Grassman24

29 December 
keeping the fingers and toes crossed for some real snow tomorrow and Tuesday. 
Bring it!
That will make for a very Happy New Year. 

Almost forgot......
 
 

Many spots around the Valin area.you'ld swear it was mid season.... occasionally theres spots with a few scattered whip its or a couple small rocks....but other than 475 trail on the way back from Relay Onatchiway trails were mainly flat and fast. Until its groomed...stay off 475.
93, 32, most all of  267,477....fast. Thin but covered in a few spots...but mostly just great fun.
Great advice given to us to drive out to Valin rather than ride out. Much different out there..Vince is cool. Woulda paid stupid $ to not have to drive back to the hotel in Sag...and he was solid with me.
Looking at the groom map in the morning and loop somewhere tomorrow. So good to be out there ! 😁😀

I drive all the way to Western Massachusetts from Southern NJ to pick up a new sled and while waiting I look outside in the used sled lot and find this. Spotted that sticker from a good distance. 

I drive all the way to Western Massachusetts from Southern NJ to pick up a new sled and while waiting I look outside in the used sled lot and find this. Spotted that sticker from a good distance. 

I drive all the way to Western Massachusetts from Southern NJ to pick up a new sled and while waiting I look outside in the used sled lot and find this. Spotted that sticker from a good distance. 

I drive all the way to Western Massachusetts from Southern NJ to pick up a new sled and while waiting I look outside in the used sled lot and find this. Spotted that sticker from a good distance. 

Slow to post anything but here it is. Stayed with Reggie and did loops from the Drakkar.
Thursday went west on 23 to La Cabanon up 345 and back on 360, 23. Chased Shaggy and his better half around on their new Assaults but couldn't keep up . Conditions were good. Loved coming back on 360. Glad we did St Michel area on Thursday as you could tell there was more traffic in that area. Weekend prob would have been miserable. 
Friday nice and cold! Ran to La Tuque via 351, 355 back on 73, 353, 23, 302. 1 crew member blew his 800R next to the airport in La Tuque after lunch. Couldn't have happened in a better place. Could literally see the Motoneige clubhouse from where his sled sat. Made a few calls and turned out the president of the club had a truck and was willing to drive him back to Drakkar for $150CAN. Couldn't beat that! Nice guy too from what I was told. Again trails were nice. 351 clearly had not been groomed since the weekend even though the map showed it had been groomed. Was still fresh snow from the week and had a single lane running it. Was smooth though so no problems. 355 was a blast! 73 was a great run back too. We really enjoyed this loop.
Saturday was again cold but no problems. Ran back out 302, 353 to 23 and back around on some local trails. Nice easy day. Traffic was picking up by end of the day so we hit the train station and back to Drakkar before Pascal took us out for a wild night not suitable for this forum. All in all a great time. Beat looking at the grass at home for sure. 

Looking at your trip and have never ridden this section west of rdl. Wondering a few things. How long of a ride is this typically? Is this a busy section that on weekends could have the police out with radar? Is there another return route one might suggest and lastly where to leave from in Levis that’s clean and safe
Thanks in advance 
mike 

I downloaded the most current version from the google drive link and on my Garmin Oregon 450T i had the same issue with the trail being very thin white lines. Same as said before that in base camp they look fine with the color codes associated with the different trails. 

10 January
-10c cold with the windchill 
groomers are out. Saw one by the snow dump by moto thibault in trois riveres paving the way for playhard.
snow removal at a standstill 12 of us waiting in Tim Hortons for a replacement snowblower. $$$$ gonna be costly for the boss tonight. All part of the game.
big trucks big bucks

