scdrider

2020
12 Days ( 2 of them were half days) 2342 miles.
The track side stayed down. No winch or shovel needed .
It was a good year for us.
 
 

These two Jerkoffs have been pissing on each other forever. Andy has had his troopers on the bridges, city beaches and even roaming around in our small Village in Nassau county for years now.. Warren Wilhelm Jr. ( DeBlasio )is a Joke ! They need to work together on this !

Yeah, then an hour later Emperor/Governor Cuomo announced that it's not for NYC Mayor Dillweed to make those decisions.

Keep right!!!!
Just got back from a nice 800 mile loop. 
Way to many people running down the middle of the trail.
Please keep your hands on the handle bars and stay right.
thank you
 
 

I have started hand signaling while driving my car and truck now. Feels safer. Kinda cold with window down but i wear one glove on left hand. So far so good. 

Do as you each please. My sled will be chained each night no matter where I am laying my head. Sorry, but I find leaving the GPS on sled overnight crazy, but that’s just me. Like I said to each their own. 
Carry on.

Hand signals are useless information. What does it change? 
If you are not riding like there is a sled coming at you from the other way around each corner. You are doing it wrong. 
Keep Right. 

I have opened a line of communication. Will advise further.

Twas the night before Christmas.....still can’t ride from the house.
Not a groomer out working down here in the south.  The helmets are hung by the chimney with care. In the hope that the groomer soon may pass here.    The sleds all nestled snug in the shed. While vision of more snow and groomed trails danced in their heads. Mrs. Iceman in her kerchief and I in my cap. Had just settled in to take a little nap.   When out in the driveway there arose such a clatter. I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash. Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.   The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear.   It’s the men of Team Iceman  I’ve been waiting all year. First out the trailer who could it be? On the 154” was easy to see.  It surely is Quick Nick none faster than he.   He turned and called to the rest of the Team. He whistled and shouted and called them by name. Now Snohorse! now PLAYHARD! now NHmoose! and Scorpionbowl!  On Iceman!    To the trail, to the trail. Now Ride.      But not yet.    Merry Christmas  Stay Naughty.

With the new snow fallen during this last week, we went for another last ride with our friend Luc yesterday, April 13, 2019 in Lanaudière



On this exceptionally snowy season the trails of northern Lanaudière were still surprisingly good,  here on #23 trail south of Cabanon




The temperature was very mild since a few days, no freezing during the night so we got very soft trail. Here passing at Cabanon in the morning



We left in dam direction. The whole reservoir loop had been groomed during the week!





The conditions were nice for an April 13th but very good from the dam trail junction(on the # 345) and for all the reservoir loop up to St-Michel des Saints





It's not visible on the pictures but it was so windy there that I had hard time to stay still the time of the pic, I almost went with the wind!



The #360 around the reservoir  was candy to ride, just superb. We did very good tempo on this stretch...






The reservoir is always impressive to see once emptied ...



I read from a buddy that the emptied reservoir shortcut was still ok on Friday, so with the good visibility we had, we tested our luck despite the wet conditions



It was not for the fearful ones,  alot of surface water on the ice. It looks worse than it realy was because even if there was water, we ride on ice already leaning on the bottom of the reservoir on more than 90% of the way but the rivers(yes there are rivers in there) where worrisome. I would suggest every body to go around by the trail, I personally would not do it again this season!



Luc learned the risks associated by following us too closely ... he arrived on the shore a little wet!



We arrived for lunch at the Central in St-Michel around 12:15



After a good lunch and a great talk with Luc we headed south on #63. The strong sunshine combined with good winds at 10C made the trails tender and juicy !



Without surprises, we found some dirt spots near St-Michel village on the larges south-facing hills



But a little further it was still very snowy





Back in the Cabanon courtyard, we could see how much it had melted compared to the morning pic



We  switched into the Mastigouche Reserve on trail #345 to loop back. As I expected beautiful conditions, very snowy ,almost no traffic and not a single bump





Among the best conditions of the day. We also saw some fresh moose tracks on the trail. A nice spring ride for us at its best!





We stopped a few minutes at Koubec (which was closed)



And we came back on #350 trail which was also in very good condition


 
In sum a beautiful spring ride of 170miles for the three of us. With the reservoir loop groomed during the week, it was definitely a record in the area to ride recently groomed trails on a April 13th. A big thank you to the clubs involved!
It could close our season with 4830 miles on the venture dreameter...unless Kristine twist my arm for another last one somewhere !!!

