jak

I'm pretty certain that the affected businesses and many of the public especially in small and remote areas already know the value of snowmobilers to their business. The impact may not always be positive as there are many "entitled" sledders out there. Although they are the minority the results of their actions are felt and remembered more than the majoritys actions. I can tell you from more than 30 years of club and trail work experience that reroutes and trail closures are not something the clubs want to do (just more work for volunteers to do) but are a necessity based on circumstances. JMHO

I agree, I have felt it is the larger launch points ( Cities ) that are not seeing\realizing the economic impact of our involvement in their areas. I'll use Jonquiere area as an example. The main trail ( 83 ) has been moved and rerouted and cut-off and rerouted through the town and you get the feeling the Town does not give a crap or see us as a valuable resource. The club(s) has fought for us over and over again.
So with a drop in length of season this year and fewer sleds..... will it open the eyes of the business communities...???
Will it translate into more acceptance as a revenue engine and an embracing of the fact you want the Trailz running to your door not pushed out to the periphery.
Just thinking out loud.
GutZ
 
 
 
 

Just back from the Delta, so a quick update.
The Grooming Teams are doing a great job with what they have to work with,,,,,, but they dont have much to work with around town and in the lower elevations.
With all the traffic from the foreigners ( hahahahaha) the trails are not holding a grooming long, smoother on the way out, than a few hours later, stutters back in.
It was great seeing everyone!
Please set your expectations appropriately.....
Later
GutZ

We are finding more relays\restaurants ( at Hotels, etc...\etc.. are closed on Monday -Wednesday, no employees... and everything bumped up in cost...
GutZ
 

Ice Road Trucker???....@%$&^*!!...absolutely brilliant...he must be up for a promotion.

Eustis Maine, on the Arnold Snowmobile Trail System -Bigelow lodge trail posted on FB , 02/16/24. Oh-oh. 

Will  do Jack,  you know what Pat's like I'm guessing flights will be booked in 4 weeks or so .. lol   

Probably A long shot but I’m looking to head up to val’dor-Amos area in the next few days. I have nobody to ride with wondering if there’s anybody up there that will let me tag along in a group I wouldn’t be saddlebagging at all just day trips out of one location. I’m a very experienced rider with a new 2024 sled. Figured I’d throw it out there. Maybe I get lucky

Indeed, for sure. I enjoyed some 5000-7000+ mile seasons in the nineties. I have gotten fussy in my old age. I need a complety interconnected trail system, with good winter conditions that allow me to launch from Maine. I haven't given up yet, but if don't ride, then so be it. I am not going to spend the time and resources to do something I will be disappointed in, and possibly damage equipment. There is still hope, if it doesn't happen, then 2025. Good day, and good Farming. Keep yer stick on the ice. 😉

I sent invitations to my great aunts Nora & Esther to the party, but they have not RSVP’d yet.  I would like to see them at least once this season….nor’easter.

I have NEVER seen this board this quiet, conditions non existent damn near everywhere, and moral so down in the snowmobiling community. It is literally depressing beyond comprehension. I guess we all have so many other things in life to be thankful for and I’m sure we all are in our own ways (and so am I) but anyone reading this is a tried and true die hard snowmobiler and knows what it takes to be one. Countless hours, money, time and devotion to try and get a couple days/weeks every year doing what we all love so much. To see it all go to complete shit is sad beyond belief. 
 
o.k. enough ranting. But this is how I truly feel:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C28S0rKgbOU/?igsh=Mzc3ZTVlOWMwZA==

Useless, other than motivational eye-candy view from the "body-shop"...
 

Forwarded from home on 2/13/24, Putnam County NY.    :  (     

A tiny bit of snow here and there and if they don’t give up we can have an AWESOME end to the season!

900 with all this gear and my big a— on it

https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvE2n1RWGO
https://www.relive.cc/view/v7O9G2xD7Lq
https://www.relive.cc/view/vPv4VdEPw36
 
https://www.relive.cc/view/vevY375XVy6

Hi Don.  Sometimes after the day's ride it is tough to sit down and bang away at the keyboard but it is worth it.  I like reading your posts too and all the other folks that contribute.  It keeps our community together.
Hope you can get a little more riding in.  Have a great summer.
Jack & Sandi

Alright, here I am!!! It was a much-needed get away as lots of my friends teachers are gone on sick leave and report cards to be done by Monday. I had to be in the nature for a bit. 
I don't know if we're lucky or what, but we got some great trails considering the kind of year that it is. Born and raised in Quebec all my life ... I have never seen it like that ever. Even I'm surpised. Never had to fully open my jacket in February... 😳

Love the new helmet, I get a better look when I cross the street, there is no air leaking through which will be great in colder temperature since my previous helmet had the air vents on my chin broken open. I also love the color/look  turquoise! It's also much lighter than my other one so I feel the difference after a couple of hours of riding. 

New radios are great too. My favorite? It's to hear other people talk when we're set in mesh... I like to spy and sometimes jump in the conversation!! ahahah like yesterday! I almost got free chips! 

