Trailblazer

Went for a 95 klm ride this afternoon. 
Railbed from the lake to Duhamel lots of snow but witha crust, like carving through ice. 
Duhamel south via 43 to Mulet short cut a little rough, from the 43 to Mulet via shortcut was plowed for logging but has plenty of snow for riding.

Mulet into the Parc via 43, I only went to route 3 cut off, trail was wide and groomed with the exception of a couple early season expentantces and an idiot with a side by side who made ruts to dance around with. 



Mulet back to the 43/323 inter was really nice, big group there pounding back some wobbly pops. Railbed 43. back to the Mulet shortcut was really nice as well, saw some triple digits there.

 
43 east of Duhamel I only went up to Club de Douze after that no grooming up the 323 to La Minerve, took the road back to the railbed lake trail. Came across an unhappy BRP owner.

 

I've been GutZed

I've been GutZed

Looks like it was a Grouse, also known as natures grenades. These little birds have been know to explode during the winter, due to a build up of digestive gases and the constant shivering. Many a hunter/trapper have lost a finger or two trying to grab one of these little guys, and is the origin of the phrase "Giving them the Bird".
GutZ

Jan 2 -4°c
I decided to wait no longer, big time rain coming in tomorrow 35mm, that'll wipe out everything around here and no snow in the 14 day forecast so out the back yard I go, head for the lake, get to the lake and tracks are going left and right but none across the road onto the lake and no tracks to be seen on the lake, dam I hate to be the first. I go right 100' later there's a ramp and sled tracks going down and out to the abiss, I follow, only 2 tracks I'm the third. Stakes you see on the lake are markers for the ice fishing village roads, they've started to pump the lake.





Once on the other side the hydro line trail was well covered but watch out for the ditches between the fields, not quite filled up yet. Cross a few fields and I'm in Rigaud.




Rigaud river has got an oval track groomed, maybe some races coming up. Further on the railbed is nicely groomed to the Ontario border, gotta take the last exit, no Ontarion pass. Last exit jumps on the Dalhousie club trails which have the best reputation for grooming in this area. You be the judge.








Took a little peek at the Ontario border, trail leading to it was well groomed, lots of snow in this area, these guys know what they're doing. JG you been giving lessons that we don't know about. Lol.

On the way back took a little detour to visit a Relais that's bee open for a couple years but never took the time to visit, had a peak inside and met the owner, every Saturday night they put on theatre acts, the owner raves about. Will have to stop in and check it out one week end.

196 Klms for my afternoon run, probably have to wait a couple weeks for the next backyard departure with hopes the Valleyfield crossing will be ready so I can get to the south shore.
 

Jan 2 -4°c
I decided to wait no longer, big time rain coming in tomorrow 35mm, that'll wipe out everything around here and no snow in the 14 day forecast so out the back yard I go, head for the lake, get to the lake and tracks are going left and right but none across the road onto the lake and no tracks to be seen on the lake, dam I hate to be the first. I go right 100' later there's a ramp and sled tracks going down and out to the abiss, I follow, only 2 tracks I'm the third. Stakes you see on the lake are markers for the ice fishing village roads, they've started to pump the lake.





Once on the other side the hydro line trail was well covered but watch out for the ditches between the fields, not quite filled up yet. Cross a few fields and I'm in Rigaud.




Rigaud river has got an oval track groomed, maybe some races coming up. Further on the railbed is nicely groomed to the Ontario border, gotta take the last exit, no Ontarion pass. Last exit jumps on the Dalhousie club trails which have the best reputation for grooming in this area. You be the judge.








Took a little peek at the Ontario border, trail leading to it was well groomed, lots of snow in this area, these guys know what they're doing. JG you been giving lessons that we don't know about. Lol.

On the way back took a little detour to visit a Relais that's bee open for a couple years but never took the time to visit, had a peak inside and met the owner, every Saturday night they put on theatre acts, the owner raves about. Will have to stop in and check it out one week end.

196 Klms for my afternoon run, probably have to wait a couple weeks for the next backyard departure with hopes the Valleyfield crossing will be ready so I can get to the south shore.
 

Jan 2 -4°c
I decided to wait no longer, big time rain coming in tomorrow 35mm, that'll wipe out everything around here and no snow in the 14 day forecast so out the back yard I go, head for the lake, get to the lake and tracks are going left and right but none across the road onto the lake and no tracks to be seen on the lake, dam I hate to be the first. I go right 100' later there's a ramp and sled tracks going down and out to the abiss, I follow, only 2 tracks I'm the third. Stakes you see on the lake are markers for the ice fishing village roads, they've started to pump the lake.





