poltodoo

📢OUVERTURE DE LA TQ23 SUR LE SAINT-MAURICE !📢
À la suite de PLUSIEURS vérifications de l’épaisseur de la glace, il est maintenant possible de circuler sur le sentier BALISÉ.
ATTENTION : ⛔️NE PAS SORTIR DU SENTIER !⛔️
⚠️Suivre les balises car présence de trous chauds à moins de 75 mètres du sentier balisé.⚠️
⛔️FERMÉ : Sentier sur la rivière direction la Tuque⛔️ (encore à l’eau claire)
Un GRAND merci à Location Maximum Aventure pour le prêt d’équipement et l’aide au sondage de la glace ainsi qu’à Louis Marchand pour les 4,3 km balisé.👍
 
📢OPENING OF THE TQ23 ON THE SAINT-MAURICE!📢 Following SEVERAL verifications of the thickness of the ice, it is now possible to travel on the MARKED trail. CAUTION:
⛔️DO NOT GO OFF THE TRAIL!⛔️
⚠️Follow the beacons because there are hot holes within 75 meters of the marked trail.⚠️
⛔️CLOSED: Trail on the river towards La Tuque⛔️ (still in clear water) A BIG thank you to Location Maximum Aventure for the loan of equipment and help with the ice survey as well as to Louis Marchand for the 4.3 km marked.👍

The Captain of one of the groups l go to Quebec with send out a group text to get opinions about bringing a new guy on.
l jokingly replied:
As long as he’s not a Liberal or rides an Arctic Cat

The trailers out back are a bit rough, the rooms above the bar would need a complete redo to be called a bit rough.🤕🤕🤕

Just for the free weekend 
look for me i will be out there purring along.

Ice is that your new setup and gear!!!😊

Beautiful sunny Sunday with winter temperatures (-15C at start around 9:30), we did this ride: a kind of Taureau reservoir loop with a fuel up at Marineau Mattawin!

We parked the trailer in the parking lot of Pub 111 in St-Michel des Saints, the trail passes through the parking lot.

We left a little late around 9:45 and headed off on #63 towards the Cabanon. The snow base held the thaw good but there was a bit less new snow on top around the village of St-Michel. The big slopes facing south near the village are the only place that suffered and some rock has risen to the surface and is mixed with the snow. the little snow we got today and forecast this week will help getting this spot better

This pic is not very representative and unfortunately I had not a lot of photos at the start of the ride because my Gopro didn't want to cooperate and we are at testing with a new camera to replace Kristine's old Sony which is about dying(the camera 😉). You may notice some photos of a different look in my reports.
We rode up to Auberge Le Cabanon and then took the #345 towards the Taureau dam. It had not been regroomed overnight and Saturday's heavy traffic day+warm weather had sculpt the trail shape! .The lady behind me was swearing into her helmeth... that's why we don't have communicators!!!

We took a little break at the dam. We see that the reservoir level has started to drop down...

And the water output flow is still high...

We then continued on #360 east. Grooming was much better despite some bumps to watch in the curves up to #345 junction (towards Pourvoirie Lac du Repos)

We then got superb, almost perfect trail conditions on the #360 up to Mattawin. I like this very panoramic section


the snow cover is even much better going toward Mattawin

This is one of the most beautiful section of the #360 with a fast trail along the beautiful Mattawin River.


We took our usual little break at stop 440 to admire the river which is currently flowing at high flow.


we then continued east...

As many of you know, the M20 trail (and M21) are not done this season due to logging, which requires plowing the road of the usual route of these trails to get the wood out. Here the M20 path which is closed to snowmobiles this season

The Zec Chapeau de Paille road that we usually use for the continuation of the #360 towards Marineau is also plowed, so the club made detour trail further north. It's a bit winding at the beginning especially the first miles but it quickly becomes better and then very good for the 2nd half with beautiful nice stretchs


The detour joins the usual trail at the height the Zec entrance and we continue on familiar trail path


To finally arrive at our refueling point around 12:45 with 93 miles on the meter


After a good meal break at the auberge, we left in the opposite direction a little before 2:00 p.m. for the second half of our ride. It bugged me to not be able to film in such beautiful conditions and by dint of trying I managed to find a way to convince my gopro to stay alive in the afternoon and I finally have images in the bank for a future video.


it was really good and nice ride


We took a first and only break at #360/#345 junction (towards Repos) and surprisingly we had a little beggar who came to ask for his food!

