MrsGTRider

Today's forecast is mild and some snow.  Its blowing around pretty good here at the hotel.  Luckily it is warmer than it has been.  We get the sleds ready and take off on 83 east.
A few sleds have left before us and I'm glad they did.  Just running along 83 in Jonquiere in front of Mike's the snowbanks at the road crossings are tall.  We break our way thru.  We get over to Chicoutimi at the railroad tracks and here comes the 9:15 train.  This time he is too close and Sandi waits for the train to go by.  I see the engineer give Sandi a big thumbs up as he goes by.  I wonder if he recognized the sleds from the other day.
As we get into the fields on the other side of Chicoutimi, I see the wind has played havoc with the snow.  A fair amount of drifting has taken place overnight.  I also know Sandi doesn't have any love for snow drifts.  Keep going Sandi.  You can do it.  Some parts are just wind blown but where the fields transition with bushes or trees there are pretty good drifts across the trail.  Take your time and plow thru.  A few sleds catch up to us.  Sandi does the polite thing and pulls over to let them go by.  I think she would rather have them cut a path for her.  Wise move.
This is a little better.  We poke along and stop at Bec Scie to decide where to go.  I here someone call my name.  I look up towards the building and see Danielle.  Him and Colette got there a few minutes before us.  They were breaking the trail and decided to stop and let a few sleds get ahead of them.  We join them for hot chocolate.
A few groups of sleds go by and we decide it is time to continue on.  Danielle and Colette are heading to Auberge des Battures and we are going to make a loop down to the 83 and 383 intersection and then run 383 to Ferland.  83 is better in the woods but is only one path wide.  A good 15 cm of snow or more on the trail.  Sandi is pushing on.  There are a few sleds parked a the intersection going to St Felix.  We stay on 83.  Oh, this is nice.  This part was groomed last night.  Only 5 cm of poof on top of a nice flat trail.  Sanid picks up the pace now.
A really nice ride to the intersection and we turn right on to 383.  That must be a tour group over there at the warming hut.  I counted 18 sleds or so and most of them are identical lined up in pairs.  The riders are outside on the right side of the warming with a fire going.   Are they cooking hot dogs?  We weren't invited so carry on Sandi.  383 was groomed last night too.  Off she goes with a trail of dust behind her.  Ten miles up we get to the first local trail 22 and that is where the groomer went.  Oh well.  It was great for awhile.  Actually this isn't too bad.  It is smooth underneath.  The trail does have more snow on top.  That is fine.  Its easy enough to follow on the park road.
Zipping along we are at Relais Ferland in no time.  The gas pumps work here with a credit card.  A little strange because there is only one card reader between the diesel pumps and not on each pump individually.  You put your card in and key in which pump you want to use.  I missed the question about a gas receipt!
The snowmobile club runs this so it is nice to spend a little money here for the club.  Inside we order up lunch.  Sandi gets a cheeseburger all dressed and I get a hot dog and a side of onion rings.  The food is delivered and there is a little cup of honey for the onion rings.  I haven't seen this before but I'm not one to refuse a helping of sweet honey.  The rings do go good with the honey.
Back on the sleds and up 383.  Just a mile or so and we turn right on the next local trail 21.  Then left onto 83.  We run into a snow squall just above Bec Scie for a few miles and then it clears off.  The trail has had more traffic so the drifts have been beat down some and we are back at Jonquiere
Another nice ride here at Lac St Jean.
We have been eating at the Boston Pizza here at the Delta.  The wait staff is fine.  A couple of the former workers are also here.  The food is good.  Boston Pizza has been running a $10 special at night.  There are six or seven choices.  So far they have been good.  The downside is the special is going to end February 3rd.  I hope they come up with something as good for February.
Jack & Sandi
A pic of the sunset from the tenth floor of the Delta.  The storm has moved on.  