Once on the other side the hydro line trail was well covered but watch out for the ditches between the fields, not quite filled up yet. Cross a few fields and I'm in Rigaud.




Rigaud river has got an oval track groomed, maybe some races coming up. Further on the railbed is nicely groomed to the Ontario border, gotta take the last exit, no Ontarion pass. Last exit jumps on the Dalhousie club trails which have the best reputation for grooming in this area. You be the judge.








Took a little peek at the Ontario border, trail leading to it was well groomed, lots of snow in this area, these guys know what they're doing. JG you been giving lessons that we don't know about. Lol.

On the way back took a little detour to visit a Relais that's bee open for a couple years but never took the time to visit, had a peak inside and met the owner, every Saturday night they put on theatre acts, the owner raves about. Will have to stop in and check it out one week end.

196 Klms for my afternoon run, probably have to wait a couple weeks for the next backyard departure with hopes the Valleyfield crossing will be ready so I can get to the south shore.
 

Dec 30  
Sun is trying to peak out but truth of the matter is winds are picking up and a new system is  blowing in, temperature's expected to drop to -18°c tonight and another storm tomorrow 15 cms.


 
 

hi phil ...bj and jg !!!
looks way better now ...great snow to work with ....and colder today !!!...-22 c right now !!!
with trees full of snow..very nice !!!
i should have slept an extra 20 mins...deleted many pics...too bright !!!
8 30 hrs run !!!
 
jean-guy
 

Not much to get excited about from the map above but we decide to check imotoniege and head south to 3. It doesn't take long to see 16" of powder plus new drifting from the wind, so we have to backtrack. Imotoniege shows the C900 groomed half way which doesn't make sense since he doesn't turn around there, he goes to the 252 intersection. Starting out is perfectly groomed, one pan wide, so he hasn't returned. We ride on, skies are getting blue and the wind strong. We meet the groomer turning around and on the sat phone, probably updating imotoniege. Of course no one has touched th 93 or 252 from there, so we bust through drifts back to chapelle. After a quick break we expect hell to Valinouet, but lucked out because the groomer made one pass and was getting ready to turn around. 
Today was one of those brochure days where around every corner was a view you would see in an ad...

Jan 1

Left here at noon. Nice to see the machine where she belongs, outside in the snow.

Hit the trail TQ 3 Est. direction Shawinigan Sud...fresh snow loose but nice, many tags and brush still poking through here on the hydro lines. The usual thing for early on in season.   
 
Continued to Shawi Sud. Here is the Intersection for M-2 to Shawi Sud, and Shawinigan 
  
Continued on 3 est then took the 351 direction St. Severin. Trail in the swampy parts needs more snow to fill in all the uneaven terrain, alot of up and downs. But all in all not too shabby. I saw no water holes at all. Once out of the swamp and onto the Railbed section it was real sweet. I continued to Relais Station. Passed on through was maybe 6 sleds there. 

Contnued on to the intersection just after the Relais. 
continued on the 351 nord arrived at the junction of 351 and 302. Decisions, Decisions i choose 302 only one track on the fresh snow here i'm going. 
really some great conditions for Jan 1 and we do not have nearly the amount of snow around here as other areas so they have done a fine job with the snow we have. Some nice spots but nothing spectacular just yet. But very rideable. Found some nice scenery in the woods.
continued on 302 checked St. Ubalde but did not see Playhard getting a Pizza. Maybe in 2 weeks,
kept going and joined back up with TQ3 now going back ouest. The Section between St Cashmir and where my club takes over in St Prosper, was the ugliest of the day. Big bumps and needs snow to be groomed in nice. However my club is on it and looking sweet. I cruise toward the Closed down Rogers Cabin and realize that the Groomer was here not long ago. This is the best trail I've seen all day. 
yup sure enough i catch up to him just before Chez Roger

onward to St Stanislas. I stop on the river to check it out. 
Ran the TQ 3 back to St. Narcisse where i gassed up. Then back to Lac a Tortue on TQ3 and back to Relais Iceman. 
I'm quite pleased with what I've seen and things will continue to improve for sure. snow is very loose still and will get more solid with time. Passed maybe 6 sleds on my whole loop. 
So a 3 hour ride and although the I motoneige says it was 165 Km I had it at 185 Km and no it was not track spin. 
Super nice to be back in the Saddle and it feels like I just got off it just yesterday as opposed to last March. Nice. 
Now to decide where to go Tmmrw. hmmm? 
until next time. 

