Gullyrider

I haven't heard any provincial numbers, but our club was up for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 471 from last year's 425  To put things in perspective, the 46 membership increase from last year would have represented more than half of our total membership back when I became club secretary in the late eighties.
We were a bit concerned as rumours swirled that the "COVID crowd" were selling off their sleds and returning to their snowbird ways, but apparently such was not the case.
One of our neighbouring clubs suffered a significant  decrease in membership, but since, under the new financing model, a club's revenues will be based more on hours of grooming than membership sales, their finances won't take as serious a hit.
Now that all Québec clubs are under the new model, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.  Time will tell ... 
Happy New Year to y'all by the way!

I haven't heard any provincial numbers, but our club was up for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 471 from last year's 425  To put things in perspective, the 46 membership increase from last year would have represented more than half of our total membership back when I became club secretary in the late eighties.
We were a bit concerned as rumours swirled that the "COVID crowd" were selling off their sleds and returning to their snowbird ways, but apparently such was not the case.
One of our neighbouring clubs suffered a significant  decrease in membership, but since, under the new financing model, a club's revenues will be based more on hours of grooming than membership sales, their finances won't take as serious a hit.
Now that all Québec clubs are under the new model, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.  Time will tell ... 
Happy New Year to y'all by the way!

On behalf of the Québec Hill and Gully Riders, I wish all of our American friends a Very Happy Fourth of July!  It seems like only a few short months ago since I posted a similar message but ... there you go!  

On behalf of the Québec Hill and Gully Riders, I wish all of our American friends a Very Happy Fourth of July!  It seems like only a few short months ago since I posted a similar message but ... there you go!  

On behalf of the Québec Hill and Gully Riders, I wish all of our American friends a Very Happy Fourth of July!  It seems like only a few short months ago since I posted a similar message but ... there you go!  

On behalf of the Québec Hill and Gully Riders, I wish all of our American friends a Very Happy Fourth of July!  It seems like only a few short months ago since I posted a similar message but ... there you go!  

On behalf of the Québec Hill and Gully Riders, I wish all of our American friends a Very Happy Fourth of July!  It seems like only a few short months ago since I posted a similar message but ... there you go!  

I've got some great news for riders in the Lac La Blanche - Montpelier area.  The venerable Hotel Lac Schryer has been slowly transformed and re-opened under the new name Auberge Chantalain.  Back in my yout', when we dragged trails with Alpines and old bedsprings, this establishment was ably managed by https://www.fcfq.coop/avis-de-deces/lorenzo-lemay-154384/ whose bevy of lovely daughters served snacks and quarts into the wee hours.  It included a dance floor, stage, pool table .. and even a hydraulic bucking bull!  It was the "second home" of the Hill & Gully Riders, and, being a daylong trip, was an overnight destination (it now takes under an hour!).  Eventually, like most of these rural hotels, it fell on hard times and closed in the mid-eighties.  Most of us expected to see it burn down or be demolished.
Astonishingly, the building remained in pretty good shape and, just before COVID hit, Chantal and Alain purchased it and began a slow but steady renovation project.  They had a "soft opening" last fall, but are now open seven days a week, with food (pizzas, pub grub) from Thursdays to Sundays.  The response has been so good, I expect that they'll expand that service ... if they can find the help.
I have been working with the iMotoneige folks to get the Auberge on the map, and we hope it doesn't suffer the fate of so many area establishments.  The Boréal (formerly Riopel's) in Montpelier is yet to re-open, and most places in Val-des-Bois have closed.  Hope springs eternal for the Boréal however, and they're offering big discounts to sledders and ATV'er's on their newly renovated rooms.  Fingers and toes are crossed.  
 

Most definitely! I could be wrong, but I get the impression that Chantal and Alain are just now becoming familiar with snowmobile tourism.  AMVN director Lanthier has also been working closely with them installing signage and whatnot, and I'm trying to help them out with English language media.  It's unfortunate that the only access is down a long village street (and there have already been some resident complaints about some late-night yahoo sledders - probably completely justified unfortunately), but it is what is.  Those carbides were really too sharp anyway!
COVID caused a huge upswing in snowmobile tourism in our area, and I'm hoping things can come together for what used to be Riopel's and that they can capitalize on it.  Sadly, the hotel in Val-des-Bois, which seemed to be rocking all last winter, has not survived.  Neither did the remaining sit-down restaurant (although apparently there's limited seating in the fried chicken take-out spot).  Staff shortages seem to be a major issue but I'm sure that there are other factors at play.  Oh well ... at least we got Schryer back, and our own clubhouse is rockin' weekends too!

As my buddy Rick always says ..."snowmobiling hasn't turned out to be the money-making proposition I thought it would be".

