towing

loll Chris 😄 I had to write to tell I really enjoyed your trip report, you should write more often was really good. I really got the picture in my head of the dog stealing you chicken and running down the steet loll 😅😅. I had heard about the chateauvert ruins but seing it...ouch!!! have a good next one my friend

I been told that their new dozer with rubber track are not even able to climb those big hills and they want to keep it easier on their dozers by grooming only the bypass... yes the roller coaster ride from one end to the other miss me too! Ride safe my friend!

This weekend, a small ride to see the ice sculptures of St-Côme in Lanaudière. We then had continue north to St-Zénon and returned a little further east on #23 trail. Here is the trail path we did. Saturday morning -17C with snow, difficult conditions for the photo/video but I wanted to do this report at the beginning of the festival to give you a chance to go if you pass in the area. Here while starting the ride near home I chose to ride the #43 trail that we use less often because more twisty but the scenery is beautiful. Here at the intersection with the club hut at St-Ambroise de Kildare Here just north of St-Alphonse de Rodriguez rer view with our friend Snowcruiser that was riding with us There is a lot of snow this year throughout the territory but particularly in the north as we can see ... Here arriving by the west side of the village. We can see the big slide made of blocks of ice We parked the snowmobiles to walk a little in the village and admire the sculptures. The festival just started and the carvers are at realizing their works. Some are completed ... And others still work in progress The photos don't do them just under this dark sky but this is a real size scene of the Flintstones with Fred and Arthur in their car, Delima standing behind and Dino looking out by the window of the house! This one is fine art work with alot details, surely even more beautiful with the sun or the colored lights at night ... Another great scene very impressive here, always real size imagine the talent required for carving the wagon wheels Here a beautiful piece, one of my favorite And here a beautiful windmill well surrounded you can admire at the entrance of the village I did not show you half of what is there, to see everything you will have to go for a ride! This good walk having opened our appetite so we stopped to eat at the Marguerite restaurant also located at the entrance of the village After a good meal we continued our way up to the north via #43 trail We then took the local trail and joined #33 trail continuing north. Here with the small stream and waterfall along the trail. Notice how snow-laden trees are We had ride up to the next junction and took the local trail to reach #63 trail and then went down to La Glacière. From there we took the #350 to join the #23 south. Trail was bumpy by there and for a good reason, we saw the dozer down on the side of the trail We took a break at Real Masse, a lot of sledders there ... When we came out to continue the sky was starting to clear out and we saw our first sun rays of the day We continued south. The quality of the trail was significantly improved by entering the territory maintained by the St-Gabriel de Brandon snowmobile club and it's on mint trails that we went for a short break at the St-Gabriel belvedere. Back then through St-Norbert, rather rought in the fields because alot new snow drifts but i won't complain about new snow! We finally got home around 5:30 pm with 173miles on the dreammeter For the St-Côme in Ice 2019 festival, it is until February 17 and maybe a bit longer just to see the sculptures then so if you are in the area stop to see that, I have not shown half of what is there and if the festival itself interests you all the details are here: https://festivalstcomeenglace.com/ It was a beautiful winter day as we dream in summer! The snow conditions are exceptionally good everywhere this year so go out to enjoy it, the great of the season is happening now! Have a good safe ride !!! Alain

Here a must-see if you are in Lanaudière area from now to the 17th february 2019 (and maybe a bit longer): the ice sculpture festival from St-Côme I did this small video yesterday, sorry for the snow in my lens in some sequences, conditions were not the best for filming but i'm pretty sure you will enjoy the results anyway Alain

I figure you really like it! nice!!!

On last Saturday I had outstanding good conditions to record this small video and it is I think one of the best I did... Put the Quality to 1080p woth the sound on and enjoy!!! Alain

Thank you smclelan! she's back on my back...seat!! love to ride with my sweethheart 💕 Thanks Chris ! the conditions are outstanding and with the cold pretty low traffics so let's enjoy!!! You are welcome P Hardy! Thanks for such great comment! I wish you alot of miles and smiles, fun and a safe ride. My pleasure spanky123!!!

