mccaffrey

Conditions on 23 were fantastic today from St Ray to Le Tape, fresh few inches on top of just groomed. More sled traffic than I remember for a Monday, but not bad.
some patches of sun, some miles of heavy flurries, but mostly an overcast day.
Towards Hebertville there was clearly less base as others have reported, with more wind swept fields, and likely some prior and rain melt, but the trail was still great. 
Continued thin around Roberval and fluffier near St Felicien. Quite windy here, easy to see how the fields clear and drifts pile up fast.
Car parking lot is near empty, and only a few other sleds in the corral at Du Jardin tonight, but it is a Monday night.
Smoked meat in the bistro was very good, but I think Roquemont’s is tastier, will verify that Friday night :<)
Over the top of the lake tomorrow, where we land is not yet known, maybe Jonquiere
 
 

We had to deal with another warm up this last week, all had freeze back on wednesday night lefting some time for the dozers to work the hard surface and loosen-up some snow. At home we had another hotflash friday end of the day with a bit of gresil and a 2 mm ice crust. fortunately  this turn to be snow a bit more north. I was still confident to get highway type trails condition  so we decided to go for the big loop Joliette/Grand-Mère/Mattawin/St-Zenon/Joliette, a ride of 320 miles mostly on open path trail. Glad we did, we had good to very good conditions conditions all over the ride.
Let's check it in detail but first, here is the trail path of the day:



-5C when we left under a cloudy clearing sky directly from home in St-Thomas de Joliette in the south of Lanaudiere. The major thaw during the week had left an hard trail base and the small episode of ice Friday night had left a thin crust of 2mm ice on the groomed trails  so scratchers were necessary to start the day early. Here in the field near my home.



As expected, the trails were very hard and fast, not a single bump. With the snowtrackers my venture was like on rails, very precise direction and easy driving: ideal conditions to crank up many miles without getting tired. Here in the maple grove in St-Cuthbert: the  water pipe was installed high enought  to allow us to continue to pass without problem.


We then took trail #3 to  go toward Grand-Mere


 
I take the opportunity to write a bit about scratchers: In my case it's been part of my essential accessories for more than 10 years after we got  traped after a rainy day on a trip ... after that I understood !!! I use the cheap model at $ 60 which clings under the footrest. Some will say: yeah but you can not back up with them ... in my life of sledder it never happened that my engine overheat or my slides stick when going in reverse so I think I can raise them during that time!!! Jokes aside, I happened to bent one at the beginning when I had forgotten them and I just had to bent it back in shape (otherwise in case of badluck the spares are sold for $ 20 each).
By putting them as far forward as possible they are very effective and installed as I put them I do not even have to stop to put them on: just to lean and pass the hand under the edge of the footrest to pick them down. Often just one side is enough and in the most extreme condition both will do the job. In my opinion it should come standard with a snowmobile, it is not very often that it is absolutely necessary but when you need them your $60 investment is right there to save your ass and when they are there easily usable  we used them regularly, most often in the morning when the trails are very hard and we are in the first to pass. It is easier on the engine cooling system and help on hifax life. Yesterday we took them off in the middle of the morning.




It's the worst we've seen and it was just a few spots in St-Barthélemy area (very south of Lanaudiere along St-Laurence river)



Otherwise it looked like that on most of the ride





Given the very good conditions we chose to extend the ride a bit going through  #63 trail to see the Magnan falls





A beautiful site, ideal place for a trail side break



The sky had clear up leaving us a beautiful sunshine for the rest of the day



The pics bring up the beauty of the scenery so much better with  some sun



We stopped to refuel in St-Étienne before crossing the St-Maurice. Policemen were passing there but must believe that we did not look too fishy they just continue their way



We then continued trail # 3 eastbound



And crossed the St-Maurice river at La Gabelle. A little bumpy but very solid no movement with the warmth.



The trail had a small hi frequency ripple east of St-Maurice a little tiring but it still ride at a good pace.



An FCMQ patrol accosted us but they were satisfied by my just seeing my sticker, no need to stop and dig in my pockets to do the paper thing on the trailside to my great satisfaction



We then took the St-Maurice river trail in Grand-Mère.



