Trailblazer

SMDS up to Windigo today,  various conditions but all pretty decent early season riding . Nice lunch at Camp de  Casey , Norm is no longer there but the new guy Rafael seems a excellent addition.  83 has a reroute east of Wemotaci , passing by a nice lookout over the river and village.  Apparently we're the first overnight guest here at Windigo for this season Martine tells us ! 

Everything is in reverse these days

The Pip don’t look quite ready yet

Everything is in reverse these days

The Pip don’t look quite ready yet

The Pip don’t look quite ready yet

2022 V14.1
https://sites.google.com/site/scdiscdi/cartesgps/sentiersmotoneige
 

Our final day was yesterday, so awesome to ride with Markus and Dooright for those days they were up. Another great season opener, conditions improved steadily day by . Hopefully more snow will be  on the way soon🤞. 
 
 
 
 
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Headed home, 4.5 days of wonderful riding for us. Very little to no grooming , not sure why…… Fuel in town $1.42L, Onatchway $1.98L, KM31 $2.28L, Chapel $2.23L. 

Not to shabby of a day ! 

Found the Groomer running today  

Prlchat groomer has been out and about. Lots of 93 though not groomed heading East is very good.  Down to Escumins has been confirmed as good.

Never stops snowing here. Found groomed for our trail buddies 

No snow😏
 
 
 
 
 
 

Scratchers up    , plenty of cooling 

Litter of cats ! .. Lynx that is 
 

We Arrived late afternoon  ..more to come 

Doing a little tour in Quebec.  We stay in Cabano a couple nights ago and went down to Pub de Lac for supper.  They told us at the pub they will not be open this winter.  Tonight we are the the Hotel Cie in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, the restaurant  is closed due to staffing issues and at this point do not expect the restaurant to be open this winter. The Petro Canada restaurant across the road is also closed.
When planning trips this coming winter a person should certainly ask about your favorite eateries.  Covid may be almost behind us, but things are not back to normal yet.

Laugh you may but what a great idea. Hell we got lights on them now and Sena communicators.

And no, the restrictions did not hurt one bit.
And yes St Hubert's demi poulet and a hospitality shot of Sortilage (maple whisky) are vital components of sledding Quebec!
 
 
 
 
 

One of the most fun trips ever 😉  Glad to share it with you, Trailblazer and the rest of the VT gang. 😊

So we waited for the temperature to warm up this morning a bit from the -28, we left it -24 F Way nicer. Johnny’s Trail from barrage Gouin is the same as in the years past, on the trail for 5 miles, on the road for 5 miles, then the last 20 miles down to the 83.
He is grooming the east and west routes. The next 30 miles into parent on the 83 was more than a bit choppy but survivable. The only gas station and store in parent has been revamped and has everything you would possibly need. They are absolutely by the rules, helmet not good enough, Balaklava not good enough. They want you wearing a mask.  
 
8 miles outside of parent to the 13 intersection is also choppy and rough. Next we jumped on 13 down to Fer a Chevelle, that was groomed both directions and completely awesome. Far a Cheval has  rules. You can order food though a limited menu and you can eat it inside sitting in a chair, but your inside visit is limited to 15 minutes. They do have an outside fire going that you can hang out next to a picnic table as long as you want, it’s all completely workable.
 
We did a little bit of playing around which is always nice now that the temperature is up to -8° F. The good news of course with the cold you don’t see many sleds even though it is a Saturday. The 13 the rest of the way down and to Notawissi was completely awesome. Again another set of custom rules where they don’t you want you inside for more than 15 minutes. They prepare your dinner and put it in a cooler which you can bring to your room, they have it ready when you want.
They do the same with breakfast here they prepare in the kitchen, then they put it in the cooler you pick it up at the time you agreed on and bring it to your cabin.  Again rules that are completely no problem at all. Super nice to be on the wood runner trails, as always they do a great job with the signing and the grooming just an enjoyable area to ride in.
A whole bunch of Ontario people are over here they unloaded in Mount Laurier and they said the riding all around has been fabulous for them. A bunch of new 2022 Mach Z‘s everywhere .
Tomorrow will be the final day for us, it will be the warmest which won’t be a bad thing and then it will be home until the next trip up here. Again the small hassles are way worth it load up and come on over.

Only the Cree up in Ouge-bigamau and Mistissinni have their reservations closed. The overly friendly Atikamek of Manawan & Wemotaci are still open. Gas and go as usual.