mccaffrey

Temps were amazing, Sunny and around plus 12 - 14, no jackets and trails were surprisingly flat with lots of snow for cooling and slides.



We headed up to the lookout. 
It was time for lunch so we headed to KM 31. If you stepped off the trail you sank up to your chest. Snow depth in certain areas was crazy.

Getting up the hill to KM 31 for gas and lunch was bare. Lol

 
After lunch we decided it was time to check out the Hydro lines. Just was not enough snow everywhere to make it worth it. I did do one chute, but you hit patches of no snow at the top. Crazy how deep the ruts are where there is no snow.

It was getting towards the end of the day and our season was done. Mont Valin never disappoints! We had a great time!!



With roughly 300 km for the day our season comes to an end. Hopefully we run into some of you guys next year.
 

While most are thinking about swimming pools, boats, motorcycles and warm sunny weather, up here it’s never too early to get ready for next winter.
Spent my birthday and all day today (30 hours in two days for me) unloading a ship at the port in Becancour(south side of river from Trois Riveres). This is where they stockpile the road salt for most of Mauricie and beyond. This ship they tell me was the “petite one” only 42k ton of salt onboard. The larger ship will make one or two visits to unload before September is finished. It holds 78k tons. Thats gonna be alot of trucking. 
This one we started on Sunday morning at 8am. 4 tri axle semi-trailers and 2 big off road Dump Trucks. 3 loaders beside the ship loading the trucks. Another loader at the pile where we dump and an excavator on the pile to stack it up. Takes about 12-13 minutes round trip. Give or take. I made 67 trips Sunday and only 62 today. 24 hour operation until the ship is empty. They expect to finish this one off by midnight Tuesday. I’m back to my regular show tmmrw so I won’t be there to finish it off, I just went for Sunday and the Holiday Today here, Victoria Day. 
Thought you might enjoy to check it out. 


 

Looks to be still snowing at Km31 , this is s post from them today 

bonsoir !!!
 
back from a pirouette on the z e c !!!
up logging road...then local trail for stre marguerite...but instead went for the bridge for the trail for the lake....stopped at the lake....then up the 18 miles.....
went to check the road for my camp...turned around 7 miles from camp....snow was like whipped cream...few more days and i ll be ok !!!
 
jean-guy

better ask again before i put myself in trouble !!! ahaha
 
jean-guy

Don't get me wrong. I have the best riding pardner anyone can have. But he lives in North Carolina and 800 miles driving one way makes a weekend trip hard. Also he is my youngest son.  I ride with a younger group and they are all great to me but all have families and my wife is more understanding I guess. I think I have a lot more years left to ride but as some know this sport is special. The places to stay are like nothing else and the people you meet all have smiles on their faces.  The sleds are easy to ride. 200 mile days are easy. But the shorter days are still so relaxing. Planning a trip is so much fun enough though it never happens the way you plan. That's why we call every  ride a adventure.  So for me I am going to get my wife on a sled, even if it may be 100 mile days and the rest I'm going to just go and hook up with someone who is going north. There, I've made my plans now to keep them. Have a great summer guys.  Be safe.

friend of mine flew over mt albert tonight !!!
hog's back a bit over the middle of the pic !!!
 
jean-guy
 

if your friend want something to read!!!
 
http://www.cgrmp.com/river.html
 
jean-guy

hi pipemaster !!!
 
bienvenue...thx...
 
pics taken half a mile of the village in ste marguerite last year.....mom was on tq 5 .....and kids next to the road...tq 5 was just behind me !!!
sunshine is back but very windy ...checked old pics earlier today ...in 2016 ,i was at the st fidele cb with my 4w on this date !!!
pics taken just next to my camp....'' light traffic '' !!!
 
jean-guy

hi  pinkm1 !!!
 
if pile of wood don t fall down....it ll be close....noticed this afternoon .....there was snow under the pile..
mother nature will tell us in a few days !!!
from there by sled...my camp is about 2.5 miles......with 4w..must use another road....roughly 5 miles...max 6 !!!
 
jean-guy

bonsoir quebec bob !!!
 
i guess so for the beauty !!!.....but can cause problems too !!!
roughly 15 years ago , here in town...deer started to show up on tq 5 ....then people started to feed them and this brought problems for some residents...some lost their back yard if i can say that.
......not sure if  i have the right word.....cedar hedges...kaputt for those living next to tq  5....deer everywhere in some streets ...even main street...saw one ,coming back from grooming at night on main street ...right in front of the auberge..
brought a few coyotes in town...
so, since a few years ..its prohibited to feed them now
....but always nice to see them and take pics !!!
 
jean-guy

WHAT!  look at trail 23 with all that snow,  now I know why they were still grooming. Thanks again for the ride. I bet your glad your bride talked you into one more.

