blackjack1

That's 3yrs in a row  ? "NO"  such a great connector,was hoping this opened this yr..

i ran it in 2015 groomed

Enjoyed following along with you guys. It's no small feat doing reports on the trail, thanks for taking the time! Wishing you guys a great off-season!

😃

Always top notch service at Andre Halle Skidoo, Friday afternoon no exception. They are much bigger than days of old, and a small chain now, went above and beyond. Many thanks!
I borrowed Icemans spare Sena S20 helmet radio for this trip, makes it much easier to make good time without needing to stop each time a simple communication is needed. 
Shell gas at Cabano is a mess, there is no longer a “trail”, you have to run the road from the Metro supermarket parking down to the Shell. Wheels down, no problem. Seems each time I deploy the wheels I say in my head…these thing pay for themselves each time you use them 👍
 
Overall another great day, no whooped out sections, no bare spots, a few dark spots here and there but all still snow/ice covered.
Even into RDL Universal, the recent snow created a layer of white all the way in.
It will deteriorate fast starting with a paved areas and South facing hills, but for now it’s still extremely rideable, even at low elevations. Of course once the grooming stops, that will be the end as well.
Today we were hauling, no stops for scenery photos so you get pics of when we were stopped trailside pit stops:
 
 

24 March Thursday 
 
Breakfast at 7am in motel. Out and running just after 8am. Up out of town very hard trail frozen overnight. Near the 5 junction NHmoose says on radio he is smelling my hy-fax I stop and deploy the scratchers problem solved. 5 is groomed we head west for the 595. Racetrack down to 595. Slotcar handling it is wonderful and we are eating it up. Very fresh groom headed up 595 we have a discussion and decide this groomer is not far ahead. Sure thing. Beautiful trail but we soon catch the machine. We slide on by. It’s still fantastic he is grooming a very nicely groomed trail. We push on. No Moose sightings. Up further in the areas more open or recently logged we see why the groomer is headed this way. All blown in and one sled wide through 3-4’ drifts in places. This must be a full time job as the wind alone is filling the trail. Just the open areas are affected. The rest is super duper. Smooth run into La Cache. Gas and some quick small talk with Keeve and the ladies inside. 4 other sleds just left from Murdochville we talked to them said all good to Murdochville. No dice for us we are headed south down the 595. Two other sleds arrive from the south they say 12/10 headed to New Richmond. Really? We shall see. Trail from La Cache to junction with Murdoch trail best I ever seen it. We are loving it. It is excellent this trail. However not 12/10 as it has some drifted sections too but much less than the other side. I give it a solid 8 on 10 overall. Nice rip down to New Richmond like I said no moose but lots of Bambi as usual near New Richmond. Saw about 5 there along tge run into town. Trail has changed since I was last at Francis. Dedicated trail to Francis and trail to gas is further west on 5. Gas and go still headed west on 5. Nice trail here too definitely more icy than up in mountains and we cruise oer toward Carelton. We pass through Carelton and continue to junction with Local loop. We stop and make a call to verify shocks for NHmoose have landed in Amqui they are ready for us and will install them tomorrow when we arrive. Off we go up the beautiful local groomed this morning it’s swell. Icy but big wide and fast. Run up then trail to lookout. This trail not groomed in a few days for sure but we go anyway. First time i been up here. Pretty sweet view. Back down and we continue up to the top of the orange loop all Beautiful grromed. Loop down and back to the 5. Gas there Neuvllle(probably spelled wrong) long time since I been this way but suspended bridge by the gas is gone reroute of 5 all new to me. Gas it up and rocket back down to Carelton lots of Bambi near Carelton easily saw a dozen near turn to cross tracks to hotel.
Into Baie Blue. Saw a red fox too earlier. After 3 practice days we finally played a complete match. Solid miles today but it’s not about that at all. 
 
Nice dinner at the new improved and much bigger Pub St Joseph here. Been a few years since I stayed here. All good. Snowing nicely here.
 