 

Alain

Cruising for miles and miles, weather and visibility has been tough at times

We arrived last Friday at km 31 on Saturday morning we headed out into the country for 5 days of off trail adventure.  The first day was an adventure over to km 94 relais manic outarde.  Breaking trail the whole way sleighs in tow we managed 208 miles for the day.  The second day we left and headed for relais Gabriel another 215 of serious trail breaking.  Day 3 was 100 miles of beating thru  the woods and rivers putting in a trail up 80’ waterfalls stuck in deep snow .  Day 4 was a loop east from Gabriel to the old trail along the gorge up to petite Manicouagan back to Manicouagan reservoir in for the night another 190 miles of adventure. Day 5 loaded all back up and headed southwest back to km 31, 300 miles of breaking trail 150 miles of it rivers and reservoirs, ep plus gallons of fuel burnt and 1 plus gallon of oil gone, all in all a great day.  Sorry for the long post pics and comments to follow.

Day 5 from Manicouagan reservoir back to km 31, pushing miles and miles of snow, snow was really sticky and we were chewing up fuel and oil faster than whimpy eats burgers.  Arrived last night into km 31 around 7 pm with 300 miles for the day a big day for sure.  The teamwork of this group led by Team Maine’s Early Rider is nothing short of amazing.  After 1,000 miles of extremely adverse conditions not being on any marked trail this is truly an adventure not for the faint of heart.  Take care signing off from km 31.
603 Backcountry 
 

Some more pics from day 4 up they the gorge trail and even came upon a nice herd of Caribou.  Huge country up here and big big areas of nothing.

Another set of falls to traverse and endless miles of powder.

Nice report like always Alain.  We rode out of Le Cabanon on friday and saturday.  Trails were surprisingly nice. 
Saturday we were able to get back around 4:00pm,  just as the ice was starting. 
We ended up with 410 miles for the 2 days.

Here is the ride Kristine and I made yesterday Saturday, March 30, 2019


On friday night the weather forecast was really bad announcing a mix of snow ice/rain even for the north of our area from the beginning of the afternoon Saturday, so we canceled our sled ride plans and decided to stay at home. Having nothing on plans for early saturday we had gone to bed late after midnight, and on Saturday morning, looking at the forecast, the weather cocktail was delayed to the end of the afternoon to 4or 5 pm ... Ok change plans again, hook on the trailer and go to St-Zenon! We managed to hit the trail around 9:45 



It started to snow just as we started our ride. Freshly groomed trails from the beginning, not brought back perfect but it ride very well.





We passed by the Cabanon



The #345 trail was beautiful up to the intersection with the #23 east toward the Mastigouche reserve. Then pretty bumby up to the junction to the Dam that we took. The trails after this point were all nice with only few bumps in some curves here and there



Sorry for the white spots in the pics, we had forgotten to turn off the  camera flash that reflects on the falling snow flakes... it gives some style!



The Taureau reservoir is already lowered to its lowest, ready to receive spring water. Water goes near the base of trees at its summer level






The #360 was nice and fast as usual


 
And the river's views are even nice under this snowy weather







We arrived for lunch at Marineau around 12:45 with 102 miles on the dreammeter. Learned today that we just missed a part of the 6 amigos crew by just few minutes...too bad it would have been so nice to meet them completely unplanned over the trail,  sometimes the world is really small!!! 
. 
After a very good meal, we left and retraced our steps up to the M20 trail that we took to loop on



The M20 was beautiful, as nice as usual to do. There was already about 4-5 inches of new snow over the trail and it was snowing hard some moments





At the end of the M20 we took the #345 trail toward St-Zénon





And then went back on the #360 as on our morning path



It was starting to fall something other than snow that was begin to freeze in my windshield



Halfway on the #345 the rain became more present. It must have been very close to the freezing point because it was freezing on the sled but my heated visor was ok, just had to wipe it every 10 seconds! 



We did a last refuel at Le Cabanon and passed through #63 trail (village of St-Zenon) to return to La Glacière. Apart from the very bigs hills that were deep bumpy, the rest was nice


Here we see the ice in the branches and the clouds hitting the mountain



We got back to the trailer around 5:40 PM with 220miles on the dreammeter  Very happy with our ride but a little wet and icy!