Dec 30  
Sun is trying to peak out but truth of the matter is winds are picking up and a new system is  blowing in, temperature's expected to drop to -18°c tonight and another storm tomorrow 15 cms.


 
 

Dec 30  
Sun is trying to peak out but truth of the matter is winds are picking up and a new system is  blowing in, temperature's expected to drop to -18°c tonight and another storm tomorrow 15 cms.


 
 

Dec 30  
Sun is trying to peak out but truth of the matter is winds are picking up and a new system is  blowing in, temperature's expected to drop to -18°c tonight and another storm tomorrow 15 cms.


 
 

Going down the railbed from town

43 through the Parc 


43/53 intersection

Heading back on some freashly groomed trail


 


 

The jackpot was down near lac of the east on the way into St Pamphile on trail 557, gorgeous powder!!

Going down the railbed from town

43 through the Parc 


43/53 intersection

Heading back on some freashly groomed trail


 


 

Dec 29   -4°c
Been snowing all day, not much accumulation maybe 2"s not like in MTL from what I hear, they received 4-6.
Rode 130 Klms this afternoon, hooked up with some guys from Ontario in town at the gas station and off we went down the railbed to the 43 across the Parc, we split ways at the 43/53 inter, they were going back to their chalet in Norte Dame de Salette. While at the intersection saying our good byes low and behold the groomer comes up the 53 from N.D. de Laus. Woo hoo guess I'm going that way yippy Kay yeah.
From my past experience this trail is shared with the atvs, my suspicions was correct, the gravel part of the trail is the atv part and the freshly groomed ruhbarbed part was the sled trail and after doing 6k of this S$!t knowing there's another 20 k of the ruhbarb  I soon lose my patience a say the heck sticking it to the ruhbarb, u turn and back track to the groomer.
Oh how sweet it was being the first 'till about half way back to Mulet, even after passing the groomer the trail was still well covered in snow and flat enough to keep up triple digits. Oh I'm getting the hang of this and the season's just beginning.
I'll have to upload pics later as my friggen phone froze and screen is immobile.
 

Nice run RR
Can't wait to get out east.

Well one reason it's not working around my region, the groomers haven't started grooming yet!🚜

A fun day,  for what we thought was going to be a wet day by the weatherman!

Went for a 95 klm ride this afternoon. 
Railbed from the lake to Duhamel lots of snow but witha crust, like carving through ice. 
Duhamel south via 43 to Mulet short cut a little rough, from the 43 to Mulet via shortcut was plowed for logging but has plenty of snow for riding.

Mulet into the Parc via 43, I only went to route 3 cut off, trail was wide and groomed with the exception of a couple early season expentantces and an idiot with a side by side who made ruts to dance around with. 



Mulet back to the 43/323 inter was really nice, big group there pounding back some wobbly pops. Railbed 43. back to the Mulet shortcut was really nice as well, saw some triple digits there.

 
43 east of Duhamel I only went up to Club de Douze after that no grooming up the 323 to La Minerve, took the road back to the railbed lake trail. Came across an unhappy BRP owner.

 

Went for a 95 klm ride this afternoon. 
Railbed from the lake to Duhamel lots of snow but witha crust, like carving through ice. 
Duhamel south via 43 to Mulet short cut a little rough, from the 43 to Mulet via shortcut was plowed for logging but has plenty of snow for riding.

Mulet into the Parc via 43, I only went to route 3 cut off, trail was wide and groomed with the exception of a couple early season expentantces and an idiot with a side by side who made ruts to dance around with. 



Mulet back to the 43/323 inter was really nice, big group there pounding back some wobbly pops. Railbed 43. back to the Mulet shortcut was really nice as well, saw some triple digits there.

 
43 east of Duhamel I only went up to Club de Douze after that no grooming up the 323 to La Minerve, took the road back to the railbed lake trail. Came across an unhappy BRP owner.

 

Went for a 95 klm ride this afternoon. 
Railbed from the lake to Duhamel lots of snow but witha crust, like carving through ice. 
Duhamel south via 43 to Mulet short cut a little rough, from the 43 to Mulet via shortcut was plowed for logging but has plenty of snow for riding.

Mulet into the Parc via 43, I only went to route 3 cut off, trail was wide and groomed with the exception of a couple early season expentantces and an idiot with a side by side who made ruts to dance around with. 



Mulet back to the 43/323 inter was really nice, big group there pounding back some wobbly pops. Railbed 43. back to the Mulet shortcut was really nice as well, saw some triple digits there.

 
43 east of Duhamel I only went up to Club de Douze after that no grooming up the 323 to La Minerve, took the road back to the railbed lake trail. Came across an unhappy BRP owner.