snowfarmer

Day 4 
February 6
 
Great dinner at Forestel and a great sleep. This morning no hurry as we are not early risers. We got all day and this group can get it done. After all this is supposed to be fun so, what’s the hurry to run outside too early? Not us. We take our time, nice breakfast and on way out of restaurant I meet the owner of Hotel Forestel, Robert. We had a great conversation. Super nice guy. Finally dressed and sleds loaded, 9:45 departure, perfect. We are headed for Amos. We track down into town and out the local trail from in back of Beric Sport. Cold this AM. Even now. Ice is Icy. To the 309 which we rode yesterday back to Val d’or. Great conditions here on 309 and totally different in daytime. We run it all the way to TQ93, then stop at warming hut there to thaw out a bit. Fire was going and heat felt good. 
 
We continue on the 93 west. Good trail here always nice never disappoints. We cruise into Amos and go to get gas near the Bombardier dealer off the river. Here I finally get to meet Viper2 as his group is there getting gas too. We talk a little while. They are headed for Royaun Noranda, we are northbound for Matagami. Nice to finally meet Viper2 a fellow Yamaha brother. We take time to warm up some at the gas station. Out of there around noon. To Matagami we go. Through Amos all good. Up to 396 and beautiful just awesome fresh groomed no tracks going north. Just on southbound side. Hard fast trail. No gas in St. Dominique. Big sign warning next gas in Matagami. We will be spilling some cans for sure. Oh we we gots to be going. I am not into conserving gas, aint gonna happen. Big fast beautiful trail, we gonna ride them like we stole them. So we do. Beautiful conditions but wicked cold at speed for hours straight. I am on a mission to get to warming hut. 141 km from gas in Amos to Warming hut. Beautiful conditions. Crossed paths with two groups headed south. First group not well behaved. Trail two groomers wide and these guys are on my side in the corner. Seriously people? You need to ride each corner like someone is coming every turn. I really just don’t get it. Stupid. Is it really that hard to keep right? If you cannot stick it on the right every corner, you are riding above your abilities, simple as that. Slow down or sell the sled it’s just a matter of time till your time is up. You are gonna hurt someone. Ok rant over. 
 
Into warming hut at 2:15. Fire was almost out. Kwiknick gets it torquing good. We thaw out nicely and take a nice long break. Improvised lunch of snack size candy bars,(Kwiknick has got a giant stash of chocolate) and some pepperoni snacks thanks to NH Moose. Mmm good. We have a conversation about gas. I am already riding on my low fuel light. So is Kwiknick. No choice we dump some now. We got 60km to go. I got a one gallon roto-pak but NHmoose gives me his Ski Doo jerry can as his 900 ace should cruise into Matagami no problem. Merci, Mon Ami. Kwiknick pours his jerry too. Off we go at 3pm. Another 43 km and Snohorse calls on radio his backcountry is getting close to be out. I stop he pours half a can. He keeps half, as Kwiknick is already back on his low fuel light. Good choice as Kwiknick is out of gas with 10km to go, Snohorse dumps the half can in Kwiknick and tells him to back it down, baby it to gas station, He been chasing me all day and hammering on that freeride. We continue on into Matagami at 4pm. Gas up and head to Hotel Matagami. Check in and unload. Glad to be here. 
 
Great trails but cold. 
 
Not a giant day today but it’s not about the miles. 
 
187 miles.
 
Until next time.
 
Ice out.

