SnomoGary

So today there are three of us.  JAK joined Sandi and I for the ride.
The map is showing a lot of grooming.  We run 85, 44, 544 and then 571 into Squatec.  All of it is very nice.  Most of groomed last night and a few tracks ahead of us.  Just enough to give the trail a little texture for the skis.
Gas and lunch in Squatec where we ate the other day.  Then back on 571 south.  This didn't show being groomed earlier in the week so I wanted to ride it today.  It is a nice trail running the woods on the east side of Lac Temiscouata.  All but 2 miles in the middle was perfect.  The groomers didn't quite meet.  Other than that, it was a really nice ride thru the sugar farms.
In Degelis we picked up 85 north.  This had a little ripple to it from the traffic.  Still a fine ride.  We stayed on 85 until north of the road construction above St Louis du Ha Ha.  There we took 544 and 44 back to 85.  A nice little bypass off of 85.
Back at the Universal early enough to relax with a beverage or two.
This coming week is forecast to stay below freezing but not bitter cold.  A little snow coming Wed / Thu.
Jack & Sandi

JUST FINISHED TRIP,  MONDAY ROQUMONT TO DELTA VIA LETAPE ALLGOOD  TUESDAY DELTA MTVALIN TACOUSAC BACK TO DELTA ALLGOOD .WEDNESDAY DELTA UP TO TOP OF LAKE TO LADORE FOR LUNCH THEN TO ROBERVAL ALL GOOD BUT AROUND TOWN OF ROBERVAL IN NEED OF SNOW.THURSDAY BACK TO ST RAYMOND VIA LAKE EDUOARD TO PIERRE ALL GOOD , ALL TRAILS IN GOOD SHAPE

After the rescue and lunch, we ran back up 85 to 35 west.  35 is fine and goes around the top of Lac Pohenegamook.  I didn't see any stakes or tracks on the lake.  There was a red banner across the trail opening on the east side of the lake.  35 to 526 to 5 and back to Universal.
The best news is Relais Pohenegamook (two arches), Relais Explorateurs and even the little relais on trial 5 in St Antonin was open.  The season is upon us.
 
Jack & Sandi

Hi SnomoGary
The whole area is coming together for sure. Great riding where ever we went. You should be in good shape. Have a great trip. I should be back up there in a few weeks as well.
 
Oilman
 

Thats the restaurant with the famous crepes! Mike will be back in RDL for sure! We gotta hit the pizza place too.

Hi Oilman glad you had a great day, it's good to hear trails are slowly coming together and yer midweek is a great time to ride in mount valin... we will be at the delta in 2 weeks time can't wait... be safe and enjoy...

That little hole in the wall has great burgers. Sounds like it's worth coming up. See ya Thurs. night.

I can't believe we have never stopped here in all of the years we have been by St Bruno.  We always would stop in Mt Carmel to fuel up but that was just a gas station.
Which way should we go Sandi?  This is turning out to be incredible riding.  We head back on 5 east a few miles and at Club Belles Pistes du Rocher Blanc we go behind the clubhouse and take 557 south.  I look at the groomer parked on the side of the clubhouse.  What a pretty sight.  He was out all last night according to the map this morning.
A few tracks on the trail now.  Still smooth as glass.  I'm wondering about trail 35.  The grooming map has it listed as the club is not reporting.  This could mean many things.  I can't imagine the snow is too thin after what we have been riding on.  I don't think it would be closed.
We pull up to the intersection and two sled tracks have turned left onto 35 and I don't see anything wrong other than it needs a couple of more sled tracks.  Sandi, do you want to take the lead?
No, go ahead.  You might want to run that 850 a little.
You don't have to tell me twice.  I'm gone.  The sign says 35 km to Club Explorateurs.  That is 20 miles and it won't take long.  Usually 35 has a little ripple in it from the traffic but with the map not showing it open or condition, no one has been on it.  Thank you!

Here is the ride we did last Sunday

With the good snowfall on Friday followed by a mild temperature night, we already knew that the trails conditions would deteriorate  quickly under the effect of traffic, so we postponed our departure to Sunday. We launched directly from the home in St-Thomas de Joliette on Sunday morning under a beautiful sun and a temperature of -15C.

