Cnc

March 15. We have been in limbo here for several weeks with very poor trail conditions and no grooming. Trails were rock hard and lots of bare patches, rocks and no snow on the lakes only those folks desperate for a addiction fix, or planning to trade in their machines next season ventured out. We got about 8-10 inches of new snow overnight and both the Diable Rouge and Hebou Blanc clubs have announced they will be out grooming and have trails done for the end of the week.

I would think that the moment a official trail runs on private property the authorities have the legal obligation and right to apply the rules and regulations as per the Quebec off road vehicle act. When it is your own private property or private property where you have permission from the owner but is closed and off limits to any other public use then I think that judge ruled correctly. 

In Quebec summer is just 6 months of poor trail conditions. 😬

In Quebec summer is just 6 months of poor trail conditions. 😬

Well you make some good points. For hiding it, I would think if a sled has a storage compartment built into the seat it could be a inconspicuous access to a carved out bit of foam hiding spot under the seat. As for the police, I don't know. They may drag their feet on a theft report knowing that once it is gone, it is gone and they are only doing paperwork for the insurance company. Following up on a known location of the stolen sled may be met with more enthusiasm.  Anyway beats but may not outperform sleeping on your sled with a baseball bat.😁

In Quebec summer is just 6 months of poor trail conditions. 😬

Sounds like they have all the bases covered. Personally I would wait till the second year of production to give them a chance to get the bugs out.

Sounds like they have all the bases covered. Personally I would wait till the second year of production to give them a chance to get the bugs out.

I have been sledding in Qc since the late 60's and never had a sled stolen, or a truck, car or trailer. I've  never been the victim of a car jacking, home invasion or robbery. Guess I have been lucky eh? Actually adding to an earlier post I made I think some of you are perhaps missing the point. Thieves target tourists, not just here but all over the world maybe because they seem like a easy mark. I'm not saying that those of us who live here are not at risk too, but roll into town with a nice truck and trailer and a few expensive sleds inside and you are at risk. You wouldn't think of leaving 10-20 grand in cash out side your hotel in a tin box with a lock on it, but it happens all the time except that cash is in the form of a shiney sled or two. With the amount of sleds around the more popular destinations it not only gives these scum lots of choice it may also be easier to un load a stolen sled. I ran across this  while surfing sled theft and thought this might be worth while, kind of a little added insurance.
http://sleddermag.com/anti-theft-device-spot-trace/

Our last ride was on February 12th at Relais 22. Since this, busy with the job+ the bad weather but especially my life partner who was knock out because of pneumonia have thrown away all opportunities of riding. My Krikri, who was now a little better, was very frustrated to not being able to follow but she just begin to feel better and riding back on a snowmobile as a passenger at this time with the current cold would have simply ruined the gains she had managed to make In the last week.
So it was solo on my venture accompanied by our partner Snowcruiser that I saddle up. Having lost my official photographer, I had to managed to take some pics myself. It's why I have much less beautiful stuff to show you but still some decent pics.
Here is the path of our ride.


Saturday morning, beautiful sunny blue jay day -21C at start



It was very dry at start, the dozer of Carcamps snowmobile club of Berthierville had not groomed since the rain few days ago. With the scratchers down and going moderately we had did well.

A few miles later we entered the Joliette snowmobile club territory  who have made a pass since the thaw, it already ride much better.



At the next intersection we seen the dozer of Joliette finishing his run and have just put some ice on the cake for us



Further along on the trails of St-Felix de Valois, the dozers also passed



Not alot loose stuff over the hard base but was ok. We did not raise the scratchers but it would ride without.