Day 2 
 
February 4
 
Great stay as usual ot Windigo, better hosts than Martine and Dan you will not find.
Full house as a gang of 14 arrived albeit around 8pm but they made it. Not sure what was up but was a group of tourists from France and 2 guides. One guide they said was the boss had his arm in a sling. Surely he didn’t ride one handed all day? I didn’t ask. Superbowl was anything but super, who cares. Sleepy gang woke up at 7am, had breakfast and checked out the fox having the chicken bones, very cool. Locked and loaded and off at 8:30am. The driveway to Windigo is way to much fun. Backtracked the necessary trail to hit the 83 west. Beautiful is an understatement to Wemotachi. Caught up to another group who left Windigo 30 minutes before us halfway to Wemo. Gas at Wemo and off to the next run on 83 west. Wow! is all I can say. Ripped it to Parent at the Gas Bar in Parent at 11:15. Good time ... this was about to change. This trip starting yesterday I have been giving Kwiknick a chance to lead. All of yesterday afternoon and all morning to date no problems. He rides like the wind but is all the way right like his old man trimming the bush on the right. Every intersection and stop he has been looking for me to give him a head nod or point the next direction. Well up until we arrived at Jct TQ13 and TQ83. I pull up after leaving Parent and he is not there. I am disappointed, he just failed his training. Inspection of ski prints yields not much to go on, my gut tells me he went down TQ 13. We stop and  wait 15 minutes then 20. Oh boy. We decide he went on 83 we go 20km and another sled headed east stops us to ask if we have seen 2 of his group 6 left Parent now they are 4. We have seen no one. We ask if he has seen the blue Freeride, NHmoose even provides a photo of the wanted subject. Big No. Obviously he went down 13 with the other 2 missing. Well we spin around. Now I am fuming mad, this kid knows better. Back to Jct 13 on the way we find the other 2 missing from the other group. I tell them their buddy is 12 km that way waiting. We ask did you see this blue Freeride? Yes headed down 13. Just great. Arrive at Jct 13-83. Now question is did he come back and go back to Parent? Or is he still headed south on the 13. Like i said before this kid knows better but obviously that is out the window. Funtime is over, this is not how we roll...spending time looking for runaways. Team got no time for nonsense. We decide he is still headed south and hopefully will be at Fer a Cheval. Off we go on a beautiful TQ13 no wonder he kept going and going. Well we get as far as the bridge there not far from 83 and here he comes back across. I let his old man lay into him as it’s not my place and I really think he now understands what he did wrong. One... did not stop at intersection (he claimed was notan intersection but he don’t know) Two....he continues over 50km before thinking about us behind him. (He was sure was only one trail and claims did not want to waste gas coming back) this youngster got plenty to learn. All back together and now it’s 1:30pm. Well lets get to Clova. We burn it to Clova, Kwiknick has had his wings clipped, I am back in front and he is in the rocking chair with Snohorse behind followed by NHmoose he won’t get away Again. Into Clova at 3:05pm gas and a soda small break. Trail has been awesome. All good. 3:30 departure for Lac Faillon,
Hammer Down now this section is good but with just recently being opened has not been groomed as much and you can tell. Right side is soft wants to suck you right over into the bush. Some big ruts and just not as fine tuned but like I said has not been groomed that many times like the rest of 83 has been. Just before Balbazard is a open water hole. Across the whole trail.  Very dangerous not marked at all. More dangerous headed west as you arrive at speed. Headed east its just after a turn so you would see it better before. Trust me...bad spot. Just after Balbazard it starts freezing rain heavy. Instant frozen shields we are stopped cold. Never seen it that bad...go a bit then need a bare hand (glove from handwarmer on bar won’t do it.) remove ice go a bit and repeat 30 minutes like that. It was shaping up to bea long ride to Faillon. After 30 minutes then it changed to ice pellets. All good. Hammered it out and arrived at Lac Faillon at 5:50pm. Good time. Full house. Bunch of off trail guys staying doing day trips, and one gang from Ontario with yet another group of Quebeckers from Royaun Noranda we met earlier were missing their 2 riders. Happy to get inside. Had a great chat with Patrick the new owner here since November. Super nice guy. Good dinner and happy to be here finally. 
 
Snowing like crazy now. 
 
525km
326miles with the bonus miles searching for Kwiknick.
 
Until next time. 
 
No plan for tomorrow as to where. West yes. 
 

A dark haze hung at tree top this morning so zig zagged the trails so as to not get to far away today. At times the haze was at ground level leaving a frozen film on the helmet shield. Early afternoon it lifted and there were sections of blue sky.
I have often mentioned the eastbound shortcut trail via the tunnels to by pass much of trail #5 leaving RDL.  Keep bearing left but not the left that goes to the Rockford Bar. There is now another left to avoid. There is a new trail to the left about 12 miles out, just as you are about to enter the Shell gas station. There are no signs, but there is a trail that goes left over the highway. Just go straight thru the Shell station and get on the trail behind the station.  Though there are no signs at this left, there are plenty of tracks going the new way, it is not a shortcut.
Speaking of the 'do not turn left' at the Rockford Bar' turn, today I turned left. Appears the trail dead ends at the bar just a couple K's from the main trail. The bar/restro looks like a home converted to a bar and is out in farm land. I gave it a try.
Inside is nothing special, but it is very quiet. Nice!  Bar and a few tables.  Started with coffee that had an ever so slightly different taste than the usual, a better taste. This is the coffee I wish I could drink every day. I had a hankering for hot chicken again after yesterday's superb offering at the club house at Isle Verte.  Bar Rockford's was even better, melt in your mouth chicken, the most tender I have ever eaten smothered in a rich gravy. I am not a fry lover but these were perfect. By far the best cole slaw ever. I did my best to let the lady cook know my great pleasure in her cooking.  She motioned the cole slaw is her own recipe.  I will return!!!
 