Superb winter conditions, very hard frozen groomed trail  giving ideal conditions. Here on #3 towards Berthierville

The wood sections were very snowy

Nice encounter on this winter morning


The La Chaloupe river is ok but stay in the marked trail!

We continued on #3 to the east with perfect conditions

Another great encounter! they weren't nervous at all, just happy to run outside

In the St-Barthelemy sector where the trail get souther the snow was a little swept but on an icy base it ride very well

I chose to keep #3 and go through Maskinonge village instead of #63 which goes through St-Justin. It's good but there is a section of 500' swept away where you can see the dirt. In the afternoon we came back by St-Justin on #63 instead and it's more snowy

Here Ste-Ursules sector


We are used to heading between #3 and #63 via St-Sévère but the Rivière du Loup that we have to cross direct on the ice is not safe yet so we opted for #63 trail

We took a break on the beautiful site of the Magnan Falls in Charette

The falls are usually completely frozen but this year you can still see the water flowing


We continued on #63

And took the #3 towards St-Étienne

And crossed the St-Maurice on the #3 at the height of La Gabelle. A few slush spots but it's marked and rides well

The east side of the St-Maurice was a little rougher but still ride well and the snow cover is very good

We stopped to eat at pizzeria du Lac at Lac à la Tortue near Grand-Mère.

After a good meal break we left and retraced our steps on the same route with a few exceptions. Here in the area of Notre Dame du Mont-Carmel

We did a pitstop in St-Étienne. Unlike past years where the trail passed in the yard between the gas station and the BRP NC dealer, the trail this year passes behind NC and you have to take a very short trail to go to gas or at NC

We saw this impressive dogs team on the way back, there are 2 wide...

We took a break again at the Magnan Falls in Charette but at the top of the falls this time

As I said at the beginning it's rare to see the water in the falls it's usually all hard frozen

We then continued west. The trail conditions had deteriorated a little since our lunch but from the fork of the #350 St-Paulin sector it became very beautiful and fast again until St-Cuthbert.

Here a snow bridge not far from the village of Ste-Ursules

We took the #63 to go through St-Justin, it was superb

We came across the Dozer de St-Barthelemy without the drag which was at finishing some work on the trail

We went through St-Norbert to come back, the trail was more bumpy from the traffic but it was ok

We were back home around 4:30 p.m. with 322kms (200miles) of happiness on the meter!

I know that most of you won't ride that south but the good news is that the trail network enlarge and is getting more and more connected to spread the traffic through. There are few rivers mostly along the St-Laurence river that are not ready yet. St-Maurice river is crossable but the trail on the river is not ready yet. The interactive map seems pretty accurate now on the trail condition. 
If we can keep getting January like temperature it will be perfect...
Bye!
Alain

Hi Mike.  My trade-in was a 2020 so this one is an upgrade in suspension.  I do notice the ride is a little flatter and feels a little better.  Not that the 2020 was bad but this one is better.  I sense the bumps under the sled put they don't transfer up to my body as much.
I think back to 2003 when the Rev first came out and how transforming it was.  Now each generation gets better.  It is amazing how far the suspensions have evolved.  And I'm sure the other manufacturers are just as good with their advances.  I'm not one to put one manufacturer over another.  It is all snowmobiling to me.
Jack & Sandi

When we were many years younger, every trip was a one week saddlebag trip.  The truck would be left at Valcourt or Motel Bernieres in St Nicholas (Levis).  We would ride out to Rimouski or Matane and circle back.
On the north side of the St Lawrence we would ride out of St Raymond.  Does anybody remember Hotel de Collene?  I may have misspelt the name.  From there we would Tour du Lac St Jean.
Our other route was from St Agatha and saddlebag to Abitibi.
Many miles and many memories.  Now we are more content with day trips and being near the truck.  Maybe there is an overnight trip in our future still.
Jack & Sandi

