Trailblazer

You're leaving out the best part Jack.

X2

Don't need a snow bungie kit if you know how to properly attach, I have done this several times when the 2 strokers were following me, ha ha ha. had to slip that one in, sorry guys. First off tie one end of the rope to the ski spindle then with the other end, follow along now, loop it through the ski loop from the inside to the outside then loop it through the tow vehicle bumper then back to the other ski loop, going through from the outside to the inside and onwards to the ski spindle. Keep the sleds close to each other in tow and the with rider of the broken down sled on the back of the towing sled adds for traction in tow also remember by keeping the sleds close in tow also adds for traction. Worst thing to do is to tow a sled 10 feet behind you. Try it for fun then you know what to do when the time comes.

800 klm solo ride, like to do that once'n a while but not too often. Meeting Scranton and his crew with my friend help break up the loneliness.

Friday after lunch I leave from the yard for paradise, decided to take the outlaw trail, fastest way up. 3 Hours later I find myself buying gas in Chenneville with 180 k from the house. A quick stop at the local grocery store and onwards to le Chalet. Departure time 12:30 arrival time 4:30. Light up the stove prepare supper for jusque moi cuz everyone else is staying in for the weekend with their honeys (boo hoo) cause they are all off to the Gaspe next week. As soon as I was on the mainland in Pointe des Cascade this morning the trails were freshly groomed, flat and as hard as concrete, scratchers came down and it was like that all the way up. Saturday morning, the plan is to ride up to Mekoos and meet with Scranton and friends for lunch, they are departing from Maniwaki for a four day ride, I was asked to join in but sorry guys can't do Monday and Tuesdays. We both aim for 11:30 Mekoos time, I arrive at 11:40 and 10 minutes later Scranton walks in with 2 of his buddies, Doonali and forgive me I'm getting old forgot the other guys name but we do share the same line of work. Nice group of guys, would've been a lot of fun riding with them I'm sure. My ride up was to begin with the 43 out of the gate then 323/319/63 east to the 319 again and stuck with it 'till the 53 then back on the 319 into Mekoos, all trails were flat and as hard as concrete, made for some great milage. I filled my tank at the chalet with a jerry can from the cabane so I could leave on full. Arrived at Mekoos with 160 k and a half a tank showing. Wow! Now let's see how far I can take this.......after lunch we all have a quick ride together back to the 319/53 intersection where we split ways. I decide to continue on the 53 to the west side of the Kiamika Reservoir, very picturestic. Take the local over the dam and some dykes then jump back on the 53 down to the 63, head east to the 319 but not before running out of gas, I was hoping to make it into Nominigue but when I saw the milage sign posting Nominigue for another 16 klms and I already have 250 on the take with the light lite for some time now. Well just as I was finishing that thought she starts burping on me, I pull over and put the spare can in at 252 k. 16 klms later take the gas continue on the 63 'till the 319 and down to an old friends place at Lac aux Castor for a few rounds and supper. later in the evening I get the 600 Ace Tundra escort at 40 kph with diplomatic flags waving. Half way back escort takes a U turn and am in for a night cap at 9:30. Again all the trails were not disappointing at all, all flat and as hard as concrete once more. Sunday, todays plan, sleep in.........................ride back. Upon my return last night I had an E code lite up on my gauges and a message coming across the screen "Faulte Suspension". So in the morning I see the tail end of the sled sagging, OH OH!! Start her up and I can hear the compressor going, gauges are reading the pressure up to the shock setting that I had it last set too, which was 5. Taking some time to go from 1 to 5 then when it gets there it drops back to 4 then up to 5 and does this a couple times and boom! The E code is set in place. Well it's clear to me I have an air pressure issue. Thank god the trails are flat and hard cuz it looks like I'll be riding on the spring all the way back. Load her up and off I go at a 12:15 departure. I was planning on taking a different route for my return ride which would add more klms and more time for the return but that's out the door, it's the outlaw passage back. Heading into Rigaud on the rail bed on coming sledders are twirling their fingers in the air signaling PO PO up a head so I take her down a notch....or 2. What the hell is it with the PO PO and me. Sure enough they're ahead and stop me. They ask me if I'm the owner of the sled notice I have a valid license plate a trail pass, ask me where I'm going and where I have come from and wave me off, toddles boyz. Then another check point stop in the mountain, this time FCMQ officials, guy waves me over and they must have at least a dozen sleds pulled over and there were 2 more officials doing paperwork on their sled seats. Guy asks me for my pink trail pass slip and insurance. This is where it gets interesting, I hand over the pink slip and a photocopy of my drivers license, insurance and registration all on one sheet. (something I learned a long time ago). He takes a quick scan sees everything in tact and waves me off, in and out in a minute or 2 while all the others are still there waiting, telling me they must all have some kind of issue with the FCMQ. Love it when you can ride in and out of these check points in a snap. On the other side of the mountain in St.Marthe I come up on a little parade of B10s or B12s, zip on right by them to get a head a little so I can take a few shots as they are passing by. Really something special to see history on the trail. Arrival time at 4pm. After thawing out overnight I take a peak underneath looking and hoping for an air leak while keeping my fingers crossed that I didn't blow the shock. Start her up listen for the compressor and VOILA!!! I see the culprit, huge ass bubble on the air lin going from the shock to the body pissing out air, phew!!!! just a hose great news. Now for more inspection and off to the dealer for parts to continue the adventure.

