snowfarmer

You can even have issues in the deep!

Out in Montana at Big Sky skiing but rented some sleds yesterday. Had a blast even though no fresh snow.

You can even have issues in the deep!

Yup .  First time ever for me ! Heard a bang , thought a it was a belt but looked up in the air about 20 feet to my left at saw about a 6 in piece of something flying through the air and thought , WTF went to hit the brakes and then it hit me , Track!

Yup .  First time ever for me ! Heard a bang , thought a it was a belt but looked up in the air about 20 feet to my left at saw about a 6 in piece of something flying through the air and thought , WTF went to hit the brakes and then it hit me , Track!

You can even have issues in the deep!

Yup .  First time ever for me ! Heard a bang , thought a it was a belt but looked up in the air about 20 feet to my left at saw about a 6 in piece of something flying through the air and thought , WTF went to hit the brakes and then it hit me , Track!

You can even have issues in the deep!

Out in Montana at Big Sky skiing but rented some sleds yesterday. Had a blast even though no fresh snow.

You can even have issues in the deep!

Out in Montana at Big Sky skiing but rented some sleds yesterday. Had a blast even though no fresh snow.

You can even have issues in the deep!

Out in Montana at Big Sky skiing but rented some sleds yesterday. Had a blast even though no fresh snow.

Steve calls back he got us hooked up
He gives us Dave’s number to call him direct. He is available. Dave is the man. 
Class 1 truck driver lots of experience no worries with pickup and trailer. He says no problem, Alain explains where truck is parked and how to get in it. He says it’s under control. He will be on the road to us at 6:15am. Perfect.
He arrives at 8:10am in Matane. Load sleds pack gear. We are off like a prom dress for RDL. Awesome nice guy and used to groom for club in RDL. Snowmobiler and I explained Quebecrider to him and he texted me a screen shot of him signing up this afternoon. Great asset found in RDL. Certified rescue driver when needed. Best $200 ever spent. We tipped him too. But hey taxi was $330 from Matane or from RDL same price cause you pay coming and going. 
His number is saved in my phone and look forward to seeing my new friend anytime I get to RDL. 
Great conversation about trucking and all kinds of stuff 2 hours passed quickly. Into RDL and it is bare near hotel. Mud.and grass. We say our goodbyes for now. And westbound 20 to Quebec City lunch at St Hubert and back in Trois Riveres at 2:40pm.
Certainly not how I hoped my season would end, my rides with the wife this year were the highlight, watching her mature as a rider is awesome. 
My sled is off to the doctor on Monday just in case things turn around for a last hurrah. 
This season was a tough one but no need to tell you all who could not even get here. 
Next year we will make up for it. Big Time.

 
 

We leave and hang a right onto 595 to La Cache trail not bad here considering but this first section is pretty straight, it’s in the twists and turns where the traffic is hurting the trails most. We know we will catch the group its just a question of where. Luckily as we arrive at the first real lookout they are stopped checking out the cloud obstructed views. Well that was easy 7 down 7 to go. Arriving by the entrance road to Village Nature Chic Chocs along the road where the trail goes is really whooped out. We bang on through. No sign of the next group. Once we start to gain more elevation the trail is getting better. For me its great cause no one rides or at least lately where I do so my one sled width right ski planted against the groomer berm is like a private trail. Gotta love it. Everyone loves the middle.
Further up and our other group of 7 is stopped as well. We cruise on by. Trail is now really good not great but considering temperatures it’s fine. The heavy wet snow and temperatures are not helping the fuel mileage. That and a heavy thumb. Those who know me know I do not like riding on my fuel light. I been on it now for a long time. I am thinking it will be a miracle to make La Cache without dumping in the gas.
Almost made it. 168km out of gas. 3km short. Oh well. Drop in the gas and arrive at La Cache before the rush. 
Gas at the new pumps and a great bacon cheeseburger and soup. The others arrive as we are eating. We are all going to New Richmond and we will stay out front. They are ordering and the other group of 7 pull in. They are looking for lunch too. We slip on out and head south on the 595.
 

