Teet F8SP

Awesome report, much appreciated as always. You may want to attach the lanyard to your go pro in case it pops off it doesn't end up on the trial... The Dam is a nice spot for pics. Its probably a good thing they don't let people cross there anymore.. It was always a bit sketchy especially when the snow gets deep and the rollers up and down get beat in that can't be groomed out. Surprised nobody ever went off the edge.

Looks like you had a blast! Great report thanks for sharing always enjoy reading your posts

Its not just Quebec with higher numbers of bad accidents http://s.mlive.com/KjneLJI

Nice of them to ransack the truck, I bet they put everything back neatly for you when they were done... Probably dog slobber all over from the K9s too. What would happen if they did find something illegal? Would they detain you in Canada or send you back to US?

Bet that operator had a few choice words leaping from the flaming machine! That will be fun to get our of there for sure... heavy charred mess, can't tow it, drag it or lift it, probably have to skid it on to a trailer of some sort? Or make it a landmark!

Rock on Phil! Have fun play safe!

Keep it between the snow banks! Have fun with the boys!

Hope they recover, The rescue squads are getting their work out lately!!

Sweet conditions! What happens when somebody is coming the other way on that bridge?

I would have to think that this year the Quebec area is getting twice to three times the traffic it sees on a normal season when the states do have snow. That may be why it seems there are more accidents because there are more riders. Simple odds, if there are more people riding there will be more chances of accidents.

Jack it up and roll on! Ride safe and have fun men!

Rock on with the rental! Enjoy the fresh snow and ride while you can you will not regret it!!

I enjoyed reading your trip report. Looks like a great adventure and good times!!

Yes the owner at Masse mentioned this to us at dinner however I am not sure if this is all of quebec or just the region in general? Hopefully a local can provide more accurate insight.

We used our Sena 20s on our trip last week. We noticed on the wicked cold -30C temps that it would help to warm the unit up in your pocket when you stop for few minutes. Ours ran all day never shutting them off and talking to each other a lot. I even used the music bluetooth connection for a bit but I would rather hear the motor... The range is limited to about 1000ft in the woods and hills but in the wide open it was very good and it reconnected automatically when we lost connection. It was great to be able to stay in touch with my dad, warn him of oncoming sleds or hazards, tell him I'm pulling over, ask if we should continue or stop without stopping or going too far, he could tell me if he had a issue and best of all I didn't have to turn around and look behind myself hardly at all. Best of all I could hear him hooting and hollering over the hills and ski lifters... These communicators and our scratchers were priceless purchases for this trip and both definitely extended our enjoyable riding time!

We returned Thursday from 3 awesome days in Quebec. My father and I drove up Sunday night and stayed at the Real Masse in a cabin right on the main trail. Great location and great food. Best part about Masse is they have a large heated garage to keep your sleds in at night. So nice on Monday morning when it was 15 deg F below 0, the sleds were melted and started right up. Monday we left at 7:00 and it was bitter cold, hard snow pack, scratchers down (otherwise would overheat in 1 mile) we rode north on 23 up 345 and on to Lac Taureau. grabbed the 360 over to the 33 and down to Lac Taureau resort for gas, 100 miles and only saw 2 sleds so far... Hopped down the 33 to Saint Michel de Saints and on to the 63 east to La Cabanon. From there we grabbed more gas and down the 63 back to Real Masse for quick snack break and continued down the 23 to the 63 to 345 which we grabbed more gas just to top off in Mandeville. Continued up the 345 and on to the 350 to head west. This is where it got bad, not trails bad but accident bad. See bad accident thread for info on this. We finished with around 250 miles for the day and dad wasn't even sore where if we ride 70 miles on tug hill he is sore the next day. We passed maybe 20 sleds all day on the trails with an unplanned route from the start just finding and staying on the freshly groomed trails. We literally were the first tracks on the groomed trail for 2.5 hours before seeing the first sled and the trails we rode all day were in pristine table top conditions. Tuesday we left Masse again cold but 0 degrees felt warm compared to -15, still had to use scratchers, heading south down 23 grabbing the 63 at the warming shack. Took the 63 east and north to the 343 and over to the 33 planning on heading to Matawin. Once we got north where the 33 branches off we found that trail to be not groomed in a few days so we turned around to stay on the fresh groomed trails. We took the local red trail back east to the 63 and north to Cabanon (this trail has amazing terrain). We shot down the 23 to 350 and east to La Glacier for gas where we head south down the 63 to 343 and on to St Come back on the 349 up to 63 to the 23 and back to camp with another 230 miles of no bumps and great trails. On the way back to Masse we came across another accident this time on the 23. A group of sleds parked along the side of the trail with the police sled and wagon parked as well. We find someone speaking english who explains a couple went off the trail and down over an embankment where both riders were banged up, the husband was able to shake it off however the wife suffered a broken femur. The accident happened at 12:30 and they didn't get here to the ambulance for transport until 7:00 by the time the rescue got to her, rescued her from down the slope, and stabilized her for sled transport. We passed maybe 30 sleds all day, they may say were were in busy quebec tug hill area but we picked a good time to go must be because it was very quiet and peaceful on the trails we were on. Wednesday we woke up to snow falling and it snowed all day long. We were enjoying the fresh snow but it definitely cut down on visibility. We were able to keep a good pace and racked up another 200 miles before returning to the Masse at 4:00 to find a fresh 8" of snow accumulated throughout the day. We hear they are expecting another 6-12" with rain on Thursday so we packed it up and booked it out of there tracking through the fresh 8" of snow about 6 miles to get back to the main road towing the trailer. We made a run up to the Taureau dam taking some off trail routes along the way to play in the fresh powder. As it started snowing harder we were wiping our visors every 30 seconds just to see but it was worth every swipe because we were in great conditions. I will share a few pictures and will post a few go pro videos once I get them edited... Go pro vid 1 is trail 63 heading south from La Glacier - https://youtu.be/AeHf7j03-uc

