snowmaster2112

Ok....you really didn’t think I was going to make it to the camp without getting stuck did you ?? this is literally 1 km away from the cabin....TABERNACK....almost made it. AND.......got stuck TWICE no less within 30 ft

Now......these guys (including Janell) all,have summit type mountain sleds which suits them for the riding they do. I however have a boat anchor type machine for this type of riding. The snow up here on the unplowed/ungroomed areas is DEEP DEEP DEEP i didn’t get a lot of trail pics because I was basically holding on for dear life and concentrating with max intensity utilizing every last skill I have obtained over the years. Now I’m in the back of this caravan and we are cutting down logging roads, cutting through virgin fields and even going directly into the bush itself. About the first 5 miles I’m starting to think maybe this was such a good idea and my adrenaline is racing big time. But we stopped for a break and things got much better after that. Here is David and Pierre-Luc who are both consummate riders pulling out one of their machines. It was awesome to be in the back and watch these guys carve into and up the hillsides and scrub bush. 1000% completely different riding than what I have been doing all my life.

Ok......so yesterday’s epic ness started out like this. I’m having breakfast (15 ft away from my room door) in the common kitchen area here at the Hotel Opemiska. There is a guy in there that is staying here in the lower level apartment type rooms with his wife. His name is David and his wife Janell. He is from Chapais but moved to Ontario years ago for mine work. They know Isabelle and Pierce-Luc that own the hotel here. After chatting a bit he tells me that he, his wife , Piere-Luc and another friend David are all going out in the bush to this guys camp about 20 miles away. Well.....guess who is going with them............. Here we are getting ready. The second “David” has a 6 yr old son and black lab that get towed along in the caboose.

So before I actually go sleepy sleep tonight I leave the reader with some fine pics I took from a calendar at the McDonalds depanneur in Chibougamau as I was passing through last evening. I am currently looking for a house in Alma

You know I abide by all rules Andy

The last 20 miles into Chapais was probably a personal time record for me did my hotel, beer and food thing and got a reasonably good nights sleep then first thing out of the gates this a.m. before leaving the hotel the epic ness continued................ todays events will come tomorrow as I’m really shot now and winding down. stay tuned.........

So after an hour or so at this little seasonal shin dig....I’m like “long day” gotta head back to Chapais Not more than 1km after I left on the trail....the epic ness continues

So the big star attraction of this event wa supposed to be some type of tower up top.And I have to say it was,a pretty darn neat thing. What you cant see in the pics is they had music playing in synchronized with the lights all over the tower. They had lights beaming into the trees that made them all sparkle different colors and a nice big bonfire where people were hanging out. You could actually walk up to the top inside this beautiful structure

Santa was even there so I couldn’t resist....

They had a lot of these types of things for the kids to heed......

They had playground areas for the kids and people were doing what most Quebecers do in the winter.....embrace it

Here a little church

They had all kinds of billboard, little church buildings and displays.

After you leave Chibougamau heading south the trail meanders down beside the power lines and runs sorts parallel with the main road and there are a couple sections were you have a stop sign that crosses what is residential property. You can see a couple of really beautiful houses with the 6ft tunnel of snow blower cut tunnels leading back to them. Well I was back and forth over this area 4 times in the last two days but only during daylight and I remember one looking like they had some neat buildings or shed type things but couldn’t figure out what it was. As I pull up to the stop sign I see all these Tiki torches lining the driveway every 100ft WAY back in and people walking everywhere up and down the driveway. I’m like what the hell is this. So.....me being the inquisitive mind that I am turn off the sled and ask someone “ what is this”?? come to find out it’s this husband/wife who own this property and in recent years have put ona Christmas and family themed extravaganza. It cost 5 bucks to get in and this is what they have there. I had to park the sled down below near the road and spent about an hour there walking up to the top of their property where they have this beautiful tower. here I am with owner lady at bottom where you pay and start your walk up the long driveway path

So like I said....another phenomenal run back to Chibougamau and hung at depanneur for awhile. Spoke with some other people that were from Mistissini there. After leaving town ( now dark) I’m meandering down the trail about 3-4 km out of town (no other shedders around) and ......MORE epic ness.............

The hall was filling up as I left and Kenny told me there will be well over a hundred people for the dinner. also told me to come back anytime starting January 20th thru the end of March (mon-fri) as 8 kilometers out of town in the bush they have these rustic buildings/tents with all kinds of native craft making, food and other activities. i will be sure to follow up on that offer sometime this season.

Leaving town. Kids playing hockey in the streets

NOTHING like some fresh beaver..... the sticks on the right are red hickory, tamarac and birch. They have them there as they shave the barks and mix it with other stuff for medicinal purposes. These are there to teach the children how to do it