PLAYHARD

Just back from the Delta, so a quick update.
The Grooming Teams are doing a great job with what they have to work with,,,,,, but they dont have much to work with around town and in the lower elevations.
With all the traffic from the foreigners ( hahahahaha) the trails are not holding a grooming long, smoother on the way out, than a few hours later, stutters back in.
It was great seeing everyone!
Please set your expectations appropriately.....
Later
GutZ

If things get too crazy we'll strike off up Bras Louis, been up there with Early rider in November before so we can stay up out of traffic if it gets too crazy, hoping early week riding is a bit quieter than a Valin weekend!
Will do, arriving Sunday night then riding Monday Tuesday and Wednesday

Exactly this

Yes great loops for you and your closest 1000 friends, lol
I hope not but with limited riding everyone will likely be in a few concentrated areas now

Great, make sure you post us the live conditions, I'm right behind you

Decided to cancel at the Delta and stay north of the river all trip and rented a Condo on AirBnB near where Passion Quebec was on the ski mountain. Looks like still a good amount of snow up there for a few 200 mile loops which is about the ol lady's limit for loops in Maine.

from the river north to sept ille on 3 still shows good

Now that we're less than a week from go time, conditions seem less than ideal around town especially after reading Jeff and Sandy's report.
 
Would it be better to try and get a place in Saint Honorie or another place north of the river or do you guys think riding in and out of the Delta will be fine?

Yes take the rough trail west from the groomed trail, when you get to the dam cross the road to the left and take the single track trail down the hill to the cave.

Good to know, I was looking at the trail by Onatchiway and I remember that it wasn't up there as I'd only been there on a Thanksgiving run 6 years ago. That was a big help as now I remember it was at Lac La Mothe. Basically go to the old trail intersection, then cross the road and go to the dam right?
I have a pic of my sled in it back in 2016 on my computer somewhere when I was up there with my 10,000 mile 800 etec, whispering sweet nothings to her so that she'd make it back to St Raymond in once piece on our saddlebagger. -30 one morning and it snowed 18 inches the first day so we dug out 5 other sleds over the course of a few days. Good times.

Yes

Do you know the name of the movie that utilized the cave?
Staring JT

A right of passage for a true QuebecRider to have a picture with their sled in the mouth of the cave.

We were at the cave last winter. The trail that leads to the cave isn’t groomed anymore. Trail is still there and you can ride it, just whooped out bad. Read they were trying to discourage people from visiting the cave.
 

The entire way if possible.  You could consider a two day loop of the lake. Leave the Delta, south around the bottom of the lake then up around to the 373.  Drop down to the cave and find a place to stay.  Next day back to the 373 to Onatchiway and back to the Delta.

Yes Bay Ha ha is the ice shacks
another run would be to Mt Apicia

Nice, should be a good time to be there. We'll be there the 18th through the 21st. Good time to get out of Maine with school vacation week. Is Bay Ha Ha where all the ice shacks are?
The entire way or just certain sections? Gonna run it from Onatchiway to KM 31 area, but haven't been on it west from there. 

Run the 373, not sure how many miles it would be for the day.

Bay Ha Ha is something different to see 
 
we plan to be there the 11th to the 15th
 
Schooter

The Ravage for lunch about 70 miles from the delta one way 

The future wife got into snowmobiling last year and I picked her up a nice used 2017 900 ACE to ride, did about 1,000 miles with her around our home in Maine, so figured it's time to bring her up Nord. Been to the Delta before, nicer than the typical places I stay (Relais 22, my favorite dorm room), but figured it would be the best place to do 200+/- mile loops out of. Looking for anything we should know as I haven't been in the area since my Chibougamau loop in 2019.
Planning day one to take her to the "Cave" near Onatchiway, over to the Chappelle for lunch, then back down 93 with a stop at a viewpoint. 
Day 2 loop the lake south to north (suggestions for lunch and destinations?)
Day 3, quick 50-100 mile loop and then hopping in the truck home 5 hours. 
Open to suggestions for area restaurants (definitely doing La Cage one night) and any other ideas on loops or sights/destinations on the trail I might be missing. Never made it to the frozen waterfall off 93, but she's not super confident off trail yet so not sure I want to do that. 
Thank you in advance!

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%.

I’ll throw another little update in here…..Wednesday went east to syndicat took 328 out and 93 back with a late lunch at chapelle. Mostly good especially coming back had almost fresh groomed the whole way. some bad starting to show the warm weather is starting to take its toll. Thursday we did a loop around lake Saint Jean north of the lake was awesome flat fast and couple inches of fresh snow in some areas. Got gas in Saint methode and lunch at relais des butte. From lunch on it started out good but progressively got worse with the worst section being from just after the lake crossing in dresbians and up 383 back to Alma lots of dirt patches and pavement showing on the I assume bike path the trail runs on just generally thin conditions. it was passable but not enjoyable. Tons of sleds showed up here Wednesday the place was near empty the beginning of the week now there has to be 75 sleds parked here. Last day riding today think we’re going to head north of the lake and do some loops over there that seems to have had good snow, flat trails and less traffic. It looks like the torch is coming out next week for up here I’d expect to see some red trails show up unfortunately. Get out while ya can. 

Update on 355 between La Tuque and Doheney (train tressel) 
Update on trail 355 South, which is closed between La Tuque and Doheney. Everyone is doing everything possible to open this section as quickly as possible, including Forestière Résolu. The breakage of the René road this autumn caused delays the repair was completed in the week before Christmas. Work began after the holidays and was completed on Friday. For the moment, a lack of snow on this pad means that we cannot open it. We will be meeting with the Résolu representative on Monday morning to see what can be done to open the pad as soon as possible. Then we'll have to install signage before opening for the safety of snowmobilers and workers.

We are opening our trails on 18 January.
Please note that the M1, M4 and St-Maurice River trails to the Grand-Mère dam remain closed (the trails circled in red remain closed for the time being).
Early season conditions.
Be careful, the groomers will be on the trails during the day to finish the work.
Have a great season!
 
Marc-Olivier Groleau
President
Club de motos neige de la Mauricie inc. no. 07-412