182ray

Guess we are not going to get in trouble tonight........they are closed

Merry Christmas to all my Quebec Rider buddies 

Merry Christmas to all my Quebec Rider buddies 

Feliz Navidad,  prospero ano y felicidad
Nosotros necicitamos mas nieve ahora!

Merry Christmas to all my Quebec Rider buddies 

Merry Christmas to all my Quebec Rider buddies 

hi steve !!!
 
positive......yes ...no problemo !!!
 
jean-guy

I don't like wearing anything on my head because it pulls my hair. Now at my age I have hair and I am pretty proud of it. Plus both my boys are bald and it's a great way to put them in their place when discussing age. 

I watched that video too Steven to me that disclaimer was probably added by the legal department 
I plan on wearing a balaclava because I don’t want to risk frostbite 
 

I watched that video too Steven to me that disclaimer was probably added by the legal department 
I plan on wearing a balaclava because I don’t want to risk frostbite 
 

Welcome I'll have to order one great work QR admins !

We beat feet home yesterday in an effort to beat any ice storm...Had a good run all new equipment worked very well now to get Christmas out of the way and plan next ride.

If I lived in Quebec City with the current forecast I would be out shopping this afternoon for a canoe and some life jackets

The Delta is Nice, and I'll be there (For Good or Bad) BUT it is quiet on New Years.....
GutZ

Don't know what your looking for but check out the Delta. Very nice spot.

On Saturday, December 15 Krikri and I once again started our ride from near the Lac Blanc outfitter in St-Alexis des Monts accompanied by Steph, Snowcruiser and his friend Michel. My first idea was to go exploring on the #23 east side  but we had to adjust our plan and instead we had dinner at the St-Zénon village then in the afternoon made a loop between the Taureau dam and the Mattawin River Bridge and been back via #23 north toward our starting point, a total trip of 175miles.
The interactive map has still not been updated but this time I started the tracking on my  Inreach satellite beacon that generated me a gps track of my ride that I put on a snowmobile map to give you a real view of the current configuration in the Mastigouche reserve. I suggest you to keep this image as a reference. If anyone ever needed my .gpx track file you can contact me privately here or via facebook.

Cloudy sky and very mild temperature (around the freezing point since the evening before)at start so expecting softer trail base for the ride

The trees were still snow loaded and just lose a bit during the day with the mild weather.


The trail was not just groomed (but ok) probably because of the mild weather and also the work overload for the club that ares still in branches cutting to open their other trails.

Once on the #23 trail, we tried  some exploration on the east side

but we have not done a quarter mile, the trail is still full of fallen trees. I read today on the facebook site of the Mastigouche snowmobile club that they decided to use the big machinery to open the remaining trails not done yet... not easy this season. This is the#23 trail  right in front in this pic and it's alot worst at many other places

So we turned back and took the #23 in west direction which was perfect

towards the middle of the reserve, we forked  towards the south in Cabanon direction

Just before arriving there is a miles along the plow road where the snow is dirty but it's not really bad

We then switched toward the village of St-Zénon

It is a more mountainous segment which was more bumpy but we met the dozer in it

We went at the gaz station a little south of the village of St-Zénon also hoping to eat at the next door restaurant but the restaurant was closed. It is supposed to open within a few weeks, according to the gaz station clerk. So we came back a little and went at an other restaurant just at the south entrance of the St-Zénon village.

After lunch we retraced our steps

Pass the Cabanon

And went to the Taureau reservoir dam


We took a break there and then crossed the dam to do a loop via #360 trail up to the #345 junction

that we took toward south to cross the river by the bridge


rear view

We then rode down to the #23 junction where we took another break

then taking the #23 east which is further north this year, on the #31 road of the reserve

We then joined the morning path a little further and continued toward our trailers. Here taking the #350 trail at Gaston

We were back to the trailer around 5:30 pm with 175 miles on the dreammeter. The trails suffered a bit of the mild weather but kept better than  expected, a very nice ride overall.
The clubs continue to work hard to open the trails, the wood transport was ended on the 15 dec on the #360 toward Marineau so the trail network will continue to expand in the next day. 
Take a look here for the last new: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
:bc:
Alain

No freezing rain all snow, warm up did not effect the area at all, trails are in mid season conditions

Good first day of riding up to Repos saw 3 groomers and only 3 sither sleds all day.
 
 
 

We are at Le cabanon tonight

Rode from LeCabanon to Repos and back last Friday and Saturday after it was recently groomed and it was insane good.
 It was just groomed again so you guys are gonna have a GREAT ride tomorrow. ENJOY !!!