Are the Best !  A Big shout out to Stephan and his crew at Le Pub Hotel and Resto in Riviere - Rouge right on trail 63 next to gas station. I left my phone in the restaurant at lunch on our last day. By the time I realized the phone was missing the sleds were in trailer and we were racing home to beat a storm. No time to go back by sled or truck. I called that night and the girl said it was there, call back tomorrow. A couple of my guys were Way more concerned about me getting my phone back than I was. The wife called while we were driving home the next day and spoke to Stephan the owner. Stephan would not take a prepaid Fedex or money.   Well needless to say I have My phone and a shitty pair of readers to boot ! The postage was $46.00 CA to send the phone !  I have a nice note and a little something for Stephan going tomorrow.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Gotta Love our friends in The Great White North !
Dave L , "Pipemaster "
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

MasterCard won’t get your dead sled out of Clova or kanawata, so at least $500 cash is a must.

I usually try to ride with Scorpionbowl he has everything. NH moose too. 
I got a leatherman tool. Lighter and extra pack of smokes. Oh and cold Jack Daniels. Good to go. 

On last Saturday I had outstanding good conditions to record this small video and it is I think one of the best I did...
Put the Quality to 1080p woth the sound on and enjoy!!!
Alain

rock'n roll the wind yesterday 
great day for pics !!!
 
jean-guy

Woke up to a beautiful blue bird day today!   The replacement stator for my Apex XTX did not make the shipping cutoff yesterday from Sherbrooke so my sled won’t be ready until tomorrow.  No fret.  Staying at a great place - Le Petit Manoir du Casino in La Malbaie.  Right next door to the Casino & Manoir Richelieu.  Not a bad spot to spend 2 nights!  
Rented a new ride for the day from a great guy Pierre Couturier of Top Location Motoneige right on the property!  How convenient is that. I HIGHLY recommend Pierre.  He went WAY out of his way helping me, arranging my dead Yamaha sled pick & delivery, arranging the mechanic, driving me to my hotel with all me saddle bags & gear, translations with the mechanic & shop, texting, calls etc....
Rode out on a Ski-Doo 900 Ace Renegade.  Nice horse indeed!  Florida Snowman like!  Rode from La Malbaie to Clermont (be warned NO GAS in Clermont! Station under renovation to become a new Shell station.  Hopefully completed in a month or so). Continued on The Clermont Express up to L’ Anse-Saint-Jean. Took gas and did the reverse route back the hotel.  What a fantastic afternoon!
Hopefully my Yami is ready by early afternoon tomorrow provided the stator arrives in the morning as promised.   Jim & Eric are up in LSG tonight & will be heading my way tomorrow so we can get this party started! 


 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

I ran electric socks for several seasons, wired them straight to the battery, they had a connection similar to the RCA one for the Helmets, also a little cap for the power connector when not in use. worked Great, found them at Harley Dealer.
I think the brand was like Gerbar, Gerber.
GutZ
Found the Brand, Gerbring.
Like these but a direct wire version.
https://www.thewarmingstore.com/gerbing-sock-liner-7v-battery.html?productid=gerbing-sock-liner-7v-battery&channelid=FROOG&utm_source=CSE&utm_medium=GoogleShopping&utm_campaign=SolidCactus&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt-i69OOE4AIV0JCfCh3HZgZcEAQYBSABEgKm1PD_BwE
GutZ

good morning !!!
back from st alexandre...lac saumon and the lake .....just checked....- 34 c at 9 pm at the airport ....-25c at city hall at 11 pm 
saw only 1 sled !!!
downtown lac saumon and  st alexandre at night !!!
 
jean-guy

Groomer- I believe Playhard is ready to be your new apprentice! Put him to work!

.....or as an old wise man told me once, "if out playing in bear country with friends always carry a .22".   So I ask him "why a .22 as that won't kill a bear".  He says "It is not for the bear, it is to shoot one of your friends in the leg"....  Wise old man.  :)

back from grooming tq 5...- 19 c at 5 30 am....-18c at  5 30 pm...not bad at all ....still thin in town and bumpy a bit ....but very rideable... from '' school bus ''...logging road...good....better in ste marguerite down to st fidele cb !!!
saw 15 sleds....still not march conditions...but good for riding !!!
 
jean-guy

Cheers to the one who can get me off the Universel/RDL/ bar stool /warm bar room/ to do that trip! 
mike

She is always right 

joyeux noel a tous !!!
 
jean-guy

Left this AM to a couple inches fresh snow, headed east on 383 pretty sweet. Hit some local and popped out on 83 ran to 3 and are in La Malbaie. Taking our time and enjoying life. 

