MrsGTRider

Started 1/28 from Drakkar, Reggie was a great host as always, nice trails up to Lac Edouard Presbyterre. 23/73 and 355 all excellent. Day 2 was 355 to 83&93 nesting in Normandin at Makadan b&b. Excellent place! 

26 January
-8c very windy with blowing snow
maybe around 8” so far
 

bonjour !!!
 
finally ,rock'n roll this morning 
8'' + now and still snowing medium to heavy .....but only -3c
 
jean-guy

Day 3 we left Maria and decided to make a bigger day. There is weather coming with 30+ cm in some places and 70 kmh wind gusts. We stop in Nee Richmond and top the gas off then take 595 North towards LaCache. We took the local to the left at the split. Trail was fresh groomed and nice scenery. Met back up with 595 and took it to LaCache. We did a gas and go and headed for Murdochville. Tons of snow in the center trail not fresh groomed but still in good shape. We rolled into Murdochville did a gas station lunch topped the gas and headed North on 597. 597 wasn’t fresh groomed but was still good. When we hit the 5 it was groomed and we headed West. Great day for pictures and had some great views of the St. Lawrence, we rode to St. Anne Des Monts and stayed at Hotel and Cie. 256 miles for the day and again awesome trails.

Day 2 took us South and East. Left Amqui on 587. Took the local to Lac Humqui to check the trail 😂😂 actually was a wrong turn and didn’t catch it until we got there 10 miles later. Gassed there and doubled back. Took it back to 5 to Albertville. Gas was closed there, not sure if it was just because they are not open every day or if they are closed for good. Too early for clubhouse to be open so we continued on. Took a rest on the trail and had a trail side snack. Definitely not as many places open as there used to be. We went into Causapscal to top the gas should we take the cutoff after St. Marguerite. Continued on 5 and took the local cutoff to La Alverne. Trails are all awesome and again very little traffic. Met back up with 5 East and got gas at St. Omer, really thin down low and by the water. Continued on 5 and took a break at the Carleton clubhouse. Tried calling for rooms at the Francis in New Richmond but they were booked. A local guy in the clubhouse called and got us rooms in Maria at the Auberge Marchand. Instead of heading right there we went back up in the mountains and checked out the overlook then took some more of the orange trails and came out on 5 just before Maria. Found the exit off the trail 5 and headed to the hotel. It leads into a cul de sac and a plowed road. A little scratchy getting in but as we got almost to 132 a pickup truck headed towards the cul de sac flashed his lights for me to stop. Turns out it was the guy from the clubhouse who came to check on us when we didn’t get there earlier. I think he saw us go up in the mountains when we left and was worried for us. The holes is nice, the restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday but there is an IGA next door and they have a common kitchen on the 2nd floor of the hotel so we got some food and made it there.

A little late posting, but we (6 riders) left the Universal in RDL Monday morning. We took 526 to 85 to the local 44. All nice, a little thin close to town but overall good condition and coverage. We then too 544 East to St. Cyprien then continued on 571 to 546. All trails in great condition and more snow in the interior. Ended up on 35 to 5 and took that to 579 at St. Gabriel. Took that to 587 and went and checked out the radar tower. Visibility was poor so hard to get good pictures. We continued to St. Irene and took the gas there. Rode into Amqui and stayed at the Selecthotel for the night. 194 miles, trails very good and little traffic.

Jim and I make it a point to stop by that Pizza place whenever we are around that area. Beer battered  fries and and brick oven pizza baked right there . Yummy 😋 

1st time back to Canada since the covid shut down.
 
Left out of Jackman with the plan of doing the loop around Lac  Etchemin.  Got to the river crossing on 75 in St Georges and found the ice not safe and the cable bridge out.  Has the bridge been out long?  Little disappointing that theres no bridge over a large river on a trans trail.
 