Yep , Krikri twist my arm for an other last ride!!!
We let ourself tempted by an annual event called "short sleeves ride" organized by a very  nice girl(sledder) called JoAnn on the web that maybe some of you may knowed. This event was as always in the Laurentide wildlife reserve at the Castor shack (named" playa del castor" for this day) located on the #369 trail 25 miles south from l'Étape. This event that started with a small bunch of friends meeting in 2004 turned bigger and bigger over the years and this one, the latest in april since the begginning attracted around 300 sledders
Most peoples got there from the north of Quebec city directly on the #369 but like few we started our ride from St-Raymond de Porneuf at the St-Raymond relay (also knowed as Lesage relay before) on the #23 trail. It was the souther point possible to start from (the trail just infront the relay on south side was just on grass!!!)  but going north from there, apart from the road approachs we encounter no dirt at all and amazing conditions for this time of the year. It was real winter condition for going and turned to spring on the return (was +10C at l'Etape and warmer down south!). It ended with 223 miles of happiness for us for making this route round trip. 
I won't make a photo report for this one but put together a short video from our route when going there that you may enjoy to watch (best view in 1080p)
It was our last one for sure this time, I just installed today the summer tires on the venture!
Have a great off season
Alain

Ballast weight for the sleds in the back.

Great rides in April. Fun times had by all! 
 
 

We just got back from a fantastic 4 day ride around Amos, Val-d’or, la sarre and senneterre. Fresh snow everyday and lots of groomer activity the entire trip. Trails should be even better this weekend!

bonsoir bob !!!
 
merci !!!
.....trails and snow and drifts !!!
 
jean-guy

bonjour jg and mcstar !!!!
 
merci !!!
back from dealership...on my way to my camp !!!
great weather...should have 2-3 pics tonight !!!
great imagination jg !!! hahha
 
jean-guy

good morning smclelan and sled dog !!
 
merci !!!
looks like the weather won t be too bad...
getting ready to prepare my stuff to go to my camp
vroooooooooooooooooommm !!!
 
jean-guy

bonsoir tom !!!
 
merci beaucoup !!!
tres apprécié !!!
 
jean-guy

bonsoir jeff and sandy !!!
merci !!!
hope summer will come soon ....i don t expect to be at my camp with my 4w before 3-4 weeks !!!
warm today ...but not much !!!
 
jean-guy

bonsoir blackjack....timbo .....phil and neksdr
 
merci beaucoup !!! quiet day up to now ....
....but rouge will be on the menu soon !!!
thx again !!!

bonjour playhard and gutz !!!
 
great thx....sunshine day here..
im just back from amqui ....called my nephew ....for a sled...so , if weather permit tomorrow ...might go up to my camp to do a bit of firewood !!!
fyi, snow bank in front of my sister 's house still 8-10' high !!!
 
jean-guy
 

I was disappointed to have missed the Easter weekend to ride but it is sometimes like that... but now that everyone thought sledding was over in my area mother nature sends us another surprise, a good one this time: One foot+ snow drop all over the north of my area on wednesday 4 April
Several clubs had already announced or planned their closure. Riding up to April was already good in my area and I must admit that  earth started to come out in some spots even in the north. I would like to Thanks all the snowmobile clubs peoples who rolled back up their sleeves and took their groomers out again for this last weekend in the north of my area, especially the Snowmobile Club of St-Michel des Saints, the Club du Royaume (Cabanon), the club Mattawin (Marineau toward Mauricie), the club of Notre-Dame de la Merci and all others that I could have forgotten.
Having that large amount of new snow with mild temperatures,  we did not expect perfect trails. It was not groomed everywhere and where it was the snow was  very soft and the conditions have changed all the day but we had played in the snow under extraordinary weather conditions and scenery and got a real treat.
Here is the approximate trail path we rode Saturday, April 7 2018 totaling 236 miles




Here starting from La Glacière in St-Zenon  at 9:00 am Saturday morning under a cloudy sky with -4C with our friend Steph



We took the #350 and then joined  the #23 north which were both freshly groomed



We had an overnight new snow bonus of a few inches  like the ice on an already generous cake



We passed by the Cabanon where we made a fuelup  before continuing toward the #345



The #23 had been groomed after the storm but contrary to what we had read on Facebook, beyond the #345 north had not been but several sleds had passed.



The problem in those conditions is that the trail get narrow on some spots because everybody tend to pass in the same line which can get scary to cross other sled especially on a wooded twisty trail so we chose to go toward the Taureau dam. This segment of trail had been even less used but was taking us sooner on the #360 which is wider with better visibility. Two-up on a touring machine in a canal like that is not easy, especially for the stress level of my best half on the back but we had not long to do it



And soon we were at the Taureau dam that we crossed to join the #360 trail on the other side



Again only one track wide but no sled had passed since the last overnight 3-4 inches of new snow so it was a lot easier because I was not tracking in the skis tracks of the others before. I am not sure that the stress level of my darling had decreased much but on my side I had a real blast!!! The venture tossed alot snow in this spot and I admit that I probably have a few more miles on the dreammeter vs the gps because of that segment!