We chatted a bit with a couple of nice guys from Joliette before heading up toward Saint-Jean de Matha



The Black River north of Matha near the BRP dealer Géro was still very solid and easy to cross



The good thing in those conditions is that there are no bumps. Just beautiful, hard and very fast trails, here just south of Ste-Émilie de l'Energie



North of Ste-Émilie the big hills were beautiful, no ice at all





The altitude makes a big difference and at the top of the hills the conditions become winter one



Here passing in front of the Pourvoirie Bazinet



We followed the #63 and made a small detour on the local trail that goes to the Auberge du Vieux Moulin, starting point for the dozer of the area and which allows to make a loop and to take back the #63 farther. Very nice trail/point of view especially in the southern part



Here during a break on the #63 between La Glacière and St-Zénon village. Beautiful conditions and much loose stuff on the trail



With our late start it was already noon so we stopped eating at the Relais St-Zenon in front of Lake St-Louis



After a good meal we continued on the # 63 north



We passed the Auberge Le Cabanon and continued towards St-Michel des Saints, very nice trail



Here just before before arriving at St-Michel, we see the village in the distance



We stopped to refuel at the Harnois gas station near the Central. We took a moment to re-evaluate the initial plan, already 2:20pm  and we were just about to loop around the reservoir ... we won't be back home soon! After consulting, we agree to keep the initial plan and took the lake shortcut to quickly reach the Auberge du Lac Taureau.

The level is already well down and yes, it is the summer docks you see in the air in front of the chalets



The level is not yet at its lowest and even it is necessary to be careful there are not too many big slopes to pass, it ride well.





We see better here the level once passed the Auberge while the trail passes on the beach shore ...



The section from there to the junction with the #33 to the Repos had a bit of ripple, nothing big but a little less beautiful. Then the #360 eastward  was really nice. This year it takes another route than usual because of wood transport . I loved this new trail a very beautiful and pretty fast path. We stopped at the dam for a few pictures but we did not stayed there long because the wind was whipping!



The rest of the #360 was just beautiful, at its best. Let's say we caught up some time there! Very quickly, we arrived at the bridge of the Mattawin river where we took a break  away from the wind. I was able to heat up the kodak who was freeze and take some good shots









The #345 was perfect, I think this is best conditions I had seen there on a Saturday at the end of the day. In addition, a little further south we cross the dozer who was at making it another pass!



We stopped at the Cabanon to make a last fill up before taking the #23 south. Beautiful at first but we passed the dozer who was not grooming for nothing on that one! We stopped eating at Réal Massé around 6 pm. When parking,  enduro reverse of my partner  refused again to engaged ... He's been already twice  to the dealer for that, the last time relays replaced. Maybe a gear problem like Iceman pointed in an other post? if anyone have more info on this issue, do not hesitate to comment because apart from that it is a whole nice machine but this irritant is intermittently there since the beginning of the season and he will have to go now for a third visit at the dealer.

After a good hot and comforting meal we left around 7:15pm for the last segment of our ride. The #23 was just a little worn out by the day's traffic and we crossed the dozer that was going up about midway to St-Gabriel's Brandon. We arrived at 8:15pm in front of an ambush south of the village of St-Gabriel. A small stream that was overflowing on the trail in between two hills. We saw that there were several sleds that have crossed it but we do not know the deepness of  the water nor if it is mined below, at darkness is not evident. I was not really stressed to cross it on the throttle but my partner did not feel it, the prospect of a bath, even unlikely, left it ... cold! So why having to stress, we left in the morning to ride and a detour mean even more riding !!!

So we turned back and headed back to St-Damien of Brandon than headed west on #63 to join our morning path just north of the St-Jean de Matha slides site. We then followed our morning route integrally. We were pleasantly surprised to meet the Dozer of Berhtierville who was grooming the #43 trail near home in St-Thomas. We were finally back to our starting point at 10:00 pm with 285 mile on the dreammeter.

In summary still very nice winter conditions everywhere north of Ste-Émilie de l'Énergie. The last thaw left harder base that give outstanding trail conditions and very solids trails that are strong over traffic. Still plenty of snow up there. I know that there is again some rain/freezing rain on the forecast for the next days but feel it won't hurt so much, especially with the cold wave that it is also forecast after. We are already in march, season's is well advanced but not done for sure, still very good riding to do, in the best of what this winter have to offer to us, it is to you to enjoy it!
Alain
 

Thieves are opportunistic vultures, where there is a large gathering of easy pickings they will be there. I don't think theft is any higher in Canada or Quebec than anywhere else, unfortunately in Quebec the the winter commodity often seems to be sleds simply due to the volume of them. I feel bad for folks who come here to experience our trails and get targeted.