After all these years in Lanaudière, we have often had gray jays come in our hands, but black-capped chickadees this is the first time here. We had some last spring in Gaspésie... they may have spread the word about us!!!

We then continued and once near the dam held the #360 to loop around the reservoir on the west side

It was riding very well, just usual season beginning ruts to watch out for. There is a short section less than one miles where the club had started to groom the trail next to the road path where we usually pass??

The trail became even nicer from the  #33 junction which had been groomed the night before. We were quickly  near the Auberge du Lac Taureau and chose to cut across the Taureau reservoir to return to St-Michel. The snowmobile club had published earlier last week having marked it out after testing the ice at 15" thick.
The level of the reservoir is still high enough so that the ice cover is still almost flat on the whole length, riding this was like a creamy cherry on the top of our day ride

 
We finally got back to the trailer around 4:45 p.m. with a total of 188 miles/302kms on the meter to say it's pretty much the same distance either way of the reservoir

So a 2nd great ride in the last 3 days for us which kicks off our snowmobile season this year. I expect that the trail network will continue to grow rapidly with the actual cold and snow ahead and also that the information on the interactive map will become more up to date as there are open places that are not shown on the map actually but also several other places that the clubs are at finish opening.
Everything is finally falling into place for a great 2023 snowmobile season!

The Apathy Factor
By: Bill O'ReillyJanuary 8, 2023
We all know people who don't know much about history or anything else for that matter. And don't care to know. If they cared, they would google—the easiest way to get information on the planet.
Because so many folks are apathetic about the world around them, they make bad decisions. Two things drive faulty outcomes: emotion and stupidity.
If you don't know anything, you are stupid. However, emotion can cripple even the most astute person.
President Biden is a historically bad Chief Executive rivaled only by the incredibly incompetent, apathetic James Buchanan and the hapless, apathetic Herbert Hoover - who thought the Great Depression was an apparition or something.
Fellow traveler Joe Biden is many things in his senior life, few of them good. But his apathy is beyond comprehension.
A record amount of drugs are being smuggled across the Mexican border. Hundreds of thousands dead because of it. Heard anything from Joe about that?
Millions of poor migrants have been abused by Mexican cartels in terrible ways as they try to get to open-border America. Does Biden care? No evidence that he does.
The financial burden on working Americans has increased tenfold since Joe took office. Higher prices for almost everything, "real wages" down about four percent - a seven-point swing for the worse since Trump's last year in office.
The airlines have fallen apart on Biden's watch. Millions of passengers have suffered. Has Joe addressed it? No, he has not.
In fact, I don't know of one problem that President Biden has dealt with in an effective way. Not one.
That leads me to believe that Joe is largely apathetic about the state of the union. He pretty much does what his far-left masters tell him to do and then takes a nap. His daily schedule, released to the public, shows plenty of nothing. I post it every night on the No Spin News.
Back in the late 1850s, radical separatists in the south routinely defied the federal government in Washington, stealing weapons, ignoring taxes, even attacking federal workers. President Buchanan did nothing. Apathetic and lazy, Buchanan sat in the Executive Mansion while the Civil War fuse was lighted and pretty much ignored it.
For that, James Buchanan will always be the worst President of all time. The WOAT, if you will.
Joe B. has much in common with Jim B. and the biggest shared trait is apathy.
Sadly, many Americans, including much of the media, are in that camp as well.
Apathy often leads to calamity. We are surely seeing that in the USA right now.
Somebody tell the President.

Update....spoke with mon ami Andre this evening and he and company are holding off to get to his camp on the 12th
and he really likes to go to his camp
i remember quite a few years like this in the last couple decades that were the same. Things just didn’t start getting good until later January 
hopefully this means we will all be getting an April ride
personally I blame Al Gore for ALL of this
 

No f*#king luck dude.   ???
just a guess
LOL

Makes you want to believe in ultimate "rewards"...
 