 

Here a must-see if you are in Lanaudière area from now to the 17th february 2019 (and maybe a bit longer): the ice sculpture festival from St-Côme
I did this small video yesterday, sorry for the snow in my lens in some sequences, conditions were not the best for filming but i'm pretty sure you will enjoy the results anyway
Alain

Our last ride for this trip.  Joe Jak is riding with us today.  Friday is always a good day to go to the truck stop in MIlot.  The map shows the groomer was out on 373 last night.  Yep that is our lunch stop for today.
Out of the corral and across the bridges.  It is still cool this morning but the trail is fine.  We take 367 to 93 and then up 554.  Everything is so nice.  A minimal amount of drifting overnight in the fields.  At Relais des Lacs Sandi and Joe switch sleds.  Joe has a 137" with the 600R and Sandi wants to compare it to her 129".  It is 328 to 553 and up thru the blueberry fields.  Sandi is running right along and Joe and myself are in the dust.  We get on 367 and take a break at Mont Vilain.  One of our favorite stops here even if it is just for coffee or hot chocolate.  Sandi says that she likes the 129" just a little better.  She says that she can go thru the corners a little faster.  Well, that is why they make so many different sleds.
Back on the sleds and down on Lac Tchitogama we go.  Plenty of snow here.  We get to the other side and we are now on 373.  Like the map showed, it is smooth.  Only a couple of tracks ahead of Sandi.  Bill mentioned there is logging operations in here.  About ten miles in and the trail is plowed.  There is a little sand on top of the snow packed road.  It only lasts for a mile and we are back in the woods.  A little further on and there is another half mile stretch.  I can live with that.  The loggers are nice enough to let us have trails.
We pull into the truck stop.  It always amazes me out here in the middle of nowhere there will be forty to fifty people here having lunch.  The lunch  special you can't beat at $12.95 plus taxes and tip.  Soup, meal, dessert and coffee is a bargain.  The food is good here.
Back on the sleds and we keep going on 373.  We get to the new intersection where 373 continues on to Girardville and trail 900 drops back down to St Augustin .  I want to ride this new trail some day but not today.
We turn onto the 900.  Hardly a bump to be felt.  We get on 93 and stop at the Depanneur in St Henri and top off the tanks.  It is getting cooler again.  At lunch it was warming up but now the sun is getting lower and the temperature is dropping.  Brrr!  It has been cold here this week and today is no different.
Sandi is off and we are in chase.  The big fields around Alma have some minor drifting but just the sides of the trail.  Thru St Nazaire and St Ambroise we go.  The sun is getting lower now and Sandi likes to be in before dark.  The long straight away by Le Geant Trailers and she is gone.  Down the little drop and into the scrubby trees.  Sandi is leaning in the corners now.  The snow dust is hanging in the air.
Wow the groomer made a pass between the two bridges today.  What a nice way to end the trip.  We are back at the Delta just as the sun is going down.  We made it back.
This season is turning out to be one of the best in years.  With snow cover all over the Northeast, low traffic from what we have seen and cold temps so the trails stand up after the groomer is making for wonderful conditions.
Thanks for following along with us.  It has been a good trip.  I didn't have to go to the SkiDoo or Chevy dealer this time.  Yea!
Until the next trip    cheers to all.
Jack & Sandi

I’d bring a bit of oil. Your out in the boonies a bit. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and find oil in places you’ll never expect and the places you expect won’t have it. 

Your riding mid week which is always better. One thing about that whole area is it has a lot of character. I’m not a big drinker but there are a lot of cool old bars to stop at and warm up and get a coffee or whatever. Food is usually pretty good at those places. Just remember to stay way right.