Ill post some media after we return. Epic day off trail riding in W Yellowstone today. See you in Maine in a few weeks. Fewer than 10 miles on my sidewinder. 100s of miles on rentals this stupid F-in winter. 

Hey Chris,
You had to swim to get out of that hole in that last pic!  Deep snow!
I’ve been out west a few times.  Definitely need the young strong men along for help!

Awesome!
We were booked for Grizzly Lodge but couldn't go due to closed border.  So we did West Yellowstone in January.  Going back next week.

Left hotel 8:15 ish. Lots of Blacktop as to be expected in town and hotels. Thin trail near universel. After a few KM gets fine. Not expecting any real groomed trail with the temperature but trails are great. Straightforward ride today to Matane. We will take the shortway in Rimouski. To mont joli. 
Trails in good shape, maybe 6 other sleds at Universel last night and about that same number here in Matane tonight. Traffic is light. Pretty warm today. Is nice but i am the Iceman. A bit too warm for my and the Apex liking. So much so Alain ran me out of gas shy of Mont Joli at 175km. Man I need to work to stay with him. Big thumb. 
Gas Mont Joli then on to St Damase relais for lunch and a break.(stripped down out of my suit to cool off.) ID verified upon entry to relais 2 per table. Great lunch long time since I stopped here. Local crowd hanging out in relais. Day shift. 
We ran like the wind as we arrived in Relais at 12:40 after a few trail side stops
to be continued 
 

Back in paradise. Little abbreviated Gaspe Mini Tour, I am happy to be here. The local rides with the wife I would not trade for anything. It’s surely different with mon ami Alain. 
 
This ride is dedicated to all of you, the dedicated Quebecriders who find themselves wishing they were somewhere else on their snowmobiles. I know you all will be back in Quebec next season. It’s been a very different season for me for sure. I miss my Riding buddies and am missing reading about everyone else’s trips throughout Quebec. 
 
Been trying to get away since mid February. Just did not come together until now. 
 
Arrived at Rivere du Loup at 4pm. We left Trois Riveres at 1pm. 3 hours door to door.
Dry black trail helps alot. Also not much wind which when driving the 20 east or west to or from Rivere du Loup makes a difference. 
 
Checking in hotel they verify we are coming from Orange Zone. All good. 2 people per table in dining room. They also verify you name address and phone number upon arriving at restaurant.
 
We got thrown out at 9:30 as we were breaking curfew. Yelling across the room talking with people we met from Montmagny. The resto staff was nice about it and they told us when we came in that by 9:30 had to be back to your rooms. 
 
This is probably worthy of its own thread. But this guy owns Ford dealer in Montmagny, him and Alain get talking cause Alain ordered a 2021 F150 platinum something, and evidently there will be no F150 delivery this year. Missing parts in assembly line holding up production. Maybe someone here knows more on this. Maybe it’s just Canada do not know.
 
To be continued.
 
Dinner last night in Hotel Universel
Bacon Pizza and frites

In the distance we could see the sled coming down the trail so we pulled over and shut down so we could get some pictures. 

This morning we were out the gate at 0630 and at Shin Pond at 0745. Coffee and jumped on the rental Polaris's.  The fun factor of these sleds and their amazing handling made for an enjoyable day. Went up around Libby's Camps, across to Unclocus  Camps and back to Shin Pond at noon for lunch with 110 miles on the rentals. Trails were fantastic. Riding back to the hotel hit a few small stretches of chop over by Abol Dam. Great sunny day with below zero start and mid thirties finish.  One hundred and ten years of snowmobiling between gkw and myself. Then happy hour talking about all the great sleds of the 60's and 70's, for those that know back then what a Red Baron or Honker meant.
 

Mark,  As I recall the rentals are $250 a day or $165 for half a day.  
Today's trails were 210 miles of magic carpet ride. Never went above freezing, but looks like the warm up is coming. Saw a burned sled on the trail, wasn't there yesterday.
mike
 
 

Mike good to see the trails are still in great shape   heading back up Friday night  with poltodoo after warm up but by talking the grooming community it’s all in this weekend  again thanks for getting me back to Maine as I had a great season and I know you did as well 

All tucked in