ChrisWright

Well, I hope they figure something out.  We are staying in Clova a week from Sunday.   Thanks Iceman for making the inquiry.

Parked at Le Glacier many times over the years.  Never had any issues.  You must arrive during normal business hours to get your vehicle parked in the secured paddock.  Recently, we've been parking in Maniwaki.  Shaves about an hour and a half off our trip.  Not secured though, so added risk.

Your sons friends are good guys to tease the boy with the big windshield. This is what makes them tough and can handle criticism. To many softies being brought up in this world these days.

Cee U next Tuesday......

I hope you guys have a BLAST out there. I went to Yellowstone back in 97 & 99 for a week. This was back when you could go alone unfretted into the park by yourself on a 2-stroke.  Flew into Bozeman both times. Have very fond memories of both trips. And here is a pic of us on our 600 Arctic Cat Powder specials which we rode. I am on far right. In 99 we got Yamaha 700 Mountain Max sleds I believe. Make DAMN sure you send pics and do a report on here while you guys are out there !!!

Sorry Chris, you're not alone, my entire season this year has been a let down from all directions.  Hopefully our finale to Wyoming next weekend will be a redemption.  You are welcome to fly out and join us there!

Sorry Chris, you're not alone, my entire season this year has been a let down from all directions.  Hopefully our finale to Wyoming next weekend will be a redemption.  You are welcome to fly out and join us there!

Sorry Chris, you're not alone, my entire season this year has been a let down from all directions.  Hopefully our finale to Wyoming next weekend will be a redemption.  You are welcome to fly out and join us there!

There have been way too many of these stories this year.  Same with Driving a car, I think the lack of thought and attention being paid is a side effect of Covid!

A lot has transpired since last post and most of it none for the good. Nautico in La Tuque drained and refilled sled 3 times and engine still overheats after startup. They said they dont have anymore time to look at it further till mid-March and I'm o.k. with that as I'm not willing to throw more good money at bad and want it back home. A little bit of luck yesterday a couple hours after finding that out. I just happen to hit eBay and searched "Skidoo 1200" . Not much has been on there lately. A guy out in Wisconsin who is a master BMW mechanic and owns a 200 acre tree farm parts out sleds and listed two different 1200 engines. Spoke with and made a deal offline for the 2013 with 2610 miles. Complete drop in. Stator, starter and all. $1950 shipped to my local business address. Motor was taken out of an extremely clean sled that had A arm and "S" module damage. So....i'm going to have a fun project over the summer, get to know my beloved Goldwing even more intimately, and hopefully come out with a good motor that has 10K less miles than now.
I WILL find out how much internal damage did happen as I'll tear it down after the new one is in. If it looks like it's fiscally fixable I might put it back together and sell it. If not I'll part it and scrap it.
So...mon ami Andre is saving my butt and lending me his sled this coming week. Pick that up in Sherbrooke, spend night, drop at Mattawin Sunday afternoon. Heading into camp for the night and then up around Haltaparche, Casey, Parent, Gouin, Clova, etc. pretty much all next week. If anyone is in the vicinity next week drop me a line and maybe we can hook up for lunch or something. 
As usual I will be posting conditions/pics and just try to keep up with my mentor Towing. 

We decided to check out some trails south of the river last weekend.  We left Villeroy and stayed 2 nights in Montmagny.  Day 1 was 200 miles via…too many trails to remember…25, 35, 535, 55, 547, 5.  General directions were south to St-Georges in the Beauce region, then back up to Montmagny.  Day 2 was 5, 35, 55, 549, 35 and 551 total of 180 miles.  Day 3 was 170 miles, 5, 551, 35, 547, local, 75, 35, 540, 535, 35.  Sorry best I can do here on trail numbers.  Luckily I was not the navigator on this one, or else we might still be looking for the truck.  The map looks like someone threw spaghetti on it and said have fun!  
Overall conditions were good despite the weather.  We took a few different trails up and around Le Massif du Sud, which was nice.  The area between Montmagny and Villeroy is basically the highest concentration of tapped sugar maples in the world, cool stuff.  Or should I say sweet?  
Here are some pics
 

No one does it like Quebec, their neighbors to the west should be ashamed, LOL!!   Thanks to all the clubs and operators out there for always doing a fantastic job and of course getting right on it to get things open and ready.  You all Rock!

bonjour chris !!!
 
thank you ...very appreciated !!!
snowing lightly this morning !!!
 
jean-guy

No one does it like Quebec, their neighbors to the west should be ashamed, LOL!!   Thanks to all the clubs and operators out there for always doing a fantastic job and of course getting right on it to get things open and ready.  You all Rock!

No problem going thru ottawa. Just avoid downtown area. Exit at vanier parkway, turn left on vanier parkway all the way up to st-patrick, turn left on st-patrick then turn right on king edward and you are all set.
I am crossing mcdonald-cartier twice for work.

Our clubhouse is about 30 minutes (give or take) north of the Masson-Cumberland ferry (Google 149 Chemin Inlet, Mulgrave et Derry) and the road is paved almost to the door.  The Clubhouse is licenced as a bar/restaurant and we re-opened it yesterday (Saturday 5th of February)  morning for the first time in almost two years.  Although it's only open weekends (9:00am - midnight Saturdays;  9:00am - 6:00pm Sundays) our parking lot is open to all 24/7 and it is pretty large.  We also have an unloading ramp for folks trucking and not trailering.
To avoid heavy fines, and protect our clients and staff, all COVID regulations (vax pass, masks when not seated, etc.) are in effect.  
Although we've been there for almost 50 years, visitors from other provinces and states have only begun to discover it as a jumping off point in recent years.  One of our groomer operators told me there were a lot of trucks and trailers there last evening when he left for his run just after supper.
It's not currently showing on iMotoneige (on the to-do list), but it's just off the 323 north of Lac La Blanche on the local trail northeast to Montpelier/Duhamel.  We often scoot up to Maniwaki by heading northwest up the 323 to the TQ 53 and then you have a couple of choices from there.  Likewise, Mont-Laurier, once a big day's ride, is now a "milk run" via Duhamel and La Minerve.
Another groomer operator (we have two - soon to be three - machines) complained this morning of the snow not packing properly since it's so cold and dry, but apparently where there are forestry roads (about half of our network) conditions are excellent.
Bypassing Ottawa is a good strategy for now, even though the hold-ups are confined mostly to the city core (with the exception of the river crossings which can be problematic .... especially in peak hours). 
Have a great ride  however you work it!

Hi all.  Planning a trip for next Wednesday.  Will be spending a few days saddle bagging.  Thinking of dropping in Maniwaki, heading up towards Meekos, over to Kanawata, up top and down to Notawissi and then back to Maniwaki.   Curious if any outfitters are experiencing supply problems, including gas.  I know Repos has had fuel issues in the past, but mostly due to traffic.
Any insight would be helpful.   Thanks!

Les ours blancs are grooming til the iron bridge near club gatineau(yellow trail) Pensive are connecting with them.
Pensive is at km 57 on lepine road
Lepine road is plowed(not sanded) from km68 til km158.
I wont venture that way this winter. We're going to clova then abitibi soon via 13/83

Thanks.  As I understand the history, Dominque from Clova usually runs this stretch with the groomer, but often times it never gets reported.

When I spoke to Dominic last month he said that the stretch from Pensive to Clova would most likely be plowed for logging this year.  He was still considering getting Clova to the Horseshoe bypass open this season.  Granted at this point in the season I am not sure if that will happen. 

Thanks.  As I understand the history, Dominque from Clova usually runs this stretch with the groomer, but often times it never gets reported.

I am a little surprised they aren't using rapids since they are doing virtually.  Our trip will all depend on whether they re-open restaurants.  I realize there are work arounds, but we've talked about it and don't want to invest 22 hours in round trip drive time and not have the whole experience we've come to enjoy.   Boy do I miss the ole days!!

Reviving this thread.  Anyone having any issues crossing?  Just signed up for my ArriveCan account.  Seemed pretty easy.  What are they doing for vaccine verification, seems like anybody can just upload a doc.   Any troubles or slow downs at the border?  Is there a certain amount of time you have to have your trip plans entered or can you do at the last minute?   Thanks for any insights.  Happy Trails!

No verification on anything, correct on that one.  You can do the app between 72 hours and 1 minute of crossing the border.  Make sure you have a negative test that they accept that is under 72 hours old, or a positive test they accept that is between 10 days and 180 days old.
If you get the random test you have to do it within 24 hours.  Have a decent internet connection and allow 30-45 minutes.  10-15 minutes to set up the account, 10-15 minutes to enter all the stuff from the kit and information on your crossing, and 10-15 minutes to do the test over the internet with a nurse, simple.
 
 

You shouldn’t have any trb. I’ve been up twice and it was smooth sailing. You scan in your vaccination card and passport and they are there for good. 
you take your Walgreens Covid test and print it out and have it with you. 
the app won’t let you put in your travel plans and date until 72 hrs before you say your coming. You plug in an address for quarantine purposes (this can be any hotel address) and submit the thing at the end and it gives you QR code right on the app.
Bam…your all set. If doing it same day I imagine it would work the same. Both times we were at the border at 7:30 am or so and had one car in front of us each time.
it’s really easy and that ArrivCan app is stable and works good.
have a great trip