SnomoGary

So Sandi, with the fresh snow and some wind this afternoon, where to?  Maybe stay out of big fields as much as possible.  This morning might not be too windy.  Lets go to Mt Apica.  We haven't been there yet.  Six inches of snow and here we go.
On the sleds and 83 east it is.  A few sleds have been out ahead of us so Sandi has something to follow.  Ah, nice fresh snow.  A little track spin here and there.  We turn right on to 368.  This was groomed yesterday so it is smooth underneath.  Quite a bit of snow dust behind Sandi.  The past couple of days there hasn't been any snow dust.  Maybe dust dust and rocks would have been more like it.  We are out of the fields now and into the woods.  Nice riding here.  We pass the 383 junction and start climbing.  We get to auto route 175 and not much traffic.  The road is in good shape.  We cross and continue on.  Some logging going on in here.  Not disturbing the trail much.  We get onto the section of 368 that is on the old road and it is beautiful.  The trees hanging over and covered with snow.  So pretty.  We have only seen a couple of sleds so far.  Nobody else out I guess.
We get to the junction with 23.  Sandi looks around and notices something is missing.  What's missing Sandi?  The warming hut is still there.  Looks like it has new metal siding.  Sandi looks at me and says "No porta potty!"  Oops.  I guess guys don't notice that but the ladies would.  So attention all ladies, the porta potty is gone.  You must plan accordingly.
Alright, Sandi turns left and heads to Apica.  It will be a good lunch stop.  23 isn't quite as nice as 368 which was flawless.  23 is good but a little chop in the corners.  More traffic on 23 of course.  A quick ride and we arrive at Mt Apica.  Only five sleds outside and the guys are with the sleds chatting in French.  We park and Sandi looks in.  It is dark in there.  She goes up to the door and it is locked!  What does that paper sign on the door say Sandi?
Dec 31, Jan 1 and Jan 2 CLOSED.  Open Jan 3.
Very important folks.  I know a lot of riders depend on this stop for fuel to get to the Lac.  No one is here.  No food.  No fuel.  So for everyone that can't make Hebertville, make sure you tank up at L'Etape.
U-turn it is and back up 23.  I've got a gas caddy with me but we will have plenty of gas in the sleds.  After we pass the 368 cut off, 23 gets better.  A lot of traffic from the previous days takes 368 so this section of 23 stays in better shape.  We get to Presbytere and drop down on the lake.  At the end of the lake is the steep climb up to the road.  There isn't a snow bridge yet and it is a bad spot because you pop up in the road.  Have to be very careful of auto traffic.
I look around and see a sled track about a few hundred feet before where we are and it is going to the edge of the lake.  Lets go over there and check it out.  A much gentler climb up the bank, a slight turn to the right and we are on the side of the road.  Nice.  We run the edge of the road back to the trail and off we go.  We pull into the Petro station and top off.  We still had plenty of fuel even though my low fuel light had come on. 
Lets continue on 23 north and then circle back on 383.  Well we notice that the snow is thinner here.  We aren't that far from Chicoutimi as the crow flies but there is only two inches of fresh here and this part of 23 hasn't seen a groomer this year.  Going from a really nice 23 to a single sled wide path stinks.  I know 383 is only about 5 miles up so keep going.  A few stakes in some of the fields but some fields have none.  Just following tracks.  The fields are wind blown and bumpy.  You see the harrow marks from the farmers still.  It will be over soon.
Finally we get to 383.  This has a little more snow and maybe has seen a groomer awhile ago.  Keep on trucking.  We get to the Relais Grenouille (bad spelling) and this is busy.  From here on it is 83.  This was groomed but it is still rough.  We were on it yesterday and a groomer did make a pass but it just gets so much traffic and there isn't a lot of snow to work with.  Passable but we got spoiled with how nice 368 and 23 were before Hebertville.  You got to take the good with the bad.  We push our way thru and wave to the Delta as we go by.  We will be there in February.  Only another 10 miles Sandi.  Chin up.  We top off the sleds at the Ultramar just before the Sag.  One more mile on the spur and we are in for the night.
It was a very good ride until Hebertville and then it went downhill from there.  We didn't see too many sleds today but there must have been a lot of traffic on 83 to beat it down like that.  I don't expect and groomers to be out tonight and probably not until tomorrow night.  We will have to plan accordingly for tomorrow.
Happy New Year to everyone.  Ride safe and look forward to another great season.  Thanks for being with us.
Jack & Sandi

