SnomoGary

Merry Christmas and Joyeux noël  to all QR members......  think snow 

Merry Christmas and Joyeux noël  to all QR members......  think snow 

Wishes to all for the abundance of good spirit & blessings that this time of year is notorious for inspiring!
With a touch of rock & roll!... 
https://youtu.be/GUYSJmXURGE
 

Merry Christmas to all.
And a special wish of gratitude to the late Rob Lyons for starting QuebecRider.  He gave us the great gift of meeting new friends via these forums.

joyeux noel and bonne année to all !!!
 
jean-guy

Best wishes to all !!!!!!
should have “ski’s on the ground” tomorrow at this time if all goes well.
will be posting trail photos and reports all week long

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my fellow QuebecRider friends on both sides of the border and ocean!

Thank you and Merry Christmas!  

Merry Christmas to all on QR.   
if thats ok with all?🙃🙃😉

-17c and still windy !!!
 
jean-guy

Hi guys!
The rain and personal engagement had delay my first ride but finally here it is!
Here the path of this first ride in the Mastigouche reserve

It was one of the rare ride I did without my best half so no pics but nice video shots. I met my partner Snowcruiser at 10:00 am at Cabanon parking lot and we explored a bit toward south before going to lunch at 11:00. Lacks of snow toward the St-Zenon village especially in hills, many toctocs in the skis. We hit the trail again at noon and went in the Mastigouche reserve, toward Koubec at first. It was very nice, flat hardpacked/ icy base with a 3' of powder on the top and no rocks. We need sharp carbides to be safe and those who are not studded should take care and add some distance for braking. The trail base is nicer in the reserve but it really snowed more(take a look at the picnic table in the first video) and the overall conditions were nicer than many time in full winter.
I put together 3 short videos, as usual put the sound on and crank up the quality to 1080 if you have a big screen
here the first one
and this one starting from Koubec 
and the third one
really better conditions than I was expecting, Even if the souther trails are not as good, the trail network begin to enlarge, it is groomed from today St-Michel/Repos and from Pourvoirie du Lac blanc to connect in th Mastigouche reserve. 
More details on the trail conditions/opening here https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
So the snow condition is shaping up but the covid's situation in Quebec for this last week is worrying. No change at the border actually(Canada jurisdiction) but the Quebec government close yesterday all the schools, bar, movie theaters and cut by half the restaurant dining rooms capacity and limit party size for the next weeks so it is something to watch actually. We pass from few hundred daily cases in late November to 4 to 6 thousands daily in the last week... there is some panic in the boat at government level right now!

He's going to that spot with the massive snow bank where he can back in and ride off.
 

AAA wont tow your trailer.... but if its on the truck..... I want a picture of the Disaster waiting to happen..... "So if the sign says 13 foot bridge clearance ....."
LOL
GutZ

Thanks Don.  I was really hoping we could ride out of the Sag if there is snow.  We have been making our Christmas to New Year journey there for many years.  Now lets hope we can cross the border.  Our sleds are already in Quebec.
Jack & Sandi

Mike and SM, The trailer is unpacked, gear put away,  its great to have these focused forums on and about the Quebec riding area that we all so enjoy. Yes we are riding back country a lot, but also use the trail network many times in the season and to get to our Back country drop off points on these trips. So to be able to share our adventure on here with other seasoned riders is fun!
 
As Bob had mentioned, the Expedition extreme is a versatile snowmobile with tons of capability. After 2,000 miles on this early trip, I can now confirm what Bob has been saying all along.  It’s a really fun sled!😊
Our biggest concern with this whole trip was the border crossing in relationships to Covid.  That has proved to be very manageable and less of a concern than earlier feared. The 30% that got random tested, their process went cleanly. It’s questionable whether the process is worth it for a short weekend ride, but if you can plan for 5/7 days or more in Quebec, definitely do the process and make the run North.
as we all know, the riding in Quebec can’t be beat!
 
Happy trails
 
RR

Hi Everyone,
First, thank you Mark.  That is very helpful because I know how difficult it is getting the info from the internet.  Too many different sites.
OK.  My experience follows.
I did my research back in October.  I thought I had everything covered.
I bring the snowmobiles to Quebec and leave them at the dealership we have been using for over 40 years the end of November for the season.  Yea we are the old ones and have been doing this for 40 years.
I thought I had everything done and went up Dec 1st.  I got to the border and did not have the confirmation from ArrivCan.  I had done the first step and created an account but could not find where to do the second step which is the itinerary.  I was politely turned away and could not enter Canada.  The agent said that when he swipes the passport all of your info should come up on his screen.   Remember, the questions he asks you, he already has the answers in front of him.
OK, first step is to create your account on ArrivCan and the second step is your itinerary.  Print the confirmation of the itinerary.  I like hard copies but you can save it on your phone too.
Second attempt was Dec 8th.  This time was much better.  Like Mark has said, everything from previous years plus your vaccination card and the ArrivCan confirmation.  I went thru with no problems.
One addition.  I spoke to a Canadian at the gas station in Derby VT before I crossed.  He said to make sure you are wearing your mask at the border.  He said they can turn you away if you are not wearing a mask.
The first trip I took the PCR test at CVS.  It came back in time.  The second trip I took the NAAT test at Walgreens.  I took the test in the morning and the results were e-mailed to me late that afternoon.  I will be taking the NAAT test from now on.  That test is done at the pharmacy and is not sent out to a lab so turn around should be quicker.  So far my insurance has covered the Covid tests.  Sandi called our insurance company and was told that they do not cover Covid tests for travel but we haven't paid yet.  Maybe we will see a bill in the mailbox?  I hope not.
I think Walgreens is the only source giving the NAAT test.  In CT you can book the test up to 7 days in advance.  Book an appointment as soon as you can.
One more thing about ArrivCan.  Like Mark had said, there is a section on how you will quarantine.  I was a little stumped on this one.  I was only going to be in Quebec for 3 hours.  What do I put down?  I first checked off "Home" and proceeded to enter my home address in CT.  Wrong!  The form only accepts Canadian zip codes.  So I put in the address of the dealership that I was going to.  This went thru OK.  Another note.  When I was completing ArrivCan, step 3 is where you are going to cross the border.  My computer did not display the box to type in the entry point.  I gave up and then tried an hour later.  When I brought the screen up, viola, the box was there.  Maybe just a download glitch when I happened to try.
Regular gas in Quebec I saw posted at $1.47 per liter.  Looks like it has gone up a little since pre Covid.  There was a couple of inches on the ground in Valcourt.  It did feel good to be back in Quebec after last year's no entry allowed.
Jack & Sandi