My sweetheart being back from her trip, she accompanied me riding yesterday to see the Black Mountain of St-Donat. We made a nice big loop of 235 miles following the route below The bad weather last Thursday (January 24th) left some ice in the trees in the south of my area. Here on trail # 43 near home in St-Thomas We took the #3 trail westbound. Beautiful hard and fast trail, a bit hard (-17C this morning) so I lowered a scratchcher for security but not really necessary. Here a river in St-Roch l'Achigan area. A little scary but it's just some water that had risen on the ice and frozen there, very solid. We crossed several rivers and they were all in good condition, this one being the worst In St-Lin direction, still some ice in the trees and perfect trail We passed through St-Calixte ... and ride to the #33 trail that we took in west direction(northwest) Here on the lake at Ste-Marguerite Lake Masson We had not seen any trace of ice for a while but here a little north of Esterel there is a still icy area. So beautiful with the sun! And going north towards St-Donat it quickly becomes a white painted scenery the beauties of nature ... We turned before St-Donat to get the local trail to the Mountain Here the view of the summit taken from the top of the belvedere ... It was our first time on a clear day. The view is simply amazing The gray jays were there again always as hungry We spent quite a bit of time at the summit as we improvised a dinner/snacks there. Cold for the fingers but it allowed us to enjoy the place a little longer. No it's not one of her finger that the bird is eating but a piece of saucage!!! We then continued on the other side of the mountain(north) the north side trail is also really nice to ride/see and the snow is really good We crossed the Archambault Lake to return to St-Donat and refuel And then returned to the east by the #33 trail, first part was somewhat bumpy but we met the dozer there We passed the Coin Lavigne, joined the #63 trail and ride back down to Ste-Émilie de l'Energie Where we crossed another dozer We stopped to have a good meal break around 5:00 PM in St-Jean de Matha before continuing and come back home around 7:30 PM with a total of 235 miles on the dreammeter. In the end, the bad weather of last week has not damaged the trails and on the contrary had increase the snow to the ground. In fact the snow is impressive especially on the north side, we are really spoiled this season with a really better than average snow cover. The best of the season is now, don't wait because it is too cold: it's winter !!! go out and enjoy, it's now that it is happening !!! You can still take a look here to see trails details in the trail condition section or use the rest of the site as a planning helper for your next trip: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/ Alain

Thank you zeusand! If you felt like that I succeed my editing job! it was a bigger job than expected, I'm still on the learning curve but worth it Thank You very much Chris! i'm sure it will and it will be handsome to shake your hand again on the trail Thank you Fred! the hardest part was to catch those images in that freeking cold! You are welcome wulsock1! it's a really nice ride to do My leasure SnomoGary! surely more to come this winter but not as a video report, more like an add on I have tell her already! we did a ride together to st-donat yesterday and I have many pics to do another photo-report, I will put this together and post it soon

and the 3rd part: the return... Alain

here the 2nd part

Hi guys, last weekend the 19-20 january Snowcruiser and I did a two days ride Champlain/Relais22 round trip loop in Mauricie. The weather was freeking cold on saturday and we were in a small snow storm on sunday but trails were really nice. Here the trail path we did My best half Kristine was gone on a trip with her sister so I lost my photographer... plan change, you will have a video ride report this time! here the first part of 3 put the quality on 1080, crank the sound on and enjoy Alain

Yes Pipemaster, from those who ride there the map is now correct, but from and to Repos many will use the kanawata express way (road) even if we are not supposed to...

Was one cold and sunny, I'm at planning a two day ride for the next weekend and seems it will be a cold and snowy! pretty much snow on the forecast... Thank you mrgrumpers ! should have some more to come... Yeah, at least with the interactive map, it can be updated now and those changes give us the chance to ride some new spots in our same area. Seems we will have a cold and snowy weekend so you will play in powder! There are big chances that I spend the saturday night at relais 22 if you are in the area... Thank you Carman! The beauty of the pics are really from my best half talent with her old camera. I will have to improvise if I want to post something from my next weekend ride because she won't be with me for this next one. I'm impressed myself too and it seems the next snow layer is already on the way! Thanks Grumpysanta, always nice to start from the backdoor! would be nice to meet you on the trail.