Today's forecast is mild and some snow.  Its blowing around pretty good here at the hotel.  Luckily it is warmer than it has been.  We get the sleds ready and take off on 83 east.
A few sleds have left before us and I'm glad they did.  Just running along 83 in Jonquiere in front of Mike's the snowbanks at the road crossings are tall.  We break our way thru.  We get over to Chicoutimi at the railroad tracks and here comes the 9:15 train.  This time he is too close and Sandi waits for the train to go by.  I see the engineer give Sandi a big thumbs up as he goes by.  I wonder if he recognized the sleds from the other day.
As we get into the fields on the other side of Chicoutimi, I see the wind has played havoc with the snow.  A fair amount of drifting has taken place overnight.  I also know Sandi doesn't have any love for snow drifts.  Keep going Sandi.  You can do it.  Some parts are just wind blown but where the fields transition with bushes or trees there are pretty good drifts across the trail.  Take your time and plow thru.  A few sleds catch up to us.  Sandi does the polite thing and pulls over to let them go by.  I think she would rather have them cut a path for her.  Wise move.
This is a little better.  We poke along and stop at Bec Scie to decide where to go.  I here someone call my name.  I look up towards the building and see Danielle.  Him and Colette got there a few minutes before us.  They were breaking the trail and decided to stop and let a few sleds get ahead of them.  We join them for hot chocolate.
A few groups of sleds go by and we decide it is time to continue on.  Danielle and Colette are heading to Auberge des Battures and we are going to make a loop down to the 83 and 383 intersection and then run 383 to Ferland.  83 is better in the woods but is only one path wide.  A good 15 cm of snow or more on the trail.  Sandi is pushing on.  There are a few sleds parked a the intersection going to St Felix.  We stay on 83.  Oh, this is nice.  This part was groomed last night.  Only 5 cm of poof on top of a nice flat trail.  Sanid picks up the pace now.
A really nice ride to the intersection and we turn right on to 383.  That must be a tour group over there at the warming hut.  I counted 18 sleds or so and most of them are identical lined up in pairs.  The riders are outside on the right side of the warming with a fire going.   Are they cooking hot dogs?  We weren't invited so carry on Sandi.  383 was groomed last night too.  Off she goes with a trail of dust behind her.  Ten miles up we get to the first local trail 22 and that is where the groomer went.  Oh well.  It was great for awhile.  Actually this isn't too bad.  It is smooth underneath.  The trail does have more snow on top.  That is fine.  Its easy enough to follow on the park road.
Zipping along we are at Relais Ferland in no time.  The gas pumps work here with a credit card.  A little strange because there is only one card reader between the diesel pumps and not on each pump individually.  You put your card in and key in which pump you want to use.  I missed the question about a gas receipt!
The snowmobile club runs this so it is nice to spend a little money here for the club.  Inside we order up lunch.  Sandi gets a cheeseburger all dressed and I get a hot dog and a side of onion rings.  The food is delivered and there is a little cup of honey for the onion rings.  I haven't seen this before but I'm not one to refuse a helping of sweet honey.  The rings do go good with the honey.
Back on the sleds and up 383.  Just a mile or so and we turn right on the next local trail 21.  Then left onto 83.  We run into a snow squall just above Bec Scie for a few miles and then it clears off.  The trail has had more traffic so the drifts have been beat down some and we are back at Jonquiere
Another nice ride here at Lac St Jean.
We have been eating at the Boston Pizza here at the Delta.  The wait staff is fine.  A couple of the former workers are also here.  The food is good.  Boston Pizza has been running a $10 special at night.  There are six or seven choices.  So far they have been good.  The downside is the special is going to end February 3rd.  I hope they come up with something as good for February.
Jack & Sandi
A pic of the sunset from the tenth floor of the Delta.  The storm has moved on.  

It is cold again this morning.  The groomer map is good.  Sandi, lets try Mt Apica or L'Etape today.
We finish up breakfast.  No buffet as you know but the food is good.  Brandon and friend are saddle bagging back towards Maine, the GutZ boys are making a short day and loading up to drive home tomorrow and others are heading north of the river.
We get on the sleds and head out 83 east.  Going thru Chicoutimi there is a train slowly coming down the tracks.  Plenty of time and Sandi scoots across.  I follow.  Around the corner we stop at the road and the gates come down for the train and stops traffic.  That is nice and we cross and go.  We are running about the same speed as the train and I notice the engineer is looking over at us.  I bet he wishes he was on a sled instead of at work.  I give a wave and I see him smile and wave back.  The trail breaks away from the train tracks and we both go on our way.
83 was groomed last night and Sandi is putting down the first tracks.  Here is a good spot to take a pic.  Sandi didn't notice that I stopped.  This will only take a minute.  Oh her phone is on Quebec Rider.  How do I get rid of this.  The print is too small to read.  What does this do?  No that is Facebook.  No that sends a message.  I Wonder who got that?  What does this icon do?  I hear sleds coming towards me.  They are going to cover up the near perfect trail.  Finally.  The camera icon appears.  There, I got a picture.  I never said I was the fastest photographer! 
 

The snow dust is just hanging in the air.  OK, now I have to catch Sandi.  Off I go.  It isn't windy today.  That is good.  Oops.  I see a headlight coming towards me and its slowing down.  Yep.  Hi Sandi.  Just trying to take a picture.
She spins around and we continue on 83.  We turn right onto 368 and it is groomed!  Hmm.  The map didn't show this being groomed.  What a nice surprise.  368 is one of Sandi's favorites an she isn't wasting any time.  I know its cold because the inside yellow shield has sparkles on it from the frost.
368 is so nice especially where it is on the old road.  Sandi just holds a steady speed and leans in and out of the corners.  Whee.  This is a fun ride.  We haven't seen anyone except that group earlier in the pic.  We are only a few clicks from the intersection with 23.  I lean right into a corner and oh oh.  There is a sled off in the poof!  It isn't yellow and black.  Good its not Sandi.  There are two guys digging it out.  Sandi stopped just up the trail.  I pull over.  Its a big Cat Pantera two up and he is six foot down. 
Is GutZ Towing Service available?
They have the sled turned half way around.  Oh, I hear more sleds coming.  Two more guys pull over.  That is good.  This old guy didn't want to be tugging a big two upper around.  I get out my tow strap.  One of the original guys speaks English and French.  The other two guys only speak French.  They beat down a path in front of the Pantera and try getting it out.  Nope.  It only digs a deeper hole.  Too steep to get any movement out of it.  I show the strap to the first guy.  He takes it and wraps it around the front suspension.  I back up the 850.  The strap is just long enough and the trail is wide here.  Sandi is playing traffic cop in case a sled comes around the corner.  We have the Pantera hooked to the back of my 850, I put a little tension on the strap and go!  One of the other guys throttles the Pantera at the same time and it pops up out of the hole.  That was a lot easier than trying to manhandle it.  The Cobra track really bites in.  Big smiles on everyone's face.  We get on our respective sleds and all take off.
At trail 23 we turn left.  This was just groomed last night and very few tracks on it yet.  This is the best I have seen 23 in a long time.  The cold temps have kept the trails in great shape.  Sandi is buzzing right along.  As we near Apica, a group of sleds pass us heading north.
We get to Apica and Sandi asks me if its open?  Not a sled here other than our two.