Oh boy, hope this fella is ok. As mentioned, there does seem to be way to many accidents this season. Take care all.

Thieves are opportunistic vultures, where there is a large gathering of easy pickings they will be there. I don't think theft is any higher in Canada or Quebec than anywhere else, unfortunately in Quebec the the winter commodity often seems to be sleds simply due to the volume of them. I feel bad for folks who come here to experience our trails and get targeted.

I thought maybe you stutter. 😁
Ride safe.

Day 3 
ok tout le monde, here we go....
Had a super dinner last night at Restaurant Julie just in back of Hotel du Havre. Up this Am and went to check the continental breakfast included with the hotel room. Not inspiring. Or fulfilling either. Toast, cofee, juice? Iceman need substance. Is what it is we decided not to go to Tim Hortons and to just head on out. Nice and cold this AM. -5F they say. Suit up and roll quick stop at the gas and we need to do a quick ice removal on the Steering Boots on the Sidewinder as its got ice built up in there and steering is binding up. I break out my rubber mallet and that along with a bucket of hot water makes short work of this job. Great teamwork tipping sled up and working together to solve the issue albeit a small one. 
We bid farewell to Havre St Pierre and head west on a beautiful groomed trail under cold but clear skies. Big sun. This is gonna be a much different day than the grey flat light of the past two days together. 30 miles is all you get of this groomed trail. Over finished see ya bye. Now we have about 30 more miles to gas and this trail is not terrible. We did all the heavy lifting yesterday and today will not be like that. With trail broken and drifts knocked down its much easier navigating and we make it to the gas in Rivere Tonerre in half the time as yesterday. Stomachs are rumbling so its into the grocery store for a quick defrost and some snacks to fuel up. Too early for lunch that will be later today. Nice break and some nourishment and we head out. This is the 40 miles that will make or break your run. Again its a whole new game today as we opened the trail yesterday. Much easier to follow the GPS track and no drifts to navigate like yesterday. We really make awesome time and now it seems almost easy this trail. Don't be fooled. Its got no real marking and yes our tracks are there but now its Saturday and there's been some local's out here and tracks are going many different ways. Good luck. Our navigation team is on it. They got their ducks in a row. No slackers on this team, We pass 2 sleds headed east big Expeditions. Yeah i know you did not need our help but you're welcome, trails packed down for you no big drifts left to pass through. Again super time here and we cut our time in half through this section. Two more locals on mountain sleds with funny pipes. Making lots of noise. No cops out here to bust them that's for sure. On down and across the Moise River. Excellent its 1:30pm unbelievable time today. Here, well what do you know, fresh groomed, in fact groomer is turning around to head back to Sept Isles now. 
At the road crossing is a group of 6 locals out for a ride they are headed east. We head for Sept Isles on groomed frozen white Asphalt, however, wherever there is open areas the wind is fierce and blowing like crazy drifting up fast. Groomer just passed and yet it is drifted right back over. Mad wind. 