If you don't receive a reply in time, I would suggest contacting the club from which your permit was purchased.  They may be amenable to working out some sort of a partial rebate of the portion of the money they received as a good faith gesture.  In the past, our Club has rebated the amount received from the FCMQ in the case of cancellations for medical emergencies and whatnot.  

You are correct sir.

Most definitely! I could be wrong, but I get the impression that Chantal and Alain are just now becoming familiar with snowmobile tourism.  AMVN director Lanthier has also been working closely with them installing signage and whatnot, and I'm trying to help them out with English language media.  It's unfortunate that the only access is down a long village street (and there have already been some resident complaints about some late-night yahoo sledders - probably completely justified unfortunately), but it is what is.  Those carbides were really too sharp anyway!
COVID caused a huge upswing in snowmobile tourism in our area, and I'm hoping things can come together for what used to be Riopel's and that they can capitalize on it.  Sadly, the hotel in Val-des-Bois, which seemed to be rocking all last winter, has not survived.  Neither did the remaining sit-down restaurant (although apparently there's limited seating in the fried chicken take-out spot).  Staff shortages seem to be a major issue but I'm sure that there are other factors at play.  Oh well ... at least we got Schryer back, and our own clubhouse is rockin' weekends too!

As my buddy Rick always says ..."snowmobiling hasn't turned out to be the money-making proposition I thought it would be".

As my buddy Rick always says ..."snowmobiling hasn't turned out to be the money-making proposition I thought it would be".

I've got some great news for riders in the Lac La Blanche - Montpelier area.  The venerable Hotel Lac Schryer has been slowly transformed and re-opened under the new name Auberge Chantalain.  Back in my yout', when we dragged trails with Alpines and old bedsprings, this establishment was ably managed by https://www.fcfq.coop/avis-de-deces/lorenzo-lemay-154384/ whose bevy of lovely daughters served snacks and quarts into the wee hours.  It included a dance floor, stage, pool table .. and even a hydraulic bucking bull!  It was the "second home" of the Hill & Gully Riders, and, being a daylong trip, was an overnight destination (it now takes under an hour!).  Eventually, like most of these rural hotels, it fell on hard times and closed in the mid-eighties.  Most of us expected to see it burn down or be demolished.
Astonishingly, the building remained in pretty good shape and, just before COVID hit, Chantal and Alain purchased it and began a slow but steady renovation project.  They had a "soft opening" last fall, but are now open seven days a week, with food (pizzas, pub grub) from Thursdays to Sundays.  The response has been so good, I expect that they'll expand that service ... if they can find the help.
I have been working with the iMotoneige folks to get the Auberge on the map, and we hope it doesn't suffer the fate of so many area establishments.  The Boréal (formerly Riopel's) in Montpelier is yet to re-open, and most places in Val-des-Bois have closed.  Hope springs eternal for the Boréal however, and they're offering big discounts to sledders and ATV'er's on their newly renovated rooms.  Fingers and toes are crossed.  
 

As my buddy Rick always says ..."snowmobiling hasn't turned out to be the money-making proposition I thought it would be".

I've got some great news for riders in the Lac La Blanche - Montpelier area.  The venerable Hotel Lac Schryer has been slowly transformed and re-opened under the new name Auberge Chantalain.  Back in my yout', when we dragged trails with Alpines and old bedsprings, this establishment was ably managed by https://www.fcfq.coop/avis-de-deces/lorenzo-lemay-154384/ whose bevy of lovely daughters served snacks and quarts into the wee hours.  It included a dance floor, stage, pool table .. and even a hydraulic bucking bull!  It was the "second home" of the Hill & Gully Riders, and, being a daylong trip, was an overnight destination (it now takes under an hour!).  Eventually, like most of these rural hotels, it fell on hard times and closed in the mid-eighties.  Most of us expected to see it burn down or be demolished.
Astonishingly, the building remained in pretty good shape and, just before COVID hit, Chantal and Alain purchased it and began a slow but steady renovation project.  They had a "soft opening" last fall, but are now open seven days a week, with food (pizzas, pub grub) from Thursdays to Sundays.  The response has been so good, I expect that they'll expand that service ... if they can find the help.
I have been working with the iMotoneige folks to get the Auberge on the map, and we hope it doesn't suffer the fate of so many area establishments.  The Boréal (formerly Riopel's) in Montpelier is yet to re-open, and most places in Val-des-Bois have closed.  Hope springs eternal for the Boréal however, and they're offering big discounts to sledders and ATV'er's on their newly renovated rooms.  Fingers and toes are crossed.  
 