83 to the 13 is your only route south from Clova, unfortunately Chemn Lepine (Dravers trail) south of Clova is closed. From Clova you can make Le Fer a Cheval on the 13 for a gas stop and a what ever pending on what time you depart Clova. If you're early enough gas and go at Fer a Cheval and on to Ste.Anne-du-Lac for more gas and a lunch.

We met Foxy, she loved our chicken wings.

Good news we can pound more drifts.

No ones going up to Havre?

Spoke with Rabaska last week and they said that trail ( Chemin a Lepine) has been closed for 3 years now, non federated so no funding and all grooming costs are on Clova and Rabaska. Real funny how they close the bridge crossing at Club Gatineau for whatever reason they’re making up now, this summer I crossed it on atv and all is fine even cars cross it. I think it’s total BS they don’t let sled go over it, must be a Zec thing.

And then there’s the 70 or the 170 take your pick but wait for a snow storm.

Bras St.Louis too

Try the 93 down to Sacre Coeur lots of hwy there.

The 13 up to Maniwaki is a rail bed. Now pending on which trail you'll be leaving Maniwaki on to enter the Parc, if you continue up on the 13 then 322 west you'll need to buy your gas at La Classic in Lytton. If you leave Maniwaki on the 63 fuel up in Maniwaki cause your next gas stop is at La Domaine.

Gas at the Classic in Lytton before heading into the Parc, then La Domaine going through the Parc. It’s a hwy gas stop with restaurant gas and convenient store. Now you have two options from there for gas, one is a stretch 200 k going through the short cut I suggested earlier to get to the Indian Reserve or head down to La Verendrye for gas. Pending on trail conditions and bad weather La Verendrye could be useful. After the Indian reserve you’re good to Louvicourt, you’ll have to go past the intersection for Fallion and up along side of the hwy into Louvicourt. This gas will get you into Fallion.

Give the guy a break, he's going off trail.

I'll be in Duhamel Saturday night, 2 1/2 hrs from Maniwaki but I guess i'm out 2016 with 17 k on her.

Awesome guys, true adventurers. Go team VT

Nevermind the bumpy mess just hammer down and skip the tops. With all testosterone set aside I suspect you'll encounter the bumps to and from intersections and bridge crossings aside from that it's a free party.

Especially in the power lines between Forestville and Colombe

Making it to Lac Fallion might be a bit of a stretch unless you guys have got stamina. Day 1 Forestelle Better suggestion would be the Forestelle in Val d’Or, a lot of the trail system leading to there are fast running trails and if you guys have sleds that can make 200 k on a tank, you can make the Indian reserve from La Domaine by bypassing La Verendrye. Day 2 La Fer a Cheval Day 3 back to the trucks early And in reverse may I suggest this Day 1 Clova Day 2 La Verendrye Day 3 back to the trucks early Geez I think I may have a go sat this one. Good luck guys and get back to us with some trail info.

“Up the speed and hit the tops” I like your thinking, have you sledded though MTL? The norm on Saturday evenings.

6 1/2 days....I get fed up after 4 days on the bench. Great write up Ice loved following along. You should start a book.

Looking forward to your trail reports. Enjoy the ride.

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