Do they close on Mondays?  I don't know.  Lets check.  Its 5 of 12.  The door is open and the workers are inside.  Wow.  I don't think I have ever seen no sleds here.
We order up lunch and have a seat.  A few minutes later, lunch is ready.  It is cold out but beautiful.  The trails are fantastic, very little traffic, the wind has died down and the sun is out.  As Bill would say, we are in paradise! ☺️

A shot of the ridge across the street from Apica.  The picture doesn't show it good but the snow on the trees is glistening in the sunlight.  So pretty.
We have been at Apica for 45 minutes and not one sled stopped in or even went by.
We decide to skip L'Etape and u-turn instead.  Back up 23 we go.  This is lovely.  Just sit back and enjoy.  Don't get too relaxed Jack, Sandi isn't waiting for you.  Just cruising along.  Not one sled heading south.  We have the trail to ourselves.
We make our way up to Hebertville.  Time to gas up the sleds.  We turn around and go back a few miles to 83 and turn left.  This is still fine.  We cross Kenogami and stay on 83 but now the trail isn't quite as pristine.  A little bump-pity bump.  Hmm?  This showed groomed on the map.  We push on and about five miles in, there is the drag parked on the side of the trail.  That is why it isn't groomed but the map showed groomed.  The tractor made a pass but left the drag behind.
The trail does get better as we get closer to Jonquiere.  We pull into the Ultramar and fill the sleds up and get back to the Delta.
What a good ride today.  We also did our good Samaritan deed.  Only a short section of 83 was rough.  The rest of the day was near perfection.
The forecast is saying 10 cm of snow tomorrow and a warm up but not above freezing.
Until tomorrow, be safe.
Jack & Sandi

This morning it is cold.  We are taking our time before we head out.  A lot of grooming last night. 
Sandi and I are heading towards the north side via the two bridges.  We cross the bridges and get on 367 toward St Ambroise.  Boy this is nice.  During our December trips this trail is always rough and today it is so smooth.  Thru the area where the short scrubby pine trees are and we are at Le Geant Trailer.  We turn left onto  93.  Still so smooth.  It is mid season and the snow is good.  No more snirt in the corners.
Sandi decides to stop at Relais Montangarde.  She doesn't feel 100% today and it is nasty out.  We relax for fifteen minutes with a chocolat chaud.  We get out on the sleds and a couple of red 900 Doos pull up.  Its Danielle and Collette and there is Bill too.  They are off to Relais Jos Bonka.  We chat for a few minutes and they take off.  We are heading to Relais des Lacs.
93 here we go.  We turn onto local 544 north and keep on riding.  Still so smooth.  We pull into Relais des Lacs.  A good number of sleds and a few ATVs.  We go in for a couple bowls of soup.  Soup is good on a cold and windy day. 
We take off and take a look at 328 that goes back to Begin.  No, we will pass on that trail.  328 west looks much better.  Sandi is off and running.  Some nice long runs in thru here.  All was groomed last night.  The wind is picking up a little and some minor drifting.  We get to L'Ascension and no we don't need gas so we keep on going.  Now we realize how windy it is out in these big fields.  It is getting harder to see the next pair of red stakes.  It is only a couple of miles to get back on 93 but you can just barely see the next set of stakes.  Slow down and take our time.  No sense in falling off the trail.  We poke along hunting for the next pair of stakes.  Every once in awhile and there is only one stake.  Oh what side of the stake should we be on.  We get to 93 and this is still pretty open.  The next 5 miles are tough.  A few sleds coming at us and they are just poking along hunting for red stakes too.  We finally get to Alma.  Neither one of us fell off the trail.  Good!
From here back to St Ambroise is good.  The only rough section, and it wasn't bad, was around St Charles.  We turn right onto 367 and run back thru the scrubby pine trees.  Looking up at the tops of the trees and you can see them blowing back and forth in the wind.
Back across the two bridges and in a few minutes we are back at the Delta.  We are in early today but that is OK.  Good trails but tough for visibility in the open fields.
Jack & Sandi

My sweetheart being back from her trip, she accompanied me riding yesterday to see the Black Mountain of St-Donat. We made a nice big loop of 235 miles following the route below



The bad weather last Thursday (January 24th) left some ice in the trees in the south of my area. Here on trail # 43 near home in St-Thomas



We took the #3 trail westbound. Beautiful hard and fast trail,  a bit hard (-17C this morning) so I lowered a scratchcher for security but not really necessary.



