snowfarmer

Good luck!
Bring Xanax or Valium!

Left Hotel Fraser and headed west, trails were all groomed up again today. We stopped at a few of the snowmobile club relays, always great stops. Traffic starting to ramp up, saw more today than the whole week combined. Stayed at PALC for the night

Left Murdochville yesterday to a groomed 597 heading south. At the intersection with 5 we headed to Percè thanks to the iMotoneige app showing it had just been groomed. Rode into Percè and it's the best that trail has been in years, groomed right into the Table Roland. Had lunch there then drove along the road and out on the pier for some pics. The sun was out to start our day but by the time we got to the rock it was snowing and gray but still got some decent pics. Headed back 5 west toward Chandler and stayed at the Hotel Fraser for the night. About 2.5 miles off trail but this place has a great restaurant and nice rooms. 

Left late today, had to do some electrical troubleshooting on some heated gear. Hoping to have some before us to break trail. Left about 9:15, had a couple tracks ahead of us heading East. Hard to tell how much new snow with all the wind but some places up high had about a foot. Visibility was poor at times with the blowing and drifting snow and it got colder as the day went on. Rolled into Murdochville about 3:00 and decided to stay the night and hope tomorrow brings groomed trails and clear skies.

Morning Jack! Mixed reviews on the 850 so far. I realize that the sled is not far out of break in, but this thing is sucking oil fast. Also, I'm taking many more litres of fuel every stop compared to JGs 1200. Granted, I'm leaning pretty heavy on the flipper, but I need to keep pace with the Trailblazer! One more thing.....10 clicks outside of Perce last night all of the guages lit up and were flashing intermittently. Did that a few times, then all systems seemed normal. Not a good feeling when we're as far away from the truck as we can get!

Day 2
Out’ve the gate we are blessed with groomed trails from the evening before and not just local but the whole friggen day. 595 Nord couple tracks just to stir it up then gas at La Cache and I have to tell you guys new renos here and no more mystery soup anymore.
Cross over to Murdockville a few tracks coming our way but our side we were the first. Blue jay day over here so very scenic into Murdockville. 597 Sud as expected super fast to the 5. 1/2 hour out’ve Perce we were greeted with Quebec’s finest, why is it I can’t get away from these guys? These guys were the kind you wanna get stopped by, they actually let sit on their sled for a photo shot.
Where we staying hmmmm I can tell you we’re eating a someone’s Table.

Day 1 just under 300 with every kind’ve Trail you can throw at us. Out of the gate we had freshly groomed then wind swept groomed then no grooming then wind swept no grooming then white out and white with drifts then some road running OMG then there’s the drifts, drifts’n drifts. We had 2 stucks today and one was on a drift. Made it in the Groomerville for a quick snack even though we knew he was out grooming, thought it best to support and give our business there. And that’s where we had the best trails of the day, right down to the suspension bridge with the refuge beside it where Groomer stops. 👍 Then the club from the other side was as equaling generous with their grooming and was like that all the way into Carleton-sur-Mer. L’Averne to Carleton tons of dear in the trail beware.


 










Boy does he look beat!!

Facebook is now a powerful tool for trail conditions. Anyhow we crossed baskatong reservoir yesterday and it is thin with rocks around windigo village but things are improving towards ste-anne du lac. North of ste- anne du lac trails were table top. TQ13 via Notawissi(closed btw) up to mitchi reservoir and down to ste-anne.wow!!
two thumbs up to Piteman SC 

Time for another ride, Gaspe it is. Given the reports I’ve been hearing I feel we are good to go for the RDL departure. Some have been here some haven’t, time to break in the virgins. Where were staying hmmm.....I’ll leave the politics out of it, that’s a no go zone this time, you’ll have to guess.
Our group of 4 consist of hparaptor, necksledr, myself and a long time lurker, perhaps after this trip will turn him into a member. NOT!!!
Tomorrow the plan is to break trail and whatever is in front of us to make chez Groomer for an afternoon glass of rouge, sorry JG too early for bacon pizza. Then off to Carleton-sur-Mer, where???? Hmmm....you’re gonna have to guess. Stay tuned for our report tomorrow night.