We have continued to keep you in our thoughts and prayers since the second we left the scene! Hardly an hour goes by without it crossing my mind... Condolences to family and friends as well!!

Thanks Iceman - not smart to ride alone especially not experienced...

We just got back from 3 days staying at Real Masse on 23, great place nice people, I'll have another report on the details of our trip but wanted to share a few bad experiences we came across this week... Although places seemed mostly booked it did not seem busy in the St Zenon area this week compared to last times there. Monday we rode 2.5 hours before seeing another sled and saw less than 30 sleds on the trails all day putting on 220 easy miles before dark, just my father and I. We rode pristine groomed trails all day and based our routes on where the recent groomed trails took us rather than planning a route ahead of time. Monday, On the way back to Real Masse heading west on trail 350 around 4-5:00 we come across this scene and had a bad feeling; 2 Sleds parked on trail, not the side, one one the mid-left and back a bit was one more mid-right just parked and two guys standing in the the trail waving as I pull up. The gentlemen spoke pretty clear english and the look on his face is one I will personally never forget. The look of extreme shock and loss as he tells me they had a very bad accident. He explains multiple times it was very very bad and police are on the way. I asked him the first time if I could help in and he said there was nothing we could do it was "very bad" and again that the police were coming. I asked if he was sure if there was anything I could do or assist them with and he said no thank you there is nothing that can be done its very bad. We slowly creep by not wanting to look but seeing a new ski doo off trail maybe 15-20ft crashed in the trees with the rider covered up with jackets realizing a definite fatality. I said a prayer for him and his family while thinking how that could happen to anyone in this sport with one wrong move. There were a few small curves but nothing serious, not sure how it all happened?. We were 10 miles east of trail 23, we saw the police heading that way about 4-5 miles after the accident with the wagon in tow. Very sad to experience the looks on the two riders faces knowing they just lost a good friend or family member, reality humbles me immediately and we coasted the rest of the way back at 10-15mph realizing what just happened... We were going to continue riding but rather went back and had an early dinner... RIP fellow sledder!! Tuesday around 5:30 we were on our way back on 23 heading north to Masse about 5 miles from camp and come across the police sled and large group of sleds on a uphill bend for us, downhill bend for them. 2nd person we speak to talks good english and tells us a couple from France on a ski doo goes off the trail and down an embankment. Both riders and sled real banged up, female passenger has a broken femur. The accident happened at 12:30 and ambulance arrived at Masse at 2-2:30 after sleds going back to report accident and then ambulance sled trailer to be towed to the site. The sled ambulance gets to her around 3:30 or 4 and at 5:30 they were just getting her pulled up the embankment. At Masse at 6:30-7 having dinner and they drive by with her in tow, back to the ambulance parked in the parking lot. Long drive to hospital, hopefully she will be fine and recover 100% but I am sure a bit of shock had set in by the time she was stabilized... I will again remind everyone that the trials were very smooth with great snow pack providing great control and low traffic observed these days. I will not speculate how these accidents happened and thought long and hard whether to post these experiences but if this humbles anyone else like it humbled us, its worth it. They mentioned last year there were 15 snowmobile deaths up there, its so remote it takes a long time to get help and notify anyone of the accident. Drive within your controllable means, stay on your side of the trail and be safe everyone!! Anyone else get any info on these accidents?

We skirted this area Monday and a couple told us with sign language (they spoke french) about the big rollers on that trail at the intersection of 63 and 33 north. He was touching the ground and motioning his hand all the way over his head and back down again insinuating some big ass rollers. We elected to not make the trip to Matawin this week because of these trails in poor condition leading to the area. We also heard the groomer was down in St Donat this week and was stuck on the trail so we stayed north on the freshly groomed trails. Ill post some details today

Thanks Phil... Ill be sure to inform everyone of up to date conditions while we are there and post some nice pics.

Best news Ive heard all day! Heading up Sunday morning from Virginia.

Great info! Much appreciated! This helps out as we will be riding this area next week...

Hope the conditions improve for tomorrow. Looks like all snow from now on and the groomers will work it in to perfection.

I use the iMotoneige app but don't want to use data or cell battery on the trail all day. Looks like the Montana is popular choice and must hold up well in cold... Will check it out is there a special download for snowmobile trails? I will check out the trakmaps...