A good run today over near Labrieville. Got to go check out the Quebec Hydro transmission line construction. These boys were working on the project today! amazing to see guys up on the towers working this construction project. A stop at Le Chenail, north of Forestville but nobody was home!😊. Than we intersected with the Pelchat trail later in the day, that had just been groomed and was an awesome way to end the day!  235 on today and a blue bird sky.  12" plus snow is in the forecast for tomorrow!😊
 
Happy Trails
 
RR

We won't ride this weekend but things slowly shaping up. The last 3 weeks+ had been colder than the average and the next 2 weeks forecast look good (around -15Cnight /-8Cday in st-Zenon area)
We have a bit of snow/ice to the ground home, St-Zenon had something like 5-6" of powder(last weekend). 
There is a storm on the way, a 6" of snow forecast Sunday but some rain on Monday so we have to wait and see but it is plausible to be able to ride mid. december if mother nature cooperate...
So it is looking way better than last season, I keep you inform how it goes... 

The day just wasn't  complete without a stop at La Chappelle!😊

Checked out the main trails today. 93 was a little rolly today and will get tons of traffic this weekend, note to self, stay away from this section until next week. The 276 was groomed half way to the Bras Louis, A big power line corridor is under construction currently in this area, the Bras louis and 276 are effected. More crew arriving today, overall, it just sends good to be back on the sled!  Maine just turned down a small power corridor to bring Quebec power to Boston😜  .  They could learn something from these guys!  You gotta love Quebec hydro, they know how to move Electricity! Love it!
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I Think (hope) Omicron is a nothing burger.

Just took a look....

Grooming!!!
GutZ

I'm just back from a 3 weeks trip in California and had to pass throught the hassle of the covid testing on both ways (because we traveled by air). Doing the test before leaving Canada wasn't complicated and easy to plan because we were at home in our area but testing on the road for the return was way more an headache (my 2 first weeks in CA were for my job and the last week was for fun so we were Kristine and me on a road trip). 
We were told by few friends to use the Walgreen ID now NAAT test which is accepted by Canada border and have rapid results in less than 24hrs, typically in just few hours and can even be free! but we found that California was one of the rare state where this test wasn't available at Walgreen. We had tried to find an equivalent NAAT testing or a rapid PCR test in the area we had planned to be 48-72 hours before our return flight but it was complicated/very expensive or not having any guarantee on the results delay. We ended up moving our route to be in L.A. 2 days before our flight because testing was way more affordable there and been tested in a private clinic with an expedited regular pcr test that end up at $150/each with results in 12hours which pretty much the best option for us. 
So my advice for you who want to come sledding here is to check if the Walgreen ID now NAAT test is available in your area/state. If so this is one easy/cheap option that work actually, just have to follow the covid parade to ensure it will still be a valid option at the moment of your trip. Even if this option is not available, being tested in your area before leaving is not a such big hassle, mainly if you have the chance to not having to deal with the testing troubles on your return home in usa.
Even with the covid restrictions we are so glad to had the chance to did this fantastic trip in CA. It was a little trouble for alot of fun an memories...

Hi all! Its time for the Season to begin, With our first measurable snow here in Maine, its time to think Mt Valin.  Yes, we are keeping our fingers 🤞 crossed on the border access, but if everything goes as planned, we will be there later this week!
The fresh snow here in Maine allowed for a quick , couple mile test ride of the 850 Extreme before loading on the trailer later this week. It passed that quick test😊
Think Snow and open borders!
 
RR
 

Good morning, just woke from summer hibernation. Maybe this will help someone. We crossed the border by boat in September, this is what we found, no rumors here🙂. We found a provider in michigan that offered the proper test, and did it "in house", so results were in about an hour. They didn't have to send it to a lab which can take a day or two. It cost $155. Back home, I've called around and found a place here in columbus ohio that is set up the same way. It will cost $200. Haven't used them yet, do I guess that's a rumor. Back to September, we loaded the Arrivecan app, filled in our info, nexus #, vaccine info, type of and dates, travel plans, quarantine plans, if required. We heard you needed a street address, so we used the address of the marina where we were  docked. We were approved within minutes and given a number. Both sandy and I were both covered by same #. When we crossed into canada, we called in the same # we've always used for marine entry, gave them the #, answered the normal we questions and were given our boat #, same as always. If we were crossing by car, as I understand it, you a give the border people your arrivecan app #, which gives them access to all the info they need. It really didn't seem as complicated as it sounds. We were in ontario for about 2 weeks, ate most of our meals out, did what what we would normally do on vacation. We wore masks indoor in public places, everyone was. At restaurant you went to get seated, if you wanted to eat indoors, they asked for your vac records and ID. I carried a copy of our cards in my wallet. You got to your table and removed your mask. You got up from your table, you put your mask back on. Didn't seem like a big deal. Seemed like it worked pretty well. We were guests in their country, we didn't have to be there. Think snow