revct1

Its been a few years since we have been out there but it is a nice ride with not much traffic. Hotel Les Mouettes in Sept Illes is our choice. We prefer the local hotels vs the chains. You get a better taste for Quebec that way. The trip back is still the same trail you rode out but you're looking at the other side of the trees, so its different! 😁 Unfortunately, I'm not real optimistic about Canada being open to us, U.S. Jack & Sandi

Hi Fuse. Yes. Same as her last sled, MXZ X 600. She really liked the way it handled (me too) so she is staying with it. I still have the Renegade but the MXZ X is really light in the corners. I could be talked into one of these. Jack & Sandi

I hope one of those is for Sandi!

Ah! A change from the political posting. Thanks and well done. Jack & Sandi

It is so sad this happened but it is good that the body has been recovered. May peace be with the families now. Jack & Sandi

We started riding in Quebec in the late 70's in Eastman and the eastern townships. Then to St. Raymond, Mont Laurier thru the 80's and 90's. Eventually we covered most of Quebec from Gaspe to Abitibi, Havre St Pierre to Matagami with a couple trips to Ontario thrown in. We don't ride anywhere else. Quebec is unsurpassed for trails, scenery, and it's great people. Sandi & Jack

Thanks for posting and the pics. What a way to start off retirement! It was good seeing you this year. Hope to see you next season. Take care and be safe. Jack & Sandi

The above restaurant is a nice place. Not accessible by sled but only a few minutes by truck from the Universal. We had a great time with a late season ride this past week. We enjoyed the company, the trails, the food and of course the happy hour. Saw a few more QuebecRiders at the Universal. For all of you still riding, enjoy this wonderful March weather. Back in CT it has been in the 50's and 60's. Jack & Sandi

Nice pics Mike. It is getting late in the season and the conditions still look pretty good. Jack & Sandi

Thanks for the feed back. Glad you had a good ride overall. Around Quebec City there are a lot of road crossings and traffic. Jack & Sandi

Looks nice guys.

These were form 2010. I think that was the second year the lookouts were made. The clubs created the lookouts because the trail to the original tower lookout, on the top of Mont Valin, was closed. Jack & Sandi

Another cold one this morning. I start my sled and the motor temp reads -15 F (-26 C). Today it is 2/3 of the Gutz brigade, Joe and myself. A lot was groomed last night. We cross the two bridges and take 134, pickle park. Not too fast, I'm still adjusting. Turn right on 93 and this is fast and flat. The machines love this cold air. We are going to be on the mountain today so we top off the sleds at the Nutrinor station in St Honore. Back on the trail. Just how we like it, smooth with a little dust on top. We get up to the airport and the groomer had just left his house and is heading toward Mont Valin. The trail is fine. It doesn't need to be groomed but we will take it. Unfortunately we go around him but like I said, the trail is just fine. Winding around on 93 and we start up the mountain. The trail is getting a little chopped up as we approach Valinuet. A lot of tracks from the mountain sleds crisscrossing over the trail. The further up we go, the trail gets better. A lot more fluff on top of the trail here. We pull into KM 31 for lunch. Sometimes we stop here and sometimes we patronage the Chapelle. Not too busy but more sleds keep arriving. Beautiful view of Lac Jalobert up here. Nice and clean at KM 31 and good food. After lunch, we continue on 93 a little further to the groomer's house and we turn right onto 262. We are going down the back side of the mountain. The sleds are pushing some here. More fluff on the trail. A lot of tracks from the off trail guys thru this section. We get to 264 and turn left. Its a clear day and we decide to take a quick ride up to Pic du Lac du Sundicat lookout. It has been a few years since I've been up there. Only about 1 mile up the lookout trail to the top. Nice view. I think that is Jonquiere over there in the distance where the smoke stacks are. Very peaceful up here so far away from everything. I've got some old pics on a thread from a few years ago. I'll have to go find it and bring it to the top. There are 5 major lookouts made for us snowmobilers in this area. If you haven't been on the top of them, it is worth the ride. OK. Back down the trail and left on 264. This is in good shape as we get away from the top of the mountain. Not as much traffic on the lower half. We get to 328 and turn right. I remember the FCMQ put a lot of money into 328 a few years ago to make it more rideable. It is much better than it was but there are a lot of ups and downs and lefts and rights. No high speed runs on this. About 20 miles later we get to 93. Decision time. It is early and it is a nice day. Go back the way we came on 93 or stay on 328? We vote for 328. It looks like it is in good shape at the junction and it will add a few miles to the day. Off we go down 328. It is good. Not as much fluff as up on the mountain but the sleds dig into the corners so much better. This isn't anywhere near as twisty as the eastern part that we were just on. A good run thru here. We pass St David and then turn left on 134 /93. We were on this yesterday and it is still just fine. No drifts. A really nice trail. Not too much for elevation change. Just nice gentle curves and long straightaways. We cross the 2 bridges and back at the Delta. Not gassing up tonight. Tomorrow we are going home. This may have been my last trip for this season. I have to see what is going on back at home and work. That nasty four letter word. Overall it has been a good season. The sleds have been fine. The truck and trailer were asking for a little attention but that has been taking care of now. I'll see if I can find the old pics from the lookouts. Be safe everyone. Jack & Sandi

Check the groomer map update Monday morning after 6:00 AM to see what was groomed. 23 (red) gets you up in elevation in about 10-15 miles. It is a lot of park roads so it is quick if smooth but if it is warm over the weekend and not groomed, it will be bumped up. 355 (green) would be my second option as long as it was groomed recently. Not as much traffic here. 73 (yellow) would be my last choice. Longest distance and like Iceman says, part of it has been plowed. Jack & Sandi

It has been a good week but then isn't any day of snowmobiling better than work? Be safe. Jack