Jackstraw

There also! Major blizzard. Rode the highway for 75+ miles to escape! LOL Was closed for 2 days

There also! Major blizzard. Rode the highway for 75+ miles to escape! LOL Was closed for 2 days

There also! Major blizzard. Rode the highway for 75+ miles to escape! LOL Was closed for 2 days

There also! Major blizzard. Rode the highway for 75+ miles to escape! LOL Was closed for 2 days

There also! Major blizzard. Rode the highway for 75+ miles to escape! LOL Was closed for 2 days

The cheap turns out to be expensive. 

Just take the bad wheel off and send it, you have 3 more!

We call ahead at lunch when we know where we are going

Drop down to New Brunswick on the way out of RDL, Moose valley about 100 miles, end up in Amqui for the night

Yep,
Sleds overheating by the time we got to hotel

leave it at RDL instead

Didn't know you had a better half! 😲

Here is our yesterday loop ride February 11 in Mauricie area

With perfect winter conditions, we left the Champlain area with our ride partner Snowcruiser and his friend Michel. Here on trail #351 along #40 highway #40 eastbound

At the first junction we passed under the highway via the local trail towards St-Luc de Vincennes. Here on a small bridge, not the prettiest but which does the job perfectly.

We joined #3 trail which we headed east

This sign above with the name of Claude Cosette piqued my curiosity and today I search a bit to find that he was a pioneer in the Champlain Snowmobile Club involved as director and volunteer for the St-Narcisse sector.
A little further we switched north towards St-Séverin and then St-Tite


One of the 3 places (2 on the ice and 1 on a bridge) where we cross the Rivière des Envies. We finally got enough cold for it to be safe

We then took the #23 and then the #360 towards St-Joseph de Mékinac

To have a meal at the village restaurant a little before noon

After a good lunch break we continued north 

To ride #355 trail Gazoduc section. It was not freshly groomed but was nice

At the next intersection we took a short break before heading south on #351 trail. A nice surprise appeared there

We therefore continued towards Zec Tawachiche on a freshly groomed trail.


We then headed east towards Lac Aux Sables. Here on the river which is very strong in Notre Dame de Montauban area

We then took the #353 towards St-Ubalde. It turned out to be the worst day choice because it was quite worn on some sections
We took a break at the  #351/#302 trails junction because my passenger really needed it! We then continued on the #302 which gave us back a big smile on our face

A visit to the St-Casimir cemetery!

For then cross the Ste-Anne River. It's a bit narrow but by looking down we still appreciate it!

We took a last break at #351 trail  junction. As we chattered we saw the horizon turn more and more colored

We then made our last stretch on #351 to return to our starting point. For those wondering if super Dominator LED lights work, that's what I have and Snowcruiser in front me is stock...

We returned to our starting point around 6:30 p.m. with 277 km on the dreammeter.
So an impressive snow cover everywhere that will help us get through the period of milder weather announced for the next few days, hoping that it will be colder than forecasted!
Bye!
Alain

Sorry forgot to post the last day, Day 4 Thursday. Decided to do a shorter day so we could get loaded up for home Friday morning. We took 63 West to St Zenon then continued to LaGlacier. Trail groomed nice to LaGlacier but rough after there. Trail passes through a forestry operation and there is about a 1/2 mile on the plowed and sanded logging road. This is the smoothest section of 63 Lol. Go down past Bazinette still rough. Finally groomed again at St. Emilie and we continued to St. Damien. There we picked up 23 and took it to 350 to Koubek’s for lunch. After lunch headed up 345 and back to LeCabanon 130 miles for the day. 750 miles for the 4 day trip. Trails mostly good some great and some rough. This area as always has a lot of traffic and gets used by a lot of tour groups. We still like it for the simple reason there are a lot of different loops that can be made from one spot and a lot of great places to stop trailside. They usually get very good snow as well and many use it as a gateway to the Quebec North

Maybe a bar and a brass pole!😁

Maybe a bar and a brass pole!😁

Said it before, Beach bars, Bikinis and Golf are looking more enticing every year!