The conditions were already good in the Mastigouche Wildlife reserve during our last ride when they had received a good layer of big wet snow that had laid down several trees giving considerable work to the snowmobile clubs to open the trails, although they received another one that over-painted the scenery even more but also giving even more work to the snowmobile clubs to re-open a second time several trails they had already logged a week before and putting a layer on those that they had not had time to do. The work is not completed yet everywhere but it advances greatly.
After looking at the information on the open trails, I chose to go once more in the Mastigouche Wildlife reserve, but making a loop this time from the already ready trails. We therefore left the same starting point near the outfitter of Lake Blanc accompanied by Snowcruiser and Toxie. Brutally cold: -28C when starting at around 9:00 am Saturday morning (December 8th, 2018)

As for the exact route, the current map of Lanaudière does not really represent what is groomed so it's difficult to show you on a map. We left the outfitter of Lake Blanc by the trail # 350, then the M10 and trail #23 to the west as our last ride but halfway in the reserve Mastigouche we forked to the south on the trail # 345. Currently if you continue this trail along its length it ended a few miles south of the Cabanon on #23. Halfway along the same trail, we took a fork on the left to go to Koubec Outfitter and then came back on #345 to have meal at Cabanon. In the afternoon we made the same trip as our last ride ie #345 north in dam direction and 12 miles from cabanon took the #23 east up to our  morning path that we redid in the opposite direction.
In terms of trail maps, I went to the sources and was told that an update for the interactive map and Imotoneige is on the way and should be done within a week to adjust those maps to the trails on the field in real
The trails had lost nothing of their beauty compared to the previous week. Here on the #350 near the Lac Blanc outfitter


Toxie who ride in front of us broke in a brand new grand touring 900 ace in these beautiful trails that he also traveled for the first time


Snowcruiser who was with us had pass there last Wednesday and did a lot of zigzagging between the trees lying down to manage to pass after the 2nd layer of snow from last Sunday. Everything was perfect on this Saturday morning, a big thanks to the snowmobile club Mastigouche for their work and recent grooming!

The woman behind the camera: the one who takes all the pictures you see, who has been sharing my life for over 34 years and been on my  snowmobile back seat for almost the same time. She is also the mother of our 4 boys, the woman of my life. She does the meals and the laundry in addition !!! ..... lollll I love you darling !!!

We then forked on the M10 trail to the north, notice the snow ...


And then took the #23 to the west. The difference compared to the previous week is obviously the better snow to the ground but especially the amount of snow hanging in the trees


Halfway in the reserve we forked to the south on trail #345

And switch again on the left to show the outfitter Koubec to Toxie. Everywhere trail conditions looks like of the end of January in the reserve

The Mastigouche outfitter

better known as Koubec by most snowmobilers. A real historical gem.

We then retraced our steps over several miles

to take the back the trail toward the Cabanon in the Mastigouche Reserve

A little less snow going east but trees still well loaded and good ground cover


We had arrived just a few miles south of the Cabanon. There is a little brownish snow around the Cabanon but nothing bad and everywhere else was beautiful

We stopped there to refuel the venture and us

We met by chance Bily a friend with whom Snowcruiser and I had already ride a couple time and he joined us with his daughter for a good sledder meal. 

We then took the #345 trail north towards the Taureau dam

rear shot 

And around 12 miles from the Cabanon we took the #23 trail toward east which takes the path of the Wildlife Reserve road #31 (indicated by big signs). The sun that had been present in the morning let place to some clouds with light snow


We took a short break at the fork to the south that we had taken in the morning. Kristine took the opportunity to  catch this nice shot of a small river next: superb!