The scenery that was already very snowy became even more


Here at the #360/#345north junction (toward pourvoirie du Repos).



For ourself we continued on the#360 northeasterly to go eat at Marineau in Rivière Mattawin. The snow that was intermittent since we started became more and more present



The #360 trail had not been groomed on the first miles...



But the Mattawin snowmobile club had begin to groomed just few miles ahead  and this, up to our destination for lunch at Mattawin



Intermittently the snow intensified making this absolutely beautiful scenery even more incredible ...



 I don't think the trees could have been more loaded than that, the pictures speak for themselves





It was simply magic ...





While we were already stunned at this scenery, the snow got heavier





We were there for an april spring ride!!!



It decreased afterwards



But the sky was still very dark as we crossed the photo spot on the shore of the beautiful Mattawin River



Here seen from the bridge,  the St-Maurice river with the Auberge Marineau seen through the trees in the distance



We arrived on-time for lunching at around 12:10. We are always  well received at Marineau, good food and services. A real sledders place for sledders. While we were having lunch, the snow started again!



After a good meal break, we gave a good drink to the venture on the other side of the street before continuing




  We were still in for some surprises in terms of weather, the sun that we did not expect had come out!




And it's under a sun and cloud mix that we  retraced our steps on the #360





An already beautiful and pleasant trail to ride but with those conditions it was really at the top


The same scenery with the sun instead of the snow was so different but just as beautiful, we are really blessed to had had both in the same ride. Obviously the pics are a lot better when it's sunny ...


 

 
We stopped at the halte 440 for some pictures ...





And then continued ...



Hum... this white coating on his hood does not seems factory...


Here not far from the Taureau dam. The morning single track was beginning to widen a little



Our buddy Steph was a little reluctant to our ride extension plans (maybe he begin to know us well!) but since it was still early we finally convinced him to stretch out the ride by riding around the reservoir and passing through St-Michel des Saints. The first section up to #33 trail had not been groomed either but was riding very well. Here during a short break on the reservoir shore



Then once on the #33, the trail had been groomed by St-Michel snowmobile club, nice and fast 



Here on the reservoir beach 



With this beautiful sun giving us maximum visibility we chose to cut on the Taureau reservoir between the Auberge du Lac Taureau and St-Michel des Saints.



We took the opportunity to do one last fuelup at the the village before continuing on the #63 trail toward the Cabanon. The big hills near the village were very thin but otherwise the snowmobile club of St-Michel had did a very good grooming job because it was very nice and fast.


 
We then resumed on our morning path to La Glacière. We finally got back at the trailer around 6:00PM with 236 miles on the dreammeter.
 For the next, I do not expect a lot of extra grooming but you can follow the details on the trail conditions website here:  https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
Each ride is an unique small adventure and this one has been an incredible good one! Big chances are it was our last one (unless somebody twist my arm!) but I could not dream of a better way to end the season in my area
Have a good off-sledding  season !!!
Alain
 

We’ll back up to the cottage for the week end to most likely do my season ender. Invited along a QR friend as well as an old time ski doo partner with me, GrumpySanta. Friday afternoons arrival we learn 2 other cottage owners I know from home are up for the week end, so we’ll be doing the rounds. 10 klms up the lake we go for visit #1, pound back a few, shoot the $hit and our visit #2 walks in the door, guess that eliminates the next run. So we catch up a little and off we go down the lake another 10 klms hit the trail for an early evening run to La Mulet and back.
Next day we have it planned to head up through the Parc on trail 53 up to Val Barrette, take the gas, lunch and on the trail up to the dam and dykes. All the trails thus far were flat and hard as concrete, great for gas mileage. Val Barrettes gas should take us up for the loop and down the 323 to La Minerve for more gas, estimated about 180k no problem I got gas on board, Grumpy left his at home 🤔. We arrive in La Minerve as scheduled but decide to not buy gas, figure we have enough to get back with a stop at another old friends house on Lac aux Castors, doing the rounds.
Pound back a few, catch up on old times and before you know the table is set and supper is served, god bless her. Evening gets late and we’re camping out there for the night. 
In the morning our old friend serves up some frying pan surprise....don’t ask! But it was good. Later we’re out for a back country ride but not before dumping my gas and Grumpy getting a gallon or two from the shed. We ran across several lakes, portage routes that are for canoe campers, visited some empty cabins, ran some roads, some fuzzy some not but they all have plenty of snow!! 80 klms later we’re back for some lunch and another back country shortcut to the cottage but not before monsieur Grumpy runs the GT out of gas. That gas can back home in the garage sure is looking pretty good right about now. Ha ha ha off I go to get the gas with my can on the back, “don’t leave home with out” as they say.
It turned out to be one of the finest week end rides I had this season, no drama, no carnage and no gas! Ha ha. 530 klms for the last run and spent with old friends and good times, that’s what sledding is all about.