Well 1st ride in the books
Woke up to a balmy -28 at Hotel Central. Lit. The sleds and headed to Cabanon. Groomed to the door👍
Quick pit stop for a joe and hit 345 to auberge kubeck... carpet. Couldn’t believe how good it was. 
Bowl of soup and a couple of bevies and hit the 350. Hasn’t been groomed. Pretty trashy all the way back to the 23. 
23 / 63 Cabanon & St Michel all good.
150k
New oxegyn helmets are fantastic. Trails legit 8/10.
off again tomorrow
🍻Gowser
 

Yes Linda we would like to hook up this year need to get your riding schedule as we are heading to Le Cabanon this weekend   BTW don’t look for me on the cat I’m still on the Doo 

geez...tough on me again !!!
send me a link where i could apply to be a mod ....i could have the last laugh..
sledgirl ....working part time at the gas station in albertville.... on the tundra...she could nt afford a 2018 model !!!😜
 
jean-guy

The conditions were already good in the Mastigouche Wildlife reserve during our last ride when they had received a good layer of big wet snow that had laid down several trees giving considerable work to the snowmobile clubs to open the trails, although they received another one that over-painted the scenery even more but also giving even more work to the snowmobile clubs to re-open a second time several trails they had already logged a week before and putting a layer on those that they had not had time to do. The work is not completed yet everywhere but it advances greatly.
After looking at the information on the open trails, I chose to go once more in the Mastigouche Wildlife reserve, but making a loop this time from the already ready trails. We therefore left the same starting point near the outfitter of Lake Blanc accompanied by Snowcruiser and Toxie. Brutally cold: -28C when starting at around 9:00 am Saturday morning (December 8th, 2018)

As for the exact route, the current map of Lanaudière does not really represent what is groomed so it's difficult to show you on a map. We left the outfitter of Lake Blanc by the trail # 350, then the M10 and trail #23 to the west as our last ride but halfway in the reserve Mastigouche we forked to the south on the trail # 345. Currently if you continue this trail along its length it ended a few miles south of the Cabanon on #23. Halfway along the same trail, we took a fork on the left to go to Koubec Outfitter and then came back on #345 to have meal at Cabanon. In the afternoon we made the same trip as our last ride ie #345 north in dam direction and 12 miles from cabanon took the #23 east up to our  morning path that we redid in the opposite direction.
In terms of trail maps, I went to the sources and was told that an update for the interactive map and Imotoneige is on the way and should be done within a week to adjust those maps to the trails on the field in real
The trails had lost nothing of their beauty compared to the previous week. Here on the #350 near the Lac Blanc outfitter


Toxie who ride in front of us broke in a brand new grand touring 900 ace in these beautiful trails that he also traveled for the first time


Snowcruiser who was with us had pass there last Wednesday and did a lot of zigzagging between the trees lying down to manage to pass after the 2nd layer of snow from last Sunday. Everything was perfect on this Saturday morning, a big thanks to the snowmobile club Mastigouche for their work and recent grooming!

The woman behind the camera: the one who takes all the pictures you see, who has been sharing my life for over 34 years and been on my  snowmobile back seat for almost the same time. She is also the mother of our 4 boys, the woman of my life. She does the meals and the laundry in addition !!! ..... lollll I love you darling !!!

We then forked on the M10 trail to the north, notice the snow ...


And then took the #23 to the west. The difference compared to the previous week is obviously the better snow to the ground but especially the amount of snow hanging in the trees


Halfway in the reserve we forked to the south on trail #345

And switch again on the left to show the outfitter Koubec to Toxie. Everywhere trail conditions looks like of the end of January in the reserve

The Mastigouche outfitter

better known as Koubec by most snowmobilers. A real historical gem.

We then retraced our steps over several miles

to take the back the trail toward the Cabanon in the Mastigouche Reserve

A little less snow going east but trees still well loaded and good ground cover


We had arrived just a few miles south of the Cabanon. There is a little brownish snow around the Cabanon but nothing bad and everywhere else was beautiful

We stopped there to refuel the venture and us

We met by chance Bily a friend with whom Snowcruiser and I had already ride a couple time and he joined us with his daughter for a good sledder meal. 

We then took the #345 trail north towards the Taureau dam

rear shot 

And around 12 miles from the Cabanon we took the #23 trail toward east which takes the path of the Wildlife Reserve road #31 (indicated by big signs). The sun that had been present in the morning let place to some clouds with light snow


We took a short break at the fork to the south that we had taken in the morning. Kristine took the opportunity to  catch this nice shot of a small river next: superb!

We then continued on #23, the same morning path toward the trailer. Notice the amount of snow hanging in the branches everywhere


We took a last little break before taking the #350

The sky was already too dark for the pics but it was special to ride this trail that sometimes looks like a tunnel at the sleds lights

We got back to the trailer a little past 4:30 pm with a 136s very relaxed miles for the day, all 4 very happy with our ride

In the summary, extraordinary conditions for the date for both snow to the ground and scenery. In fact, I don't remembered since I've been snowmobiling that I've seen such large area in Lanaudièrewith scenery so much snow painted in white by the sticky snow that froze there. They preview cold for the coming days so there will be  many other lucky people who will have the chance to admire these beauties of nature
Several clubs are still in the branch cut to open the trails but it is going well and the playground has grown considerably. Bily, whom we met at Cabanon, told us that he had left from St-Gabriel de Brandon(pretty much south) via trail #23 and everything was good on this side. As the clubs complete their work, they will officially open and you will see the details here: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
an outstanding season start that is very promising for having some great riding in the christmas holidays. 

Here's my yesterday (8 december 2018) video from the first part of our weekend ride, report will follow soon
You can click the 1080p on the parameter and put on the sound to better enjoying this one.
**disclaimer:  I'm not responsible for any side effect you may feel after looking at this video or any crazy plans or spent you may initiate. You watch this at your own risk...