viper2

Dominic is the man, we rolled in there one year dragging a Vector with a broken drive shaft and he said “no problem” I will take you to Mont Laurier tomorrow. Next thing we go to leave the restaurant and head up to the schoolhouse and my wife’s sled had the chain case locked up. Uh-oh 2 sleds down, still no problem he loads the 2 sleds up 1 on truck 1 on old army trailer and takes the sleds and the girls to Mont Laurier the next morning while we make a run to the trucks. He didn’t even want to take any money because he had to make a store run (and to see his wife) but we took care of him

Of course. I Talked to Dominic too, here at Clova but he didn’t seem too interested so I pumped the brakes on that. After all I am a guest here not a traveling salesman. 

Lol on The Honeybadger, that is my kids nickname from his soccer coach lol. Love that section of 93 between Amos and Seneterre and even the local to the north with the nice rollers. It always amazes me that people can’t figure out the first thing to do when stuck is pack the snow. You guys are are having an awesome trip. By the way, I hope you talked to the management at Hotel Eskers about sponsoring the page

Just stay off the tracks 😂

Sounds like someone gets their feathers ruffled easily, I assure you I could post way more pics of any other brand burning down than you could of Yamaha"s.I thought my comment was  in good fun and in no way malicious, it seems you never have a problem posting anytime a Yamaha won't start in the corral in the morning but can't take a good natured ribbing of from someone else. Sad to see the direction this site is headed, seems to be getting a little cliquey here and if someone doesn't stay at an approved hotel or ride the preferred sled of the almighty they are worthless. Maybe it's time to trim the herd and change the name from Quebecrider to Saguenay  and Ski-Doo rider. Dilly Dilly! 

Do the Ski-Doo’s come standard with a fire extinguisher?

Do the Ski-Doo’s come standard with a fire extinguisher?

Sunday Day 2
 
Nice stay at Gouin, Internet now costs $5 to get a code to use it, well ok. What can you do. Talked with some Canadian Army Rangers there. They were waiting on the rest of their unit to arrive and tgen gonna be doing some excercises there with their Bear Cat sleds 24 of them parked out front. Pretty interesting, we ran into the same guys at Pel Chat a few seasons back. Late start today but who cares. Launched at 9:35. Road from Lodge to trail back to 83. To TQ83 west. This is what Quebec trails are all about. This is perfection from here to Parent just delicious. Into Parent and get some gas. I have not been through here in years and I love the new trail right past gas station and out of Parent, good stuff. Hammer down to Clova and we get some gas there, we park on the tracks cause we like to live dangerously. Went inside to have lunch Team Ice style, candy bar and a pepsi a few minutes by the wood stove and a few stickers placed, we out. Next stop Lac Fallon. Trail continues to no disappoint, we had a group of 10 sleds pass the other direction just after Parent near jct with 13 but no one else since. Quiet out here...perfect. Cruise past Balbazard, nice to see the forest growing back now after so long looking like desolate moonscape. We are rolling. Be warned there is a serious hole about 10 km east of Fallon. I saw my life flash before my eyes. I though it was game over. Big washout probably 2 feet across and deep the whole width of the trail. Thought for a second about trying to lock her down but when in doubt.....throttle out. Hammered the gas and while radioing to Snohorse to watch out. Lifted the skis enough to clear the far side and bang over it. It was a moment to say the least. Yes it had 2 ribbons marking it but not before just at the canyon. 3km further another but this one just running water and not deep with a go around. Into Fallon in one piece. Gas and go. Roxanne says 3 hours to Val D’or. Ha! Yeah no. 
Out of fallon at 4:20. 83 still good. We take the local trail toward Louvincourt. First glance says this aint been groomed in a long time it’s not terrible by any means but not what we had on 83. Maybe 20km in, here sits the groomer broken down on the trail. Well that explains alot. No choice we are committed, onward. To 386 and it’s choppy too, hmm this decision to come west is looking questionable. Up to gas at Louvincort its 5:35. Gas and quick break and back to 83. Much better than the 386. Closer to Val D’or better it gets. Into Hotel Forestel with 327 miles at 6:10pm. 5-6 other sleds here. That’s it. 
Gps says average moving speed of 72km per hour. Not bad. We will see what tmmrw brings. 
 
