iceman

Not for us. It was available. I'm not a fan. I come for the chicken wings. Very easy to please. say hi to the Mrs. I was reminiscing in my helmet as i arrived here about being here with you guys when we finally met you in person. Years back.

We are there now. red dot is Parent green is Barrage Gouin 83 East and you will see trail to Gouin on Left 45 km up to Barrage Gouin from 83 map shows two trails up to Gouin. I believe only Eastern spur is open. Like shown on my map here

Day 4 Woke to pretty good snow coming down at Le Cabanon. Sat Down to breakfast. Lights flicker 3 times and boom blackout. Took a few minutes for them to get the generator up but all good after that. Was more snow outside then we thought. A solid 6-7" of wet heavy stuff. As others were talking of waiting the day out for the groomers to go out. We are not used to hearing talk like that. So off we go. There was another group that got out before us. They were going 345 north as well. We catch them maybe 30k from Cabanon. They are stopped and wave us by. Yeah thanks. C-ya. What a damn mess this wet snow. Trees down and let me tell you it was like riding through paste or mashed potatoes. Wettest deepest snow I've been on in a long time. After we pass the group I was thinking that was it. But still seing a pair of tracks. Well much better than 8 pairs making things messy. We catch the other 2 at bridge over river. And get by. At first I was so happy to be finally breaking trail that was short lived, as the further on we went up 345 the snow got deeper, wetter and heavier. Not to mention the trees bent or down. This was pretty sucky. One of those test your skills day. As where there was a big drift it would almost stop me in my tracks. Crazy wet heavy snow did i mention now it was easily 12" new wet. It was still snowing at this point and blowing. My sled was drinking the fuel bad. I knew I was using my spare gas before Repo's. Sun popped out soon after oh yes the joy. We press on and 35km from Repo's ahhh. The groomer has come out from the turn off just after the Dam there. Looking like maybe I will make it to The Pump. well no dice I'm out 5km short. Oh well dump the gas in. On to Repos. Only like 80 miles to Repo's and I was way short. Thinking I was kidding about deep wet snow? Think again. It was work. Arrive at Repo's to this scene. 30 Minute delay. For you Groomer A few off trail sleds at Repo's but no one else. We head off toward Kanawata. Gromer is just going up trail so we take road out of Repo's (not plowed) with a few sled tracks. Arrive at Kanawata Express and also unplowed with some tracks to ride in, Thank You little baby jesus. 40 miles to Kanawata, made great time considering and driveway to Kanawata plowed. We go in to top off. Mario says trail from Repo's is the road for now too many trees down they have not cleared. A couple local guys from their chalet having lunch. Leave and off for Casey. Lucky again trail is broken for us. Snow still deep and wet here. Nice Run to Casey. Once in Casey it's like a switch has been flipped. Less snow here and its Fluffy. We burn on up and join the 83. It has tracks both directions. Less snow makes for easy going now. Like butter. This is fun again. Less like work. 83 is nice some brush here and there. We roll up to Trail for Gouin Eastern spur. Nice Run on up and settled in the lodge at 5pm. Left Cabanon 9:30. We are the only 2 here and don't mind a bit. Private Lodge. Nice. 209 miles.

No Rain here in St Zenon so far. Not as much new snow as at home but still lightly snowing. Maybe 1-2 inches new here. Very windy.

11 January report from Mrs Iceman +4c in Shawi 10CM snow last night.....now raining.

Sorry action, I was directing the question at Fuse6, I figured you have been. I was asking him. lol.

Spot on. Even been to Old QC city? That would make a great activity(not by sled) but Four Points can get you there. actionjack is spot on. Hard to beat trails he is speaking of. As long is on the weekday and not a weekend. No weekends near QC city. You gotta be out of your mind.

Pics end of TQ 3 West end. Someday I will see the East end Pics from Hotel Du Lac Carling Waterfall near front entrance First Team sticker ever placed in QC River looking north

Day 3 Tues. Today was a "back to our roots" loop. Riding the backyard playground. We are hiding up north from any rain we will see how it works out. Left Cabanon on 345 and it was excellent as my wife would say "it was more than good" hard and frozen we are railing it. We fly down to river crossing and on to join the 360/345 we go right and run down another perfect trail to make the left on 345 to get to M-20. Quick stop at intersection of M-20/345 then right on the best kept secret in the region M20. Wow she was a stunner today. Fast and hard. We burned it. Back to 360 and its just as nice. Just 10 from the bridge we catch a group of 6 in the tight part before the bridge at Mattawin. Tabernac hey at least they are doing the speed limit. But if i had to ride like that all day I would hang up my helmet. Too slow for Iceman and crew. At the bridge we make short work of the gang and pass them up to best em to the gas. Stop at Gas in Mattawin for a soda and candybar. Left Cabanon at 9:30 at Gas in Mattawin at 12:00pm with 93 miles via the M-20. Do the math. Ok off we go 360 to St Joseph de Mekinac. Nice trail here tighter then the others today but that is life. 2 sleds coming at me using it all. I just don't get how these guys ride nose to butt and right up the middle with zero regard for others. I may ride fast but I am in the weeds on the right always. Never up the middle. Just stupid. On a small tight trail like that. Passed trail to River it's not open yet. Continued on to St Joseph there is a small change coming into town but nothing major. Now we decline the gas here and trail 360 now becomes just so-so compared to trails we seen in St Zenon and to Mattawin. There's lots of snow but it's bumped up and I don't get it. Lazy efforts by the club here. No other excuse. Lack of grooming period. It's like they thought Scorpionbowl was coming today not Iceman, come on now. This trail has changed too. near the end where it joins 23. It arrives a bit further east on 23 then before. We join 23 and it's no better than 360. Don't get me wrong it's ok just not great like others we saw. We are picky. 23 to Grand Mere and onto the river. Quick stop to look at river direction north. There are sticks going up but i am certain it probably goes just to St Jean des Piles and no further yet. We continue on 23 and take gas in St. Flore at Petro T. 23 was just so so all hills bumped up bad and all the corners. Was junk all the way to 349 then like night and day. White Asphalt was back. The club here grooms right. Absolute bliss all the way back on 23 to join 345 and just super all the way back to Cabanon. 240 miles 9:30-4:30 door to door snowing here lightly calling for 4 inches. Met snappyhank and combat super nice gentlemen here. Also ran into dave. df1013 and his gang from Jersey nice to meet them and talk trail. Tommorrow to Barrage Gouin. Then Thurs at Windigo. Friday St. Raymond. will try a few pics but internet tough here