Here a river in  St-Roch l'Achigan area. A little scary but it's just some water that had risen on the ice and frozen there, very solid. We crossed several rivers and they were all in good condition, this one being the worst



In St-Lin direction, still some ice  in the trees and perfect trail



We passed through St-Calixte ...





and ride to the #33 trail that we took in west direction(northwest)





Here on the lake at Ste-Marguerite Lake Masson



We had not seen any trace of ice for a while but here a little north of Esterel there is a still icy area. So beautiful with the sun!





And going north towards St-Donat it quickly becomes a white painted scenery





the beauties of nature ...



We turned before St-Donat to get the local trail to the Mountain





Here the view of the summit taken from the top of the belvedere ...



It was our first time on a clear day. The view is simply amazing





The gray jays were there again always as hungry



We spent quite a bit of time at the summit as we improvised a dinner/snacks there. Cold for the fingers but it allowed us to enjoy the place a little longer. No it's not one of her finger that the bird is eating but a piece of saucage!!!


We then continued on the other side of the mountain(north)





the north side trail is also really nice to ride/see and the snow is really good





We crossed the Archambault Lake to return to St-Donat and refuel



And then returned to the east by the #33 trail,  first part was somewhat bumpy but we met the dozer there



We passed the Coin Lavigne, joined the #63 trail and ride back down to Ste-Émilie de l'Energie



Where we crossed another dozer


 
We stopped to have a good meal break around 5:00 PM in St-Jean de Matha before continuing and come back home around 7:30 PM with a total of 235 miles on the dreammeter.
In the end, the bad weather of last week has not damaged the trails and on the contrary had increase the snow to the ground. In fact the snow is impressive especially on the north side, we are really spoiled this season with a really better than average snow cover.
The best of the season is now,  don't wait because it is too cold: it's winter !!! go out and enjoy, it's now that it is happening !!!
You can still take a look here to see trails details in the trail condition section or use the rest of the site as a planning helper for your next trip: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
Alain

A great little clubhouse, stopped there for breakfast after leaving the Universal a week ago. 

Days 3 and 4
Out of Chicoutamee up around LSJ to St Felician to Hotel JUdan for the night. Trails all in mint condition. Passed more sleds in the first hour then the previous 2 days combined. Plan was to head to Windigo to hook up with skidoo 420. Toms sled is done and is at DU Ravage. Tom makes the 320 mile solo run to windigo. Finally all together! Great night with skidoo 420 and his buddy Dave. TQ 83 tracked up with about 6-8” of fresh snow. Groomer was headed East out of relais 22. After saying our good byes in the morning me Eric and Tom headed 83 west to wemaci. Ungroomed . Fueled up and bingo groomer right at the beginning of the 83! SWEET!!!! Took that to the 345 and also fresh groomed! Set up like concrete! Kanawsta for lunch and into Canada Adventure for the night. Tq 33 south good and bad. In the morning tom heads to shawinigan, me and Eric 2 more days of riding.

Woke up this morning to a brisk-22f Toms apex dead battery. Get the cute hostess to bring her truck over for a jump, cranks over but won’t fire up. Close to an hour later finally fired up. 10am departure on the 360 to Matawin for lunch an say goodbye to Tom as he is headed back to his truck in trois rivieras. The 360 in wonderful shape low traffic for a Saturday. After lunch deceided to head to La Tuque for the night. Up the 355 also in super shape and again very few sleds. Usually headed north on a Saturday afternoon there coming at ya like bullets! Into the Marineau for the night. Back to the truck in the morning. Limited pics, baterry kaput from the cold

