towing

It was so nice to meet you Groomer and Mr+Mrs GT rider. Having the opportunity to have a great talk with you gang was an incredible good way to start our week trip in Gaspesia. Alain

thanks Teet F8SP! For Real Massé i did not see this year schedule but they usually closed mid march just after the school spring break that happend to be next week so i'm almost sure they will do the March 10-11 but not sure for the march 17-18. On those last date Cabanon will organise a big party with animation and the 4 manufacturers trials supposed to be availiable so I don't know if Massé may extend one more weekend? asking them would be the best to be sure. Alain

Thanks neksledr!!! That base after a few warmup is pretty strong, just hope for some new stuff, march sun hit hard would need a couple march snow storm to keep the base growing We will see, there a little mix of rain/ snow forecast for tomorroy but less than 1mm so not bad, for the rest the 14 day forecast going colder than what it was 2 days ago... I think i should look more by the window than the forecast report!!! loll more accurate for sure You are welcome extreme600 , good comments always appreciated!

We had to deal with another warm up this last week, all had freeze back on wednesday night lefting some time for the dozers to work the hard surface and loosen-up some snow. At home we had another hotflash friday end of the day with a bit of gresil and a 2 mm ice crust. fortunately this turn to be snow a bit more north. I was still confident to get highway type trails condition so we decided to go for the big loop Joliette/Grand-Mère/Mattawin/St-Zenon/Joliette, a ride of 320 miles mostly on open path trail. Glad we did, we had good to very good conditions conditions all over the ride. Let's check it in detail but first, here is the trail path of the day:-5C when we left under a cloudy clearing sky directly from home in St-Thomas de Joliette in the south of Lanaudiere. The major thaw during the week had left an hard trail base and the small episode of ice Friday night had left a thin crust of 2mm ice on the groomed trails so scratchers were necessary to start the day early. Here in the field near my home.As expected, the trails were very hard and fast, not a single bump. With the snowtrackers my venture was like on rails, very precise direction and easy driving: ideal conditions to crank up many miles without getting tired. Here in the maple grove in St-Cuthbert: the water pipe was installed high enought to allow us to continue to pass without problem. We then took trail #3 to go toward Grand-Mere I take the opportunity to write a bit about scratchers: In my case it's been part of my essential accessories for more than 10 years after we got traped after a rainy day on a trip ... after that I understood !!! I use the cheap model at $ 60 which clings under the footrest. Some will say: yeah but you can not back up with them ... in my life of sledder it never happened that my engine overheat or my slides stick when going in reverse so I think I can raise them during that time!!! Jokes aside, I happened to bent one at the beginning when I had forgotten them and I just had to bent it back in shape (otherwise in case of badluck the spares are sold for $ 20 each). By putting them as far forward as possible they are very effective and installed as I put them I do not even have to stop to put them on: just to lean and pass the hand under the edge of the footrest to pick them down. Often just one side is enough and in the most extreme condition both will do the job. In my opinion it should come standard with a snowmobile, it is not very often that it is absolutely necessary but when you need them your $60 investment is right there to save your ass and when they are there easily usable we used them regularly, most often in the morning when the trails are very hard and we are in the first to pass. It is easier on the engine cooling system and help on hifax life. Yesterday we took them off in the middle of the morning. It's the worst we've seen and it was just a few spots in St-Barthélemy area (very south of Lanaudiere along St-Laurence river)Otherwise it looked like that on most of the rideGiven the very good conditions we chose to extend the ride a bit going through #63 trail to see the Magnan fallsA beautiful site, ideal place for a trail side breakThe sky had clear up leaving us a beautiful sunshine for the rest of the dayThe pics bring up the beauty of the scenery so much better with some sunWe stopped to refuel in St-Étienne before crossing the St-Maurice. Policemen were passing there but must believe that we did not look too fishy they just continue their way We then continued trail # 3 eastboundAnd crossed the St-Maurice river at La Gabelle. A little bumpy but very solid no movement with the warmth.The trail had a small hi frequency ripple east of St-Maurice a little tiring but it still ride at a good pace.An FCMQ patrol accosted us but they were satisfied by my just seeing my sticker, no need to stop and dig in my pockets to do the paper thing on the trailside to my great satisfactionWe then took the St-Maurice river trail in Grand-Mère.It was quite bumby, especially up to this point but still solid as a rock no slushThen further north was less bumpy and it was done at maximum legal speed except for 2 small ice jam sections at the very end. When we observe in the side of the mountain the warmth have formed several large glaciers Once back on the shore just beginning the trail we faced to that... oupsss, that's when it came back to me that my friend Snowcruiser had told me a few weeks ago that they had plowed a section of the trail there this year ........ Fortunately, it's like that for only a few hundred feet up to the top of the hill not far,And then it's looks like that's ....oufff!!! next optimal trail conditions, good and fast Nice trail and even nice scenery We arrived for lunch at Marineau at 12:45 with 141 miles on the dreammeter. A first real break for us because we had almost not stopped in the morning feeling we does not needAfter a good meal for us and a fuelup for the venture, we leave for St-Zenon via trail #360The #360 was nice and fast, a small ripple in some curves but very pleasant to do on this beautiful sunny dayThe ride going so well why not expand it a little more circuit through the M20 trail! A beautiful segment that once again was worth the detour. This trail is a bit different from the rest of the area. The mix of scenery and mountain/lake remember me the Laurentide park each time I ride it We did not had the chance to see a lynx or a beaver but at least a small partridge who obviously felt at home in the trailThis trail also includes a couple of interesting and safe trail stretchs. We must still take care because we do not want to have any incidents or problems especially in those remote spots that are very far from roads and services. Once arrived at the next junction we took a short break and then continue on the #345 southThe #345 was just perfect not a single bump. Never saw it so good on a Saturday late afternoon. We then continue to the Mattawin River Bridge where we took a good breakMe doing a 360 with the Gopro to immortalize the moment up there Then we continue on #345. Given the mild day, I was expecting more bumpy trail but no, the conditions were very beautiful ...On the other hand, there were icy washed curves that we had not seen elsewhere must be more vigilant and have good runners to keep on your side. We then crossed the dozer grooming this already beautiful trail making the conditions almost perfect We did a last fuelup at the Cabanon and then continued the #23 southbound Still beautiful conditions, it had just been regrommed there too. Sun was already down We stopped to eat at Real Masse around 5:45 pmAfter our good meal break we started our last stretch to the house. The conditions were still good, no beated trail with this hard base and as a bonus we started to encounter just grommed trails in St-Gabriel de Brandon and Joliette. We left the house at 8:15 in the morning and came back home at 8:15 pm with just 320 miles on the dreammeter. In summary very good conditions everywhere on the circuit we did and the today falling snow will give the little notch that was missing with some new material on the good hard base that was already there as the cream layer on the cake! There is no rain in the extended weather forecast and despite the temperatures being slightly above the average, the nights would be cold enought to groom so the picture is good to keep a full operational trail system for the next weeks in our area. Let's enjoy it! Alain