The nightly report by Jack & Sandi:
This morning it is a little cooler than it has been, -15C.  The forecast is for a clear sky today.  The map shows grooming activity in St Nazaire, L'Ascension and the Lamarche area.  What do you think Sandi?  We haven't been to Relais Mont Vilain yet.  367 to St Ambroise is never groomed this early and a small section of 93 isn't groomed but the rest looks good.  OK we agree.
First stop I want to make is at Club Saguenay by the Delta.  We haven't received our trail passes yet.  Long story but I ordered them online Nov 29th.  No passes yet.  I've called FCMQ, left voice mail and sent e-mails.  No response so far.  I thought maybe someone at the club might be able to get thru to the FCMQ.
So on the sleds and we head to Jonquiere.  The clubhouse is on 83 about an 1/8 mile past the Delta.  We pull into the parking lot and no cars.  I go up and tug on the door, locked.  It is dark inside Sandi.  No sign on the door with their hours.  I had looked at their website and the hours weren't posted there either.  I have a printout with us that is the confirmation that I tried to purchase the passes but it would be so much easier to have the stickers.  We can't do anything here.
Back on the sleds and 83 to 383 to the two bridges.  Good ride but I'm not looking forward to 367 to St Ambroise.  Well 367 is as I expected.  The first couple of miles where the snowmobile trail and quad trail run together is OK.  The quad trail has been groomed.  Then the trail turns to crap!  I'm not surprised.  The groomer doesn't hit this because the area of 367 thru the scrubby pine trees is swampy and the groomer will sink.  Keep going Sandi.  It will get better, eventually.  No way around this unless we go all the way to Alma on 83 and that wasn't as bad but it is a long way around.
Dah dump, dah dump, dah dump.  As we cruise along at a snails pace.  Only 5 more miles.  Keep going.  Finally we get out of the scrubby pines and get to the field by the Le Geant trailer park.  More trailers again this year.  This end looks like year round trailers.  The lights are on, cars are in the driveways and the road is plowed.  Oops!  Watch out for that ditch Sandi.  That hasn't been filled in yet.  The trail goes around it over in the field.  OK.  We are in the old trailer section.  Across auto route 172 and left on 93.
This has been groomed and Sandi is picking up speed.  Still some brush coming up thru the trail but it is smooth brush.  Cruising thru the woods and we get to the intersection with 556 that goes down to St Charles.  Wonderful.  This groomer has been out too.  On we ride.  A few miles from Relais Montangarde and the groomer turned around.  Why?  You were doing so good.  We are back to the goat path and only one sled wide.  4 or 5 miles of this and the trail widens out a little.  Not quite as bad.
We get to the junction with 554 and this is where the map showed it was groomed and the map is correct.  Yippee!  We turn right on 554 and start making some time.  Nice ride to Relais des Lacs and we get on 328 for a short ways and then turn right on 553.  Oh this is Quebec at its finest.  What a difference in trails.  553 is perfect.  Flat, smooth with some gentle curves back and forth.  Watching the blueberry fields go by clicking off some miles.
We turn right on 367.  Not so good here.  Instead of going thru Lamarche, we stay on 367 and a couple of miles later where the little local connector joins in, it is groomed to perfection.  This is where 367 runs along the side of the fields and it is flat and smooth.  Before we know it, we are pulling into Mont Vilain.
A few sleds here but quiet compared to mid season.  A beautiful day.  We are on nice trails and a great place for lunch.
After lunch we run Lac Tchitogama west for a couple of miles and then get back on 367 west.  367 goes near Relais Jos Bonka but didn't go thru the parking lot like in years past.  I didn't see any signs for the relais either.  Hmm?  Will have to check it out.
We take the little connector to 328 and stop in L'Ascension for gas.  It is getting a little windy here.  Back on the sleds and in the open fields it is very windy.  Some of the trail is wind blown and snirt on the windy side of the hills.  It is smooth snirt though!  Left on 93 and now we are driving into the wind.  The groomers have been out but it is thin here.  The wind does damage.
Last year there was road construction in the area where 23 and 93 meet.  This year there is a re-route to go around this.  Easy enough to follow but like most new trails, it is rough in some spots.  It needs more snow in the fields.
We get to the junction with 554 where we turned this morning and I know what is ahead of us.  30 or 40 miles of ugly.  OK Sandi, we have had some good trails now it is time for the bad.  We suck it up and get past Relais Montangarde.  Back on a decent trail til St Ambroise.  We go by Le Geant trailer and I am not looking forward to the next 10 miles.  Just after the trailer park the trail goes to the right into the woods and I can see the headlights from a couple of sleds heading towards us.  Lucky them.  They are at the end of the rough stuff and we are just starting the torture.  Wait.  Those headlights are far apart and, and is that a groomer,  YES!  Salvation is coming towards us.  Our prayers have been answered.
We pull way over to the side giving the groomer plenty of room.  He gets a big wave and smile from both of us.  I'm parked and as the groomer goes by, I can feel the ground shake.  It is like sitting in traffic on a bridge and have a tractor trailer move by you.  You can feel the bridge shake.  Well, this is what the ground did.  It must be all swap underneath.
We don't have to fly over this.  Just sit back and enjoy no bumps.  All the way to the two bridges is smooth.  Some brush and snirt in the trail but who cares.  We cross the two bridges and stay on 367 to 83 to the Sag.  Back at the hotel.
What a nice ending to the ride that we thought was going to be horrible. 
Maybe some snow in the forecast.  Happy trails to all.
Jack & Sandi