Figured I would resurrect this thread from last year and share some of the deneigement adventures this year. 
While rumors abound, that I have hung up my helmet, let me assure you this is not the case. Like fine whiskey or tequila the trails are the same, they just get better with age and as a true conoisseur of tequila, whiskey and trails, I along with the “Team” know the best of the riding is yet to come. That said I will be headed out next weekend. 
Been wicked busy doing deneigement, to the point I actually began to curse this snow but after several long shifts of 16-20hrs plus I think you can understand where I am coming from. If not then go ride 16-20 hrs sleep 5 hrs do it again, then repeat, then repeat again. It’s been non stop. Deneigement at night and my regular job as well, albeit much more slow in the winter still has it’s demands. 
Anyway last night we finished up the Zones of Trois Riveres that are ours. City is divided into zones, companies bid for deneigement by Zone. We won two more zones this year, one being downtown centerville. Sounds great but it’s a nightmare. Double the operators double the drivers/trucks(many trucks we use subcontractors as we have only 6 to haul snow. 3 semi and 3 twelve wheelers or “douze roue”. 4 plow and sand trucks (big ones) and 4 small sanders. A fleet of sidewalk plows, 5 snowblowers (big mounted on front of loaders) and another fleet of 28 loaders with various buckets and blades to do snow, plus 2 graders. 
Anyway after this last storm we finished for the ville last night now great however we also have a list of commercial customers a long list. Last night after wrapping up the ville at midnight we started doing the Hospital St Marie in Trois Riveres. One crew loading with bucket loader the other with snowblower. 9 trucks. 12-8am we are  3/4 done with that. Back tonight to finish then we move on down the list. We got 2 nights at least left and more snow on the way and then we start it all again from zero.
snow dumps are getting full going to be interesting come end of February.
My semi trailer has a bad hub on the last axle on the trailer so I was in a 12 wheeler last night. Like driving a Toyota Prius compared to my tri axle trailer like a damn vacation. Love that truck.
Anyway last nights adventure involves the Bucket Loader. Let’s just say the boss is gonna be shelling out some bucks. I was returning from dump and heard on radio the guys talking about the loader being finished. Well when I arrived back I saw for myself. The upper pin that holds the giant hydraulic cylinder for tilting the bucket, broke, the cylinder jumped up and went right into the windshield and dashboard, Lucky Sylvain in the loader was not hurt. They said the noise when it broke was incredible. 
Anyway here are some pictures of the carnage. 







 
until next shift...

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. 

That’s funny Gary!  It’s a 2013.   6 years isn’t old brother!  It’s only got 23,000. miles!   Lots of life left!
My kids are 32/30/28.  
Was planning a new sled for 2020 for sure.  I was waiting for Yamaha to do something good.  Doubt it will happen.  SkiDoo is on my mind!
 

Woke up to a beautiful blue bird day today!   The replacement stator for my Apex XTX did not make the shipping cutoff yesterday from Sherbrooke so my sled won’t be ready until tomorrow.  No fret.  Staying at a great place - Le Petit Manoir du Casino in La Malbaie.  Right next door to the Casino & Manoir Richelieu.  Not a bad spot to spend 2 nights!  
Rented a new ride for the day from a great guy Pierre Couturier of Top Location Motoneige right on the property!  How convenient is that. I HIGHLY recommend Pierre.  He went WAY out of his way helping me, arranging my dead Yamaha sled pick & delivery, arranging the mechanic, driving me to my hotel with all me saddle bags & gear, translations with the mechanic & shop, texting, calls etc....
Rode out on a Ski-Doo 900 Ace Renegade.  Nice horse indeed!  Florida Snowman like!  Rode from La Malbaie to Clermont (be warned NO GAS in Clermont! Station under renovation to become a new Shell station.  Hopefully completed in a month or so). Continued on The Clermont Express up to L’ Anse-Saint-Jean. Took gas and did the reverse route back the hotel.  What a fantastic afternoon!
Hopefully my Yami is ready by early afternoon tomorrow provided the stator arrives in the morning as promised.   Jim & Eric are up in LSG tonight & will be heading my way tomorrow so we can get this party started! 


 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Nice of the sun to visit today. We wrecked a lot of freshly groomed trails today and I'm not going to lie, it was fun!
    
 

We got a late start leaving Parent this a.m. (11 or so) my buddies sled needed a repair for the air suspension and Andre from L’ Hombre du Vent fixed it good and cheap. Headed towards Clova and the trail was beautiful the whole way. Blue skies and a lot less wind today. Heading west from Parent to and including Clova has less snow than east of Parent towards Wemo. Totally doable and great just less.
Saw 4 sleds coming at us about 1/2 way mark and that was it. Had lunch in Clova (were the only ones there) Dominic reports the trail towards Faillon will have the bridges done any day and then he is sending the groomer in. He hoped Friday or Saturday but sounded a little “iffy”  Back tracked to Parent , gased up and headed towards Gouin. Ran into a group of 10 heading west again about the half way point.  You could certainly tell that half of that big group we passed yesterday stayed here at the Gouin last night as the trail coming in here had small bumps. Waitress reports 17 here for stay. Said they were from France. 
We are the only ones here tonight and just finished a GREAT Lasagna dinner and sharing a bottle of wine. The Fox is running around the parking lot waiting for some hand me outs. Water was froze in the shower in our cabin so we had to bring our stuff over and shower over at the main house. No biggie at least the toilet and bathroom sink in the cabin work. 
A GREAT day overall. Great trails, extremely low traffic, blue skies and good friends. They are calling for a solid 6” here tonight/tomorrow so that oughta be interesting. We are thinking of spending the night in Windigo tomorrow after we go to the 22 for lunch and ride some trails over there a bit. 
PEACE
 

I second this ! Stayed a few times and was always good. They have rooms or a couple of cottages you can rent. Do your own cooking if the mood moves you. Linda was just there this weekend.
The Groomer use to park there and leave from there . It’s been a couple of years not sure if it still does?