Until next time.

Day 2
Barrage Gouin to Val d’Or 327 miles. Report after super bowl.

Iceman, Trailblazer enjoyed that first pitcher, but wants authorization to charge one more to your account.  Having a great Super bowl night at the Gouin, a day behind the Ice😉

Sounds like a great start Iceman, we used commo’s for the first time last trip, we used the Scalarider Packtalk’s and they were impressive

Day 1 Saturday Put me in coach I’m ready to play. Time for another jaunt. After a long week of work, Snohorse arrived right as planned at Chez Ice. Unfortunately, I was not home yet. However the Mrs. was home and provided the needed Budweiser. Soon after I arrived to get this party really started. Well not so fast, I had to stock the firewood for my bride for the week so she and the cats won’t freeze to death. Firewood finished and got showered up. Time to head out get some food. We got all the errands done and back at home. Next affair is to install Snohorse’s new communicator on his helmet. Trying out some new Sena 20s radios this run. Not to big a job and before you know it its now after midnight. Time to sleep a bit. We are in no big rush but have a big day ahead. 
  Up at 7:30 get organized finish packing. We unload Snohorse’s backcountry and load up. Dressed and helmets on just before 9am. Typical for us.    Right out the gate I can see the trail has improved greatly from last weekend, cold and a few CM new snow really helped alot. TQ3 through Shawingan and its not too shabby. Cold this morning-22c. Up to Grand Mere and the river all good to Junction with TQ23. TQ23 direction Cabanon. Yes 2 weeks in a row I’m headed for St Michel on a Saturday. I must need my head examined. Anyone who knows me Knows that I hate weekends but it’s a necessary evil in today’s world. Is what it is. I’m expecting traffic but surprisingly it’s not bad, maybe it’s the cold. 23 is great just after Cabane Chez Natalie I’m seeing some snow dust ahead. First traffic. Unfortunately trail is way to small to burn them down. Even worse there’s 8 of them. Not good. Fortunately we arrive at a spot I know well. The trail veers off the road into the woods. If you know then you just follow the road and it comes back to 23. Plenty of snow on road and we scoop all 8 no problem. Smooth sailing up to Cabanon. i take $20 in gas just to get to the real gas in St Michel. In and out at Cabanon. Arrive in St Michel at Noon. Gas in town next to Ski Doo, then off across the road and to 63/33 to Head for Lac Repos. Near St Michel was the usual conditions. Just after on 63/33 was awesome all the way to Repos. No stop at Repos it’s Kanawata express. Arrive into Kanawata just about 3:30. Gas and go. 345 well just stay away(really) you will hate it. This trail seldom disappoints and today was no exception. A superhighway and we run. Up and to Casey then on to 83 west all spectacular 10/10. Unbelievable. Tabletop flat and fast. Kanawata to Barrage Gouin in 1 hr 30 minutes. 145 km.  I think the trail was good.    Into Barrage Gouin said hello to Carol who was on her way out and enjoyec a great Roast Beef dinner with a side of Chicken Wings of Course. Served by the wonderful Louise. Happy to be here. All good first day.  New radios work sweet and trails were immaculate. 302 miles. Big discussions on where to head next. Talked to some guys who came in from Lac Fallon. i think decision is Made. Go west young man. After all west is best.  Stay tuned 6 more days to come. 

Ooof not sure, Ask 182ray. 

Let me know when you are doing it again so I can be somewhere else. Thanks. 
 

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.

Sitting at Groomer's clubhouse, here are some pics from yesterday. Not sure why the need for crossing guards at the road bridge in Cascapedia but they are not much help lol

Sitting at Groomer's clubhouse, here are some pics from yesterday. Not sure why the need for crossing guards at the road bridge in Cascapedia but they are not much help lol

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.

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.

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.

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.