Everything has already been said. This was the morning after the weather forecast called for flurries!
Andy
Learn from the mistakes of others you will not live long enough to make them all yourself!

Stopped today to check it out, great place people were friendly. Asked about the big church and so few residents and was told the village was built in the 1930's when the  stock market crash in the US affected the economy in Montreal and Quebec City. They built the villiage so people could live there and support themselves. At its peak there were over 1000 residents and the villiage was officially shut down around 1972. There are only about 10 residents there currently but the church does still get used. We were there today in a blizzard so no view of the Chic-Chics

Nice color combo on that sled Terry

March ’17 until last Wednesday
Dream and plan for next trip to great trails in Quebec   Wednesday 1/17 Trailering snow covered roads from Maryland to Hotel Lac Carling (a site sponsor I might add). Dinner, drinks, politics.  After dinner I was advised trails closed. PLENTY of snow here but damage from last Friday's rain. At least truck is secure, we think.    Thursday  Planned ride to Village Windigo. Woke 4a. Study reports, closed in spots, passable in others.  Lac McDonald closed, Linear Park closed, 319 N closed at 63.  Everything else open.  Re-route planning, contingency ideas. Gas at Motel du Chasseur.  Windigo calls and says trails closed in their area - we’ll see. Bad hole soon after turn left on gold local to get to Chasseur.  Snowy.  Occasional rocks and icy corners.  Passable but not what you come to Quebec for. Plan is to take new route to Mt. Laurier via Duhamel and local up Lac des Iles and wing it if can’t get through.  Campfire if needed. Windigo calls again - trails closed please bring your money but not your sleds. Lunch at Madorick - good food, prompt service.  Owner tells me not to try Windigo - too many klicks.  1st timer with us, an experienced snowmobiler on first saddlebag trip, is toast already.  OK I give up.  Where to? A little mind eraser magic and iMotoneige points to Auberge Chez Ignace - Lac Nominingue.  Owner is a renowned wine maker transplanted from France.   Uncork some rouge, served with Cheetos, WTF (I think the husband rushed out to buy provisions after I called).   Math homework with the kids and cat.  Weird but super accommodating.  Nice rooms, hot tub. Right on the Linear park (they advised me it was OK even though RED on iMototneige).  Dinner amazing, breakfast perfect, sleds secure in covered enclosure.  We’ll be back when there is actually snow between points A and B to stay with new friends.   Friday 7a breakfast A little drone work Live stream departure by new ami Tony. 63 to gas in Riviere Rouge. 319 N barred on linear park. Bridge to take 63 over Red River is bare with no sleds signs.  No choice. Back on trail.  Good size hole on 63 east prior to 322.  Passable where shallow.  Head north on 322.  Powerline trails very rocky almost no snow.   FML,  Shoulda move launch point north or elsewhere but 1 buddy really wants to go to 100 Lacs. In the woods the trail is often good - full on winter, in the open spots bad to terrible, borderline irresponsible.  And bad timing for the open house weekend. About 1/2 way up the trail is shaping up and not bad, still a few rocks and some icy areas.  After the 322-319 intersection 319 N turns into a single track goat path for several miles, I did not measure.  Whoops are bad for 2-3 miles but then it opens up and is Ok.  All passable clearly but partly seemingly not opened yet this year.  By the time we reach the Le Reufge at the 53 intersection its actually quite good.  Actually winter. And Snowing. Mekoos for gas and lunch.  We are a little early (rare for us) and no other sleds that aren’t staff or rentals waiting to be abused.  Good lunch, some connectivity and off we head to 100 Lacs.  Mekoos to 100 Lacs 8/10 except at the very end on the new section was a bit icy.  We arrived before 4p. - Too much drinking time allowed for this group.   I was not aware of the advertising brouhaha at this point but Paul was away promoting the business anyway.  Good candidate for site sponsor really.  There is a new lady there Maria, who speaks perfect English among other languages and was very hospitable along with all the staff at 100 Lacs.  100 Lacs to us is a super cool QC experience.   I did not meet a single QR member here despite the usual pre and post dinner camaraderie under the moose.  We stayed in Chalet Gerry with the mice or some other woodland creatures. In the am the morning they used a leaf blower to clear the few inches of fresh snow covering the sleds.    Saturday Slow breakfast. Gas (no good explanation for not gassing on arrival) 53-319-322-63-323-43- local to Saint Jovite. My sled hates me, or at least it thinks I hate it. Great riding up most of the way to Mekoos.  Fresh snow had fallen the entire time but my optimism was not rewarded. This was a stupid choice with a non-refundable comfortable 3 bedroom condo and a taxi ride to Tremblant for an over-priced meal.  Don’t ride this area until at least a foot of snow falls and the clubs can shape it up.  I know it was open doors but snowmobile trails need snow to be “open”.     Sunday 7a breakfast No sleds to fix parked warm in then bunker below the condos.  Rocks, snow, rocks, snow.  Plenty of snow and decent conditions still in Pine Hill area.  Thankful that the worst of the Tremblant area was behind us.   Roll back to Lac Carling. In the truck by 11:15a but not before a little drone work on Lac des Seize Iles. 2 different trailer tire blowouts on the way home.   No sled mechanical issues, no blown corner excursions,  new carbides all around probably -  I had new ones in the trailer already that I left off. 1200 miles now on my Winder. IMotoneige worked very well for navigating having a better interface than any Garmin.   