Free week end in Quebec so I get the news on the interweb Linda and company are coming to town, bring your bathing she says. Tell me more, Auberge le Vieux Moulin in St. Emelie de Energie.  I’m in! Saturday morning early rise, 2 hr drive and I’m there for breakfast at 8:15 to meet the crew. 
After a delicious omelette and some planning we’re off for a 200+ klm loop I whipped up quickly for them. Pourvoire Lac Blanc is the lunch stop, trails are flat and hard, very cold -25°C and blue sky day.
Sunday same deal 200+ klms only were looping Lac Taureau, took some convincing the crew though given it was -32°c and snowing. Bottom line....you drive 10 hrs to do what??? 50 klms later we lose 2, too cold. now we’re 5. Lunch break at Auberge Lac Taureau -39°C now but heh we’re snowmobilers right! Trails are still flat and hard but further north we get they are filling up with snow.
Le Vieux Moulin has what you need after a long cold day of riding, hot tub, pool, sauna what ever fancies you.
It was a challenging week end to say the least battling the cold was just that a battle but I do have to say Linda’s a real trooper, never seen anyone like her, not a peep out of her the whole time, lead on she says we’re here to ride let’s go! Tough as nails. 
 

After a delayed start to the trip due to a snowstorm that never happened at home.  Me and Eric headed up to Lake George where all my stuff is Sunday afternoon to find 2 ft of fresh snow and unplowed driveway. Great, quick call and he is there in an hour. Dig out switch sleds and trailer and we are good to go in the morning. Early start and get to motel Marineau shawinigan around 1:30. Quick unload, saddle up and off to the Roqumont in St Raymond for the night. TQ23, 353,  73 . Super windy, lots of drifts but great going. Quiet here tonight. Both have new 900t's. So far I'm liking it. But with lots of loose snow drifts and high winds tough to really get a feel for it. Northbound in the morning at the moment but not set in stone. Will try to hook up with Florida Snowman tomorrow if possible he's in La Malbie waiting on a new stator for his Apex. We where suppose to be 3 but the non existent storm delayed us. Till tomorrow! No pics unless you want to see blowing snow!
 
 
 
 
 

We were in that area yesterday and the trail thru Casey  is special. Stayed in Matawan last night. Was hard to follow the trail out but after we got on 33 to 53 it was great.
Only thing was the cold. Your right about no sleds. From Matawan to Mont Laurie we meet 4 sleds. That was more than 120 miles. Now the cold may of had something to do with it.  The locals in Parent told us we were f ing crazy and that was the women. 
Be careful with the frost bite and be safe. 

Rode from buddies camp on Lac Chapeau de Paille (off the M20 at the end) to Parent today and staying at L’ Ombré du vent. The only place to stay in this town for sure. Trails are a 20 on a 1-10 scale. Saw about 10 sleds total at Repos today at noon. Rode the rode to Kanawata (no tracks) and we were the only people there for late lunch at 2pm. They said a group of 4 stiffed them last night and never showed or called. Hate when people do that.
At this point we have actually not passed anyone all day. Onwards to my personal favorite trail section in the world (Kanawata to Casey) and up to the 83. All as good or better than I have EVER seen it. Flatter than “piss on a plate”. Hauling along about 1/2 way or more to Parent and BAM first sled of the day comes around a corner. At first I’m like oh well actually good to see others out braving the cold. Then another sled, and another, and another, and another......goes on for what seemed like 2 full minutes. The three of us collectively agree that there was somewhere between 35-40 of them.
UNREAL it was considering we hadn’t seen ANYONE all day to this point. Funny thing is it’s so cold that the already perfectly flat trail was literally unaffected from their passing. Lady that owns the depaneur in Parent said it took her an hour to fill them all up. They were French, on a multi day 1000K trip. 1/2 or more of the group was going to the Gouin and the other half some outfitter whose name I have never heard of????? Or maybe I didn’t understand her. We have no definitive plans and are gonna ride 3 more days up here and head back to my buddies camp on Thursday. Hope everyone made it through the storm alright. We only rode yesterday from the camp to Matawin and back a 100 miles and that was challenging with the cold, wind and snow but really fun too as again, no one out and trails were flat with all kinds of fun loose stuff. Matawin was nearly dead yesterday at 1pm Didnt take many pics today but here is one in Casey. I had to stop and regain my composure from the run from Kanawata..
PEACE