I've got some great news for riders in the Lac La Blanche - Montpelier area.  The venerable Hotel Lac Schryer has been slowly transformed and re-opened under the new name Auberge Chantalain.  Back in my yout', when we dragged trails with Alpines and old bedsprings, this establishment was ably managed by https://www.fcfq.coop/avis-de-deces/lorenzo-lemay-154384/ whose bevy of lovely daughters served snacks and quarts into the wee hours.  It included a dance floor, stage, pool table .. and even a hydraulic bucking bull!  It was the "second home" of the Hill & Gully Riders, and, being a daylong trip, was an overnight destination (it now takes under an hour!).  Eventually, like most of these rural hotels, it fell on hard times and closed in the mid-eighties.  Most of us expected to see it burn down or be demolished.
Astonishingly, the building remained in pretty good shape and, just before COVID hit, Chantal and Alain purchased it and began a slow but steady renovation project.  They had a "soft opening" last fall, but are now open seven days a week, with food (pizzas, pub grub) from Thursdays to Sundays.  The response has been so good, I expect that they'll expand that service ... if they can find the help.
I have been working with the iMotoneige folks to get the Auberge on the map, and we hope it doesn't suffer the fate of so many area establishments.  The Boréal (formerly Riopel's) in Montpelier is yet to re-open, and most places in Val-des-Bois have closed.  Hope springs eternal for the Boréal however, and they're offering big discounts to sledders and ATV'er's on their newly renovated rooms.  Fingers and toes are crossed.  
 

Get a grip!  I've met guys barely in control around corners, one who felt compelled to raise three fingers just before he almost plowed into me!  I usually give the hand signalers a polite nod, by my hands remain krazy glued to the bars.

There is currently a strict moratorium on the development or accreditation of additional federated snowmobile trails.  It stems from the earlier initiative concerning the rationalizing of the network and the consolidation of smaller clubs.  I haven't heard of it being lifted any time soon.

Well that looks just grand!  By the way, one of our club's board members, a talented young lady and a rising star in our Canadian federal government, has a Masters Degree in translation and heads up a large translating section.  My written French is pretty weak, and she has been translating all of our Club's correspondence for me.  Lately, however, she put me on to https://www.deepl.com/en/translator which has become so good she refers to it as "The Devil".  The only problem is ... it's too good.  I was writing in French in Outlook, letting that program highlight my mistakes, and then I learned from them.  I'm afraid now I just type away in English in Deepl, then cut and paste the translation into whatever correspondence I'm having with our members or the FCMQ.  Too easy ... but I'm afraid my efforts to perfect my French writing skills have taken a back seat.  Oh well ... at least our Francophone club members are being better served in them mother tongue!

Well that looks just grand!  By the way, one of our club's board members, a talented young lady and a rising star in our Canadian federal government, has a Masters Degree in translation and heads up a large translating section.  My written French is pretty weak, and she has been translating all of our Club's correspondence for me.  Lately, however, she put me on to https://www.deepl.com/en/translator which has become so good she refers to it as "The Devil".  The only problem is ... it's too good.  I was writing in French in Outlook, letting that program highlight my mistakes, and then I learned from them.  I'm afraid now I just type away in English in Deepl, then cut and paste the translation into whatever correspondence I'm having with our members or the FCMQ.  Too easy ... but I'm afraid my efforts to perfect my French writing skills have taken a back seat.  Oh well ... at least our Francophone club members are being better served in them mother tongue!

Well that looks just grand!  By the way, one of our club's board members, a talented young lady and a rising star in our Canadian federal government, has a Masters Degree in translation and heads up a large translating section.  My written French is pretty weak, and she has been translating all of our Club's correspondence for me.  Lately, however, she put me on to https://www.deepl.com/en/translator which has become so good she refers to it as "The Devil".  The only problem is ... it's too good.  I was writing in French in Outlook, letting that program highlight my mistakes, and then I learned from them.  I'm afraid now I just type away in English in Deepl, then cut and paste the translation into whatever correspondence I'm having with our members or the FCMQ.  Too easy ... but I'm afraid my efforts to perfect my French writing skills have taken a back seat.  Oh well ... at least our Francophone club members are being better served in them mother tongue!

Well that looks just grand!  By the way, one of our club's board members, a talented young lady and a rising star in our Canadian federal government, has a Masters Degree in translation and heads up a large translating section.  My written French is pretty weak, and she has been translating all of our Club's correspondence for me.  Lately, however, she put me on to https://www.deepl.com/en/translator which has become so good she refers to it as "The Devil".  The only problem is ... it's too good.  I was writing in French in Outlook, letting that program highlight my mistakes, and then I learned from them.  I'm afraid now I just type away in English in Deepl, then cut and paste the translation into whatever correspondence I'm having with our members or the FCMQ.  Too easy ... but I'm afraid my efforts to perfect my French writing skills have taken a back seat.  Oh well ... at least our Francophone club members are being better served in them mother tongue!