The Venture pass the 20 000miles mark during this ride, still running strong! Grumpy Santa asked on my last report what would be the next one ? no decision taken yet other than the venture should be strong enough to give me one more season... as for new touring sled choices, not much options other than taking a turbo or not! 
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So we were really happy with our final decision to having went for it, despite the not perfect weather because at this time of the season the remaining riding opportunities are on the low side...
In summary still a lot of snow in the area but we board in April tomorrow ... some clubs will close, some others will leave the signs in place but stop grooming: in sum we really arrive at the end of the season. It will still be possible for die hard one to do some miles but you will need to do your homework before leaving because it can change quickly depending on the weather.
The snowmobile country trail conditions site is always a good place to have last informations on snowmobile clubs: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
happy season's ending!
Alain

Auberge du Ravage, and Bernard's Safari motel
Don't laugh, it was like my uncle had a motel in Shawinigan🤣

Welcome QR's newest advertiser, Motos Thibault. Those who ride Yamaha may already be familiar with them. They are located in Trois-Riviere ( and not associated with the one in Sherbrooke). I'm fairly sure every member here on QR has at least one story of a dealer going beyond your wildest expectations to keep you up and running and on the trail...this is a perfect example of one of those dealers. Pierre and his staff will do everything possible, to do just that, keep you riding. Many members here are long time customers of Motos Thibault, and no doubt will chime in with their own experiences. Thanks go to Playhard for getting them on board...
 

Day 6- Leave Val-D’Or to Louvencourt for breakfast don’t have that kind of time to do the Forestel. Have reservations at Le Classic couldn’t get anything for Saturday anywhere near Rebaska or the outfitters in that area everyone booked solid Saturday gonna be crazy keep right gang! Head down 386 trail to the Reservation trail still exciting with the hills and the way the trail leans to the ditch. Gas at the Reserve and head South trail in pretty good shape the lower half we are running along the road because it’s plowed. In to the Verendrye lodge grab a late lunch and make tracks for Domaine. Trail needs grooming not rough but narrowing up and there is a water hole 25 miles before Domaine on 63. Gas at Domaine and on to Lytton to the Classic. Groomed from the Domaine to LeClassic thankfully 





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So true, pretty sure Iceman is writing in his head while riding, makes for a flowing story in the end, and not easy writing on an ipad either.
Not many pictures Sunday, just a couple in the morning light at Windigo, and the 900 Ace trip odometer once back on the trailer after 8 trail days. Nice ratio of 3.6 sled miles per trailering mile to/from NH. Anything over 2:1 is fantastic in my book!
Great crew, no BS!  Gas, pee, ride, eat, snore, repeat.  Pleasure and honor to ride with Iceman, Snohorse and Kwik Nick. Glad we recalculated back to Windigo for wing and smoked meat night, best in the province, and nicest hosts possible.
Carman, sorry no Doo oil reports, maybe just carry a couple quarts in reserve, and resupply ahead when you see it. Personally i would carry much more and be done with the concern. Dual jerry can setup worked great for Snohorse and Kwik Nick.
Until next trip, Moose out

For sure everyone appreciates the live updates from the trail. For those who don't realize it, they aren't the easiest thing to do after you've been on the trail all day, then you need gas up, unload, check-in, shower, have dinner, catch up on what you've missed during the day, plan the next days ride and you're tired as hell and need to get up early the next day.

There are some awesome people in Quebec.
Had a helmet situation on a bag trip on the Gaspe. At the time I was using a LS2 modular which wasn’t  very popular. Stopped at the clubhouse in chandler to get something to eat and rig my helmet.Got to talking to a woman behind the bar, next thing I know she says to me your ride is here and come with me.I hop in a waiting truck, end up at the Skidoo dealer in chandler on a Sunday!!!!
The owner opens the dealership up and says helmets are over there and buy what you like with a discount and furthermore will send my old helmet to my house in Pa without charging me shipping.
All on a SUNDAY!!!!!!!
snowmobilers take care of snowmobilers no matter what the situation is. PERIOD!!!!!!!

Are the Best !  A Big shout out to Stephan and his crew at Le Pub Hotel and Resto in Riviere - Rouge right on trail 63 next to gas station. I left my phone in the restaurant at lunch on our last day. By the time I realized the phone was missing the sleds were in trailer and we were racing home to beat a storm. No time to go back by sled or truck. I called that night and the girl said it was there, call back tomorrow. A couple of my guys were Way more concerned about me getting my phone back than I was. The wife called while we were driving home the next day and spoke to Stephan the owner. Stephan would not take a prepaid Fedex or money.   Well needless to say I have My phone and a shitty pair of readers to boot ! The postage was $46.00 CA to send the phone !  I have a nice note and a little something for Stephan going tomorrow.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Gotta Love our friends in The Great White North !
Dave L , "Pipemaster "
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Warm up hut with the fire burning