Call this one, "Climbers' Revenge".

After a few weeks of flying flats, here's one where you can appreciate the vertical scenery and not just the horizontal. I've disguised some of it by changing directions.

Be aware of the descents that I've marked on the map, particularly the one at km 48 down to the 105 but also the one on chemin des Érables at km 116.5 which might feature broken pavement (there is some of that going up, so likely the same coming down).

You'll note that there are a couple of obvious places where you can choose alternative segments:

1. Out of the gate, you may wish to go through the park to get to Chelsea;

2. from Wakefield to Cantley, you have the option of the 366/307 via Wilson's Corner. I just don't have an update (beyond the May 2026 steetview photos) of conditions. The 366 past Edelweiss doesn't appear to have much of a shoulder. The 307 I last rode before COVID, when it offered a beautiful descent into Cantley on new, wide-enough shoulders. Current photos indicate: more traffic; dirty shoulders. If they both had decent pavement and good shoulders, I'd heartily recommend that route.

3. An option that is more reliant on the rider's knowledge is at km 112.8, in which you could turn left to find that satisfying downhill on Ave Gatineau before turning right and finding your way over to the bridge across to the 105. (Heatmaps show that riders have used Bd de la Vérendrye, but that choice -- with disappearing shoulders -- looks dodgy to me)

GRAVEL ALERT: about 4km of gravel at the north end of the segment between Mont Cascades and the 366. It was quite packed down a month ago.

The drawn route does have that monster, 18% climb just south of Mont Cascades. Chemin du Mont des Cascades is (otherwise?) a beautiful part of the route.

A new route to discover some new roads "above" Wakefield. Yes, there be climbing today!

This route is a normal loop to Wakefield, via the Mackenzie-King estate to Chelsea, on QC-105. At the top of the loop, however, is added a clockwise loop through Ste-Cecile de Masham, Lascelles and Alcove (beautiful country roads through rolling farm country). Note the quite steep and long descent into Alcove. Turn right to follow the 105 alongside the Gatineau River into Wakefield. Rest stop of choice.

The Wakefield spring remains potable, so fill up your bottles if needed, before riding beside the river on the imaginatively named River Rd. Then it's the 105/ Scott Rd/ etc. etc. etc. back to the barn.

Paraphrased from the B ride, a month ago:

Welcome, Super C's to your second big climb of the season, adding about 56m of UP to last month's visit to the Mackenzie King estate (858 metres): 918 meters, all told.

Fortunately, that total climb is broken up into several climbs, 2 or 3 being worthy of note. Also fortunately, there are two checkpoints in the early going from where, if you're finding yourself a little wobbly, you can make a retreat.

So, be sure you take note of how to return on your own from (CHECKPOINT 1) atop the initial climb on chemin des Érables (km 13.3), and (CHECKPOINT 2) from anywhere along chemin Ste Elisabeth (on the RWGPS route elevation profile, Ste. Elisabeth is that stretch of UP from km15 to km22). Note, it's not steep, just steady. If you are alive, upright and smiling at the Ste Elisabeth summit, that's a very good indication that you are fit to continue. If you are gasping, that's a sign that you must turn around, coast all the way back down ch. Ste Elisabeth/ ch. des Érables and recover. And the climbing is not yet done! See that big dip at km 28? That's an 18% downhill followed by a not-quite-as-steep-but-still-your-biggest-climb-of-the-day to regain all that you just lost.

A steady pace, effective brakes, en route refueling and a low gear are your friends.

This is one of your routemaster's favourite rides, particularly the section between Cantley and Wakefield, but this one is truly not a walk-in-the-park. You must earn it. Before heading off, you must know that you can do it.

GRAVEL ALERT: about 4km of well-packed gravel at the north end of the segment between Mont Cascades and the 366.

NOTE: The Wakefield Spring is potable, once more! Fill up your tanks, if needed.

Know that this is a beautiful ride, if challenging. And there are bakeries and cafés in Wakefield where you can refuel for the ride back to the start. Plenty of photo ops, too. Know, also, that the D ride to Wakefield remains an option. I've added a 3rd speed range.

RIDE LEADERS, PARTICULARLY, NOTE THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS

Aside from the aforementioned steep downhill, there are two hazards that I must mention. PLEASE REVIEW THESE, LOOKING AT THE RWGPS MAP ON YOUR COMPUTER WHILE YOU READ.

1. The first is shortly after departure. Zoom in on the RWGPS map and follow along.

At km2.0, you have just turned onto St Raymond heading downhill in the right lane towards Bd St Joseph and, farther down and around a gentle bend, Bd de la Carriere and the casino beyond. As you cross over QC-5 on your descent, you need to move to the left hand, through lane. The intersection at the bottom of the hill is large and you are going straight through, crossing 3 different roads in immediate succession:

1) Bd de la Carrier (4 lanes)

2) RapidBus corridor (2 lanes)

3) railway (1 track)

IMMEDIATELY AFTER crossing the tracks (i.e. 1 metre after) you turn left onto the pathway.

NOTE: IF THE TRAFFIC IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE GROUP TO SAFELY AND EASILY CHANGE LANES, STAY IN RIGHT LANE AND, AT BOUL DE LA CARRIERE, GO STRAIGHT CROSS USING THE CROSSWALK TO ARRIVE AT THE PATHWAY JUST PAST THE RAILROAD TRACKS. STOP, TURN LEFT, AND PRESS THE PEDESTRIAN BUTTON ON THE PATHWAY TO HEAD NORTH.

2. The second is a dangerous, hairpin curve about 1km beyond the Mont Cascades base terminal.

It's marked by two, separate caution signs on the map: it is a right-hand, hairpin turn at km 31.10. At least one of our riders, in the past, has flown off the outside of the turn (fortunately, they had not achieved escape velocity and are still with us!). It is particularly deceiving because the approach to the hairpin is a beautifully gentle, meandering downhill from the Mont Cascades base station -- your advance warning point -- which screams to be taken at speed. DON'T DO IT!

First thing to say is that the 641 m of climbing is, I think, wrong. If you did 400m of climbing on this route, I would be surprised. That said, it doesn't hurt to plan conservatively and expect more than is there.

Second, is that this is a trip for the D's to get to Wakefield. And back. It is routed on the rail trail for about 1/3 of the entire distance. The gravel is very smooth and firm. If the group wishes to use the 105/ River Road pavement instead of the rail trail, that is certainly doable and would be of a similar distance.

Plenty of refreshment options in Wakefield, including the Wakefield Spring which remains potable. Note the washrooms beside the rail turntable across from the bakery.

I'm adding a faster group in case some C riders are keener on thiis ride.