The trails being ready at home we step on the opportunity to start the ride from our yard, was really a plus to our day! We had agreed with our friend Snowcruiser from Champlain( east from Trois-Rivières in Mauricie) to leave our homes at the same time and meet us halfway for each other in the St-Barnabé sector which worked perfectly. From there, we improvised a ride whose finally been this path:



Very gray and warm temperature near the freezing point at start of our ride. Near home a dozer had been abandoned in a field, mechanical troubleI guess ...



The majority of the trails were freshly groomed


with a little/or alot of loose blowed snow depending  the spots



Beautiful fast trails overall, it was the visibility that limited our speed



Here between St-Barthélemy and Maskinongé on #3 trail. It was good to go in the morning but rather icy when we return home in the evening after a warm day at over 4C degres. Here we can still see traces of the previous week's thaw with water that had gone up through the snow in the fields next to the trail



Some thinner spots like here in Ste-Ursule that were brownish in the morning suffered during the day and patches of earth began to come out at a few places in the evening. It'll take some new snow there...



But the majority of trails were nice





The sky begin to clear out, it helped a lot for the visibility







We met Snowcruiser near St-Barnabé in the mile we expected, it was the 2nd time we tried to meet like that and we arrived less than half a mile from the last time! . Once together, we decided to go up north to St-Elie de Caxton, a trail that we had not done for several years. The first section is shared with Atvs, not ideal especially for a warm day with soft snow but we sailed through the ruts without much difficulty



In St-Élie village the trail passes on a residential street along a river. A sledder in front of us was lucky in his misfortune when tossing too much to the left his ski broke down the crust and the snowmobile swing toward the river, he almost went for a swim!! the snowmobile finished hanging in a bunch of branches that braked the fall and held the snowmobile in place.



We stayed to help and another good Samaritan in a car stopped. Gently, we strapped front end to the Rav4 to avoid it flip  upside down in the river and pulled from behind with an expedition. The sled was out of trouble without we really straining.



We then continued north towards St-Alexis des Monts



We stopped there to eat at the Microbrasserie Nouvelle France



A first time there for us, a place that has a lot of character and the food was really good





We then leave in the north direction. Here the famous little floating bridge near the village



and the river seen from the bridge ...



The snow is very good in the area of St-Alexis, here on the Lac a l'Eau Claire (clear water lake) a very inspiring name to put on a trail in winter!



