RoadRunner

Have a great rideTeam Vt!

Great trip reporting, super pics, and an awesome adventure ride mixing in the groomed with the ungroomed.

Great trip reporting, super pics, and an awesome adventure ride mixing in the groomed with the ungroomed.

Great trip reporting, super pics, and an awesome adventure ride mixing in the groomed with the ungroomed.

I'm looking at the trail map to see today's ride.  We were going to get gas at the Irving station halfway down Pohenegamook but decided to stay on 35 and get gas at the other gas station at the bottom of Pohenegamook.  I've never been to it.  It is 5 miles off of trail 35.  Easy enough to follow the trail.  It's another Irving.
Looking at the map, to my surprise, we were 1,500' from the Maine U.S. border.  The border runs down the middle of the river along the side of road, Highway 289.  I've always known we were close to the U.S. but didn't realize it was that  close.
Jack & Sandi

We made it a short ride today.  This morning it was -26C.  This afternoon, after it warmed up, it was -20C, -4F.  Yea it was chilly out riding today.  I wonder what the wind chill was at say 60 MPH?
We went out 5 to the little connector to 526 and went to Pohenegamook via 544.  We got on 35 and rode to Louis du Ha Ha.  There we took 85, 544 and 44 back to the Universal.  It was cold on 85, the railbed.  The sleds love making the horsepower on these cold days but you really feel the temps when the speed goes up.  The snow dust just hangs in the air.  The caboose rider in the train sees nothing but white all day.  Sorry Joe!
The trails are fine.  They are like sidewalks with it being so cold.  Even trails that haven't been groomed in a few days, don't show much for wear.  No traffic and low temps, the trails stay pretty smooth.
The hotel is almost empty.  I don't know how many rooms are occupied but I don't think there has been more than a dozen vehicles here at any one time.  I remember past years that it would be tough to get your snowmobiles near your room.  Now you can put your truck, trailer and sleds all next to each other and not be in anyone else's way.
I hope this restaurant shut down doesn't last too much longer.  It must be awful tough on the businesses.  We are grateful to the ones that have been able to stay open and understand why some just can't.  So many of the relais are locked up.  It would be nice if they were allowed to open with 50% capacity.  You can go in and order, wait inside with a mask but then eat outside?  Some day it will be over.
Tomorrow we head to Connecticut.  We will be back at the Universal Jan 23rd, Sunday night.  We hope to see more riders then.
Be safe.
Jack & Sandi

I can’t say enough good things about Notawissi being open again, now being owned by Sylvain, same owner as Meekoos, he is running a top-notch operation. The food is absolutely ridiculous, five course meal that you would get in the city or anywhere could not compete. 

Iceman, Thanks again,! I’ve said it 100 times, maybe 1000 times, maybe 10,000 times, you guys have the best snow, the best trails, and the best people. We hope to see you  soon!

So we waited for the temperature to warm up this morning a bit from the -28, we left it -24 F Way nicer. Johnny’s Trail from barrage Gouin is the same as in the years past, on the trail for 5 miles, on the road for 5 miles, then the last 20 miles down to the 83.
He is grooming the east and west routes. The next 30 miles into parent on the 83 was more than a bit choppy but survivable. The only gas station and store in parent has been revamped and has everything you would possibly need. They are absolutely by the rules, helmet not good enough, Balaklava not good enough. They want you wearing a mask.  
 
8 miles outside of parent to the 13 intersection is also choppy and rough. Next we jumped on 13 down to Fer a Chevelle, that was groomed both directions and completely awesome. Far a Cheval has  rules. You can order food though a limited menu and you can eat it inside sitting in a chair, but your inside visit is limited to 15 minutes. They do have an outside fire going that you can hang out next to a picnic table as long as you want, it’s all completely workable.
 
We did a little bit of playing around which is always nice now that the temperature is up to -8° F. The good news of course with the cold you don’t see many sleds even though it is a Saturday. The 13 the rest of the way down and to Notawissi was completely awesome. Again another set of custom rules where they don’t you want you inside for more than 15 minutes. They prepare your dinner and put it in a cooler which you can bring to your room, they have it ready when you want.
They do the same with breakfast here they prepare in the kitchen, then they put it in the cooler you pick it up at the time you agreed on and bring it to your cabin.  Again rules that are completely no problem at all. Super nice to be on the wood runner trails, as always they do a great job with the signing and the grooming just an enjoyable area to ride in.
A whole bunch of Ontario people are over here they unloaded in Mount Laurier and they said the riding all around has been fabulous for them. A bunch of new 2022 Mach Z‘s everywhere .
Tomorrow will be the final day for us, it will be the warmest which won’t be a bad thing and then it will be home until the next trip up here. Again the small hassles are way worth it load up and come on over.

Everyone has folding saws and with any luck we don’t have to use them😉 Very awesome conditions here currently and plenty of snow. Locals have been happy to see snowmobilers, American snowmobilers included. Gas has been $1.45 and $2.25. Always cold morning starts here at Gouin. Today -28F, awesome 😀

Like Jak said, food is take out only.  You can get room service from the hotel restaurant at Universal.  I imagine the other hotels are the same.  The delivery cars have been here, St Hubert, Pizza, etc.  The hotel is empty now but the front desk told me they were busier towards the end of January.
Jak, Sandi and myself went out for a ride yesterday.  We went by 3 or 4 relais, all closed.  I think some maybe open on weekends but again, inside no food.  Maybe take out to your sled?  Not what we are used to.
As far as conditions are, the trails are in very good shape.  The groomers are out.  There are a few thin spots like near the river but nothing to be concerned about.  All of yesterday we saw maybe 10 sleds.  6 of them were at Relais Chevalier des Frontieres.  That is the one on 35 with the single arch and drag strip.  We couldn't go inside, closed.  Just taking a break.
Gas stations are open.  Grocery stores are open.  You do have to wear a mask everywhere unless you have your helmet on.  Make sure you have your mask on when you cross the border too.
Jack & Sandi

We will be watching, have a great backcountry ride, I am sure we will hear from you at the Gouin tomorrow night😊
Enjoy the Walleye!