Until next time

What a difference a day makes when snowmobiling. All are good, all are different.
Welcomed the clear blue sky and sunshine to enjoy the awesome scenery here. And a change of visual and mental focus from just trying to find and stay on the trail in a blizzard to having fresh groomed trails with a bit of fluff on top, railing turns like being on an asphalt track the very next day.
The Skidoos stiffened rear spring settings working much better today, even with the bad center shock. Emptied the jerry can to reduce weight from the rear yesterday, and the chosen freshly groomed trails today also helped. Figured out a combination of throttle management to unload torque squat just before bigger bumps (or a small bump at speed that feels like a bigger bump :<) and sticking the right ski in the higher fluff to ride the left edge of the track adds a lot more more cushion when needed, working the suspension less. Good to go until we meet up with the new shock arriving in Amqui.
During supper, Mario (owner of Nanook) said the recent winds blew out the sea ice from where the boats are so crabbing season will commence about 2 weeks earlier than usual this year, focused off Isle De La Madelaine. Followed by Lobster.

Yes, we all wan't to know? After  all you are the 'ICE,MAN,😂

Yes, we all wan't to know? After  all you are the 'ICE,MAN,😂

Yes, we all wan't to know? After  all you are the 'ICE,MAN,😂

20 March Sunday
After a painful wait these last few weeks, watching the Meltdown commence at home. I am trading in my 12 wheeler for my snowmobile. We have regrouped and waited it out due to commitments on all sides we had no choice. But we got the band back together all three of us. Playhard is back with me and we got none other than NHmoose back in la belle province. So great to see John. Playhard arrived at 6:15 chez ice. Made quick work of loading my gear. Pinned the trailer I had prepositioned Saturday for launch today from home, All locked and loaded. Playhard visited with Caro and the kids while I ate as many as i could of the “Baby Arm” chicken tenders playhard smuggled in from Champlain on the other side..Damn good . Time to Roll, said goodbye to Mrs Ice. I took the wheel enough hours for him. Rain on off alll day in Shawinigan yesterday and most of today....Wet all the way to just near Levis now snowing. Not white knuckle but a few iffy spots for sure. Backed it way down compared to if i was seeing a dry black trail. We landed in RDL late at 10:30. NHmoose already arrived and did recon checking some trailheads. All good here its golden 2 more weeks easy I do believe. After that still will be good but I doubt grooming will continue. We are headed east. 
 

wish the decision was that easy😉

my dilema is how long will they tipically keep the faith.as next weeks temp,look more condusive for grooming than this up-coming week?1700 miles of blacktop is a hard way to find out when they are going to toss in the towel.it is typical for them to go to the end of march im sure as there is definately the snow cover.      Ive have cold feet on this one,!!!!

Hard to beat a picture with the Rock in the background.
 

Ever submittal is 100% awesome !  Thanks to all you QR ridders !

http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2022_03/A1CFAA16-5F95-4AAE-B134-CDA9159A168E.jpeg.28dc513e3e3c9b8ac8aefd94ff2990db.jpeg

Just got back from a quick 100 after a 8 hour drive. Lot’s and lots of snow and more coming  not many sleds but lots of moose had to turn around mother and cafe just stopped and would not leave trail  about 1 hour later 2 moose criss crossed 30 yards in front of me.  Get out there don’t wait it’s  
a long time to next season looking forward to the sea of purple tomorrow!!!! 
 
 

Glad you’re all safe & sleeping inside a warm structure tonight!  Everything else is just a situation filled with adventure!  Snowmobiling is ALWAYS an adventure!

😜
 

get off that ''RED BULL'' crap man!!! there are farm animals showing up in your photo's lol,lol,i'm leaving Temiscaming friday morning heading for Meekos,keep in touch,maybe our path's will cross, safe travel's my friend enjoy😉

get off that ''RED BULL'' crap man!!! there are farm animals showing up in your photo's lol,lol,i'm leaving Temiscaming friday morning heading for Meekos,keep in touch,maybe our path's will cross, safe travel's my friend enjoy😉