Jackstraw

When we leave from Richards, we usually get there around 2pm and just park the trucks, throw the saddlebags on and either ride to lac edourd, St. raymond, or Repos all 100 miles from richards place that evening. When we go up to LSJ we never come back the way we left, either up the 355 or 23 and back the other.

I've left my truck at the Roqemont before, it's not secure but we pulled the fuel relays. Wasn't a secure feeling while we where gone. A great place to start from is Auberge Mekinak about 20 minutes past the exit for Motel Safari, right on the maurice river on 155. Free secure parking and bar and restaurant, Richard the owner speaks great english and was friends with Bernard. The 355 to the Lac St Jean area is right there, it's 100 miles by trail to Lac Edourd. I have his number if you want.

Me,Phil1 aand 2 buddies left Thetford Mines on Wed. am towards Montmagny, they receved about 4-5" of snow the day before. We took the 540 towards St.marie, couldn't get through due to closed trail. We detoured towads St. Georges which was a bit thin. Took the TQ55 to 551 to Montmagny all great. next day took TQ5 to RDL for lunch, then TQ85 through Cabano almost to the Nw Brunswick border after missing the 563. backtracked and spent the night in pohenegamook. Trails all great groomed and flat with plenty of snow. Next day took TQ35, they where staking the lake as we left. Took the TQ35 to tq55 to 549 into the Masif du Sud to the lookout tower, not a cloud in the sky,we then backtracked to the 551 to Pourvoirie Daaquam for the night. next morning 551 to 545 to Armstrong for lunch. Trails all great. After lunch TQ25 towards Thetford, missed turn and ended up at the 540-535 split. backtracked and got back on the tq25 into thetford. We put on 922 miles in 4days and must say we where impressed with the conditions with the lack of snow. Other than the TQ75 into Beauceville and around St Geaorges the conditions where great. The snow got deeper the farther East we went and higher in elevation. I'll try to post some pics later.

We are in Montmagny right now, tq35 and 551 where mint coming in last night, left from thetford. We are headed towards RDL this morning, snowing good as we speak. Hi groomer,unfortunatly we are only going as far as rdl before we head WEST. Will catch you in march.

Any updates? Specifally the 355 between Auberge Mekinack and LaTuque, or mekinack and TQ73 via 360, 318, 353, any updates would be great. Headed across the border on the 19th and want to see if it's passable to start there to Valins.

About time eh! What's the latest you've made your first pass? We are headed across the border a week from tomorrow, not sure where yet, but we have waited long enough!

Cat may claim the fastest production sled at the moment, but I DOO beleive that will be shortlived. I beleive that will change possibly midseason or 2012!

Yamis may be dependable, but I rode an 06' Apex and an 08 Nytro and both handled like crap, couldn't wait to get off them. The nytro is gone and he is back on a 800 e tec, now a happy camper. as for the Apex rider, he doesn't get it, he's always at the end of the pack wondering why? :angry:

Groomer, So did we get any snow? Or are we still cutting grass, 27" in North Jersey Put 25 miles on the wheeler last night,buzzing around town in a white out, to much salt on the roads for the sled.

What's up Darren, your packing it in? I think Richard still has access to that high mile 2 up touring your buddy rented a couple years ago, I think it's got new carbides, lol!

Would the spot gps be able to accept the sd card with the quebec trails loaded on it like garmin? Would the spot gps be able to accept the sd card with the quebec trails loaded on it like garmin?

Nice Phil, I guess that explains the monsoon this weekend, New sled= Monsoon :angry:

What exactly are the farmers looking for?

Happy birthday Groomer, to many more!

Thanks richard for the great hospitality as usual, for any one heading up, from Mattawin on North was great. We went up the pipeline on Tues and was groomed. 1050 miles in 4 1/2 days all mostly a 8/10. Was surprised how much snow was still there. Cold nights and warm days.

I spoke to Richard this morning, he said they got about a foot of snow and all the trees have been cleared, he was going to check on the grooming status, I'm going to call him later. 5 of us are leaving our trucks there tomorrow and headed to Repos in the afternoon then on to Val dor and either Chibougamu or South through Joncas. he only has a few rooms left for the weekend cause there's a party of some sort going on Sat. We'll be back to Richards Sat. night if all goes well.

Which direction did you come from? We where hoping to Launcn from there on Tues out towards Repos, up to parent, chiboougamou back down the 355 any info would be great!

Any updates?

Richard, any updates?

We circled the lake about two weeks ago and it was all good

My buddy blew his motor in Parent, he stayed at the Central, he said the bar was open 24hrs! he had a great time at the bar, when we hooked up with him 2 days later after his truck came up to get him he said he wanted to move to Parent! Something about a barmaid. He woke up the next morning and said his room door was wide open and about 2 inchs of snow in the room, had to shovel it out. lol

We came down the 355 on sat. It was mint to lac Edouard put hammerd to Relais Trappeur where we jumped on the local trail LT2 which was MINT to Tq 73 by the warming hut. TQ 73 had alot of stutter bumps but it was Sat afternoon and there was alot of sleds.!

I just got back on Sunday after 4 1/2 days of riding, We left Auberge mekinack which is about 25 miles North of Shawinigan. We went up the 355 to 83 to 3 across the ferry up through valins and around the lake back to Mekinack, 1020 miles all an 8+ the only thin and icy section was the lower part of 355 but still very passable.The mekinack is a great place to start from, secure and n/c to keep trucks there plus Richard speaks great english.

The 355 South from lac Edouard was hammered, at Relais Trappeur we took the local trail LT2 to 73 and was mint. Two groomers where at lac Edouard. the 355 North was just groomed and we where first tracks down.