Great report Jack & Sandi, was thinking about coming up but think I will wait. Sounds like one good storm and things will be fine. Whats the extended weather forecast? Be safe and have fun.

Tell Sandi that speed limit is only inside the city limits, lol

Hi Jack  it's  very very  wet here in uk, the ground is sodden everywhere. But were all good.. we arrive at the delta on 5th feb and leave on 19th.   Be safe n see you both soon. 

Hi Jack  it's  very very  wet here in uk, the ground is sodden everywhere. But were all good.. we arrive at the delta on 5th feb and leave on 19th.   Be safe n see you both soon. 

SnowMaster has gone silent for 12 hours. Must not be wi-fi at the jailhouse.
 
 

(Back from supper.)
OK.  We finish up lunch and head out.  We op to go toward Valinuet.  This showed groomed yesterday on the map.  We leave Onatchiway and bear left on 477.  Oh this is bumpy.  Well maybe it's just a mile.  No it is still bumpy.  After about 10 miles we are up on the flat and it does smooth out , no I should say some of the bumps are gone.  It is still bumpy.  Not what I was expecting.  Sandi is pushing along.  For all the sleds that were at Onatchiway, there isn't much traffic.  Maybe the others stayed in the park behind Onatchiway but this trail has seen a lot of use.
We get to Bras Louis and a few sleds are parked.  I know the feeling.  It is time for a rest.  Bras Louis must be better.  A few sleds take off.  I watch them and the trail looks smoother.  OK our turn.  Sandi takes off.  At least we can roll along.  Plenty of snow cover up here.  Cruising along.  We can see where the off trail guys have been cutting back and forth across the trail.  About half way down we go thru the gate coming out of the park.  Not to many more miles and the trail turns left off of Bras Louis.  Someone else posted that Bras Louis was cut short this year.  A few sled marks staying on Bras Louis but we turn left like we should.
Oh what a mistake.  Where has the groomer been.  He definitely hasn't been here.  This reminds me of riding in the Eastern Townships about thirty years ago.  Bump after bump after bump.  We caught up to I see six sleds ahead of us.  Some are two-uppers.  This isn't a good trail to pass on and how much faster would we want to go.  Hopefully it won't be too far before we get to Valinuet.  This feels like forever.  We must have gone ten miles.  Maybe not that far but it sure feels like it.  Finally we get to the road that goes up to Valinuet.  The trail crosses the road in the same spot.  It was just torture to get here.  Not too much further and we turn right on 93.  Now this is better.  A trail we can ride.  Heading south we go by the groomers house.  I see an operator out with a groomer hooking up the drag.  I don't know which way he is going but I know where he should be going.  93 is getting better.  We cross 328 and this is the best trail we have been on all day.  We head towards St Honore.  Where 93 runs parallel with the VTT trail, it is nice.  By the airport is better.  This groomer has been out doing his thing. 
The old Sonic gas station, it has been re-branded and I forgot the new name, is packed with trucks and trailers.  There is a short driveway behind the gas station and both sides of it are lined with trucks.
We cross the main road and start tooling along.  93 is perfect compared to what we've been riding on.  Sandi is running along now.  It's getting late and the sun is going down fast.  It's only 3:30 but the sun drops fast this time of year.  We turn left on 134.  We get to Pickle Park.  Stay on the road Sandi.  No sense in running thru all the trees.  That still hasn't been groomed.  We cross the two bridges and 383 is fine.  This is one of the better trails for all of today.  Who would have guessed the south side of the river would be better than the north side.
Fill up with gas at the Ultramar and a quick stop at the Metro grocery store for a 12 pack.  Back at the Sag and no one is parked in front of our room.  Back the sleds in and lock them up.
Plenty of snow cover on the mountain but it really needs grooming.  Sandi mentioned that there are rental sleds at Valinuet now and she was wondering if the trails are getting that much more traffic.  I know it is the weekend but Bras Louis was pretty bad.  There is sufficient snow cover between the Sag and the two bridges.
Tomorrow, should we stay on the south side?  Sunday is going to be a day to stay off of Valin if today was a precursor to tomorrow.  We will see what was dragged overnight.
Our first day this season.  Hopefully it will get better.
Jack & Sandi