Friday RDL was good from Hotel universel to Moose valley!!! Today Saturday all done!!! Bar & restaurant is open at The Hotel for your entertainment!!! 2 days 400 miles!!!! Trails done until cold weather and more snow!!! Bonne Annee’ Everyone!!!

3 more from St Gabriel de Brandon on the 28 December between midnight and 6am. From locked trailer from parking lot near Bistro La Cache. 
 

Nice posts. If I could ask a favor of Mrs Iceman. could you please refrain from using the term " LOVER" in your post?  I am trying to eat my breakfast and I am having trouble keeping it down with that image in my mind.  Thanks in advance. 800Steve

http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2022_12/image.png.dc918b68b42f10378d636b143961aa30.png

Hello all snowmobilers and arm chair riders!  Another snowmobile season is here.  I thought it would never come.  It was a busy year at work for Sandi and I but now it is time to enjoy the Quebec winter.
We drove up yesterday, Tuesday the 27th, as we normally do.  A little snow on the ground in St Johnsbury and the further north we went the coverage got better.  A good drive except for 20 miles before Quebec City.  The traffic was very heavy there.  It took an hour to get from St Apollinaire thru Quebec City which would normally be 20 minutes.  After that, the drive thru the Park was nice.  We are at Hotel Sagueneenne for the week.  A few trailers here and a foot ± of snow on the ground.  Maybe I should say less snow than more.
So it is Wednesday morning and a couple that we spoke with rode Mount Valin yesterday and said the mountain was good.  The parking lot at Valinuet is not plowed but you can park there.  They are heading there today.  Sandi and I are going to try riding out of the hotel.  Nothing big today.  Lets go out and stretch our legs a little and get back into the feel of things.
We are on the sleds and out the back of the hotel.  The trail hasn't  been broke but that is typical right after Christmas.  We are expecting 83 to be OK.  On the spur going to 83 by La Cage and behind the businesses, doesn't even have a sled track on it.  We poke thru the parking lots and the sidewalk by Route 175 working our way to the Ultramar station.  We tank up with some fresh fuel and follow the sidewalk behind the tire shop.  A big pine tree fell across the trail.  Turn around and go thru the parking lot behind the tire shop and by pass the tree.  Now we should be all set.  Cross the railroad tracks and we get to 83.  Yuk!  One sled track and nothing else.  Sticks and hay growing up thru the little bit of snow that is here.  This isn't looking good Sandi.  Lets turn around and take the truck and trailer somewhere.
So we are back at the Sagueneenne and loaded up.  In the truck we head to the Delta.  Yes the groomer that lives just down the street from the Delta has been out.  Lets unload here and give it a try.  The Delta is the same as last year with truck parking in the big lot and the fenced in area between the buildings for the sleds.
On the sleds and off we go on 83 west.  The trail has been broke.  Sled tracks on it and the groomer may have made a pass but probably without the drag.  I'll say it is rideable but not good.  No dirt areas but the snow is thin and there is snirt and sticks in the trail.  We turn right on the first local trail that heads up towards Spence SkiDoo.  Some parts are OK but most of it is marginal.  There are other sleds out taking a shot at the early riding.  We loop back to the Delta on 383.
Not our kind of riding.  No sense in beating ourselves up when there maybe better trails across the river on Mount Valin.
Short day today.  Tomorrow we will drive to Valinuet and ride from there.  As much as I would prefer riding out of the hotel, a short trip in the truck to what should be better riding is worth it.
Be safe and ride safe.
Jack & Sandi

Myself I like to tow with about 6 feet of rope, just enough so the snow comes off the towing sled track hits the hood of the towed sled and the over the wind shield and into the guys lap. He must pay for not doing something that caused him to be towed. Best if it's one of your kids. Lol

On the road again... back in the saddle. 🤩

Last year I had an extremely short season due to my injury which healed fine, but it took its sweet time all summer during my paddle board season. 