Like lover said, was the first time passing people, i'm not the fastest but not the slowest either... I was getting bored behind them... I don't understand why they never let us pass them. When I see some people catching up to me I tell Don and we let them go by. I mean if you caught up, you should pass us, no? They had several occasions (road-crossing) and the leader of the pack never really looked back. Anyway, we got through, one of them got nervous a little. 
I thought I was back on an old trip in April in Matane at some spots like you can see on the pictures. BUt the rest was really good. I'm happy!!

It was the second time that I passed the bar of the 300 km in one day. Proud. Even though I was maybe too tired for that, and the boys never stop for lunch. 😒
 
First real riding in the pack with Snohorse cause I was the middle. I felt safe knowing he was behind me. 
I also got to lead most of today, calling out coming sleds, studying the turns on my own, basically reading the trails for myself, looking where  it goes and all. I also got to ride on my private groomed trail, you know, the one all the way on the right!! 👌 Best place to ride. Some turns were mushy so a little harder to deal with for me, but I managed. 
Even yesterday at the end of the day on the TQ5 coming to the hotel I still had my private trail even though hundreds of sleds had passed by.  Got to love it!  

To the next time, I truly believe we'll get more snow ... I mean it's QUebec here.
Otherwise I'll be shocked that that was the winter 2024. (But it would mean an early start of paddling season with a small spring flood. ) 🙂 
GOt to have more than one hobby. 

Til next time. 
 
IMG_2117.HEIC

Thanks for all the detailed reports each day, I know what goes into putting it together and taking time to post. Much appreciated 

Have a safe trip home Jack,  it was great to see you and Sandi again and swap stories.  Pat said thanks again for the fudge including the ones I've managed to eat.. have a wonderful summer and hopefully see you guys next February...
G&P 

Saturday Feb 10
Rain and freezing rain overnight. Got up to survey situation 7:30. Not raining, radar showing worst is past so, off to breakfast then we will make a go out to check things out. Its warm though. 
 
Dressed down best we could, first damn helmet I had that doesn’t leak air. Solid and warm. 
 
Mrs Ice has to do class work for monday so we are going out and around back early. The plan was perfectly timed as we returned to Univerel it began to rain again an still gray and sprinkling on and off. 
 
Left hotel and another first this trip, I neglected to mention yesterday it was the first time for Mrs to negotiate through a pack of 5 two up sleds as we passed. I will let her tell you. Nicely done. Cleanly safely and politely. As could be. 
Today the first is over the bridge right here to the orange trail. Hey it’s the little milestones that keep me going. This is a new trail for me as was the 518 yesterday. Still nice here but we are sweating, Jackets open and snow soft. Too warm to enjoy. But not raining. 
 
Orange local along the 20 to St Andre here to 559 boney along roads and crossings. It is what it is. Otherwise very nice. Greens and orange. Everyone touring running TQ 5 and it shows. 
559 to TQ 5 east to 561 the to Club house for a break there. The 526 is next it was showing some use. Too warm but starting to get more cloudy and windy. One two up and a single holding us up a bit. The two up leading is one you have those dreams about. The one where you are in you lane minding your business and round next turn comes this guy keeping cemter left. Wow. 
Caro was leading us and she said I am so afraid watching this guy. Afraid I am going to see something I don’t want to. She gets it. Very proud of her progress she soaks it all in. The force is strong in this one. 
Finally they go left on orange to join TQ5 we continue 526 up to TQ85 railbed bike path holdind up great, after relay at TQ5/85 here its got some ugly looking spots by peat moss bogs. Bad.
Into town not worst i seen. Asphalt all bare basically everywhere.
back with whopping 75 miles but Wife had fun and so did we, too warm now starting to rain again. This adventure is being called. Until next time RDL
We will return
will it be this year?  Who knows
Mrs Ice gets all credit for photography 

 
 

you might have gotten what was left...it's certainly better than the 61 degrees and hard rain here in mass....guess it's good for the lawns...wish I was there riding ..hopefully the next month will treat us better...great pictures and live report

Hi Jack and Sandy, for some reason I'm unable to put likes on posts. But we've been following your story and certainly appreciate being able to ride along from Ohio. Looks like you've been able to overcome your injury and make the best of a not ideal winter. You are an inspiration to us all!  Enjoy your summer, and hope to see you next year.   .. Jeff and Sandy

We are back from today's ride. We went out 383 to St Bruno and then the local trails to the bridge in Alma.  From there to Relais du Lac and back to the Delta via 93.
Most of the riding was still OK but it was warm.  In the woods, it is still good but the road crossings, the fields and the south facing hills are turning from snirt to dirt.  Any road running is pretty bare.  It is forecast to stay above freezing overnight and thru tomorrow.  Then the temps are suppose to drop but still no snow or only a centimeter or two.  A storm is what is needed after this warm up.
There are still areas that have decent snow and very rideable but you may have to go thru some bad stuff to get there.
The groomers are still out and managing to do the amazing with what little snow they have to work with.  I don't think they will be out tonight since it is going to be warm but they may prove me wrong.
We are loading up and heading home tomorrow.  We were going to head home Sunday but decided not to ride tomorrow and take the black trail instead.
If we don't come back up again, we wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe year.
Jack & Sandi