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Beautiful sunshine all day albeit a lil on the cool side 93 was in top shape all the way up. Great ride All tucked into our cozy cabin at the Marina for the night. Sandra and her partner are great hosts Gowser

Today’s path took us from the Delta to Escoumins through Mount Valin. The Chapel was crowded but service is second to none. Trails leaving Jonquire, where acceptable once we got over the second bridge they got much better. The orange Trail past lor Piste was a little rough. Plenty of snow but needed groomer. Once we hit Trail 330 it was a 10. Surprised to see how much snow is here in Escoumins being near the river. There Has to be 25 trailers here must be a good starting point. Couple guys came from Sept-Tiles and said the trails are perfect all the way. Can’t wait!

Left Hotel Marineau yesterday 355 was good to great with the exception of 3-4 k just below lac Bouchette where they are logging Lunch stop at lac eduard… great pea soup Restaurant / bar Closed at Le Jardin in st Felicien …scramble for supper but we survived to fight another day!

Day 3. Escoumins to Baie Comeau. 175 miles. Another sunshine day made for mild temperatures in the high teens. Trails were very good, except for about 30 miles, which were OK, but had chop in all the turns.The building by the water in the last picture is our hotel for the night. Le Manior

Here at RDL it is starting to spit snow with a few inches forecast tonight. If I understood two men in the lobby a short time ago speaking broken English, I think they said good snow east of RDL.

Parking lots are no problem anymore, I finally put wheels on my sled supposed to get couple inches of snow tonight

Just back from the Delta, so a quick update. The Grooming Teams are doing a great job with what they have to work with,,,,,, but they dont have much to work with around town and in the lower elevations. With all the traffic from the foreigners ( hahahahaha) the trails are not holding a grooming long, smoother on the way out, than a few hours later, stutters back in. It was great seeing everyone! Please set your expectations appropriately..... Later GutZ

I'm pretty certain that the affected businesses and many of the public especially in small and remote areas already know the value of snowmobilers to their business. The impact may not always be positive as there are many "entitled" sledders out there. Although they are the minority the results of their actions are felt and remembered more than the majoritys actions. I can tell you from more than 30 years of club and trail work experience that reroutes and trail closures are not something the clubs want to do (just more work for volunteers to do) but are a necessity based on circumstances. JMHO

In the restaurant now, very thin snow here at the hotel. Not looking for exceptional just rideable. Place is a ghost town

Yesterday we rode from Delta to Otis Nature. First 8 miles until you cross the second bridge were lots of rocks, snirt and dirt. One of the Sidewinders kept overheating. After the second bridge a Huge improvement. Flat smooth. Couldn't go WOT as there is ice beneath a thin layer of snow, corners very icy. Goof smoked meat at Otis Nature. 110 miles. Today took 83 S to Auberge du Ravage. Much better getting out from the Delta. Lots of open straight trials where you could go WOT. Nice lunch at the Ravage. 87 Octane gas at the Ravage is 2.50/liter. Was a great day for 160 miles. Tomorrow we're going to head North again and shoot for Auberge KM 31. Will post tomorrow. Overall, it's still better then work. Sled wheels are a really nice to have in the Delta parking lot. Completely bare asphalt Fred

Staying in Alma now trails coming out of town were little rough not horrible but once outside of town it got pretty good. We got a late start(noon) due to my sled breaking(secondary came apart) 20miles in so had to limp back and get my buds backup sled to ride. We rode 93 over to pic du le dos de cheval for some summit pictures and went over and got dinner at yourte bistro by the ski mountain. The only thing I noticed bad was there is a lot of ice under the groomed snow so be careful. My bud slid backwards down the hill going up to the ski resort for gas lol. Trying to get parts this morning so probably another late start. I posted some pics on freedom sledder I can’t get them to work here for some reason.

With this bad winter, and the reduction in $$$s spent at hotels\relays\etc.... will more of the local business communities realize the value we bring and the impact on the economy..... And just maybe embrace us more and stop closing trails and reroutes in and out of towns. just a thought...... looking for a silver lining for the season..... GutZ

I was heading north after the "pleasure at the table" !

Start and end far enough north and you will be fine. Gamble and you'll see the cost of a taxi or a U-haul. 😉

Decided Friday afternoon to roll the dice and head to the Gaspe. 2 hours from our launch point of RDL. Will make tracks tomorrow and see what is out there. Crappy year gonna take the gamble. As much as we hate to waste time on the ferry, if need be we can cross to the North Shore or head down to Moose Valley. Time will tell

Exactly. Happened to us last week. Coming down from Saint Felicien to Mattawin. Got to LaTuque. Just got gas and was sitting on sled talking with one of the guys while the rest of the group was in the convenience store getting something to drink. Just happened to look at the app on the phone. Crap, we have a problem! What? 355 is closed for about 20 miles leaving LaTuque. Wait, 345 is also closed from the dam to LeCabanon. Got rooms at Marineau LaTuque and a rental pickup truck from the Dodge dealer. Drove to LeCabanon to retrieve the trucks and trailers the next morning. Some debate on whether or not we would have made it. Overall group decision was to pull the plug. North was very nice.

Very nice to see snow on the bridge...good mileage for a crew that big...have a great day tomorrow...nice section you are heading into.