Oops!  Sandi it is after 6:00 am and we are still in bed.  I know we are on vacation.  Slow down, no hurry today.
Breakfast with Jay and Christina.  They trailered to Valinuet yesterday and said it was pretty good.  Sounds good to me.  We will head to the north for today's ride.
Note:  I bought the toolbox LinQ set up.  Guess what.  It doesn't fit with the fuel caddy.  I'm going to have to ask the dealer.  Maybe I'll get a different storage unit.
We are on the sleds and stop at the Ulltramar to fill up.  Off we go.  The spur hasn't been groomed in awhile.  Turn right on 83 and this is good.  Turn right on 367 heading towards the two bridges.  Not bad for this early in the season.  Some of the corners have a little snirt.   A few weeds sticking up thru the trail but overall, better than I thought it would be.  I can smell the paint burning off the exhaust.  That new sled smell.  Sandi is leading so she doesn't have to put up with the stink.  We cross the two bridges and turn right on 134, aka Pickle Park.  Oh this is bad.  I thought the groomer map had this as being groomed recently.  Maybe 10 days ago.  We go past the first water tower and turn right leaving the road and staying on the trail.  This is pretty poor too.  Winding around thru the woods the trail comes back to the road by the second tower.  Sandi, stay on the old road.  Everyone else has run the road.  I don't think the trail has seen the groomer in a long time.  The road is good.  We turn at the cemetery and this is good too.  Along the power lines it gets rough again and we get to the junction with 93.  We stay straight on 134.  This was groomed.  Finally, the groomer map is telling the truth.  Easy riding up to 328.  Right to St David and top off the tanks.  We have only been 40 miles but I know St David is open and this will give us enough gas for the day.
Staying on 328 a few more miles and onto 476 to Onatchiway.  The lower half of 476 is twisty and today it is also bumpy.  As we get further along 476 straightens out some and gets smoother.  The last few miles into Onatchiway gets rough again.
Wow!  12:45 and the place is packed.  I was hoping everyone would be over on Mont Valin but they had the same idea as us.  There must be 60 - 70 sleds here.  Trucks and trailers are lined up down each side of the road.
Sandi finds us a pair of seats in the corner.  This is fine.  At least we got a place to sit.  A few other riders come in behind us and they have to wait for someone to leave before they can sit.  We order a light lunch and relax. 
Oh this feels so good to be riding again.  The summer is way too long.
(Time to go have supper.  I'll finish a little later.  Sanid is hungry.)
Jack & Sandi