It was quite bumby, especially up to this point but still solid as a rock no slush



Then further north was less bumpy and it was done at maximum legal speed except for 2 small ice jam sections at the very end. When we observe in the side of the mountain the warmth have formed several large glaciers


Once back on the shore just beginning the trail we faced to that... oupsss, that's when it came back to me that my friend Snowcruiser had told me a few weeks ago that they had plowed a section of the trail
 there this year ........ Fortunately, it's like that for only a few hundred feet up to the top of the hill not far,



And then it's looks like that's  ....oufff!!!


next optimal trail conditions, good and fast


 
Nice trail and even nice scenery



We arrived for lunch at Marineau at 12:45 with 141 miles on the dreammeter. A first real break for us because we had almost not stopped in the morning feeling  we does not need



After a good meal for us and a fuelup for the venture, we leave for St-Zenon via trail #360



The #360 was nice and fast, a small ripple in some curves but very pleasant to do on this beautiful sunny day





The ride going so well why not expand it a little more circuit through the M20 trail! A beautiful segment that once again was worth the detour.


 
This trail is a bit different from the rest of the area. The mix of scenery and mountain/lake remember me the Laurentide park each time I ride it









We did not had the chance to see a lynx or a beaver but at least a small partridge who obviously felt at home in the trail



This trail also includes a couple of interesting and safe trail stretchs. We must still take care because we do not want to have any incidents or problems especially in those remote spots that are very far from roads and services.



Once arrived at the next junction we took a short break and then continue on the #345 south



The #345 was just perfect not a single bump. Never saw it so good on a Saturday  late afternoon. We then continue to the Mattawin River Bridge where we took a good break





Me doing a 360 with the Gopro to immortalize the moment up there


 
Then we continue on #345. Given the mild day, I was expecting more bumpy trail but no, the conditions were very beautiful ...



On the other hand, there were icy washed curves  that we had not seen elsewhere must be more vigilant and have good runners to keep on your side. We then crossed the dozer  grooming this already beautiful trail
making the conditions almost perfect



We did a last fuelup at the Cabanon and then continued  the #23 southbound



Still beautiful conditions, it had just been regrommed there too. Sun was already down



We stopped to eat  at Real Masse around 5:45 pm



After our good meal break we started our last stretch to the house. The conditions were still good, no beated trail with this hard base and as a bonus we started to encounter just grommed trails in St-Gabriel de Brandon and Joliette. We left the house at 8:15 in the morning and came back home at 8:15 pm with just 320 miles on the dreammeter.
In summary very good conditions everywhere on the circuit we did  and the today  falling snow will give the little notch that  was missing with some  new material on the good hard base that was already there as the cream layer on the cake! There is no rain in the extended weather forecast and despite the temperatures being slightly above the average, the nights would be cold enought to groom so the picture is good to keep a full operational trail system for the next  weeks  in our area. Let's enjoy it!
 