Back to sledding for our first 2019 ride, the snow cover has improved and the trail network get pretty much completed in the south of the region while it is already well run further north. Being able to start from home we then improvise our ride that happened to be this in the end It was pretty cold yesterday, -21C blue jay day, top conditions to have beautiful trails. Here in the fields near home in Joliette direction To go toward St-Félix de Valois the trail configuration have been modified to pass nearer of Joliette city just behind Lapointe sport brp dealer. Here is a screen shot of the interactive map for this sector and I added in red dashed the old approximate route for Joliette (who is not there anymore) just to give you an idea of the change. On the interactive map the trail to St-Norbert is still in red today but I confirm that it was groomed yesterday, we passed there on our returnHere near Notre Dame de Lourdes where the old junction was in the past yearsWe then crossed St-Felix and continued north. The small club shack that was in the same place for years has been moved a hundred meters in the woods just behind where it was and the trail path rearranged a little differently but as before, left St-Jean de Matha and right St-Gabriel de Brandonhttps://vimeo.com/311081145the snow condition is very good everywhere, here taking the old railway bed near St-Cléophas And here just behind St-Gabriel de Brandon city And here, riding up the big hill in St-DamienWe continued straight on #23 toward St-Zénon. Snow is obviously even better going norther, both on the ground and in the trees Another important change, the #350 coming from Koubec now arrives on the #23 five miles south of Real Massé instead of five miles north. We came back from this side in the afternoonThe interactive map has also been updated, the red trail showing the old closed route and the #350 trail in green below representing the realityWe continued through the #23, past Réal Massé ...we then turned left on the # 350 toward La Glacière. Another interesting change there, the trail instead of going through the big hills now pass by the old route of several years ago. Some may recognize this big gazebo left on the trail side Just infront, the magnificent auberge de la pourvoirie St-Zenon! I was so surprised to pass there that I had not even think to stop for lunch but by looking on https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/ they are really open. I put them on the bucket list for a next time... We continued just a little further to La GlaciereWhere we had already planned to stop for lunchAfter warming up with a good meal we continued on #63 trail toward St-Zénon village And then north of the village we continued toward Le CabanonThere was a small segment of an half mile that was really rought on this trail, We then know from the Cabanon that this is because the dozer is not able to climb one of the icy hill just before ... The new dozers with rubber tracks spin on the ice while the old Gilberts with steel bars tracks were able to climb up ... the club will have to find a solution. Otherwise the snow is really good in this area, impressive how it increased in the last month. We stopped to refuel the venture at Cabanon.And then took the #23 toward southWe then forked into the Mastigouche reserve still via #23 east The Mastigouche Reserve was one of the first places to ride this season and is still top notch. Here a picnic table buried under the snowWe then turned on the #345 south to go down toward Koubec. We just went into the yard and continued, there were many sledders there!We turned to continue the #345 and then switch on the #350 a little further continuing westit's here that the #350 route is changing this year. There is this indication and the trail turns to the left A brand new trail to discover in Zec des Nymphes, very panoramic on the first part. In fact this new trail sectiion has everything from great fast stretch to narrow zipper on the mountainside!We then ended up on the #23 trail five miles south of Real Massé where we already pass in the morning. We took it south and took a break a little further at the restaurant of the Pourvoirie St-Damien. We must have passed 100 times infront since all these years but we were never stopped. They are well installed, a beautiful fireplace inside with bar and dining room. It was a particularly cold day yesterday and the hot chocolate was really nice!We then continued south, here the setting sun just south of St-Gabriel de BrandonWe then continued on #63 trail to go toward St-Norbert. Here the sun lying behind us when crossing the # 347 road We then went through the local trail from St. Norbert/St-Elizabeth to St-Thomas which was closed in the morning. this trail had just been groomed during the day and had no time to harden so not very nicel but with a couple of days and a couple grooming pass it will be top shape. We finally got home around 5:15 pm with a little over 191 miles on the dreammeter. In the end a beautiful ride with very nice conditions overall but pretty cold despite the beautiful sun. The season is well started, the trail network is pretty much connected to travel between the regions, you can take a look here to have some more details of the areas you want to ride: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/ the best of the sledding season is beginning. It's time to enjoy! Alain

