snowmaster2112

Lots of local sledding activity picking up in town here tonight and Chibougamau even more so cause we are now at the weekend of a holiday week. Think I’m gonna check the grooming report at 6 a.m. and be ready to jump on right then. By noon tomorrow I should break 1000 miles on the new sled this year and I’m still 225 miles from the truck. Will be a new record for me with this many miles (all very high quality no less) before New Years

So in conclusion I have not crossed another sled head on to where I would have to hand signal since leaving south of Senneterre yesterday morning some 370 miles ago. I did see four guys come through an intersection in Chibougamau but I was sitting there with my sled off. Here heading back towards Chapais tonight. People had obviously been on the trail while I was up north today and I could see the activity in town was picking up for locals weekend riding. Got to figure out what I’m gonna do tomorrow

Here are some plaques that were in the lobby of the Auberge Mistissinni if anyone’s interested in reading them

Rode back to Chibougamau and chuckled at my track in the other direction it’s a rare opportunity (especially on hi speed trail like this):to be able to see and analyze your own track and riding style and how you reacted at certain corners for such a long distance. I’m pleased to announce the vast majority of the time I was dead locked right side and hardly ever did my ski overlap with the previous direction. And it was far from all straight like this pick. I was only taking breaks/pictures on the straights

Beautiful hotel and restaurant at the Auberge Mistissinni

So for the next 50 miles I hammered trail like this.Formula One trail here for sure. Ice you ain’t kidding about that being a nice stretch. reminds me of the run in between Kanawata & Casey. Only problem on the way to Mistissini was the constant scraping I had to do with the glove on the visor every minute (at super hi speed no less).other than that crap it was as good of conditions and trail as ANY I have ever ridden. Got to the Depanneur in town to gas up and then hit the Auberge Mistissinni for a fine club sandwich & fries. Sitting there at 2:30 thinking if this icing shit continues I’m screwed. As I start leaving town I notice.....no more icing but light snowing.......SWEET. Here coming into town......

As I’m at the depaanneur inside de icing my helmet from the bullshit freezing rain here today I nice older fellow asks me where I’m heading and I say Mistissini. He replies I just got back yesterday morning from grooming that.i thanked him and we chatted for several minutes. He says first time in three years it’s been open due to logging. As I’m weaving out of town to where that trail heads north I’m crossing my fingers no body has been on it. Could it really be ???? No, no way.....then BAM.....

Ok ....the other single track is gone now so I head to depanneur in Chibougamau to gas up.

Now that’s some funny shit right there Mike !!!! No, I wish more boobs (or fine Canadian milfs) but rather just fine trails and NO ONE AGAIN. Today started out just like I thought it might. All fresh groomed into Chibougamau with the exception of a single track that was heading south into Chapais. ( early bird gets the worm) Weather was crappy here this a.m. and I didn’t get out till almost 10 No one in Chapais moves around here until at least 8 a.m. and then very slowly.. Here is coming out of Chapais this a.m. heading north on fresh groomed and 3 inches of cream cheese on top

Big report coming up after dinner and doing my usual social butterfly thingy UNBELIEVABLE DAY .......EPIC .....JUST BEYOND EPIC........

I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t Andy

Tabernack....it never stops snowing up here (being facious not actually complaining) this is what I’m looking at this a.m. I would say a solid 3 inches have the entire 3rd floor of the Opemiska (and kitchen area) to myself. Also watching local Rochester (my home area) channel back home on the TV. which is super cool. Only difference is it’s gonna be 55F back home today....LOL

I did three double takes just to make sure. Someone must of hijacked it. Did see one on the gas tank at Desmairsville though. no on the sat phone thing and no on the Spot X (which I was gonna get and still haven’t).i used to do some serious solo runs many years ago up,here but haven’t been by myself in many years now. For the first time I have off all winter so the opportunity is there when your normal partners can’t make it yet. I might pay for it someday by spending a miserable night out in the bush but it ain’t happened yet. Another thing i have noticed up here (just like everywhere else) is the cell phone coverage keeps getting better and better. Case in point....yesterday from Le-bel-Sur to Desmairs there was at least 3-4 signs (not there last year) on the trail that said “cellular reception “ now the coverage may or may not have actually gotten better but the clubs (kudos to them) took the time to tell you if you stand on top of your snowmobile seat right here and lift one leg in the air you can probably get a call out.....LOL hope to meet you in person someday Ice. Can’t believe (just like that Jim Jamison guy) our paths have never crossed i only made it to Mistissini once about 12 years ago (last year had the time and in Chibig) but trail was closed due to logging. Really looking forward to going there again.

I never even knew they made these mother huckers in a 60 pack. Everything is bigger in Quebec

I carry a 2lb rubber mallet (should come as standard issue on the 1200) to bang the sides of the running boards and rear bumper to drop all the ice from underneath. Right after I took this picture I was using it as usual and tapped it on the side bags lightly and with finesse and 90% came right off. Yesterday was the first time I used them and had real world experience. When I unloaded at the hotel last night I just left them on.

I see the groomer headed north from the gas station (view from my hotel window) in Chapais here heading to Chibougamau im guessing in the morning it will still be “track free” and I am going to blast to Chibig and then 60 miles north to Mistissini where they just groomed the trail on Christmas Day for the second time this year now........sleepy ........sleep oh....BTW.....if your wondering what hard saddlebags might look like after a 200+ hi speed day....here you go.....

I bought this from Nancy at the store in Desmairsville this afternoon and only had two left by the time I hit the Chapais Clubhouse

just North of Desmairsville all the way into Chapais clubhouse.....double fresh groomed from days ago with no tracks

You know where this is......

Just me and the moose track for an unbelievable 10-12 miles that poor bastard must have walked all night and this morning

Since the moment I left the Auberge Timblemont (SUPERB) this morning at 9:30 to Hotel Opemiska in Chapais I have NOT SEEN ONE SLED in 225 miles. Not in Senneterre topping off, not in Le- bel-Sur, not in Desmairsville ......not ANYWHERE!!!!! here coming in towards Le bel-Sur

I tell them........”they no listen”....... two years in a row with even more snow this year and more miles of consecutive groomed trail. last year we had to start in Le-bel-sur but this year it started at the Timblemont 80 miles south of there. Unfortunatley I’m solo again this trip as my buds can’t start till after the first of the year. comsecutive pics to follow of my 225 mile (on the nose) day. why no Iceman sticker here ???

That was the lowest amount where I started. Auberge Timblemont inbetween Louvicort & Senneterre. I would say 2 to 2.5 ft

New place for me.... 30 minutes to launch time !!!!

Stay tuned later today/tonight for some mind blowing trail pics/updates Hope Santa was good to everyone!!!!