Great Escape Winter 2022 | Page 8

15 WINTER 2022 ISSUE 02 / VOL . 03 SNOWGOER . COM
16

OH , CANADA ! ONE AMAZING TRIP ACROSS THE QUEBEC COUNTRYSIDE

tary breakfast at the Sheraton Four Points
Throughout breakfast Gary Pruitt from
and provided an ideal launching point –
The first 20 miles were a weaving af-
Resort ( now Double Tree Hilton Quebec ),
Bonvoyage discussed basic rules and eti-
Max , Jamie and myself rented sleds – I
fair on Trail 3 to reach the greater Quebec
where we stayed the previous night . The
quette – namely how to communicate and
was equipped with a 2018 Ski-Doo Ren-
City limits and into the forested trail sys-
complimentary breakfast menu was any-
follow safely when riding . It felt less like a
egade 600 E-TEC . Luckily I had an acces-
tem . Although it consisted of mostly field
thing but plain , and included traditional
dressing-down from a guide and more like
sory plug-in because I was excited to use
and roadside trails , the conditions were
offerings of meat and potatoes , as well as
a friendly reminder .
the dual-pane heated visor of my Castle X
relatively smooth and free of major stut-
omelets , different sandwich combinations
The Voyage Motoneige Quebec rental
Mode Dual Sport helmet for the first time
ter bumps . It was not even 10 miles into
and , of course , famous Quebec crepes .
center was only 100 yards from the hotel ,
that season .
the ride when one group member needed
After breakfast everyone set off to gear-
a brief stop to top off his tank , and the first
up , acquire sleds ( either unload or rent )
mishap of the trip occured .
and meet in the conjoining parking lot at
Chris Miccli and Kristina Pallas were
9:30 a . m . Gary provided two air-tight plas-
a couple native to Quebec that joined the
tic bags – in which I put four days worth
trip , and as luck would have it at a stop
of clothes and supplies into my backpack
sign Kristina accidentally rear-ended
that I securely strapped to the back of my
Chris ’ sled . Pieces of the hood had cracked
sled . Each night my clothes would arrive
off and the air box was also broken , but
frozen stiff , but they would remain dry at
luckily no one was hurt . As the group sur-
all times .
veyed its options , it was determined the
The weather was in the mid-teens
air box could still operate fine with a hand-
( Fahrenheit ) and cloudy with light flurries
kerchief for an air filter , plus zip ties and
as we pulled away in our group of 12 total
electrical tape as a temporary fix . It didn ’ t
participants . The previous night provided
look pretty , but no further damage would
4-5 inches of snow and as a result the
be caused and the group as a whole could
trails were in pristine condition . It was
move on .
obvious grooming had been done recently ,
Chris and Kristina had a radio headset
and with the addition of new snow we
attached to their modular helmets , which
were in for a treat .
allowed them to communicate to each
The itinerary for the day would lead us
other along the ride . I can only imagine
through 125 miles of trails , with the final
how the conversations may have went
destination being lodging and dinner at
after that .
Relais des Hautes Gorge .
About 26 miles into the trip we made