vt_bluyamaha54

Adventure began on Friday as the 6 of us (3 couples) left Vermont with temps in the mid 40s and rain threatening. As we crossed the border in Highgate the rain starts to fall. Destination is the Rouqemont in St Raymond, with 2 nights planned at the Delta with Saguenay Bill, then down to the Fairmont for a night, and one more night at the Signature and then a short trip back to the trucks for a black trail home. After getting above Montreal the temps start to drop and the roads get dicey. Around Shawinigan it's white out conditions as the snow is piling up! We finally arrive at the Rouqemont at 8:30 after a nearly 7hr trip. Good thing this place make beer 🍺 Dinner and drinks, then in bed by 11. Place is packed with sleds and trucks/trailers, but everyone seems to be slow moving in morning. After a quick breakfast, we load our gear and head north on 23. Groomer map showed green, but that was a late post I think? We pushed an easy 15" of fresh all the way to LEtape where we all needed fuel. Petrol and lunch and we're back on trail. Stopped briefly at Mt Apica relais, but kept motoring. Less new snow the further we move north, which is kinda nice. Took the 368 west which was absolutely incredible, we were making great time here. Rolled into the Delta around 5pm with 210 miles on the odo, a great trip up. Met Bill and Pepper in the lobby, as well as Pat and Gary and a few other Quebec riders. Great to see Bill, and he also gave us perfect directions to visit the 'cave' in the morning. To be continued....

Recommend launching out of Blanchet Motel. Connecting Trail to TQ45 at rear of their parking lot. I have done this multiple times without problem. Ken P

Returned from RDL yesterday -Thursday the 21st by means of the black trail. Parallel & or intersecting trails on Routes 20, 55 & 410 were all groomed & looking appetizing. In comparison to two weeks ago where the intersecting trails on 410 & 55 were bare or under water. 
Happy trails....

Welcome QR's newest advertiser, Motos Thibault. Those who ride Yamaha may already be familiar with them. They are located in Trois-Riviere ( and not associated with the one in Sherbrooke). I'm fairly sure every member here on QR has at least one story of a dealer going beyond your wildest expectations to keep you up and running and on the trail...this is a perfect example of one of those dealers. Pierre and his staff will do everything possible, to do just that, keep you riding. Many members here are long time customers of Motos Thibault, and no doubt will chime in with their own experiences. Thanks go to Playhard for getting them on board...
 

Above & beyond is every day stuff for them.
Seriously committed to doing the family business proud.  
Too many stories to tell, but could be coaxed after a couple/few JD's.
These guys pull magic tricks with solutions, before you even know you need it.
Icing on the cake for the whole quebec sledding experience, way past things "mechanical/technical".
Just keep their number handy, and call them if you get in a pickle, you'll see.

 
 

Looked like a great trip. The ‘little camera’ took nice pictures and must have functioned well in the cold - unlike most of our phones. 
Thanks for sharing. 

Some things will never change. This is one of those things. The consequences are minor if any are caught. Which they never are. So it will go on.
Outlaw tracks longer than 146” on trail, no lugs bigger than 1.6”. Just like they are tough on modified exhaust they can do same thing with this. 
By all means allow it up on Mont Valin maybe near L’etape and Chic Chocs. But everywhere else NO WAY. If caught sled impounded and (drivers liscense suspended for QC residents) penalty needs to be something that will deter this behavior. 
Personally If it were up to me public shaming would be in order and a good old fashioned flogging. 
Trails are for trail sleds. Very simple. No need to cater to these off trail guys who cannot respect private property.
 

Day 5- Leave LaSarre still pretty cold -7F and 4” of fresh snow. Head down 93 and cut over to the Western loop. Heading to Duparquette to warm up and get breakfast, no deal both restaurants closed. Continue on to Rouyon Noranda gas up and get some breakfast, trails not too bad so far just some loose snow on top. Take the local cutoff to 83 heading east all groomed up until about 1/2 way to Preissac then gets a little rough and in need of grooming. From there take the local to the Manior des Rapides gas up and take a break, good food nice spot. Continue on the local to 307 for just a short section then back on the local to LaMotte and through to 309. This section of local trail was pretty rough back on the 309 all good again. Took the 309 into Val-D’Or for the night at the Forestel. Been here before great place to stay but the dinner takes way too long call St. Hubert lol

Exactly
I ride my Apex not carry it. I put 58k km on my 2008 Apex and 44k km on my 2014 Apex so I know they go and go no worries.

I know I will never buy a 2 stroke again even if it is a Yamaha. I consider myself lucky getting 17,000km on my Viper 700 with no blowup. We all trail ride other than guys like Dooright and MarkusVt and few others that ride sleds off the beaten path, so a sled weighing 100lbs more makes no difference. Plus if you like to go fast you will want the added weight.
The reliability, not having to worry about oil, carrying oil and spark plugs are hug benefits to me.
I am glad we all don't ride the same sleds though, or the talk at the bar and hotels would not be so fun lol.

