More fresh snow: cross-country skiing in Parc National Du Bic

On Thursday morning, 7 Feb, we ventured back to Parc National Du Bic to ski one of our favorite trails - the Le Chemin du Nord trail on 1-2 inches of freshly fallen snow. We started off on a section of the La Colonie trail to Ferme Rioux (the old farm house that currently serves as the Discovery Visitors Centre). Closed in winter, the Visitor Centre is typically a very quiet, serene place this time of year that inspires photography. From Ferme Rioux, we got on the Le Chemin du Nord trail with the surface frozen Saint Lawrence Seaway on our right, and spruce, fir, white birch, red squirrels, and more to our left. We made it as far as the Tea House (also closed in winter) before turning back. In the end, we were out for 2 hours of skiing through an inspiring landscape with mild conditions, including a temperature of 22 F with little to no wind. In our multi-layered outfits, we were completely comfortable in this winter wonderland.

Snow drifts make for some quite deep snow in spots

View scape of frozen bay surrounded by the northern Appalachian mountains

Lisa approaching the Ferme Rioux Visitor Centre

Ferme Rioux Visitor Centre with ice covered bay in the background

Snow covered picnic tables and ice covered bay of the Saint Lawrence River

Signage outside the Visitor Centre

Close-up of Parc Signage

Close-up of Parc signage

Parc National Du Bic shown in green

Making tracks

Animal tracks

Old sailboat as historic marker

Lisa on the Le Chemin du Nord trail

Lisa by the boarded up for winter 'tea' house

Tim between the tea house and the ice covered bay in background

Skiing the Le Portage Trail in Parc National Du Bic

On a relatively mild (20 F) Tuesday morning we headed back to Parc National Du Bic for a morning ski along the Le Portage trail from which we took the spur trail to the Epinettes. With the warmer temperatures, the red squirrels seemed to be particularly active, both in moving about and in their calls. Otherwise, it was a very quiet morning. We did not see any other skiers or snowshoers on our 90 minute ski tour.

Heading out from the parking area

Large meadow along the Le Portage trail

Skiing in the meadow

Warming hut along the Le Portage trail by meadow

White birch bark

Summer picnic area along Epinettes trail

Rustic bathroom hut along Epinettes trail

Lisa admiring the view

Along the trail

Animal tracks

Back home in the early afternoon as snow began to fall 

Skiing the west side of Parc National Du Bic

On Monday morning 4 February, we head to a new ski destination - the west side of Parc National Du Bic. It's relatively warm (20 F) as we begin the short 10 minute drive to Saint Fabien, where we turn right (north) towards the Saint Lawrence River. At the 'T' junction, we turn right on a narrow road that parallels the River and comprises the heart of Saint Fabien Sur Mer. At the end of the road is a small parking area for the Parc National Du Bic. We park our car and are soon heading up a rather hilly trail that skirts the base of a tall narrow ridge of the Appalachian mountains. We follow the trail for about 4 km before retracing our 'steps' back to the trailhead. It's a great trail which we look forward to doing again.

Houses fronting the frozen Saint Lawrence River in Saint Fabien Sur Mer

View of the currently frozen bay fronting Saint Fabien Sur Mer

Another view of the frozen bay at Saint Fabien Sur Mer

The mostly frozen bay adjacent to the parking area
for this section of Parc National Du Bic 

Trailhead sign at parking lot

Lisa on the trail

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Tim heading down the trail

Multi-colored pealing bark of white birch

Feeding wild animals in the Parc is a no-no, even in winter

Skiing through snow covered spruce and fir

Family snowshoeing in Parc National Du Bic on overnight camping trip.

Cross-country skiing is great fun

Our car stuck in ditch, pulled out by local farmer

Late Tuesday afternoon, 4 February, I headed off towards the village of Le Bic to walk our dog Woody. While we go for regular walks on our street, I thought Woody might enjoy a change in venue, including the opportunity to sniff a greater variety of scents left by other dogs, since there is only one other dog on our street.
Rather than taking the main highway to Le Bic, I opted to take the back route which goes along a ridge with long-range views of snow-covered fields and the partially frozen Saint Lawrence River.
All was going well until I drifted a bit to the right as I enjoyed the view scape and ended up in the ditch. There's no shoulder and because the ditch was covered in snow, it wasn't obvious.  Having driven this road in summer, I should have realized the risk.
My initial thought was the AWD of our Volvo wagon would get us out of the ditch. Not the case. Okay, here's an opportunity to put our emergency shovel to work so I cleared the snow around the tires and tried again. The wheels spun, but no forward or backward real progress. Just as the situation looked fairly dire, I saw a man walking towards me along the road. He quickly ascertained my predicament and offered to pull me out with his tractor. What luck! But first we had to find a way for him to attach a cable to the Volvo. I had no idea how to do this, but he was quite sure that included  with the spare tire, was a loop that I could screw into the front bumper. He was right. After popping off a small cover on the front bumper, we screwed in the loop and voila, we had a place to link the  cable on the tractor with the Volvo. Having done that, we were able to quickly pull the Volvo out of the ditch. I thanked him with a handshake and merci beaucoup (having noticed my North Carolina license plate, he said have a good trip). How lucky I was. And, what a nice person!

View of the road with the cryptic ditch

Our Volvo stuck in the ditch. I shoveled the snow away from the tires that were in the ditch
but was unable to move the car forward or back.

A farmer whose house was close to where I got stuck
saw me and offered to pull me out with his tractor. Note the icy road.

Hooking up the cable from the tractor to my car

We screwed this loop into a compartment in the front bumper
which  became the  attachment point for the cable.

Photo montage of Le Bic village in winter: our home town in Quebec Province, Canada

The historic village of Le Bic is on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River west of the small city of Rimouski. With small offshore islands, sheltered bays, mountain ridges, and the nearby Parc National Du Bic, it's been a vacation destination for hundreds of years. The attached photos, taken in winter 2019, are scenes within the village as well as looking out towards the Saint Lawrence River. 

Entry signs to the village of Le Bic

A prominent feature of the village is Saint Cecile (Eglise Sainte-Cecile), a  historic Catholic church .
Many if not most villages and towns on the Gaspe Peninsula have a large Catholic Church, some still active, others not.

Large cross on hill, along with the Church, is a prominent landmark.

Located in Le Bic village, Chez Saint-Pierre is considered to be one of Quebec's finest restaurants

Another excellent restaurant in Le Bic village is Les Affames

Excellent boulangerie

Exhibit hall of historic photos

A well known auberge in Le Bic

Another historic auberge in Le Bic Village

Look close - there is a man in front of the house
removing snow from roof with a long pole.

Colorful house in downtown Le Bic

Corner house

Streets in Le Bic Village

The Main Street through Le Bic Village is bike friendly

Cedar shake house with great view of the Saint Lawrence River.

Le Bic view scape looking north with a beautiful bay and offshore islands
of the Saint Lawrence Seaway

Another view of the Saint Lawrence River from Le Bic with blue sky.