doonali

Saturday 11th.
Myself and limesqueezeaxys set out on a trip west starting in Maniwaki. Taking 63 e to 322 w and back to 63 w continued on to the 386 intersection and  lunch at La Verendrye Lodge. Then up the 386 to 83 and looking at the time we might as well make a small loop to north local orange across to 313 s to Val-d'or and the Forestel. 
As a reminder that 63 now drops down to La Verendrye Lodge and adds approx. 20mi to the past 63-386 intersection.
311mi.

Buck was very playful Sunday when we were thru... seems he really wanted my gloves !  

Saturday 11th.
Myself and limesqueezeaxys set out on a trip west starting in Maniwaki. Taking 63 e to 322 w and back to 63 w continued on to the 386 intersection and  lunch at La Verendrye Lodge. Then up the 386 to 83 and looking at the time we might as well make a small loop to north local orange across to 313 s to Val-d'or and the Forestel. 
As a reminder that 63 now drops down to La Verendrye Lodge and adds approx. 20mi to the past 63-386 intersection.
311mi.

Tues 14th
Were set up good to make a run to the truck so up and on em at 6:30am rolling in the pre-dawn is awesome! We take 83 to the Lepine trail which has a fresh 4"-6" of powder on it so we go for it at a fast pace as the sun comes up and onward to Le Pensive Relay by 8:30 for coffee. The owners asked where we came from I replied Clova and the lady looked liked she was in disbelief!! We laughed  warmed up and off to Rabaska for fuel. After fuel down to 322 to locals around devils Mt. And onto 13/63 to Maniwaki which was just groomed to perfection.
202mi
Loaded em up and and on the black trail at 12:30.
FYI for approx 15+ miles above Le Pensive is plowed for logging but passable. Watch out for the loggers as they were heading up to work as we were coming down and they were traveling as were we! The rest of the trail hasn't been groomed in a while and needs it. Word is that the groomer is down?
1138mi trip total on GPS.Pre dawn on the LepineLe Pensive's mascot AKA Buck.

There is plenty of snow. I'm sure it will survive it was snowing hard when we pulled out and more forecasted.

Tues 14th
Were set up good to make a run to the truck so up and on em at 6:30am rolling in the pre-dawn is awesome! We take 83 to the Lepine trail which has a fresh 4"-6" of powder on it so we go for it at a fast pace as the sun comes up and onward to Le Pensive Relay by 8:30 for coffee. The owners asked where we came from I replied Clova and the lady looked liked she was in disbelief!! We laughed  warmed up and off to Rabaska for fuel. After fuel down to 322 to locals around devils Mt. And onto 13/63 to Maniwaki which was just groomed to perfection.
202mi
Loaded em up and and on the black trail at 12:30.
FYI for approx 15+ miles above Le Pensive is plowed for logging but passable. Watch out for the loggers as they were heading up to work as we were coming down and they were traveling as were we! The rest of the trail hasn't been groomed in a while and needs it. Word is that the groomer is down?
1138mi trip total on GPS.Pre dawn on the LepineLe Pensive's mascot AKA Buck.

Monday 13th
Planned on heading to Pourvoirie Martin for the night. Took 93 w to 307 s to Rivière-Heva where we joined a super nice 83 e through Val-d'Or onward to Lovicourt where we dropped down to the local orange cut across that is in need of a groomer. Then back on 83 e to Lac Faillon for lunch. Made a call to Martin for the night but sorry were FULL!! Hmm on a Monday wow. So call to Clova and they say only one room left in school house with shared bath. We settle for the good ole Tamarack instead. So we burn the 83 into Clova and find 12 sled tour group just fueling and decide to take a small bonus run up toward Martin and played in the deep stuff a bit and back down to Clova for the night.
301miGood Morning Amos.

Sunday 12th 
Our plan was lunch in Matagmi so off we went across 83 e to Senneterre then joining up to a rocket ship fast 93 w to LSQ for fuel and a warm up. Then onward up freshly groomed 396 (which was both of our favorites) into Matagmi for lunch and another warm up 7deg. F.  After lunch we rolled down the western side of 396 which approx 10 mi is plowed but very passable due to power line work. Then onward into Amos and the Amosphère for the night.
Sleds put to bed in the heated garage at 5:30
324mi

Saturday 11th.
Myself and limesqueezeaxys set out on a trip west starting in Maniwaki. Taking 63 e to 322 w and back to 63 w continued on to the 386 intersection and  lunch at La Verendrye Lodge. Then up the 386 to 83 and looking at the time we might as well make a small loop to north local orange across to 313 s to Val-d'or and the Forestel. 
As a reminder that 63 now drops down to La Verendrye Lodge and adds approx. 20mi to the past 63-386 intersection.
311mi.

Nice that sun set pic is a winner!

I came down Lepine this morning from Clova.
Clova-Le Pensive 90mi
Le-pensive-Rabaska 40mi
mileage from my GPS. And yes 20mi plowed above Le Pensive and in bad need of grooming below!

I came down Lepine this morning from Clova.
Clova-Le Pensive 90mi
Le-pensive-Rabaska 40mi
mileage from my GPS. And yes 20mi plowed above Le Pensive and in bad need of grooming below!

Forestel Valdor Sat PM
Phil, JOHN, Eddie, Dave, Greg, George, Greg, and Dan
Phil1, Crazysnow, Eddieskidoo, Skidoo420, Doonali, Jemesouviens, Apexyoungin, Greg??
Fantastic🍻Conversation
What a great time seeing old faces and meeting new!
BJ Scranton1
 

Put a good coat of Vasoline on your face before riding. It'll keep it from frostbite.

See just like i said before, that Railbed is not always a great idea. Frostbite or not.
Anyway the best trips as you know are the ones made up as you go. My favorite thing is improvising as we go. 

Put a good coat of Vasoline on your face before riding. It'll keep it from frostbite.

312 today all good at Kanawatta. On to chibumaw tomorrow. 

Trip 3
The Eagle has landed and boy did we find a gem.   Auberge des Deux Rives
1 hr south of maniwaki 
6 hrs from Scranton (313 miles) and trans Quebec 13 goes right thru the parking lot.
5 clicks from the rr bed that runs to maniwaki

Getting in truck to go North in 5 minutes. Wooo Hooo
Hold my beer and watch this...

Maniwaki Saturday morning.

Yes we will be at the Forestal Saturday night. John, Ed, 420, BJ You & I, hold on. PM me your cell and maybe we can all get together for dinner and drinks.

I read a report that 63 swings a bit to the south this yr. passing through La Verendye Lodge. 
 Last yr. I fueled at the Indian reserve and made it to Domaine no prob. Doo 1200 and Polaris 800. 126mi good conditions groomed.

Yes it did that last year also, not an issue. Did not take you all the way to the lodge, trail runs along the access road to the lodge.

100 lacs is my kinda place. 

Love the rabbit story JG, you have a wilderness way with words.
Pic of the older times is a true reminder of the pioneers that have carved out the trails we follow today.
I wonder in 20-30 or so years will we be thought of as pioneers as well, turning over from 2 strokes to 4 strokes, riding trails that are today and will not be tomorrow. Will we have the stuff our precedents had? 
We think we are at the top of our game today with sleds and trail groomers but in the yester years they thought the same and in 20 yrs from now they'll be thinking the same too.
Will our generation be the next generation of pioneers?