Ended up taking 535 to 545 back to the 1st club house.  Was going to grad lunch but the place was packed.  Figured I do the 580 25 loop.  Started out on the 580,  trail was good till St Robert but snow got a little to thin for my liking.  Turned back and headed home.  
 
All in all a good ride, got in a little over 200 miles.  The clubs have done a great job with low snow and lack of cold weather.  Looking forward to the next ride.
 
 
 
 

Hi Mark,    It is so good to be back up here.  Wish you and Lisa were here also, you always bring good times to this special place.  Riding is fantastic. When I headed north Saturday I was unsure if I would land in northern Maine or RDL.
Today 5 of us made the loop over to Rimouski and then down around through Squatec and back.  Plenty of snow on this loop, trails mint except may a dozen mile section with some small bumps.  220 mile day. 
We ate at a Tim Horton's near Rimouski. I had forgotten how good the food is there and how reasonably priced.
Only saw one club house open today (3 Pistoles).  Someone told me there is a famous chef doing barbecue now at the RDL club house. Supposedly he won best in world barbecue sauce recently.
Some of us have rooms at the back side of the hotel. Exceptionally nice rooms and in our hallway is a day room we can use: very big screen TV, easy chairs etc.  Very cozy. And great for happy hour!
 Joe and I (me being almost 70 and Joe right behind me) were pretty proud we kept up with the young guys today.
My new PowerMadd Cobra windshield on the sled;  I couldn't be happier, very warm and much more stylish over the SkiDoo tall windshield.  Also added Shaper bars to the skis. Finally a Renegade that doesn't push in the corners when the snow is soft. Very happy!!!
mike
 
 
 
 

Here is our last ride path

It is under a very cloudy sky and a little snow that we left Saturday morning around 9:00 am from Champlain (east of Trois-Rivières) to go having a lunch at La Tuque accompanied by our friend Snowcruiser.

The trails were very nice at start, here in the very long straight stretch on trail #3

Once near Grand-Mère we got on the St-Maurice river...

Because of the temperatures that have been too mild so far, the 28kms marked trail on the St-Maurice River north of #23 trail has not been done yet, not safe. So we made it on land through #23+#360 trails towards St-Joseph de Mekinac.
For those who doesn't know, this bridge we pass under is on the #155 (road between Trois-Rivières and La Tuque) and have been closed last year during 7month after being inspected and realized it was not safe anymore!.  Here we can clearly see the steel pillars and reinforcement cables that have been installed on the bridge(had just concrete before) to reopen it at the end of last summer. It is a temporary fix and a new bridge construction is supposed to start at spring 2023 and last 3 years!

We passed through St-Tite

The famous Rivière des Envies which took a long time to freeze is now crossable and safe

just before switching onto #360 trail at the junction there was an SQ police checkpoint. I thought I would have to dig off in my pants to get all my papers out but no, we mustn't look too suspicious, we passed through in less than a minute with only a visual license plate check and a brief chat.
Here just leaving, my partner Snowcruiser on his new Enduro

The #360 was superb and very fast

The #355 on the Gazoduc section was a little bumpy but it still ride well

The next section of #355 between the junction with #351 and Lake Wayagamac was very ruff, good snow cover but just really due to be re-regroomed, Kristine had not liked it. We notice that the lack of deep cold and the general mild weather+ frequent new snow since the beginning of the season affect the grooming efficiency and trail toughness compare to what we are used to in january.
We took a break under the Railway Bridge of Riviere du Milieu

Past the junction south of Wayagamac lake the conditions came back correct and it was riding well

Arriving in La Tuque, the trail is on the pedestrian bridge instead of the river which is not safe yet...

We stopped to eat at Marineau auberge at the entrance of the city around 1:00 p.m. with 180 km on the meter

It was our first ride with Snowcruiser this season and the lunch break pass like flash by chatting in very good company! We then went to refuel in town, here along the endless 30km/h zone along the airport.

And here in town...