Alain

Tonight we are in Comfort Inn in Sep-tile, just back from dinner @ St.  Hubert, spent an hour and a half there smiling about a really fantastic day of adventure. we say and rode thru almost everything Quebec can possibly throw your way on the trail today. Started out of Baie-Comeau on 6 to 8 inches of fresh powder, then to a few tracks going North in front of us. We were on the trail just before 8 am, on the east side of the mountain we caught and passed those sleds at the new bridge. Now breaking trail and it is absolutely incredible conditions with no traffic and an amazing trail all for us!! We traveled in to Godabout for fuel, signs directed us there, but there is no gas in this village, but it just so happens that a very generous older gentleman has some at his house for the fine price of 12$ a gallon.Sno Horse and I are both carrying gas so we pass on this deal and go 25 more miles and the 4 of us fuel at Baie-Trinite. We do not stop for lunch today, having way too much fun for that, besides, we ate very well yesterday!! Despite the fresh snow we are making very good time and are looking for a way to fill the day before lodging in Sep-tile. No problem finding a little extra riding here and Sno Horse has a gps, what could possibly happen?? Jared promptly buries the long tack Yamaha in 7 ft. of powder, and the Federation trail patrol just happens to be on the trail to kindly assist the boys who passed them 3 miles earlier, OOPS, did not recognise them, after a little lecture about having my trail sticker too low for them to see , they let us go. Then having a little spare time on our hands we take what we thought was an M-trail into the back woods thinking it would go some where. It turns in to 1 sled wide, out in the mountains in 10 to 12 feet of snow pac, like riding in a tunnel and no possible way to turn around, but it is a nice ride so we keep going and cross a few lakes and 20 miles in Phil decides we are getting farther away from trans Quebec 3 and it probably goes somewhere, but not to gas or lodging. The last lake we crossed had some serious slush in spots so time to turn around at 345 pm. I leave last so I can keep a eye on the 2 young guys with us and Jared hammers thru a big drift right in front of me to make sure he can get through and I have my shield open and as he rises up blinds me face high, I let off the gas and sink in 10 ft. of powder, as he drives 2 miles down the lake, never looking in his mirrors. Snow Horse see him coming and leaves the end of the lake and his son waits for us. Jared is on the hammer at the end of the lake and tries to power thru a mountain of snow and buries it. A half hour goes by and I am alone 20 miles out in the real back country, with my back country buried and I am thinking about the possibility that these guys got onto the m-trail and are unable to turn around and will have to go get gas to come back to get me so I continue digging the sled out, what could go wrong they have a gps and know here we were. So the 2 young boys are now coming to find me and think maybe I fell thru the ice, but boys will be boys and these guys are still playing Johnny stand up and Jared buries the Yammie AGAIN!! At this point I am thinking I may be spending the night out here and can hear wolfs howling, great!! There is a cabin a half mile away but walking there to break in is nearly impossible in 12 ft. of powder! Soon I hear a sled and Phil's son Nick,  is coming , then Jared, YEP, they are loving it and ribbing the old guy and now it is after 4pm and staring to get dark. I think they waited for me to get it dug out!! Finally Phil pulls up to lay it on a little more, all in a days fun and we get out of this place at dark and find our way back to trail 3 and head west back to Sep-Tile. Not all over with as Phil tips over going over a snow bank at 3 mph, no one hurt and nothing damaged, but we finally get to lay it on him, tomorrow is Nicks turn. The waitress @ St Hubert is getting us a report on trail #3 conditions to Havre-St. Pierre as we head farther East tomorrow, she is 24 and rides a 2018 850 Summit, with pink powder coating, Nicks eyes lit up when he heard that, he wants one, I think I am talking about the sled!! In all my years dating back to the 80's today was the finest day of riding and camaraderie I have had, terrific trails, amazing terrain, and really great riding partners, only 5 more days of riding left on this trip, what could possibly happen, Phil has a gps.......to be continued!!

YEP, we will post some pics , but they do not need any help with ideas, hopefully they will not read these posts until they get home, really wonderful watching these young guys, they are good riders and are having as much fun as one can have, I remember when I was that age, back in the early 70's, when the sleds were nothing like todays , it is a really great feeling treating them to this adventure and watching them enjoy it, giving a little back, and they don't know I am probably having more fun than they are!!

Hi Alain, thank you for the report, heading to St. Raymond Wednesday on a 4 day trip and starting on trail 73, gray days still take pictures.

Very nice Alain as always, thank you for taking the time to share,

yes sir !!!
 
no matter what the size !!!
 
 
jean-guy

We had one severe thaw this last Friday! At home near Joliette we had  heavy rain, 11C in the afternoon, water everywhere, lost about 2/3 of the snow we had... and next in the night and Saturday morning a big foot of new snow... Mother nature is weird !!!!
In sum we had finished with near the same snow to the ground we had before. But with all this water that not had time to retreat before being covered with a foot of new snow we had to expect few days to restore all the trail system especially in the south of the region, that's why after a little research and checks we opted for a start from St-Gabriel de Brandon to go north up to the reservoir Taureau dam. Here is the track of the day we did:



Sunday morning, sunny with -30C!  We had the whole four seasons in one weekend, we were back in winter I guess! After fighting with the frozen trailer (frozen padlock, coupler, chains, top cover) and getting to our drop point we did a late departure from St-Gabriel passed 10:30



Beautifully freshly groomed trails





Some water holes here and there mostly frozen, here other traces of the thaw like this glacier



Further on the #23 trail the section maintained by the Club of St-Charles Mandeville was not grommed yet but ride very well. We met the dozer at grooming it when we returned at the end of the day ...