Today's Ride. Le Cabanon to Le Cabanon .......details to follow.

Miles...wishng you success in your adventure. Hopefully I won't be seeing the story about the search for you on TV or in the Newspaper. Be Smart, cause going alone certainly is not that.

Yes we were following you around.

Yesterday, ignore KM on top it's not correct. Was 190 miles

Awesome place. And Squiggles not bad at all is the bent over trees that suck.

Awesome place. And Squiggles not bad at all is the bent over trees that suck.

10 January not in Shawi but they say Snow coming followed by rain. Will let you know what goes down.

Was 6:00 pm. Pulled up lights out in restaurant. We stopped and Gilles comes to door and let's us in. He said they closed restaurant cause only had 2 sledders in last 4 hours since the afternoon. We could have stayed but there was no food. Iceman need food. So on to Le Cabanon. No worries 23 was a racetrack to Cabanon. Awesome. more good news my boss called me and told me keep riding he will handle things without me. So we stay up here near St. Michelle to ride out this weather coming.

The cocktail lounge is kind of exactly like the bar scene in the first Star Wars movie.

Day 2 Monday internet not the greatest. Quick check in. Left Hotel this am and took local trail back to hotel Chasseur to get gas. Then on to local trail and south back to 3 in Mirabel. Rough going for 30km bent over trees and not groomed only broke br groomer no drag. Long. Back to 3 then up on 33 to 43 up and to St Come. Then to Glaciere. onward to Real Masse. Arrived and they were closed. No dice there. Saddled back up and on to Le Cabanon. In and happy a mere 190 miles this day.

X100 for us too. But hey to each their own.

Gonna put this report here as we covered more than one region today and so here it is. This ride came out of necessity as Iceman originally had all week to head out and ride, However that changed Saturday when my time off was canceled. So it is what it is. I now need to be back in Shawinigan to work Tuesday night. So with this in mind. Ideas of going up to Saguenay were squashed. We decided to take advantage of the early conditions and the three days we have to ride to just ride trail we probably would never choose to normally and boldly go where many here would never bother. So it was decided. Day 1 Sunday. Pretty nippley cold this AM but hey it's winter. We are in no rush as we bag up and leave Relais Iceman at 9:30am. Snohorse and I are headed TQ3 ouest until it ends. So we are off. Trails are real nice as we head west and we make our way along not alot of traffic with the cold this AM. We are taking 3 and 3 and 3 . Through Yamachiche and Louiseville on to Maskinonge then further west to L'Assomption. Near L'Assomption was a bit of goat trail through a swamp they have not groomed yet but nothing too bad. We did pass a section of "no mans land" with trees bent over bad for several miles leaving only one sled wide to get through....Further yet and we arrive through Terrebonne then to Mirabel through Lachute then we come to the end of TQ3. This is where we join 317 and we are repeating the ride Trailblazer did yesterday. Up 317 to Lac Macdonald around and past Auberge du Chasseur. We continue on and now it's been dark and we are not sure where we are gonna go. I find on my gps Hotel Lac Carling. Sounds good to us both. We arrive and are struck by the sheer size of this place. It's enormous. Pull up in front 4 stars. Sold. In we go. It gets better. With taxes and Breakfast $150 Canadian. Giant room gotta love love love it. Oh and free heated garage under the building just like at the Manoir Casino Charlevoix. Sweet. They are just open again under new management, first season open in 6 years. They are super snowmobile friendly and soon the sports bar will be open right here in the same building. Had a great dinner and met the Director of food/beverages and events. His name is Luc and a super guy. I've got all his info as he wants to become an advertiser on QR. This place is well worth the trip over here. Indoor pool and hot tubs. Wanna play tennis? 2 indoor tennis courts. Full spa. All the winter sport activities you could want. You need to check this place out and if you get near here show them some love. You will be glad you did. For Scorpionbowl theres plenty of free Ice and fast free Wifi. 280 miles today. Long day but fun riding trails you never been on. Sorry camera dead. But check out https://hotellaccarling.com/ Looks as if there will be no avoiding rain coming this week. So going back Tuesday is not such a bad thing.

Yes it's open now. Go for it.

THE Most Important.

Yeah you and me both. Impressive for sure.