We get to the next intersection with local trail 40.  Lets take 40 Sandi.   I don't know if I want to go to the right on 526 towards Lac Phoenegamook.  I know it won't be frozen yet.
Sandi turns left and this is great for a mile and then it has been plowed.  Not scraped to the bottom but plowed.  Maybe logging?  Sandi is running along and oops, here comes an empty logging truck.  We pull over and let the truck go by.  There is a little sand on the hills but very passable.  We get to the intersection with 544.  Hmm?  To the left is where the logging trucks are traveling.  To the right is 544 but it is not groomed.  Go left Sandi.  It isn't too far to 85.  In just a little way and the trail splits with the logging road and runs parallel with it.  This doesn't have a track on it and it was groomed last night.  So sweet it is!
Sandi is running know.  This is the best of the best.  Oh by the way, so far we have only seen two other sleds.  We get to 85 and turn right and then left onto 544.  This is as good as it gets.  Sandi is rolling know.  Plenty of snow and a perfect trail.  We turn right staying on 544 instead of taking local 44.  So smooth and so good.
We turn left onto 565.  This has been broke but isn't as nice as what we were just on.  We go down the big switchback into the valley below.  I'm guessing the tractor has made a few passes but hasn't brought the drag with him because of the hills.  Bumpy here.  This is what I meant about such different conditions.  We poke along 565.  The fields are pretty wind blown and now there is some dirt showing thru.  No more fun.  Keep on trucking.  We make our way along.  Some parts are hard to even see the trail.  We get to trail 5 and there is the groomer.  He is heading on 565 the way we just came from.  I guess he is going to make it good.
We turn left on 5 and in a mile or so there are three sleds with workers putting in the red stakes.  They are just opening up this section of 5.  In the woods it is ok.  In the fields it is not ok.  The wind really blows the snow off of the fields.  There are areas of dirt.  Not what I was expecting after what we had up in the woods.
We putt our way along on 5.  At the intersection with 85 to turn right to RDL, the trail becomes better.  Just a few miles makes a big difference in snow cover.  The rest of the way into the Universal is good.  Some thin spots but good.
So overall, there is good riding here and not so good.  I think we are going to stay up in the woods more and away from the valley along the St Lawrence.  Tomorrow I think we may run down 85 towards Cabano and Degelis or maybe go towards St Pamphile.  We will see what the groomer map shows in the morning.  
Whether you should come up or not is your choice.  I think there is enough good riding around RDL but expect to run into a few bad areas too.  The forecast is for good temps but not much snow in the next seven days.  The hotel is not full by any means.  Breakfast is served in the conference room across from the bar.  There was only one other table occupied when we ate this morning.
Jack & Sandi
 

We are back and here is the "Report".  Some very good and some very bad but keep reading.
Sandi, lets take the local trail 40 that runs along the side of auto route 20.  It was groomed yesterday and should still be good.  Thru the gas station next door and we cross 20 on the auto route bridge.  I don't like going thru those two little tunnels under the highway.
The groomer has been here and the trail is ok.  A little bumpy in the dips because there isn't really enough snow to fill in all of the low spots.  Sandi is running along warming up the sleds and us.  In the fields there is some minor drifting and in the woods it is quite nice.  Mild today.  It is 20F.
We pick up trail 559 and this is good too.  At St Helene, the trail isn't as good going thru town.  It is still in the same place but it has been blown in and it is windy today.  I take the lead working thru town.  Just as we leave town, there is a sign pointing straight for Club Les Loups but the stakes go to my right.  I'll follow the sign even thought the trail hasn't been groomed and there is only one sled mark on it.  Oh I probably shouldn't have done this.  A little way in and I stop to talk with Sandi.  There is a little freezing rain and Sandi doesn't like this trail breaking thing.  She isn't happy.  It is a little narrow to turn around here.  We go a little further and come to a groomed trail.  We turn right and a couple hundred feet we are back on 559.  My mistake.  I should have followed the red stakes.  OK Sandi, you take lead.
A few miles up the trail and we are at the club house.  It is closed.  Sandi turns left on trail 5.  A few miles in and we cross a road.  The groomer turned around here.  This is nice.  Only one sled track in front of Sandi and the trail is perfect.  Sandi is off.  The freezing rain has stopped and there is light snow falling.  This is what I've been dreaming about all summer.  Keep going Sandi.  This is great.
We stop at the intersection where 561 heads south to 35.  561 looks good but 5 is perfect.  Sandi stays on 5 and she is running.  10 miles later and we are at the little connector to our right that hooks up with 526.  Yea lets take that.  526 is perfect.  ♬ Over the hills and thru the woods to grandmother's house we go. ♬
I'm in heaven!