We went up on the #349 trail



Up to the #23 junction that we took to the east



A few miles farther, we met other peoples in trouble, but those had search for it a bit I think. Always the same excuse "we did not know it was a snowmobile trail". The gentleman was trying to call a tow truck but did not have a phone network ... We helped them to get to the road and put them in touch with the snowmobile club so that they could figure out how to get their jeep out of there



We passed in front of the old Cabane a Hill, which has become the Cabane chez Nathalie's place since few years.



Going toward St-Mathieu we began to have some brown spots but no earth. We reached the St-Maurice River, which does not seem to have suffered from the last thaw.



A few miles farther at trail #3 junction we leaved our friend Snowcruiser that went home going east while we  took it west. The mild day with a lot of traffic(free week end) had done its work and it is a very bumpy trail with several brown spot that we had up to the other St-Maurice river crossing near the Gabelle dam. On the west side of St-Maurice once in the fields the condition was much better and we could ride fast despite the trail was worn. We stopped to eat super in Ste-Ursules where a few spots of earth had begun to come out. We then returned home by #3 trail passing near Berthierville with similar conditions. We left the house at 8:30 in the morning and returned home at 8:30 PM with 225miles on the dreammeter for the day.

In short a very good ride, the best snow conditions were a little more north in St-Elie and St-Alexis des Monts being the snowiest areas in what we have ride. Let's hope that the snow on the forecast for the beginning of the week will restore the trails conditions where it begin to suffer, need some new stuff to keep the trail network in shape...

Alain

My kind of trip. I think some snowmobile to ride . I enjoy snowmobiling to eat , then ride ! Lol

Wednesday 1/17 Day #3) Cook your own toast on the wood burning cast iron stove in the dining room to go with a great dejeuner. The Mighty Thor did some iceberg removal.
Decisions-decisions… With the skinny snow & ice patches around the western Laurentides we head back east to position day 4 without bags out of Drakkar in Shawinigan Sud (QR Supporting Advertiser thanks to Iceman).
We pass down to Real Masse just to check the box as we would have stayed there if we’d made it out to Rabaska. Top off at La Glaciere. Then 350e & 345n & 23e.
Mother Goose takes the point on the Apex and I took tailgunner postion with a Vector, destination Saccacomie for lunch. Oops, combination of HP & old GPS maps & their 8’ billboard facing east (and MINT trail conditions) we blew right by there. OK!
Burgers at Ralais de Pins? Nope, boarded up. OK! Burgers at Relais Trappeur? Nope, closed until 6:30 supper. OK! What are all of these signs for Chez Natalie? She’s GOT TO have burgers right?
Oops got a little unbunched out of Trappeur. My bad not staying together where it’s a little ziggy-zaggy out back. Sgt. Soto does perfectly with his family Disney play: “Get to the place we last saw each other!”  Voila! 
On to the old Cabane Hill and guess what Chez Natalie does not have any of @ 4:00!... NO cheeburger-cheeburger. Melody highly recommends the steak hache w/frites and accommodates with warm rolls, for THE BEST deconstructed burgers w/poutine EVER! 
(I just noticed a lot of my commentary has nothing to do with actual sledding. Hmm.)
Snapped the pic at the ski hill on 23e then topped off at Petroplus northeast side of Shawinigan and dropped onto Grand Mere. Took that south under the bridges to the local to hook up with 3w to the local to Drakkar.
All day excellent conditions east of 63. Reggie joined the gents’ cigar fest in his heated garage with another round of Sortilage.