Ray,   it may cost me a steak or two, but when I tell Lois how much better the  '2019 ACE 900 is over her '16 900,  my steak bill will be a lot cheaper than your new sled bill.  
There seems to be inquiries about what new sled Farmerold is driving this year. All I can say is it is way above my pay grade to reveal that kind of information.  It is such all encompassing           gigantic news that such a leak could harm national security.
Had a chance to talk to SnowDog,, talk to Jak,  and finally got to meet Scorpionbowl and his friend Marty.   New sled, new and old friends, what a great day to start out the RDL season.
mike

Just hit me!
Lights!! One of the BEST upgrades was the number of lights inside the trailer. 
I believe is was 15.00 a light (LED)  installed and No-Hair added 8-10. You will not be sorry you did!
GutZ

Your Dad was a remarkable person and I know you and the family will miss him. Take comfort in the many memories he gave as you celebrate his life and say your goodbyes.
My thoughts are with you my friend.
 

Your Dad was a remarkable person and I know you and the family will miss him. Take comfort in the many memories he gave as you celebrate his life and say your goodbyes.
My thoughts are with you my friend.
 

One thing not mentioned that can be a real PIA is the guy wires for the ramp doors. They can be a serious hazard when backing a sled out - especially if the initial lineup is off just a bit or the sled shifts in the glides on the way out. That, and whether all sleds always get unloaded or not would make the V-nose door(s) a consideration for me.
I second Mr. Gutz's endorsement of ProLine trailers. They are made in NH by a family of snowmobilers and they are a first class operation. They make other trailers too and many go to Canada. Talk to them and compare their product to others; you'll be glad you did!
https://nhtrailers.com/

-No Gas Doors
-Man door is good for Off Season, but not mandatory.
-SS Hinges (yes you still need to grease them)
-Drive in and out is nice, you can load them In the nose and unload driving straight out the back.
-When we purchased our trailer the Mfg said Galvanized wheels are fine, no function or durability benefit to aluminum.
-Axles, I've been told torsion ones act like having shocks and sway bar built into them. We have Torsion and no complaints.
-Just remember, the larger the trailer, the larger the "Compensation" for other things.....

I recommend the ProLine Trailers, Great Product, Good People.
https://nhtrailers.com/
GutZ
 

I know Vermont and NH state in the OHRV regulations that chasing/harassing any wildlife is a fineable offense. I would guess it also is in Quebec and anywhere else.
My encounters have always been resolved by stopping completely, shutting the machine off and staying seated until they are out of sight. Following them slowly on the trail can sometimes have a bad outcome if they decide to turn back so I don't recommend it. Just be alert to the surroundings as there can always be another animal in the area that you DON'T see!

I know Vermont and NH state in the OHRV regulations that chasing/harassing any wildlife is a fineable offense. I would guess it also is in Quebec and anywhere else.
My encounters have always been resolved by stopping completely, shutting the machine off and staying seated until they are out of sight. Following them slowly on the trail can sometimes have a bad outcome if they decide to turn back so I don't recommend it. Just be alert to the surroundings as there can always be another animal in the area that you DON'T see!

I know Vermont and NH state in the OHRV regulations that chasing/harassing any wildlife is a fineable offense. I would guess it also is in Quebec and anywhere else.
My encounters have always been resolved by stopping completely, shutting the machine off and staying seated until they are out of sight. Following them slowly on the trail can sometimes have a bad outcome if they decide to turn back so I don't recommend it. Just be alert to the surroundings as there can always be another animal in the area that you DON'T see!

tonight, in the snowy valley .....
the founder of the oldest skidoo dealership in north america ,my dad ...mr andré-albert hallé left us for heaven at 95 y / o 
dad was like all  of us...adventurer , explorer and enjoying outdoor
he s going to be reunited with mom !!!
happy trail dad !!!
 
jean-guy

Yeah, scratching my head a bit on that but he definitely asked about Domaine Valga in the first post.
Anyway - I have stayed at Domaine Valga several times. The food is excellent, the rooms clean and comfortable. Eric and his wife are great people. Recommended.
IMO, you can still experience great views of the mountains without going all the way around the peninsula. Traveling east on TQ 5 and taking the 597 trail will still check the views boxes.

Baie St. Paul
Encore 2 moose chased by sleds and ultimately dead from exhaustion. Makes me sick and outraged, if I ever see it done in person it won’t be the moose dead on side of trail this I assure you.
#bailmeout #iceneedsbailmoney

Yeah, scratching my head a bit on that but he definitely asked about Domaine Valga in the first post.
Anyway - I have stayed at Domaine Valga several times. The food is excellent, the rooms clean and comfortable. Eric and his wife are great people. Recommended.
IMO, you can still experience great views of the mountains without going all the way around the peninsula. Traveling east on TQ 5 and taking the 597 trail will still check the views boxes.

bonjour !!!
different pots today ...stuff you don t see everyday !!!
dad is 95 y / o today !!! rode sleds tons back in the 60's and 70's  and a bit in the 80's !!!
volunteered tons for our club in town back in the 70's !!!
few pics !!!
 
jean-guy

hi scorpionbowl !!!!
 
not exactly ...haha...spent most of the week in the house...still have that grippe !!!!
it was time for a ride !!! truck .....4w and s x s are nt allowed anymore on the duniere reserve....maybe for hunting only !!!there s so many roads....wardens could nt find me !!!
middle of nowhere ...no...turned around about 45 miles from home....must be careful...christmas time ...no traffic..no trucking...saw a little jeep at the 16 miles on my way back...
tomorrow , if i think about it....i ll show you where its middle of nowhere !!!...
just too bad...little clouds of snow....no luck to see clearly the mountains 
 
jean-guy