We had 2 options for the return, either to retrace our steps on the #355 and then take the #351 in the Zec Tawachiche or take the #73 and do the Zec Jeannotte / Rivière à Pierre which is longer run. It is my back seat passenger who made the decision and we set off for La Jeannotte around 2:30 p.m. Here along Lake Wayagamac

The jeannotte did not disappoint us even if the detour in the center was a little more bumpy, very beautiful and fast

It was beautiful up to the ZEC entrance

Then, the traffic of this Saturday had done its job and it was getting more rought as we went down

Like an oasis in the desert, we crossed our first dozer just before Rivière à Pierre

The track towards St-Raymond was ok

But #353 was very rought. We took a little break at the #23 trail junction which we then took east towards St-Alban and it was really better. We had a couple more rought stretches  but were also lucky enough to cross 2 more dozers on the way back.


We crossed St Anne and Batiscan rivers which are both staked and safe and finally returned to our starting point around 7:30 p.m. with just over 220kms in the afternoon for a total of just over 400kms for the day. I admit that we slept very well that next night!!!
So another great ride for us this season, the trail network is almost complete and the snow is here, I hope for even more cold in the next few weeks to optimize the quality/solidity of the trails. The weather forecast is really promising, hoping they will be right.
Bye Alain

Yes , the Otter slide and den are a first for me to see , Would have been awesome to see Ollie Otter sending it down  ! Fun times in the Backcountry today  .
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Found an otter trail but no one home 🙂

Red Sticks
LA BALISE ROUGE (Delineators)
THE SNOWMOBILER'S BEST FRIEND!
In order to delineate the lateral limits of their trails, snowmobile clubs use red markers. These delineators are installed on each side of the trail at a distance not exceeding 90m from each other in a non-treed area.
The whole delineates THE SPECIFIC LOCATION AND THE ROUTE TO BE FOLLOWED or the owner has granted us the right of way.
FURTHERMORE:
The color of the markers makes us recognize our dedicated trails vs. the quad trails which have blue markers.
The markers allow us to orient ourselves during snowfalls
The reflective top of the markers also allows orientation at night (white on the right and yellow on the left)
The beacons are installed in addition to all the precise places where we must avoid or bypass a danger that may not be visible (Rock, stump, ditch, etc.)
Patrollers can also install additional beacons at any time at locations where a new hazard has just appeared (ex. sudden thaw, etc.).
The beacon is the snowmobiler's best friend, because by following it and staying within its protection, it protects us from traps that can be deadly.
The beacon is also our best friend, because by respecting them and riding inside them at all times, we will be able to keep our rights of way and be able to do so for a long time.
Let's respect our friends, the red beacons and their uses.
 

It was good meeting you also BigLake.  Always nice to put a face with a name.
Yesterday was our last day of riding.  We are heading to CT this morning.
Yesterday we did a loop thru Pohenegamook via 5, 526 and 35 to the Realis Pohenegamook, twin arches.  Then it was off to Cabano for pizza for lunch.  The pizza place was busy and there was only one waitress waiting on the lunch people and the customers on the bar side.  Needless to say it was over an hour there but the pizza is very good.
After lunch it was 85 north and then 565, 544, 44 and 85 back to the Universal.  No need to go into detail because all of the trails are turning out to be in fine shape.  The only area still thin is the lowland getting back to the Universal.  Other than that, you can ride most anywhere on fantastic trails.  The groomers are out every night and the traffic has picked up.  Yesterday being Saturday, we saw the most traffic that we have all week.
The forecast is for good temps and snow this Thursday.
If all goes well, Sandi and I will return to RDL the week of Jan 29th.  Hope to see some of you there.
Be safe and stay on the trail.
Jack & Sandi

JUST FINISHED TRIP,  MONDAY ROQUMONT TO DELTA VIA LETAPE ALLGOOD  TUESDAY DELTA MTVALIN TACOUSAC BACK TO DELTA ALLGOOD .WEDNESDAY DELTA UP TO TOP OF LAKE TO LADORE FOR LUNCH THEN TO ROBERVAL ALL GOOD BUT AROUND TOWN OF ROBERVAL IN NEED OF SNOW.THURSDAY BACK TO ST RAYMOND VIA LAKE EDUOARD TO PIERRE ALL GOOD , ALL TRAILS IN GOOD SHAPE

