arrives on board of the Chicks Mobile in order to bring us back to good port. When I tell you that people are endearing in Gaspésie! One last look at the mountain we just left and off we go! On our way to Matane for our last supper and our last night in this magnificent region.
A beautiful adventure comes to an end
Four days with magnificent people, breathtaking views, extraordinary encounters with people who have a lot of stories to tell. Discoveries, laughter, memories and lots and lots of fun discovering the Gaspé Peninsula in all its splendor.
From winding trails along the forest to mountain peaks that allow you to see to the end of the horizon, to colorful villages and invigorating plains, Gaspésie has it all! In one short trip, we were able to experience all the diversity that Gaspésie has to offer. Imagine what you could experience if you stayed longer!
This region that is so popular during the warm season deserves to be visited in the winter as well. There are so many possibilities for people who like to play outside! Once again I would like to thank Tourisme Gaspésie and all the partners who made this dream week possible. Don’t forget to add this destination to your next snowmobile trip, you will never be disappointed!
Gaspésie, I love you 💙
See you next time!