We passed Réal Massé



And continued on the #23 north


 
The amount of new snow was less in the north but the trail conditions were good



A few water holes here and there like this one, in the worst we seen. Can be cross easily, not deep at all



Otherwise very snowy scenery





We stopped to refuel and lunch at the Auberge Le Cabanon around 12:15



After we continued toward the taureau Dam on the #345 North



The club had done a good job in this sector there was not a single bump, a real magic carpet ride





Still have to be careful with the frozen water spots



And places that have been more flooded but no risk of breaking through the ice it's hard frozen back in this area





We dropped the #345 to switch toward the dam, a section of trail newly reopened this year



The Taureau reservoir dam



The catwalk that was closed a few years ago was redone a little wider than before at 62"and the big difference they removed the cement stairs in front which was forcing us to turn short on the corner of the building, a real great improvement



Otherwise a nice place to revisit that have some charm





At this point, we took the #360 east to loop through the Mattawin River Bridge. again a carpet ...



The light vapour on the river who betrayed the freezing temperature even on the pic 



Here the view across the bridge



Where we took another little break

 
Before continuing on the #345 to the south ...



here again top notch conditions with a little dazzling sun at some points



We stopped at this gang to see if they were needed any help with a tow and during this time a first dozer that started his run passed. Sympatic english peoples in this gang, maybe some boys on forum here?





Let's say they keep that grooming top notch there



We passed the Cabanon and continued on the #23 south by our morning path. They were also at grooming there
 


Here a small rear shot after passing it



The sun was falling down and the temperature too





We stopped to take a warming up break at Real Massé


 
And continued then towards the south. The section groomed by Mandeville had been did during the day and we cross the returning dozer. We finally been back to our starting point at St-Gabriel de Brandon around 6pm with 160 miles on the dreammeter.
In the end a very nice ride, with the intense cold the trail conditions were at their best they would be and this cold already helps to accelerate the reopening of trails further south but there is alot to do with fallen stake under the snow and rivers/ice bridge to check along the St-Laurence river sector. You can take a look here to check the last snowmobile clubs updates on theirs trails:
https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
Bye!
Alain

Day 1:  Monday Jan 15th
Jackstraw (Jim),  Eric & myself drove up to Quebec after spending Sunday night in Lake George NY.   Unloaded the sleds, parked the trucks, got geared up and left Shawinigan at 2:30pm.   Dropped onto the river and rode it up to Mekinac.   I wish that Richard would open that place again!  Headed up the 355 (Scorpionbowl’s favorite trail) to Lac Edouard for the night.  That was 3 firsts for me.   I’ve had lunch there many many times.  But I never had dinner, had never spent the night, and had never had breakfast there.  Gassed up the sleds & checked in.  Jim will tell the rest of that nights story.  
105 miles

Today was my first day of riding my new 900 ACE Blizzard.  I wanted to ride very local because I wanted to be sure that the items I  installed this summer aren't to close to the exhaust pipe and could cause a fire.  I have 2 fire extinguishers with me just in case.  Everything went well.  Ended up riding 70 miles for the day.  Went to see my friend John at Wajax, a supplier to industrial maufacturers.  He told me he attended a meeting with the land owner who has closed trail 383, from the jct of 368 and the dam.  The land owner is the guy who owns the fenced in area that is 1 to 2 miles in lenght.  He has threatened to close the trail for the past 4 years.  Well this year he did.  Then John told me that the club was going to make a trail off of 368 down to Lac Kenagomi.  The started to cut trees and then found out they were on land they shouldn't have been on and had to quit and paid a fine for cutting trees.  The fenced in land is for sale and a guy has made a bid, sale not finalized yet but the bidder is a snowmobiler so maybe something will come of that.  Then I went up to Spence and they have redone the inside and it looks great.  After lunch at Tim Hortons I went out trail 134.  What a dissappontment,  that trail has become.   Most trails were in very good shape. Suppose to get 6 to 10" of white gold tonight.
 