We are headed for gas in Sept Isles and some lunch. I'm thinking hmmmm,.....saturday? Yes ok, near town? Yes ok, Police out? You betcha. Well Dooright is dooing it, I find myself second in the mix. I'm pedaling it hard to try to reel him in. i come over a hill and well hello Police. Hey Now! What you doing? Oh shit, there are two of course. One has taken an interest in dooright and so much so he is making a U-turn to go chase him. Right in front of me. I back it on down, it was a surprise to see him turning around in fromt of me on a hill in a bad spot but I had my "spider senses" tingling telling me to watch it. The other cop throws up his hand and puts on his lights. Yeah I know. I'm prepared for a real issue as I was practically not touching the ground over the hill in pursuit. I greet him as he comes over to me "salut, ca va?" He smiles says in english where are you from? By now everyone else is lined up behind me. I tell him i am from Shawinigan he asks if we are all together i say yes. Some from USA. He asks where we are coming from and is surprised to hear Havre St Pierre. He says I just am checking for trail pass stickers. Hey no problems. Mark comes up to point out (and very true) that he was holding us in a dangerous place as anyone coming behind us over that hill would surely hit us. The officer looks at my sticker then says go ahead its ok. See ya. Down by the road. Randy is there with the Police. I stop to see if I can do anything. This cop speaks some English too, so i am no help. I see him writing but he is just taking Randy's info to put in his daily activities report. No tickets. We are out. One more group of 3 we pass  (it is saturday) and down to the gas on groomed trail. Gas and next door to the mall and the St Hubert for a real lunch and a defrosting. Great break here and well deserved. Out of there its close to 3:30. Time to sprint to Port Cartier. 
Out of town and not far from town at a road crossing, Greg du Vermont says here...points to his Sidewinder. Yeah buddy I will pilot that girl. He hops on my Apex and is gone. I'm thinking....hmmm lets see what this baby got. Well tabernac it took me a mile or two to get used to the steering, just different than mine obviously. Wicked smooth power. Quiet and all the punch of the Apex but stealthy. Damn I like this thing. I can not believe it but they say don't knock it till you try it. I don't believe "it's once you go cat you never go back" as this thing is alot Yamaha. I'm smitten with it and not missing my sled by the third or fourth mile. I've got it figured out more now, Need to watch it cause she is so fast. Quiet and fast. You look down you are barely giving it and it's doing 80mph. Please sir can I have some more? This one has the fox floats and though it was not rough I am told by Greg that it's not the best shock package. I would need to ride it a bit more but my first Impression is I need one of these. 
So thanks Greg now I will spend all day in my helmet tomorrow. Trying to figure out how to break it to mrs Iceman that i need to expand the stable to 3. Maybe i'll letter up the white 13XTX with Mrs Iceman Decals so she thinks its her's? I need to figure this out. 
Seriously big thanks to Greg and damn you. 
Into Port Cartier at 4:36pm. Trails were perfect from Sept Isles to here and groomer was headed out when we got here. 
Taxi to a great restaurant and another awesome day comes to a close. Great crew and great trails. 
Life is good. 
Back to Forestville tomorrow and then home to Chez Iceman. Gonna be a late night getting back to Shawinigan tomorrow. 
Until next time....
 