We then continued on #23, the same morning path toward the trailer. Notice the amount of snow hanging in the branches everywhere


We took a last little break before taking the #350

The sky was already too dark for the pics but it was special to ride this trail that sometimes looks like a tunnel at the sleds lights

We got back to the trailer a little past 4:30 pm with a 136s very relaxed miles for the day, all 4 very happy with our ride

In the summary, extraordinary conditions for the date for both snow to the ground and scenery. In fact, I don't remembered since I've been snowmobiling that I've seen such large area in Lanaudièrewith scenery so much snow painted in white by the sticky snow that froze there. They preview cold for the coming days so there will be  many other lucky people who will have the chance to admire these beauties of nature
Several clubs are still in the branch cut to open the trails but it is going well and the playground has grown considerably. Bily, whom we met at Cabanon, told us that he had left from St-Gabriel de Brandon(pretty much south) via trail #23 and everything was good on this side. As the clubs complete their work, they will officially open and you will see the details here: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
an outstanding season start that is very promising for having some great riding in the christmas holidays. 

Here's my yesterday (8 december 2018) video from the first part of our weekend ride, report will follow soon
You can click the 1080p on the parameter and put on the sound to better enjoying this one.
**disclaimer:  I'm not responsible for any side effect you may feel after looking at this video or any crazy plans or spent you may initiate. You watch this at your own risk...
 

Congrats you two, love the nice new ride. 
My boss just received his. Same machine. It’s a beauty. 
Happy trails

MrGutz,
It took me a while but I just finished my summer repairs. I jacked up my GPS and drove a 900T under it.
Thanks again for the help with the helmet. Now MrsGT has a new seat to go with her helmet.
 

I would proudly buy any Canadian QuebecRider member  a drink while enjoying their fine friendship and good conversation. 
mike
Maybe our leaders should try this instead of tariffs!
 

hi 800steve and gutz !!!
 
great thx !!! like that time of the year ...not at the peak yet ...still lots of green !!!
i was coming back from work today ...nice on the mountains !!!
forgot ...on the other post ...the farm...next to trail for lake ...st alexandre and lac saumon...took pic about 3 miles lower than clubhouse...next to main road for albertville ..town is down the valley...
great thinking gutz...you just gave me an idea ...ahahah
 
jean-guy
 
 

hi all !!!
you guys need a snowstorm...you have too much imagination !!!
just out of jail again...cab driver was nt too happy to bring back home !!!he was very nervous...  i think he was afraid of me ...ahhaha
honestly...i still had that same problem with computer again for a few days...could access only 2-3 sites 
few pics from last few days...at my camp ...on my way back from work  !!!!
 
jean-guy
 

When we viewed the hotels website we too said the same thing about the pool area....Looks nice...Too nice to park sleds in ?
Funny story.... When I first booked the Delta by telephone a few years back for the first time in the middle of February I inquired of  the receptionist if the hotel had a pool onsite. The receptionist politely replied , yes. Subsequently I told the wife to pack her swimsuit. When we arrived a few days later the on duty receptionist gave us a warm welcome with directions to the elevator, bar, restaurant, mall, gym, & sled coral, etc.  Not giving us direction to the pool I inquired where the pool was located. The receptionist gave me a peculiar look and and gave me the same directions as she did to the sled coral. I thanked her, went to our room unpacked & changed into my bathing suit and set off for the pool sporting my beer belly, swim trunks, flip flops & towel. I walked down through the lobby, past the desk & all holding court with Bill & JD whom we did not yet know, , and turned right out the pool door. Whoa ! Dam it was cold. it was then I learned the pool was seasonal - outdoors.  Thinking there was a mistake , that there must be an indoor pool I returned to the front desk, patiently standing there in my trunks,  flip flops & towel over my shoulder & glancing at those that were looking at me. . When it was my turn I stepped up to the desk / receptionist & with great confidence  I inquired where the indoor pool was. I was told there was no indoor pool - only outdoors. I announced I was told the hotel had a pool when I phoned. The receptionist replied, yes Mr O'Reilly I took your phone reservation  (coincidentally ) and I did tell you we had a pool but you didn't ask if the pool was open. Too funny....Hysterical.. Needless to say it was a comical minute.  A valuable lesson was learned.  :  )