Good morning.  What a good night's sleep.  Back in Quebec and no phones to answer and no customers to worry about for a week.
It is 6:30 am and there are a few sleds already running out in the parking lot.  A couple of inches of snow yesterday.  The groomer map shows that 83 around Chicoutimi, Jonquiere, 383, 23 down to L'Etape and 93 on Mont Valin all were groomed.
Today we get our snow legs under us.  Maybe a ride to the north side and up to Onatchiway would be nice.  93 was groomed yesterday and Onatchiway looks like that was groomed the day before.
The trail condition overlay shows the trails either green (good) or yellow (acceptable) for the whole area around Lac St Jean.  Usually the west side by Roberval isn't open this early.  We aren't heading that way but it is a good sign.
Sandi is on her yellow 2019 MXZ 600 and I am going to be breaking in my safety yellow/green 2020 Renegade 850.  Sandi says it is so bright, she needs her sunglasses.
We will report back tonight.
Jack & Sandi

Hi Steve,
The forecast for the next seven days is below freezing but only a few centimeters of snow here and there.
While we were eating, a half a dozen sleds rode in so the spur must be open to 83.  A few more truck / trailers also came in.  It looks like there are a few other optimistic riders out there.  I think we will check the groomer map and hopefully ride out of the hotel in the morning and get across the river to the north side.  From there we will decide.
Jack & Sandi

Hello Everyone,
Another season has started.  Boy does it feel good to close up the shop and head north.
We left Connecticut early this morning.  Drove up to Valcourt and picked up the trailer and sleds.  I had brought the sleds up a couple of weeks ago to get them to Canada for the winter.  Not much snow thru Vermont.  A little in the Eastern Townships but not enough to ride on.  About 30 miles before Quebec the drizzle started to freeze on the road.  In Stoneham it turned to sleet and then finally it turned to snow.  All the way thru the park it's snowing.  The trail that crosses at L'Etape had been groomed and it had sled tracks on it.  We didn't stop at L'Etape but there were sleds in there.  This is a good sign.  As we continue up, we see more trailers heading north and south.  The southbound guys must be the ones that were up over Christmas.  One of them may have been EastMark.  Hi Mark.
We get to the Sag and there are about ten trailers here.  There is snow cover and the groomer map had shown that it was groomed here in town.  We will see if we can get any info at supper.
Happy trails.
Jack & Sandi

Ok... So get the MD Short and 3 cans of Expanding Spray Foam, 5-6 bucks a can. Have the wife stand really still with the new Bibs on and gently.......
LOL
And she'll float if the emergency occurs!
LOL
Later
GutZ

We may see you there!!
Watch for the smoke, flames, and the smell of burning NOS!!!
GutZ

Wait a minute, no one accuses me of having good taste and gets a way with it!
LOL
GutZ

Equipment Insurance is through the roof with these 2!!!
We can't even get "Damage Wavier" on rentals!!!!
Later
GutZ

I sure hope the Ins. co. doesnt read this website, your rates will likely go way up.😂

Thanks RR and crew.  It is always a pleasure to ride along with you from the easy chair.  Sandi and I will be heading north after Christmas.  Happy Holidays to all.
Jack & Sandi

They should have used the US Postal Service!!
Everyone knows the Candian Post is slow!!!
LOL
I printed mine, we should have no issues.... If they can catch us!
GutZ

Looks like they are grooming around the Delta.

GutZ

*** Update ***
With the snow last week we were able to take it out and check the performance and see if we needed to tweak anything.
It ran great!! But we only had about a 1/4 mile of field to test it in and 1/2 of it was up hill. Need more room.
Smooth in the woods, vicious when you smack the throttle.
NOS seems to work too!! LongHair was upset there was no blue flame like in the movies.
This is my general feeling when we pull it out to give a ride:
Hang on for a full test in a few weeks.
GutZ
 

Here you go:
https://www.airmedic.net/home
Later
GutZ

It's nice you pulled those guys out of the drifts. That sled must really hook up!!!
LOL
GutZ

bonsoir !!!
great news...secretary emailed me....my ''  sport car '' is back in business !!!
they brought it to the golf course....45 mins outside town...grooming time !!!
i ll be there in the morning if cold enough ..
rained last night  and this  morning mostly ...still white in town ...
 
jean-guy