I thought maybe you stutter. 😁
Ride safe.

Just a heads up, this report is from March 2nd 2016. Conditions might have changed since then.😊

Just a heads up, this report is from March 2nd 2016. Conditions might have changed since then.😊

The suspense is killing us, can't you drink quicker?😁

Day 2 
Left Sept Isles at 8am. Had nice breakfast at Comfort Inn. Loaded up and off we go. Trail much like we left it yesterday no grooming and fresh snow, No tracks headed east. We will change that. We make good time to River Moise as expected. From here the adventure really just is beginning. The snow is deep and Randy and Mark are taking turns finding the way for us. This day was quite challenging. Perhaps the most challenging day I ever spent on a sled in Quebec. 
They say "you learn something new everyday" well today I learned alot. Several things in fact. 
1 This Team from VT don't play and they are pro's. Big respect for the teamwork and the skill showed today. Words here will not duly do justice to what we achieved today. I can tell you but unless you lived it, You just won't understand. Big thanks to them Mark, Randy, Greg and Dave. Would not be here without them. 
2 I know now why the amount of people who have actually been to Havre St. Pierre by snowmobile is not very many. The trail is not a trail, its there, but not really. Especially now after 12" plus of snow and winds that created drifts throughout the powelines(which is the main route for most of the way) the size of Peterbilt trucks. Hairy shit. 
3 My sled is quite capable of making its way in deep snow. just don't hesitate. 
Ok now seriously you may want to go to Havre St Pierre. Great. Think again. Cause unless you got a GPS track and a solid crew of at least 4 experts. You are being foolish. There is no sticks, not many signs and you are on your own for more than 40 miles. Thats alot of decisions to make is it up there to the left? Down to the right? Up thst hill? Choose carefully cause your  life depends on it. There are cliffs and drop offs that are so beautifully hidden with the drifts it's not for beginners. 
Today was a long long day. I have never worked so hard for 100 miles ever. 8am-2:30pm to get to Rivere Tonnerre for gas and snacks. Yeah, check that moving average. Do the math. Not easy. Did I mention bring strong guys to help you out? Cause when you get stuck it's deep. I rode 5 or 6 today. Best place for me. We got 4 Doo's 3 1200's and one 900, one Sidewinder and my XTX. I needed to back down one big hill one cause the others dug such a trench they left me nothing to work with. One other time saw me just thrown too far right on a big climb.  But just a pull on my ski loops and i was out. The same can not be said for our leaders they are making decisions on the fly and encountering drits that are incredible. We did alot of digging and studying to find where was the best way to get through. After Rivere Tonnerre there was more sticks to guide us, trail was in woods, but still powerlines here and there. Still drifted bad, but we make better time. 25 miles from Havre St Pierre we find fresh groom trail we are delighted. We exploit this for all it's worth and hammer down. Into Hotel Havre at 6:15. 
Thanks to The Team Vermont and Trailblazer. I made it to Havre St Pierre. Mission Accomplished "failure was not an option"
Talks are aleady in the works for next years ride. Probably starting in Baie Comeau and shooting east of here as far as trail will let us go. I can't wait.
We were hoping to go 50 miles east of here then back but time will leave that as unfinished business for another time. But the objective has been reached. 
Tomorrow back west to Port Cartier. Should be a different game now that we broke a trail through "no mans land" 
in Rivere Tonnerre we chatted with some guys in the store they said last group to come through was last week. Thinking for sure was none other than Roadrunner. So no one else been through since them last week. 
Big respect also to GT Rider who I know made this run 2 up with Mrs GT. You are so lucky it was not drifted like this was today my friend. 
Tired. 



 
I need to make a withdrawl. Ice needs a new Apex....

 

 
Wanna get to Havre St Pierre? Look for these and good luck!

 
 

Don't ever ask Iceman to do a snowdance before a ride, you will be sorry 😀 And yes, this is the trail, we were not playing in the snow 😏

Hi Towing,
I know we hear rumours and promises, but I think this time it is for real! There was a big press conference  held by the FCMQ at the comfort inn in Tremblant in January to announce it.
 

Ba! But I like the hooked-on-phonics translation!

And what a difference a few hours makes on the way back down
 

 
Tons of great riding up here! And it's beaucoup cold now!

So Trailblazer comes to get me at Chez Ice at 4pm on Wednesday. We load my sled and gear in pouring rain. We head out direction Forestville to meet up with the rest of the alliance. Up to Baie St. Paul is all rain. Now here it's changing and its all snow, we take a break at Tim's in BSP. Then back on the road and its white knuckle for JG all the way up to Forestville. We pull in just before midnight. I need to pry JG's fingers off the sterring wheel. He's had enough of that for tonight. Not easy to get here. We check in and park and go to visit with Mark and Randy. Well it's like old times and we call it a night at 1:30am. We got a big ride tmmrw. 
Up early at 5:30 to get organized. Breakfast at 6:30. In and out and time to suit up. It's been snowing and blowing all night this is gonna be fun. 
Out of Forrestville I am along for the ride so it's nice to follow mindlessly and just stay in line. I could get used to this. Hat's off to mark and randy cause they are breaking us a trail and we are clipping along. Near zero vis. We push on. We roll on and arrive in Baie Comeau just before noon. Take gas and off to the rollercoaster section. Surprisingly fun and not too bad but these guys are blowing trail open for us. Then on up and through Godbout, here snow is way more deeper. Easily a foot here. We really are making great time and roll into Baie Trinity for gas and some snacks. Here is really snowing like crazy. Once we leave it's lightened up a bit. Still alot of new snow, passed 2 sleds so far both locals just bombing around. We head on and into Port Cartier at 5pm gas and go. Snow has stopped now but still deep. We run up and arrive into Sept Isles to Comfort Inn. 6:15pm with close to 320 miles. Tomorrow we make for Havre St. Pierre maybe more.