Did a mini saddlebag out of Drakkar . Arrived Sunday afternoon, out for a quick spin and a beer just to make sure everything was in working order. Trails were a little bouncy , esp the 3. But all normal for a Sunday afternoon.
Mon morn we had breakfast at the Drakkar(much improved), and the 4 of us headed west. Normally we go North or East, but based on reports of a flooded St Anne river in St Ray, and thin snow in the valley near Lac st.jean we decided to head west and do mini  loops.Headed west on 23, past Cabin on the Hill, and the ski area. Not a big fan of this trail. Its tight and twisty and not much to see. Did ride down to the Hotel Sacacomie. This place is worth a look if youve never been. Incredible Log building perched above a Lake. 
We spent 1 nite at Real Masse. This is a fun spot and the owners are super friendly and good english.  Went by the Cabanon, and wow,... I definitly would not go near that place on a weekend. On a tuesday there were at least 40 trucks in their parking lot and the trails in and out of there showed a little snirt with a few rocks to boot. Reminded me of Pittsburg NH. Spent tuesday night at the Central in St.Michel. Decent food, better Bar. Rode around Lac Taureau, and on the Lac as well. Visited the massive Auberge on the way up to the dam. Definitly a 1% er hangout. Also Canada Adventure....almost affordable, and what a spot overlooking the lake. 
Rode back to Shawini in steady snow wednsday . 23, 345, 360. 360 is gorgeous trail, as well as fast, though we were pushing 8 inches of freshie, and steering was a bit dicey.The trails were 90% good, but the constant lite snow kept our speed down.
The trails up there now will be near perfection, as ICE reported, there was a new foot of snow when we returned, and the trails were already good before this.
Reggie, Nancy and Pascal are doing a great job with the Drakkar, and it appeared full when we left fri morn. The next 6 days are going to be cold so the trails should get hard,flat and fast.  Pure Quebec.
And heres a flashback to the Old Safari days.............https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0novpU6MJXQ
 
 

10 January 
snow stopped temps dropping solid 11-12” this storm in total. 3 more nights in the truck. 
Gotta go to bed. 
Trails gonna be sweet next week after the cold and grooming. Will be a madhouse this weekend, glad I work. 

9 january
light snow
back in truck another 2-3inches while i was asleep today

9 January 
0c Snow Machine on. Started back snowing good about 11pm. On and off in bursts all night. Now full on. Supposed to go until 9pm tomorrow much the same on and off. 8” Total so far since midnight monday. 
15.5 hour shift home now and off to bed. Back at 6:30pm tonight to do it all over again. No rest for the wicked. Riding will have to wait for me anyway. 

Monday Lac Bouchette to old Scooby Raid / Mont Vilian. All trails until close to Mont Vilian were real nice, then no grooming and lacking snow. Today/ Tuesday we stayed on the Monts Valin and it is all excellent, groomers running. We went to Relais Wapishish very nice people and Jeff speaks perfect English. New cottages to stay at also. Sorry no pics because internet here at Auberge 31 is slow. 

I only grow grass for a living. As in turf, for golf courses. 

I only grow grass for a living. As in turf, for golf courses. 

I only grow grass for a living. As in turf, for golf courses. 

7 January 
back in Quebec home again.
-14c liking what i see since i been gone. 
Nice. 

Trails are incredible conditions 2 week Canadian vacation over get out there now! 

What a difference a day makes! Trails were much better today. Cold set in and we rode to Lake Bouchette mostly a white carpet ride on fresh groomed trails. La Tuque 351 to 355 up to here was really nice. Sorry I am not much of a picture taker but trust me it was nice! 7f out now👍 Enjoying supper at Auberge Eva with a few other Quebec riders Skidoo 420 and another.

Trails around here are “good” but they really need cold weather and snow in that order. It was 35 here today 🙁 they are calling for snow Monday night and Tuesday as well as colder weather so fingers crossed. Still haven’t decided on tomorrow’s destination, either 100 lacs or Gouin. Also I was told the 83 from Parent to Relais 22 is open and groomed

Arrived at Drakkar about 8pm this evening greeted by Reggie  smiling ear to ear. He said we are the first Americans this winter. Looks like plenty of snow, tomorrow we ride local then take off Sunday until the 12th towards LSJ and  where ever  trails take us. Bonjour !