I read that there is a problem with the #63 between rouge-Mattawin and Rivière rouge in the section near La Macaza(north west mont-tremblant park). I'm not sure what is the bug or if it has been solve but search for it before going. It's Franc nord snowmobile club that groom this section, maybe them can answer. Have a good safe ride! Alain

from others report I got on facebook from those who had ride today some segments are pretty icy and miss snow. It was rideable with scratchers but as we can expected miss snow expecially south from Cabanon. someone wrote: don't expect 10/10 conditions but at least we can ride ok. Not all the trails were groomed today

I have more encouraging news on my side: finally this morning I checked the interactive map to try to figure the grooming and there was nothing updated 5:00 am so, having alot others things to do for christmas i choked and stayed home. around 10:00 am Lionel from La Glacière posted those 2 videos... regreted my decison! The dozers have begin to operate only this morning to let the time for the base to freeze. The snow cover still seems really good, and the trail bases doesn't seems to have suffered too much. I saw few facebook comments that pointed in the same direction as for the conditions: hard base, ok after groomer work. St-Michel snowmobile club is supposed to worked their trail also today and tonight. I saw a picture of trail damage by water in St-Donat but nothing bad in St-Zénon area. It seems the trails bases are good for an after thaw condition. It's what i have for the moment. Having miss this morning my last chance to ride this year, I have to go at work tomorroy and wait until 2019 for more riding so unfortunately, don't wait for a ridereport from myself for a couple weeks. I will do internet riding!!! Alain

We got hit pretty much, 36mm rain here at home and 21 mm in St-Zénon area. From the early reports I got the trail base is still in shape in the north, and dozers are supposed to begin to work tonight or tomorroy (it begin to freeze up there in the middle of today). Cabanon and St-Michel snowmobile clubs have both posted information telling this via their facebook pages, links here: On my side, I am on the edge to try it tomorroy or not... I will decide tomorroy morning. With the christmas partys and a family project we have, it is my last chance until 2019. If I go I will report as usual... Keep smiling, the season is young!!! Alain

Thanks Chris! it was our 3rd one in the same spot, really good for mid december! yeah I'm too worry with the forecast for the end of the week,,, with a bit colder than preview it will would be just perfect but rain and mild temp are not what we want right now... anyway we have no choice, just keep our fingers crossed!

thanks VTrider! They upgrade the catwalk!!! it's no more a challenge, it have been widen on the whole length and the skeeze at the west end have been completely eliminated. You are welcome hparaptor!Our area is handsome for the date, just hope for some more snow around to enlarge the trail network with connections toward the others areas

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

Seems they will have a gate with gardians at each end of the 18 miles trail and you will have to pay the national park daily fee that is $8,60/person/day to enter may have more details in the next days it's not in Mont-Tremblant area which is in Laurentides but in park of Mont Tremblant in Lanaudiere, the Caribou trail will link the north est of St-Donat toward St-Michel des Saint

For the pics and video lover we are, were like kids in a candy factory with such outstanding conditions!!! you are welcome Jim Thank you schooter, at the rate the conditions shape up you will certainly have a blast in the new year! Not to twist the knife in the wound but it was ever better in real that the video can reflect!!! You are welcome sled dog You were a bit ahead us, we start our ride near the Lac blanc on St-Alexis des Monts side a bit past 9:00. Yes pretty chilly, the best weather for the real one sledders to be on trails!!!

Lucky we are to be able to enjoy those conditions, more west not enought snow and more east burried under fallen trees and branches! You are welcome grumpysanta! Glad to read you were in the area to enjoy those outstanding conditions. I figure we can't always have this lucky timing we got 2 years ago in La Vérendrye park !!! hoping to meet you again on the trails.