vt_bluyamaha54

Thank you for all your efforts. I know how nerve wracking these upgrades can be!

I too have ridden solo in Quebec - not generally recommended but I was riding from the same place and returning there each day. h Hats off to you! I could say you were lucky but having also run out of gas alone, I can’t judge! Thanks for the write up and pictures.

Prayer for all involved. White out conditions are so scary - especially if you happen to be towing a trailer!

I have to ask: what happened to the engine that you are changing it?

“Locks only keep honest people honest” is a saying I often cite. Also, these thefts are usually newer, 4wd diesel p/u’s and 3+ sled trailers. You can only make your stuff the least noticeable/most difficult to take.

Looks like maybe Quebec City(?)

Thanks Steven. Looked like a great trip (minus the overheating issue). Thanks for the write up and great pics! P. S. Not sure I could ever travel with 8 - too used to a small group.

Sending best wishes for a quick recovery 🙏🙏

Also the grooming before normal snowfall takes a toll. These machines pull a heavy drag that is filled with snow if it’s adequate and need to push a blade out front too.

All that money going to support ISMA is great. I think anyone buying something like this isn’t buying it to use - only for collection purposes.

Great pictures Stephen! Auberge Gare is a great place and great hosts - spent a night there many years ago. Looks like the snow is getting caught up.

Thanks for posting this. Haven’t been there since before covid and knew nothing about the chalets - they must be new (?) sadly, the closure of TQ55 will affect many places north of St. George’s. Hate to see it😢

R.I.P Les Collett and Collett Communicators. They were well designed, all condition units that had the added benefit of a ‘groomer warning beacon’ that alerted you when a groomer was close by.

Thanks for so many great pics and your usual, entertaining narration! That area is generally good to great riding although I prefer to stay off the lake. Glad your ride was good and best of luck sorting out your tech issues.

Don’t want be labeled a ‘climate denier’ but there have always been ’bad winters’. Certainly last winter was notable for a lack of snow nearly everywhere but I’ll try to be a bit optimistic and hope to look back again in 5yrs to say “don’t need these snowmobiles anymore” 😢

Truly a nightmare scenario for the finest trail system in North America that needs to be monitored - and hopefully resolved. As stated, some of the outfitters won’t exist if the path(s) to their doors aren’t maintained.

Good information. Thanks Ice.

To each their own and obviously everyone has a favorite but Yamaha’s record for reliability is hard to eclipse. 50k+ miles was not unusual. They got greed/sloppy after manufacturing left Japan but the engineering was solid and certainly led to many industry firsts. For me, their lag on developing a really great suspension was a disappointment that was never fulfilled. R. I. P Yamaha snowmobile division!

I have ridden many miles in this region but am very unclear about the current effect(s) PBPA has on trails. There are major TQ trails running east + west as well as many excellent green north/south trails that form a very nice grid work of trails to explore with lots to explore. Water crossings are probably 80%+ served by bridges. Many don’t like this area b/c there are lots of road crossings and not as much flat out riding as most trails on the northern side of the St. Lawrence. Lac Etchemin + Thetford Mines area have historically had sporadic theft issues so be aware Other than the hotel at the golf course in Beauceville, lodging is pretty limited in that area. Curious where you’re considering staying?

Well, when a company as diversified and we’ll positioned as Yamaha leaves, it leaves little doubt about the future of a market. I know most here don’t really want to hear it (and I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer) but between the costs, weather, trail closures, etc. our sport faces some undeniable headwinds. Hoping for the best but sadly prepared for something less.

Does FCMQ have a program with PB like the one several years ago with BRP that awarded groomers to clubs? Those old Lamtracks have got to be near a point where nothing short of a total overhaul will keep then grooming (?)

Nope, once the thaws open things up and the flows start, it’s OVER for me!

It’s always a sad time when the end comes but nowadays too many won’t recognize the reality that a big spring storm doesn’t restore mid-winter riding.

Used to be a frequent trek circa 80s / early 90s when our group spent ‘vacation week’ at Tall Timber. Is the picture of the moose and the horse mating still up behind the bar? Haha

Sounds like a very large project but it will make TQ75 Beauceville to St. George’s much easier