The “Newbie” in New Brunswick…

As a motorcycle enthusiast, my seasonal depression lasts all winter. It hurts my heart every time I have to put my bike away—usually as late as possible in November. I count the days until spring, tear in my eye, with my tub of ice cream and motorcycle movies in hand.

I’ve often been told to try snowmobiling, that I’d love it just as much. Well, thanks to Tourism New Brunswick, I had the privilege of swapping my ice cream for real snow!

The Snow? What Snow?

This winter, there wasn’t much snow. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, snowfall was between 30 and 50% below the 30-year average¹! With warmer-than-usual temperatures and even rain melting the snow in many areas, several snowmobile clubs and centers feared their seasons would be significantly shortened.

However, despite this winter, there’s still plenty of snow on the trails in New Brunswick! I’d even say that on the morning of our departure for the Quality Hotel / Grey Rock Casino, 20 to 30 cm were falling! I had mixed emotions:

“Yes, it’s snowing for my first snowmobile trip!” and “Oh no, I can’t ride my motorcycle right now, cursed snow.”

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Keep in mind, despite everything, it was the first time in my life that I was somewhat happy it was snowing. For context, I’ve never liked winter. I don’t like the cold. I even wonder why I agreed to this trip. Oh boy… My snowmobile initiation was going to be quite the experience! Would it pull me out of my annual hibernation?

Just three hours from Quebec City, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Valley View restaurant in the hotel: succulent ribs, maple salmon, burgers, or vegetarian dishes… there’s something for everyone, even the pickiest (right, Max 😉)!

Then, encouraged by Maxime’s mischievous nudge, Josiane and I went to the casino—our first experience for both of us. What a beautiful, vibrant atmosphere! Life can be unfair though; she won more than I lost. I still had the satisfaction of checking “play at a casino” off my bucket list.

Then, in a flash of genius, someone whispered that we could take photos under the illuminated tunnel. Are you game? Me, yes. You? Ok, let’s go!

That evening, I learned how to start and stop a snowmobile, where the controls are (brake, throttle…), how to steer, move forward, and reverse. Very relevant information for a first-timer, right?

After this little photo session, hearing the sound of the machine, feeling the tiny acceleration (we were still in the parking lot, so we stayed safe), and loading the snowmobile myself into the trailer—that’s when I really started to understand and get excited for the next day.

When I get too excited, I have trouble sleeping. Since I was really eager, I stayed up very late. The weekend of daylight saving time, combined with the one-hour difference in New Brunswick, meant getting up at 6 a.m.—that’s 4 a.m. on my internal clock—was a challenge.

Fortunately, this challenge was quickly forgotten. At Moose Valley Sporting Lodge, we couldn’t have been better welcomed—even by our best friends!

Honestly, I’ve rarely seen such a warm, friendly, even festive welcome. Yes, festive. You can feel it when people are happy to be there. I can confirm: at this place, people love their jobs.

I was charmed by the entire team, without exception. Even the guests are welcoming. You feel at home and already part of the gang! The snowmobiling community was a delightful surprise for me. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to go back.

And We’re Off

I finished my training by learning the hand signals snowmobilers use when passing each other and the safety rules. If you’re new or want to try snowmobiling, you can check them out here.

We were finally ready to explore this snowmobiling paradise. After all, this is where the longest snowmobile season happens! On day one of my initiation, we went to the border between Quebec and New Brunswick.

I learned how to take turns on a snowmobile, and we were moving at a very interesting speed. On the trails, it was beautiful. Fresh snow was falling on the trees, the view of the mountains, charming little bridges, the sun was shining, and we even spotted a pair of… well, let’s say nature enthusiasts! Lovers of the great outdoors would be satisfied!

What I loved most was the acceleration. You can feel the engine power overcoming the track’s resistance on the snow. The sensation of acceleration is different but just as satisfying as a motorcycle!

For the turns, I’m gradually getting used to it: a snowmobile doesn’t handle as precisely as my bike. It also took me several hours to stop my left hand from wanting to press the “clutch” to downshift (the clutch lever on a motorcycle corresponds to the brake lever on a snowmobile).

Some points are still similar: look where you want to go and lean your body in the direction of the turn. However, the shape, weight, and size of the machine require a completely different approach. I don’t think two days are enough to fully master all the nuances. (Read between the lines: go for more than two days—it’s really fun!)

The temperature was perfect: me, a notoriously cold person, didn’t even need to turn on my heated jacket.

Special mention to the people who groom the trails at night.

Thanks to these dedicated individuals, we can enjoy exceptional trail conditions! Over 8,000 km of trails connect the four corners of the province and are meticulously maintained.

Thanks to unforgettable people, perfect conditions, and an incomparable initiation, I can finally understand why some people love the snow so much.

Want to introduce someone to snowmobiling? New Brunswick is the place to do it!

For permits and the interactive map: Snowmobile NB

Stay tuned for the second part of our trip!

Cathy

@CathyLam.Moto