You are a lucky guy, I'm jalous!!!

Hi there! I put together some sequences I recorded with my gopro on last weekend ride, you can push quality to 1080p to enjoy even better viewing especially on bigger screens The ride: and the mountain... Enjoy!!! Alain

Hi Christ! You are probably the only of the rare that escape the thaw by being enough north. You were at the right place at right time I guess! Good souvenirs you bring me here, the meeting in Leverendrye park was unreal!!! seems you have a good time with your new ride, keep riding my friend!

"an embedded reporter on the back seat" Yep, you got it! Again it was a pleasuire to meet you and we will take more time the next shot! Thanks Rick, The worst part of the thaw is already behind and even the snow base is soaken It only slighly pack, maybe 20% and lefting 80% of the snowdepth we had at home. The temps just toggle below zero in the last hour so the damage will be less than I was expected. It will be icy everywhere until dozer work but i expect flying hardpack highway after. A couple inches would be a bonus hoping we will get some in the next days I had a big laught when I read this one, very funny! Yes I am a lucky guy I know it. I hope to get the chance that our path cross over the trail one of these...

We were due to visit the new belvedere of the Black Mountain in St-Donat. This is a nice loop to do from home, here on a map the path of the day totaling 235 miles.We chose to go by the south side first to enjoy the fields with a good visibility and to cover a good distance quickly. Here on #43 trail near home The #3 trail was freshly groomed, granular snow and very hard trail still -15C when we started We forked on trail #345 northThen on trail #310 toward St-Liguori. Crossing the Red River is now by a bridge and here crossing the Ouareau River And then trail #305. Here near the new roundabout (road #158) in St-Jacques de MontcalmWe continued the #305 up to St-Lin Laurentides, beautiful wide fast trail almost entirely in fieldsFrom St-Lin we switched north on trail #343 to St-Calixte. Woody winding trail in majorityNorth of St-Calixte we join the #33 trail that we took northbound. Wooded and more mountainous trailHere just near Ste-Margueritewhere the trail goes on the lake near the EsterelleWe continued on the #33 trail north toward St-Lucie.After the village we got stucked for several miles behind this happy sledder who lived his ride just forward ...It happened to all of us to follow someone who think he is alone on the trail but after several road crossing I told myself :it's okay, he do not want to let us pass we will wait for our opportunity. He finished me after 15 minutes while crossing a gang when he proudly raised his left hand closed! he really had no idea that someone can be behind him... Finally, it always pay to be patient and we had our opportunity to pass him a little further at an intersection Knowing that the wheater forecast preview cloudiness (which was already beginning) we chose to go on the Black Mountain before lunche to better enjoy the view so we forked on the #317 on the west side.And then right on the local trail that takes us to the topThe more we climbed, the more trees become loadedand here is the famous new watchtower at the top of the Black mountain.There has been a lot of work done here, in addition to the observation tower some trees have been cut to open the view again from the top levelToo bad for the pics that the sun was so shy ... The gray jays were still waiting for lunch We had to climb up the new tower to admire the new view. I would have liked a clear sky but we will have the opportunity to come back...By the time we were there, a group of antique snowmobiles arrived. Many beautiful of old sleds who have surely received a lot of love since to look so good We then took back the trail to St-Donat, it was passed 1:30pm and we had no meal yet since the breakfastSo we went back down the mountainAnd took the trail on Lac Archambault to go to St-Donat. This is the ski center Mont-Garceau that we see in the background New snowmobile trials and an antique snowmobile snow were held at the lakeside park We went along the main street by the local trail As we were managing to go downtown to eat, following the trail that winding throught a short back road I notice a sledder that seems to ride faster behind so I just slow down on the side on a safe spot and sign him to pass. As he come aside he just flag me to stopped and introduce himself, it was actionjack from the forum here! He was in the area and chase me when he reconize my sled to say us hello! We had a bad timing to talk alot each other but it was really nice you took the time to come to us and to meet you actionjack. You are one of those sledders that was already at sharing on the forums when I began to write on the english forums many years ago. We had virtually share