Didn't know you had a better half! 😲

6 February 
quick and easy today. Great stay at Camp Taureau. Had a big room with lots of space fit all three of us. $80 each all in with breakfast and dinner. Sweet place. Will return. 9:25 or so out the driveway and to TQ33 all groomed all tge way to TQ63 and into St Michael then beyond right to Cabanon. Caught big tour group just after leaving town in St Michael. Took a bit to get by but we did. TQ23 from Cabanon nit terrible but 350 further down was rougher. Took trail through Lac Blanc nice crowd for monday. Sweet trail all the way to St Etienne and home. All in just a 204km day in driveway here a 1:15pm. 
 
Awesome trip with mostly spectacular trails. Great team. Don’t get any better. Very happy to be back. We will regroup and see what’s next. 
 
 

Does anyone trust saddlebagging on a Polaris?

We are heading back home to CT this morning.  Padragon and I rode the past two days in the Artic vortex.  Sandi stayed at the Universal.  I was wondering if we should have too.
Friday was a ride to Squatec.  We stayed on what was groomed as much as we could.  Trail 5, 565, 540 and 571 into Squatec.  This route is mostly in the woods but the fields were drifted and blowing snow pretty good.  Not many sleds out.  I wonder why?  🥶
We were too early for lunch so we had to stand on the porch for 10 minutes.  The shades were pulled down so we couldn't see in.  A few minutes before 11:00 am the door opens.  Boy does that heat feel good.
Planning our ride back, I was thinking about the way we came in and Padragon asked about trail 35?  I said it is over the mountain and a little further but shows groomed.  So we decide on 35.  I'm leading and about halfway up, I miss a right turn.  One of those spots where the "road" goes straight and you see the cut thru the trees but the trail goes to the right.  I ran past the turn by 20'.  A little tugging and pulling and the sled backs out.  Pay attention Jack.  Too cold to be making mistakes today.
Other than my little missed turn, it was a good choice.  It was cold at the top of the mountain but all wooded and the trail is like concrete.  With less wind than in the fields, it was good.  We turn right on 85 and cruise back to the Universal.  Not a long ride but we did ride.
Saturday it is warmer but not by much.  Padragon and I head out.  Again we look for the groomed trails. 
So 5 west to the little connector over to 526 and back to 85.  526 is a nice trail thru the woods.  If we time this right, we will be at Cabano around 11:00 for pizza.
85 going thru the construction is the worst of it today.  It is pretty open and the wind is blowing the snow around.  We take our time and make it thru.  Top the sleds off at the Shell station in Cabano and over to pizza.  Perfect, 11:00 am and the doors are unlocked.  We are the only ones here.  I thought there maybe a few locals coming in via car or truck but nope.  Just us two.
A couple of pepperoni pizzas and back on 85 north.  The wind has finally calmed down and it must be a balmy -20 C out here.  The sun is out and that makes it feel even warmer.  We turn left on 544.  This trail is perfect.  Not much traffic on it this year due to the logging going on local 40.  Saturday there are no logging trucks and the wind has blown in enough snow to cover up the sand on 40.  The last mile on 40 is old school rough.  This isn't getting groomed this season due to the logging.  We get to 526 and it is sweet looking.  We go straight on 526 to Explorer and then right on 561.  The trails are set up so good from the cold and no traffic makes it a perfect ride.  At trail 5 we turn right and finish the day into the Universal.
It was a cold two days but it is still snowmobiling in Quebec.  There is plenty of snow up here and the groomers are out every night.  After a late start with the snow in January, February should turn out to be a good month.  Pack up and head north.  The trails are waiting for you.
Jack & Sandi

More pics other days
 
 

Motel Drakker in schawinigan is secure
 

Today from Lac Failon to 100 Lacs was unreal, best I have ever hit it , no one’s riding apparently. Also there is a new warming hut before Balbuzard.

Hotel Universal