nyskidooerinnewhampshire

Day 5: gonna end the trip with 2 short days instead of 1 big one. Today we rode from PALC to Valga. Took 5 all the way to Albertville. Trails pretty thin near the towns. Should have took the orange trail to avoid Causapscal. Also really thin around St. Marguerite and Albertville. Continued on 5 to 587 to St. Irene, much better here. Had lunch at the Ski Hill then went up and checked out the lookout tower up near the Radar. Looks like winter up there but not like a normal one. Continued through the mountains on 587 to 579 and into Valga for the night. Early day, a little too early really 😂😂 150 miles for the day.

Getting across the border is not a heavy lift, and it is always an enjoyable visit. The mileage is usually half what I reported, but we must run the outside due to many temporary closures in the local system due to active logging.
 
A few inches of snow fell here in Pittsburg, NH, overnight. Someone venturing across the border today would have far better tracks than yesterday. 
In my first post, I should have noted that the FCMQ grooming pattern incorrectly reflected the area trails hadn't been groomed in days. This morning, despite us witnessing the groomer in action, it still reflects gray. Before our initial departure, a Facebook posting by Club de motoneigistes des Monts Appalaches advertised the the trails were recently groomed to & from the customs house, so we chose to see who was correct. FB was the winner. 

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
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Hi Mike.  Glad to hear the trip wasn't a washout.  The FCMQ map showed some riding where you found it but limited or closed west of RDL.  What a short season.
Jack & Sandi

Left for Maine late morning. No percipiitation all the way home but warm everywhere..  Can only guess  it will really be tough getting out of RDL.  Still forecasting rain at RDL tonight and 2 cm of snow. Good trails may flash freeze and be icy,  just not sure.   Best to those that make the trip.
mike
 
 

Getting across the border is not a heavy lift, and it is always an enjoyable visit. The mileage is usually half what I reported, but we must run the outside due to many temporary closures in the local system due to active logging.
 
A few inches of snow fell here in Pittsburg, NH, overnight. Someone venturing across the border today would have far better tracks than yesterday. 
In my first post, I should have noted that the FCMQ grooming pattern incorrectly reflected the area trails hadn't been groomed in days. This morning, despite us witnessing the groomer in action, it still reflects gray. Before our initial departure, a Facebook posting by Club de motoneigistes des Monts Appalaches advertised the the trails were recently groomed to & from the customs house, so we chose to see who was correct. FB was the winner. 

Used to be a frequent trek circa 80s / early 90s when our group spent ‘vacation week’ at Tall Timber. 
Is the picture of the moose and the horse mating still up behind the bar?  Haha

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
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Love it.  Have fond memories of a wild night several years ago in the shit hole bar (Hotel La Patrie - across the street) in La Patrie after dinner at the Resto-Bar.

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
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http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/IMG_5319.jpg.03b620b05d31cd827bfc7ad704969f34.jpg
 

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
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Today rode West on 83 to Auberge Presbytere for breakfast.  83 West was awesome.  Spent the day just riding 83, 23 and especially 383.  Stopped at Relais La Genouille, pretty good sled club. All trials awesome.  Unfortunately, when we got back to the Dela it was 35 degrees.  Snow getting soft and bare spots worse, Calling for rain on Friday.  Not sure I'd rec coming up this weekend.  Was 4 days riding worth 2000 miles drive from Pittsburgh?  YES.  Heading home tomorrow.

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
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http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/IMG_5319.jpg.03b620b05d31cd827bfc7ad704969f34.jpg
 

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
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What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
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http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/IMG_5319.jpg.03b620b05d31cd827bfc7ad704969f34.jpg
 

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
2024_02/5BE825AB-C159-4B78-BB0D-706991706481_1_105_c.thumb.jpeg.cd3061fdf6fdb3d584b1f408b0019900.jpeg
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http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/IMG_5319.jpg.03b620b05d31cd827bfc7ad704969f34.jpg
 

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. 
The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. 
Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. 
Stay safe. 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_
 
 
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We’re at the hotel universel they have a parking garage storage cage here too. I’m hoping this little warm up the next few days doesn’t kill the trails leaving town. Riding has been pretty good so far went south today and trail was 80% awesome conditions wise the views were 100%.

My new SkiDoo gauge shows me going down a waterway and shows red and green buoys.  And it keeps beeping telling me to put on my life jacket.
 

Figured I’d post on here in case anyone wants to follow along or is curious of conditions. Trucked up from PA up to Amos at the Amosphere 14hr run but bluebird day made travel easy. Pretty good amount of snow here considering how crappy a year it is grooming map shows lots of activity, so should be some excellent riding. Just doing day trips and big loops each day from Amos might head to Mattagami tomorrow will post report and pics. 

Rode to KM 31 from the Delta. Again, after second bridge, again much better. 134 to 93 7/10.  93 to Imago Village 9/10. Imago to KM 31 8/10 . Trail to Relais Chappel, the 8KM for km 31 to Chapple seemed liked 80 KM. Totally whooped up.  Got gas at Chapelle, but, line for food was 20 deep.  Went back to KM 31, got a table and some good food for lunch.  The Delta is getting less busy each day.  Called for rain on Thursday, amazing but true.

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

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

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