informations and you never fail to continue sharing your passion throught the years on the net. Too bad we just had a small talk in real and shame on us we had forgot to take a picture! His red Sidewinder is a very nice and neat machine. next, following the directions we managed to join the Montagnard for our late lunch. We finally started eating around 2:20pm, we were over due!For the return, we took the #33 trail which conditions were even nicer on this side but the clouds having settled well we did not took many other pics. At the Coin Lavigne we forked toward #63 by the local trail. This short section there was more rought. The path that the trail usually used is plowed for the construction of a new 735kva power line and the trail now runs aside this road for the greater part but it was more than due for a good groom pass.Otherwise after reaching the #63 a little north of the pourvoirie Bazinet the trail conditions came back good. We took a short break at the Tim Horton in St-Jean de Matha and finally came back home around 7pm for a total of 235 miles on the dreammeter. Again a beautiful ride for us with very good snow everywhere. We cross our fingers for next with the warmth announced for the next few days. Unfortunately, I am expecting damage to the trail system in the south around home with what it is forecast but I think the north trails will survived with some dozer work of course when it will all freeze back on Thursday. At this point it is just a guess and we need to wait after the rainy parade to know more. I suggest you to keep an eye here to see how the trail conditions going on: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/ Bye! Alain

Very nice and complete report, thank you for sharing! seems you had a very good time up there... I would suggest you to ride the M20 trail if you go in the same area on the #360, it is the orange trail on your map day#3. Really worth it , you will like for sure!!! I really need to go at the Black Mountain, haven't seen the new belvedere yet... Would like to know which camera you used to film? your movie is surprisingly good for a camera installed directly on the sled. Thanks again! Alain

One of our son and his girlfriend had booked us a night at La Tuque as a Christmas gift and it was last weekend that we enjoyed it. Here is the path of 486miles that we traveled last Saturday and Sunday.-22C under a cloudy sky at first, not so good for pics, but acceptable visibility to ride. We were going first to join our friend Snowcruiser who was leaving Champlain and we had agreed to join him for lunch a little past 1:00pm at Marineau in Trois-Rives. We had an ambitious ride to do before lunch, so we left home early a little past 8:00am. The trails were beautiful and freshly groomed for the most part. Here in the fields north of St-Gabriel de Brandon to St-Damien. The little white line up to the top of the mountain is the snowmobile trail ...We crossed a bumpy section in the Zec des Nymphes which had not been re-surfaced due to a broken dozer, otherwise north of Réal Massé everything had been done and was beautiful.The cold had frosted the top of the mountainsWe passed by the Taureau dam reservoir whose level is already well loweredWe took the opportunity for a short pics breakThe #360 was like a carpet and very fast. With the gray sky and the high cruising speed we have unfortunately not many good picsAnother little photo break at halte 440. We see that it has been cold this season because the river is frozen over most of its route leaving only the rapids to clear water. Usually high flow prevents it from freezing over a large portionWhen exiting Zec Chapeau de Paille, the trail runs along the river about 1mile this year that give nice view on the river in this areaHere the beautiful classic view, and the trail takes the usual path from there We had a surprising good timing and arrived as planned to lunch at Marineau with Snowcruiser at 1:05pm with 149 miles on the dreammeter. Having arrived there a bit late we left around 2:30pm towards #355 north. A friend of Snowcruiser, Michel who had come to lunch with us accompanied us up to #360 #355 junction and then continued south while we lined up to the north Too dark sky for good pics but beautiful sceneryThe classic pipeline. The trail was ruff in this part, especially the big hills. Enough snow just need a dozer runThe famous railway bridge la rivière du milieu. Always a nice spot to take a breakThe next section was much better and we even met 2 dozers who were leaving from La Tuque to go down to groom the #355 we had just done and #73 to the eastWe arrived at 5:30pm in La tuque to stay at Marineau hotel where we had our reservation. It's really a sledders place, almost just snowmobiles in the parking lot. We had quiet evening, lying down early to compensate for my abuse the day before and get in shape for the next day ... