PLAYHARD

I can watch this all fookin' day!
Big merci for sharing all of that!

Club in Lebel
first pass
On January 7, a surfacer headed for Desmaraisville 

from club motoneige chapais

Great news! Thanks to the excellent work of our operator Yvan, we've been able to open 93 to Desmaraisville. Be careful, there's water in a few places. Also, please read the warning:
 
NOTICE: temporarily there is a detour via the logging road on the old railroad line from km66 to km83 and we have to share the trail from km83 to km108 (12 km from Desmaraisville). On this detour, we have to share the trail with pick-up trucks. A snowmobile tread is surfaced on the north side of the road (on the right as you head towards Desmaraisville). This strip, narrower than a normal trail, is surfaced by our machine. You must limit your speed to 50km/h and be careful. Signage has been installed. This layout is necessary due to forestry work from km 83 to km 108 and flooding between km66 and km83. We're working to reduce the distance, and apologize for the inconvenience. It was necessary to open this winter. We ask for your caution!
 

Chapais Club
The trail between Chapais and Desmaraisville is now open. Well done and thanks to Yvan! The resurfacer is now on its way back. Be careful out there!

From Chapais Club
Work continues today on the 93 between Chapais and Desmaraisville, with beaver dams overflowing and holes appearing in the path. A lot of snow, yes, which is helping to fill the holes but is slowing us down because it fell all at once. The trail should be open on Friday.

From Chibougamau Club
— INFO SENTIERS—
MAJ 12 janvier 2024
Nos sentiers Tour de ville, Rapide, Familiale, 22 Miles et TQ 93 vers Chapais seront surfacés pour la fin de semaine. Nous préparons notre sentier TQ 93 vers la Barrière Nord et le Lac St-jean dans les prochains jours.
Le droit d'accès de la FCMQ est obligatoire pour circuler dans les sentiers. Il faut également être conforme a la loi sur les VHR.
Bonne randonnée.
anglais
TRAIL INFO-Updated 12 January 2024
Our trails Tour de ville, Rapide, Familiale, 22 Miles and TQ 93 towards Chapais will be groomed for the weekend. We will be preparing our TQ 93 trail to the North Barrier and Lac St-jean in the next few days.
You must have the FCMQ right of access to use the trails. You must also comply with the OHV law.
Enjoy your ride.

From Club Motoneige Chapais. 
 
They are trying to check from Chapais before sending machine.
 
Update TQ93 to Desmaraisville. First of all, a big thank you to Québec Copper & Gold and its workers for their help (and the snowmobiles). Especially André and Felix, thank you! Their help enabled us to build a temporary structure on the site of a culvert that was swept away in the autumn. We were only able to get as far as Dickson Brook. There was also a lot of fresh snow in this area, more than 2 feet deep, which slowed down operations. We'll be back with more updates in the next few days.
 
 

First pass.
https://fb.watch/9N-7Iw360T/

RIP Bernard.  My friend Bob G recorded that video after he and another guy in our group got a ride back from L Etape that afternoon.  We were on our way south from LSJ and it was -40.  We stopped for gas and a soup warm-up on the way back from Alma and I mentioned it was so cold I wouldn't mind skipping the last bit of the ride.  We hunted around L'Etape for lodging but the only thing that existed then was Sepaq.  They weren't too friendly and had a big group of eco tourists there.  Bob called Bernard who arranged for someone to drive Bob's truck and trailer to take him and our other friend and sleds back to the Safari.  The rest of us rode on and met the 2 others back at Safari the next afternoon.  Bob and Matt had a Hek of a time and drank it up with Bernard and other guests that evening.
RIP to Bob G as well.  We met through sledding and Bob G joined us on multiple trips I planned.  He passed away a few years ago from some form of cancer.
 
We were carrying pocket digital cameras then. Holy shit.

Without a doubt one of the kindest souls I ever met

Mac.....THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT. Jesus did that bring back some memories !!! I sure hope Bernard is having the time of his life.

Someone asked.  Here it is. We loved Bernard.  What a character. 
https://youtu.be/G8zgCEGMB7M?si=GJLBYGg1A2jNOgzL

We have a foot coming in the next 3 days in the northern corridor..  not enough to fix it but a good start and it’s looking cold… you might be right about 2 weeks… what will it be like in2 weeks.., not funny this time!!

Hopefully it doesn't come to that.  If it does the northern corridor is the place to go (Cochrane to Hearst), but don't go at x-mas (traffic galore).  There is some other great pockets like Pembroke to North Bay or north of Sudbury.  But if they have snow most of Quebec will as well.  Northern corridor is the one area that can have it when large swaths of Quebec doesn't.  Two weeks we will be riding in the snow belts I'm sure.  Gotta stay positive.

https://m.facebook.com/sledaddicz/
 
Cochrane Ontario today.  

I did the same ride led by Andyman a few years back.  It was truly a memorable, and highly recommended adventure.   However do not attempt without a good GPS track and know the ice is safe.

Agreed
future forecasts look very promising 
let’s just hope the rest of the winter will be…..well……just winter

Give it two weeks.  Things will improve.

TABARNAK!!!

Post from Obedjiwan. There are pictures showing open water on the Gouin!

Just spoke to my buddy Max who is at his house two Km’s from the Gilardo dam on 345 trail.
he reports sand in spots and snow almost gone
sad
 

Not everywhere for sure. But the damage is done. 
 
St. Donat
and 
Lac Taureau yesterday and Today. 
 
 
 

And back at the really busy Relais 22 an hour ago. I think I might try and make St Hedwidge tomorrow. It’s Saturday so if I have any issues I stand a better chance of getting rescued. On another note. I have not seen on drop of water, mud, rocks or even clanged off of one since here. More than enough snow for riding. Just need groomers to make the trails we all love so much. I’ll be walking the halls of the bunkhouse alone again tonight as no one’s here AGAIN. If you google satellite me you might catch me smoking just outside the door LOL