X2 on The Roq. Redone rooms & resto & micro brew. Corral for sleds, but like Phil1 says no issues with the rigs all around back. Plenty of local police & EMT's hang in the lot. Gas & Cat Dlr also sells/svcs Yammi. Nice place all around. 

Well I think I am living the dream. In 1971 my father, my brother and myself bought a cottage in the laurentiens as a snowmobile base. In those days there was sledding in lots of places on the island of Montreal where we lived but we wanted more. It was a small rustic summer cottage on a beautiful lake and we fixed it up some and had winter and summer fun with it. Fast forward to a few years back and I bought out my brother the remaining partner, turned the cottage into a house with full basement etc ( although it is still a work in progress )  sold up in Montreal and moved there with my wife. We have all the major stores 20 min away in st Jovite, medical etc and Montreal is only 1 hr and 10 min away with our kids living there to impose on should we want / need to stay there. Got summer toys and winter sled trails accessible right down the lake, although the number of trails lately have declined and one must travel on a sled a bit further to get into fresh territory. I could saddle bag almost anywhere right from here if one has the time but I do agree trailering to new areas or areas that get blessed with better conditions at any given time is an important option.
 

Very attractive sled!! And this is coming from a skidoo guy! Nice job!! 

Oops

Agree 100%, and I think its 40$ Canadian, which works out to about 28 US now. A bargin.

I question how many riders have the required $500,000 limit. I've owned an insurance agency for 34 years and most people want minimum limits, this could prove costly if you check the block verifying that you have required coverage. 
Personally for the 40some odd dollars I will keep the coverage that comes with the pass. Don't forget you are also buying legal defense when you buy a policy of insurance, how far does 40 bucks get you in an attorneys office?
 

bigger smile for you phil !!!
12 moose yesterday  morning .......7 this morning !!!
frost and ice in the potholes this morning....-3c
getting ready to go back ....til monday maybe !!!
not tracks at the camp since monday...
2 big gaspesian traffic yesterday morning....lost 20 mins into my run ..both times !!! hahahha!!!
enjoy !!!
 
jean-guy

Putting new brakes on the trailer today and the wife says'' you are nuts, why dont you wait for a cooler day". I tell here to look at the sticker on the back door. No time to waste.

hi hparaptor and artsled !!
 
sorry for the late reply....i had to change the spark plugs, oil filter ,gas filter on my computer last week ....hahhaa...connection problem !!!
thx for the offer...but no vacations for me during summer....and i guess my 4w is nt as fast as yours !!!
well, not much cold this weekend...11 c friday night around mid night and about samething last night...rainy day today !!!
my worse weekend for pics i guess...cloudy and dark both nights !!!....12 moose during weekend .
 
jean-guy

yaaa.....i was joking !!!
nice welcome at work this morning...mom + calf in the plantation i was working last week...1 / 4 mile away ...i started to call for fun ...they came about 800' from me...lost sight of them....back in my truck ...1000 ' further...a bull 300 ' off the road in a clear cut !!!
great  sunrise btw ....
 
jean-guy

LongHair doing some off season training:
GutZ

A photo from the weekend....

5 years! Mason rode last year! and he's 5. (yes ... the police chased us back to the Hotel, and told us something about endangering a child, we said a MachZ was a perfectly fine choice for  for him and we even velcro'd his hands to the bars so he would not fall off.)
Oh well, 5 years will fly by.
GutZ
 

hi all !!!
finally , a bit of rain late last night ...need more...
only 2 moose...bull and mom friday night ..
 
jean-guy

hi jak !!!
 
thx....fishing could be better ...the lake on the pic is the one i go at night to see friends....my dad had a cabin there back in the late 60's and early 70 's...fishing has been always good there
....but about 10 years ago ,they raised the water level on that lake...looks like they ve made a mistake....quality of fishing took a nice dive in the last 5- 6 years....very poor this 
summer...
on top of that lake....left side...lake casault ....fishing still very  good.....casault is one of the best ...if not, the best for trouts reprocduction in pq !!!
still need rain here....very dry and hot ....since last monday...rained for 10 mins...
old pics !!!
 
jean-guy