We are finding more relays\restaurants ( at Hotels, etc...\etc.. are closed on Monday -Wednesday, no employees... and everything bumped up in cost... GutZ

Timing is everything. Looking good roll on.

Day 1, word of the day….Thin! Got 2” overnight made it nice leaving RDL. Never seen it so thin here in February. Trails pretty smooth, not enough snow to be rough. Snirt is gone with the fresh snow. Get out of town and take 5 East. Rimouski Club says stay on 5 for best conditions. Hasn’t been our experience but let’s try it. Away from town coverage not bad. Once we get to Trois Pistoles it’s actually pretty nice. Continue on 5 to the 35 outside of Rimouski. Traffic is light all day groomers are doing their thing. Meet back up with 5 East to 587 short cut to 5 at Padoue. Took the 5 all the way to Matane to the Riotel. Very scratchy in town, basically blacktop and dirt.

I agree, I have felt it is the larger launch points ( Cities ) that are not seeing\realizing the economic impact of our involvement in their areas. I'll use Jonquiere area as an example. The main trail ( 83 ) has been moved and rerouted and cut-off and rerouted through the town and you get the feeling the Town does not give a crap or see us as a valuable resource. The club(s) has fought for us over and over again. So with a drop in length of season this year and fewer sleds..... will it open the eyes of the business communities...??? Will it translate into more acceptance as a revenue engine and an embracing of the fact you want the Trailz running to your door not pushed out to the periphery. Just thinking out loud. GutZ

Be helpful if they told you when you booked….but then I guess most like myself might book elsewhere.

The closed on certain days started with COVID and has remained unfortunately. The crazy high pricing really got wild last year and also stayed.

Restaurant Hours at Jardan. Pool is closed for renovations also.

let you know what the main stream trails are like, no inside info here, just my own

Thank you. I don't know how accurate "OPENSNOW" is. At first glance the information is easy to read & in depth. I don't remember where I recently came upon it. Regretfully, it comes with an annual subscription price. I only signed up for the five-day free trial - no C.C. required - only an email address & p/w for signing in. Surprisingly, they / the ad was true to their word. From what I see, several meteorologists are on board, assigned to different regions, and provide daily morning weather reports. I have three days left on the trial. Time will only tell how good they are, as I can't justify the expense of the annual subscription. Best, Paddy O

https://www.aventurechicchocs.com/services

i seem to do what this trucker did here now and then stay right.....and this will SURELY happen to you (more times than you would like) throughout your snowmobiling life

Eustis Maine, on the Arnold Snowmobile Trail System -Bigelow lodge trail posted on FB , 02/16/24. Oh-oh.

Yes perfect, a snowmobile map in time for summer 😉

ya but some thing s never get old lol

Thanks, I got a reply back that 90% of the white trail is still closed. So on to plan B I guess.

I feel the same way. It can’t always be a one way street. It has to be give and take.

Yup lots of lurkers. Lot’s of taking not much giving. Starting to wonder….why give any info at all.

Negative ghost rider. Top secret intel that cannot be discussed on an unsecured line. 😇 I will pm you and any other CONTRIBUTING member that wants to know. I apologize for the secrecy but if I say where it is I will have to compete with all the lurkers next time I go there. Getting sick of that real quick. They come over here learn some new shit, then head over to facecrack and regurgitate the shit they learned here as if they had the idea. Sorry but it’s true. I can’t find parking at the Roquemont anymore, same with SADL. I did not see much snirt, granted we only put on 300 miles in 2 days. There were maybe 5 patches of grass near the hotel, once we got up the hill it was good to go for the rest of the day.

I guess in my opinion, apart from cost, there is certainly no downside to having wheels. I have been riding on and off for Thirty-Six years, and never had them, however after my last trip in early March last year, I vowed I would not ride without them again. All parking lots etc were asphalt, and I had a difficult time maneuvering, and destroyed a set of runners. I ordered a set of wheels when I got home. I will say that I am running a 2021 Yamacat Viper LTX GT. My friend had much less trouble on his 2023 Renegade 900T.

Just put the Rouski Evo’s on my sled. They are very well built and of high-quality. If you get the Evo, make sure you grind a angle on the end of the shaft like in the last picture. Makes for a lot easier install.

Well , this is the Vermont app 😳

Not just super-proud of your riding, but super-mega-proud that your English expression is better than most!

Closed means Closed Amusez vous be prepared to pay up. If caught and if so don’t post here you been informed. “Under section 70 of the Act respecting off-highway vehicles, anyone riding on a closed trail (red trail) may be subject to penalties ranging from $350 to $700. To avoid this penalty, please check the status of our trails at all times.” if you were pointed at your truck they sometimes give exceptions to reach home if on a voyage. Here locally they have asked to respect all red closed trails as this is another way we lose rights of passage. Riding thru with not enough snow. The road in a storm might go unnoticed, dry riad on the 138 through there. Catch the wrong SQ officer or Controler Routiere(truck police) and your trip could be over. We are all adults here so by no means am I trying to tell anyone what to do. Make smart choices is all.

l’Etape 369 Friday night

Up a couple star now.

one of my favorite stops...we have stayed there as well...wasn't 5 star but...extremely nice people...they deserve our support

Photo courtesy of mon ami Sophie.

Amen amen! Way to get it! And share it! BIG merci!

TQ93

If you livd in Victoriaville and your kids have not made it home from school they are probably on the short bus on the snowmobile trail

Two for the price of one