I am not sure what date I will be coming back in February but does not look like our dates will align for a meeting of sled talk. I will no longer be tied to a pre planned vacation date, as I am retiring in eleven days and trips will be on a whim, a good weather forecast and a whole new life style that is going to be difficult to adjust to after working the same job for 44 years that included working nights weekends and holidays.
Have a great time at RDL and save some snow for me.
mike

Back to the run....
Day 2 we left La Saguenenne, up across Shipshaw and took parc trail to 93. Continued straight and up toward Onitchaway. Fresh snow here and fluffy. Feeling touristy so took Louie to see the Cave before continuing to Onitchaway for gas and go. From Onitchaway big snow single track (hate it) to Reeservoir tgen left turn toward St Ludger. Gas in St Ludger and then on to ride the new trail to Girardville 106km very nice trail 6 new bridges really impressive. From there down into Dolbeau and to Auberge Diligence. All in all great riding. 248 miles. 
Day 3 
left Dilligence and up 93 then to orange trail back up to Lac a Jim nice trail lots of traffic. Then down to La Dore for gas then Orange trail to St Hedwidge to join 83. Took 83 direction Relais 22 unbelievable the traffic coming at us. It’s Saturday and free weekend, not loving it. Get to Relais 22 and catch up to Florida Snowman Jackstraw and Eric. Gas and go. We are all here tonight at Windigo. 253 miles. 
Life is good. Ride on

I hear a lot of this lately about talking to businesses about becoming a paid sponsor. It's all well and good but you guys are not giving any guidance as to how to go about this. As a small business owner I literally get hundreds of requests every year for donations. Each one has the potential of exposure for my business to varying degrees but I can't possibly put my name on every kids baseball,soccer or hockey shirt. I can't afford to donate to every Lion's club Fire company golf tournament but these people are from my community and are my customers so we always do our best. If you want sponsors I suggest you put together a package with info regarding who you are reaching and the costs involved otherwise any of us that go in blind won't be able to answer the first question that a business owner could ask

Finally. Today was the day. I traded in my tri axel for my Apex XTX. Left the work boots and put on the snow boots. My boss had mercy on me and gave me tuesday and wednesday nights off to get back on a real sleep schedule before I went riding. It helps that both my bosses are sledders and they “get it”. 
Snohorse and his friend Louie rolled into chez Ice last night at 6pm. We got them settled in and relaxed at my house for the evening. 
This morning we broke out the hardware. Snohorse is back on te 2 stroke is a hard addiction to break. He tried to kick it with the 1200 enduro but he has relapsed. He cannot get enough of that angry nest of bee’s sound and the incredible power. His new 850 Backcountry is just what the doctor ordered. One happy camper. The thing is a beast. Louie on the other hand is sporting some old school Iron. A 06 vector and its a shorty. Man what a trooper trying to hang with us. Good Luck. We did stop and wait for him though. My new XTX is a keeper. I must say its pretty damn nice. I can feel the difference with the front end. It corners flat almost zero ski lift. It handles real good. It’s real close the setup right now it’s not gonna need much tweaking at all. It’s still breaking in so we will see how it goes. 
Left Chez Ice and headed for St Raymond caught up to Playhard and his gang just outside St Ray. Stopped and chatted a bit. Gas in St Ray and off for Mt Apica. Trails all decent not perfect by any means but acceptable. Very little traffic. Ran my sled out 13 miles from Mt Apica. She is still breaking in. Dumped in my one gallon and cruised into Apica. We took a break here only four other sleds, perfect just how I like it. Left there and headed up to 368 then 383 to 83 into Chicoutimi. At La Saguenee cause I like it here and my friend works in the restaurant. Trails decent like I said nothing perfect yet that I’ve seen. Nice first day out, no real issues and tomorrow we go for it again. 
280 miles
   

Day 4:  Thursday Jan 18th
Woke up to 10 inches of fresh powder and still snowing.  Headed 48 miles to Chicoutimi Nord to pick up 2 needed belts.  Over 18” of new snow up in the mountains and snowing hard.  Sweet!  Great dealer - Equipments Villeneuve.  They offered to pull in Jim’s sled & replace the new belt free of service charge!  They cleaned the clutches & adjusted.  They also looked at Eric’s sled for some fuel delivery issues. We left and 10 miles down the trail Eric’s sled started to go into safe mode. Rut Roh.   We went back to the dealer and after further diagnosis they changed the TPS (throttle position sensor).  The mechanic took a test ride and came back pleased.  Ok.  Fingers crossed. Let’s ride already!  It’s 2:15pm & we pull out.  Destination is Sacre-Coeur.  Took gas at Chapelle & then Karma kicked in.  The lighting & sky was beautiful.  We started a section of trail that is in my top 10 in PQ. TQ93 downhill from Chapelle to Sacre-Coeur.  Today it was amazing!   Fast, smooth, lots of snow, amazing views & a spectacular light show of colors in the sky to boot.  Pulled into Motel Coronet at 5:15pm.  
188 miles 