Thanks Tom.  This looks a lot better than Christmas.

Looking good Oilman.  I hope your girlfriend has a great time.  Riding with the guys is fun but sharing it with you partner is better.
Jack & Sandi

Left Saint Raymond and headed for L’Etape. Plenty of snow. Trails 7/10. Last groom 4-5 days ago. Fueled up and had a bite to eat and off to Mount Apica. Warmed up and had a quick drink. Trails 9/10 north of L’Etape. Took 23 north to 83 East into the Delta in Jonquiere.  Trails again 9/10.  Great run 197 Miles.  My Girlfriend did great on the 600 Switchback. First time riding in Canada. Will try to post some pics. 
 
Oilman

Thanks Mark.  The groomers have been out and the forecast is below freezing all week.  A few cm of snow is forecast for tonight.
The grooming map shows two areas that aren't reporting.  One going down 85 toward Degelis and the other towards St Pamphile.  I can't imagine the two railbeds not being groomed.  Maybe the beacons were turned off in the groomers.  Sandi and I will be the boots on the ground or should I say the tracks on the trails!  😁
We will report back tonight.
Jack & Sandi

We are back from supper.  You can't charge the meal to the room.  Bring your credit card so you don't have to walk all the way back to your room.
Jack

Hi Everyone,
Quick update here.  Like I said above, there is snow.  From when we crossed the border, thru the Eastern Townships and all the way to RDL, there is snow on the ground.  It may have been a little deeper around Levis than here at RDL.  The trails we could see from auto route 20 looked passable and most were groomed.  There is a foot or so here at the Universal and the snow depth map shows more depth in the mountains.
There is only one other trailer in the lock up besides ours.  The restaurant is under renovation but you may eat at the bar.  Sandi and I are going there shortly for a nice meal.  That sandwich on the ride up is long gone and I have to replenish the cavern.
We will report back.
Jack & Sandi
 
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Hi BigLake,
Sandi and I just pulled in to the Universal tonight.  The conditions look good and the front desk said the riding is good.  It isn't as deep as it normally is mid January but the map shows groomers were out last night.
We're going to ride tomorrow.  We will be at breakfast Tuesday morning around 7 am.  Look for an "older couple".  I have a grey beard and speak English! 😁
Jack & Sandi

Arrived at the Roquemont at 5:00 PM. Snow and trails look good! What a difference this place is!  Have not been here for over 8 years. All redone. Place is Mint!  Headed for the Delta tomorrow. Will report back after the run tomorrow. Glad to be back up here in Quebec. 

We are heading to RDL tomorrow.  We won't be able to ride until Monday but hopefully we will be able to report back with good news.
Jack & Sandi

Came up for a quick three day tour.  Conditions are decent and the snow today is helping quite a bit.
Started in Pointe a la Croix from the Interprovincial, they have built new sled garages, forgot to take a picture, I will when we get back to the truck.  Ran up to Amqui the first afternoon, stayed at the Select.http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_01/20230112_165358.jpg.7f8d09ff07d349ed86fe8100990501aa.jpg Breakfast at Ste Adeleme, stopped at St Paulin which was closed. http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_01/20230113_111609.jpg.6354a7b54f2d304a5c9e8bb1e8645b85.jpghttp://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_01/20230113_121957.jpg.38a598af6f45e5640df89d7fb4cc9bc9.jpg Then stopped at Grande Nature for a break.  http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_01/20230113_133617.jpg.fb3b4e01c48ddab1b6b07a3da2499a8f.jpgHeaded out without a plan, stopped mid day and called the Copper, but restaurant is closed till Jan 20, so scratch that. Ended up at the Hotel Cie in SADM.http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_01/20230113_142732.jpg.e3aaa459f88e26e18ba848985fc5d744.jpg
The forecast was for 40cm, so far I would say we have got 20.  Will try to update a bit more tomorrow.  It is great to be riding again.
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