We will be watching, have a great backcountry ride, I am sure we will hear from you at the Gouin tomorrow night😊
Enjoy the Walleye!

We will be watching, have a great backcountry ride, I am sure we will hear from you at the Gouin tomorrow night😊
Enjoy the Walleye!

We will be watching, have a great backcountry ride, I am sure we will hear from you at the Gouin tomorrow night😊
Enjoy the Walleye!

Arrived at Windigo with 226 on the clock. We are the first Amaricans in 2 years. February 2020 we were here last before the border closed. Beautiful day, started cold at two above zero got colder down to about -6 and we end of the day at +6 overall very very nice. We left Saint Michel early this morning and headed off across the reservoir up to the 33, the reservoir was very nice. 33 was groomed all the way to where it crosses the water, no complaints there. They groomed at both directions.
Arrived into Repos at roughly 930 with 60 miles on, I harbor no ill will against the place and admire that they’re still hanging in there. Like a lot of these places I know that they for sale.  We did have plenty of gas so we could’ve bypassed it but we bought gas there and bypass Kanawata, it made more sense for us. If you had a gas situation or a time situation, you could easily have took the road all the way to Kanawata.
Most riders are still using the road for 10 miles outside of Repos, including us. The trail doesn’t really have quite enough snow yet. Needs another groom and it will be fine. Everything has a fresh 4 to 6inches they just need to mix it in.
The next part of the trail on the way to the Kanawata intersection is very nice, very well groomed wide and in great shape, you get there in a hurry. We skipped Kanawata and buzzed up to Casey, as most of you know this section of trail is wide open, super smooth, and amazing. We stopped in to the new place in Casey, Casey de base. We met Norman and he made us some chicken soup and hamburgers and a few refreshments before we headed out. He says next year he will have fuel but not this year. 
We then headed up to the intersection at 83. We took a right to Weymetaci, going into Weymetaci is a hit or miss. It’s plowed all the way to the intersection, though they have a new trail put in for most of it so you go on and off the road. Getting into a Weymetaci for gas is no trouble at all, very friendly though they did stop us at the gate to ask what we wanted. We then buzzed the remaining 60 miles into Windigo.
Tomorrow we have an off trail excursion planned to get to barrage Gouin. We have given the appropriate people access to our GPS and satellite coordinates so if we stop moving they can send in the rescue team. There is a lot of snow up here, I am a bit worried with that but I think we will be OK.
 
We will check in tomorrow if we were successful in getting to barrage going, if I don’t check it and you will know we were in the woods somewhere.
We toasted the first drinks tonight to all of the Americans that haven’t made it back yet. I don’t want to rub it in at all in what you were missing, but the hassle crossing the border is way, way, way, way, way worth it. Love the trails up here, and love the people more.
We were lucky enough to get a trip up early December to Mont Valin with the Team Maine and Rack up at 700 miles in three days, a month delay was too long to be back up here.

Planing on an adventure of sorts out visiting folks we haven’t seen in a bit. One out of four got the random test, random my ass. We will try to get that sorted now rather than wait till the morning. otherwise smooth sailing so far.

Hi Dave,
I'm glad to hear Joe Jak made it.  Sandi and I are leaving CT tomorrow am.  We have been boosted and tested and we are ready to go.  We will see you tomorrow night or Wednesday morning.  We are bringing supplies (food, Advil, drinks).
Jack & Sandi

The day started at 715 on our way watched the sun rise went the usual way 85 to 40 to 544 to 571 to 35 local trail to NB 135 saw 1 sled in PQ 6 sleds in NB arrived moose valley at 11 fresh groomed door to door had lunch inside back to RDL more traffic on return trip a little thin on 5 but overall a 10 for the day back at 430    265 on the odometer 😀

Today started off slow with a dead battery and a quick stop at the local Polaris dealer new battery and we were off    too late for moose valley we took 5 west to 553 to 35 west to 55 into Saint Perpetue for fuel ⛽️ (a mike rider stop) took 557 to 35 to 526 back to RDL for the night. It lightly snowed all day great trails and not many sleds out there  moose valley tomorrow ☀️ 

Ice and Mrs Ice, you guys got it done, felt like we were all along for the ride with you, great daily updates!  You definitely got the Early bird special, it seemed like you had your own private trail system to ride in the Gaspe. Look forward to your next trip reports😊

Ice and Mrs Ice, you guys got it done, felt like we were all along for the ride with you, great daily updates!  You definitely got the Early bird special, it seemed like you had your own private trail system to ride in the Gaspe. Look forward to your next trip reports😊

Ice and Mrs Ice, you guys got it done, felt like we were all along for the ride with you, great daily updates!  You definitely got the Early bird special, it seemed like you had your own private trail system to ride in the Gaspe. Look forward to your next trip reports😊

Ice and Mrs Ice, you guys got it done, felt like we were all along for the ride with you, great daily updates!  You definitely got the Early bird special, it seemed like you had your own private trail system to ride in the Gaspe. Look forward to your next trip reports😊

Ice and Mrs Ice, you guys got it done, felt like we were all along for the ride with you, great daily updates!  You definitely got the Early bird special, it seemed like you had your own private trail system to ride in the Gaspe. Look forward to your next trip reports😊