Thinking of ya boys . I’m in Stowe VT. Skiing ⛷ 

Ah Tom , you ended going earlier then you thought ! Lol . I knew you couldn’t wait till February! 

Day 1:  Monday Jan 15th
Jackstraw (Jim),  Eric & myself drove up to Quebec after spending Sunday night in Lake George NY.   Unloaded the sleds, parked the trucks, got geared up and left Shawinigan at 2:30pm.   Dropped onto the river and rode it up to Mekinac.   I wish that Richard would open that place again!  Headed up the 355 (Scorpionbowl’s favorite trail) to Lac Edouard for the night.  That was 3 firsts for me.   I’ve had lunch there many many times.  But I never had dinner, had never spent the night, and had never had breakfast there.  Gassed up the sleds & checked in.  Jim will tell the rest of that nights story.  
105 miles

SnowCrazed took a few pics today.  Thank you.  The first watering hole is Sandi not making it by a foot.  Her belt got wet and didn't have enough oomph to get the skis back up on the trail.  That last watering hole isn't one of us luckily.
This morning is cool and we see that a few groomers have been out.  We take off and head to Relais Les Adventuriers.  The normal water hole under the railroad tracks just past the Petrocan station and another one not to much further.  Sandi had an issue with the first one under the railroad tracks.  See above.  The second one she skipped right across.
At the relais we turn right on trail 5.  The groomer was out yesterday and this is pretty good.  Cruising along kicking up a little dust.  Where the trail changes from Adventuriers to Club Mont Bleau, things change and not for the good.  I think I'm back 30 years ago.

The trail is a little skinny.  10 miles of this and it is back to good trail.  The power lines on trail 5 have a few water issues.  The first ones are passable but we get to one that looks like a four wheel drive had been in and out of it a dozen times.  All chewed up and we can't see what happens around the corner.  The vote is to u-turn and pick a different trail.
We go back to Relais Belies Pistes and take 557 behind the clubhouse.  Much better.  Cruisng along again.  Oops Sandi.  The trail just turned left and the road goes straight.  A quick spin around and we are off again.  We get to 35 the rail bed.  This is nice.  Lets go left towards Les Explorateurs.

This is more like it.  35 is fine.  No water, very few bumps and no traffic.  20 miles of loving it and we arrive at the Exploratuers.  Time for warm up and lunch.  We go inside and the cook recognizes me and Terry from yesterday. 
We have a nice lunch  and south on 35 to Pohenegamook.  Boy is that one tough to spell never mind trying to pronounce it.  We tank up, u-turn and head up 544.  This piece of 544 runs the road for 10 miles and then the trail is nice to 85.  We turn left onto 85 and head for home.  This was groomed last night and it is sit back and go.  The rail bed is always a nice last leg home.
We get to the first water hole after Les Adventurers and that is Terry's last pic above.  We think it is a tour group.  They all have similar outfits on and one is in pretty deep.  We wait until they hook up a sled and pop it up out of the hole.  We cross it no issues.  Then we get to the water hole under the rail road tracks.  Yep this time there are two of them in swimming.  Sandi notices a detour sign just before the water.  A quick right, over the tracks and back down on the trail ahead of the group.  We pull into the Universal and all ends well.
There is some good riding out there but you have to be prepared to alter your route.  The water is freezing up but some spots are going to take a while.  Pay attention and be safe.  One more day before we head home.
Jack & Sandi