Anyway here we are finally! Les Escoumins, for some reason I love this area. When you hear ''Oh I'm going on the Côte Nord'', you often think or hear Mont Valin, but there is so much more than there to be explored. 

So as Lover said we left Trois-Rivieres, Monday at 12:30 and got here just in time before the supermarket closes. We hit nice weather to drive up here, was quite a change than the past three days we had at home. Lots of snow, lack of cold. So gotta go ride where it's good during my school break. 

When we plan a trip we have two main goals in mind, look for groomed trails and less traffic as possible. One of my personal goals is to pay attention at the landscape, it's sooo pretty. I know that most people ride for the miles, but I sure look around and I'm so thankful to get to see mother nature's beauty. 

Late morning departure since usually there is a 6-7-8 kind of schedule. I think was close to 9:30. 

We rode to St-Anne de Portneuf for gas, then took a mint local trail. Lover always says that the local trails are the best, I must say that I agree so far. I was scouting the rivers for my summer riding season because we were along the water for a while. On that local trail we cam across a nice little warming hut. (see photos)

I don't know for you, but each season I have to get accustom once again to the whole snowmobile tralala. It takes  me my first day to get comfortable once again. 

Then we stopped at the relais Les Bouleaux for a small snack. 

Most of it was nicely groomed except for one part, which we knew, but now I know I don't like to ride on fluffy snow. 😂 I guess I would not be an off trail candidate. 

We didn't see many people, except once we got close to the relais. 

Oh we saw lots of places where trees were cut down, but it seems like it doesn't compare to Mauricie, Outaouais, and other places hard hit by big snow and wind. Many clubs are struggling to find volunteers to cut all the trees that had fallen and blocking the trails. 

Here you can follow along our ride with the pictures I took today. 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOP43YrP2O
 

Couldn’t just sit home, not waiting for things to shape up near chez ice. Pin the trailer lets get it. 
Left Trois Riveres 12:30 arrived Escoumins 5:30. 
More later heading out.
 

I know, you'd have to put down the phone and stop txting.... LOL!
GutZ

From
Club Sportif Populaire du Bas St Laurent
Conditions de sentiers le 20 décembre.
Sentiers sont toujours fermés.
Les surfaceuses ont circulé aujourd’hui  et poursuivrons leur travail dans les prochaines jours.
Contrairement à ce que l’on peut penser, le sol n’est pas gelé et de l’eau circule sous la neige à plusieurs endroits.
Des conditions  météorologiques changeantes sont prévues dans les prochains jours pour notre région.  Neige et/ou pluie, un mercure près du point de congélation, nous suivrons l’évolution des conditions de jour en jour. Dès que celles-ci seront favorables pour circuler, il nous fera plaisir d’en faire l’ouverture officielle.
D’ici là, merci de votre patience. Et passez de Joyeuses Fêtes !
 
Trail conditions on December 20.
Trails are still closed. The surfacers circulated today and will continue their work in the coming days. Contrary to what one might think, the ground is not frozen and water is circulating under the snow in several places.
Changeable weather conditions are expected in the coming days for our region.
Snow and/or rain, mercury close to freezing point, we will follow the evolution of the conditions from day to day. As soon as these are favorable for circulation, we will be happy to make the official opening.
Until then, thank you for your patience. And have a Happy Holidays!

Yes St-Michel des saints started tonight and the Mattawin snowmobile club from Mauricie had did the first pass on the #360 from Marineau auberge toward St-Michel des saints yesterday and will groom the #360 toward St-Joseph de Mékinac tomorrow 19 dec. Their facebook page is not very active but you can follow what I mentioned on the Marineau auberge website, section trail conditions (sorry no english): https://www.hotelsmarineau.com/sentiers-motoneige/conditions-pistes?fbclid=IwAR1KlR6dLrB3pD5hWCcW5lEOlXHECTn5mToTTUyDEW2_64s7xP5ON7BEzDk
Some others souther snowmobile clubs like St-Gabriel de Brandon have mentioned having begin to work on the trails but ask to not ride yet as their trails are not ready/safe.
I seen some ride reports in Cabanon area that are nice. I expect very beginning conditions... but it begin at least!