20 January
-4c 
snow
3-4” overnight 
radar shows almost finished 
 

https://www.lemanic.ca/2023/01/20/des-agents-de-surveillance-pour-permettre-la-circulation-sur-la-tq3-a-pessamit/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR0fYIrs9mQOSb6FiYqYwtGWEeQvgLBezr0P5d6NU1Eu33HpoRf-EHsCeu4
 
The Pessamit Innu Council will hire two territorial officers to monitor traffic and behaviour along the TQ3 trail in their territory.

Several solutions have been considered in order to allow traffic on the TQ3 within the territory of the community of Pessamit this winter.
"The new trail that is currently under construction will not be ready this winter. It will be ready next winter," explains Marcel Furlong, Reeve of the Manicouagan RCM.
He adds that there have been "discussions between the band council and the various snowmobile and ATV clubs. The Innu Council of Pessamit then issued conditions so that it would be possible to ride this winter on the old trail.
Among these conditions, there was the presence of two surveillance officers from the community of Pessamit. "They will be patrolling the TQ3 on the community's territory over the next 15 weeks," said Furlong.
"There is no connection between the new trail and the existing trail that will be used this winter. All that's being decided right now is the old trail that was in the community. The new trail will be outside the community," said the Reeve.
As soon as the clean-up of the debris left by the December 23 storm is complete, traffic will be possible. Furlong expects the trail to open next week.
It should be noted that the officers who will be hired will not be mandated to issue tickets or fines, but rather to ensure the proper behaviour of users of this route. Safety signs will also be installed, another condition for the use of the trail.
Finally, the Manicouagan MRC has granted $19,872 in assistance through Innovation and Development Manicouagan for this project, which totals $24,840.

So today there are three of us.  JAK joined Sandi and I for the ride.
The map is showing a lot of grooming.  We run 85, 44, 544 and then 571 into Squatec.  All of it is very nice.  Most of groomed last night and a few tracks ahead of us.  Just enough to give the trail a little texture for the skis.
Gas and lunch in Squatec where we ate the other day.  Then back on 571 south.  This didn't show being groomed earlier in the week so I wanted to ride it today.  It is a nice trail running the woods on the east side of Lac Temiscouata.  All but 2 miles in the middle was perfect.  The groomers didn't quite meet.  Other than that, it was a really nice ride thru the sugar farms.
In Degelis we picked up 85 north.  This had a little ripple to it from the traffic.  Still a fine ride.  We stayed on 85 until north of the road construction above St Louis du Ha Ha.  There we took 544 and 44 back to 85.  A nice little bypass off of 85.
Back at the Universal early enough to relax with a beverage or two.
This coming week is forecast to stay below freezing but not bitter cold.  A little snow coming Wed / Thu.
Jack & Sandi

Here
 

Jim and I make it a point to stop by that Pizza place whenever we are around that area. Beer battered  fries and and brick oven pizza baked right there . Yummy 😋 

Jim and I make it a point to stop by that Pizza place whenever we are around that area. Beer battered  fries and and brick oven pizza baked right there . Yummy 😋 

Jim and I make it a point to stop by that Pizza place whenever we are around that area. Beer battered  fries and and brick oven pizza baked right there . Yummy 😋 

After the rescue and lunch, we ran back up 85 to 35 west.  35 is fine and goes around the top of Lac Pohenegamook.  I didn't see any stakes or tracks on the lake.  There was a red banner across the trail opening on the east side of the lake.  35 to 526 to 5 and back to Universal.
The best news is Relais Pohenegamook (two arches), Relais Explorateurs and even the little relais on trial 5 in St Antonin was open.  The season is upon us.
 
Jack & Sandi