Over the past few days, my friend, Pierre-Olivier, and I have completed our first snowmobile ride of the 2024-2025 season. Snow has finally made its debut in certain privileged areas of Quebec. These first few centimetres of white gold gave us the perfect excuse for a November snowmobiling day in the mountains.
Exploring Snow-Covered Trails by Snowmobile
It’s important to note that it’s still far too early for snowmobile clubs to groom trails. Pierre-Olivier and I are well aware of this, so we carefully watch weather reports to pinpoint areas where we can put our throttle fingers to work. Our playgrounds are located on public lands with permitted access.
We target small forest paths that aren’t maintained or snowplowed. If these trails haven’t been visited by off-road enthusiasts, all the better.
Luckily, we live in regions where plenty of such options are available. For me, at the beginning or end of the season, I don’t hesitate to drive two or three hours from home just to ride a few dozen kilometres. Pierre-Olivier shares the same enthusiasm for this type of adventure.
Our November Snowmobiling Day in the Mountains
This fall, fickle weather delayed our season’s start. We wanted to wait for enough snow to avoid damaging our equipment. Exactly one month before Christmas, we finally had enough snow to launch our snowmobiling season.
The mountains in the Chic-Chocs area are an ideal location. Snow often arrives early in November, offering everything a snowmobiler could want. However, we had to stay on the paths, since the snow wasn’t deep enough to venture into the woods or logging areas.
To reach a good starting point for our ride, we drove deep into the Gaspé Peninsula forest with our truck and trailer. At one point, we questioned whether there would be enough snow, but as we climbed in altitude, the increasing snow cover reassured us.
After parking the truck and unloading our snowmobiles, we couldn’t stop smiling. There’s something uniquely exhilarating about the first ride of the season. After a final check of our oil and fuel levels, we were ready to go!
Enjoying the Moment
On this type of ride, safety must always be a priority. Obstacles like fallen trees or broken culverts are common, so we rode cautiously and resisted the temptation to open up the throttle.
That didn’t stop us from fully enjoying the experience. As we rode through the foggy terrain, the snow-laden trees and icy landscapes created a magical setting. Visibility was limited, but the scenery was captivating.
Snow depth varied depending on altitude and orientation. Some areas had around 40 centimetres of snow, while others were covered with about 10 centimetres of compacted snow. This provided a smooth, rideable surface.
At one point, the clouds cleared, and the sun made a brief appearance. We were even treated to a beautiful rainbow. To me, it felt like a nod from Mother Nature, signalling that winter is just around the corner in Quebec!
All Good Things Come to an End
After a few hours of exploring, we had to turn back and return to our vehicle. For this first outing of the season, Pierre-Olivier and I managed to cover a delightful 45 kilometres.
On the drive home, I replayed the highlights of our November day snowmobiling in the mountains. Once home, I couldn’t resist checking the weather forecast for the coming days—a sure sign that I’m already eager for my next snowmobiling adventure!
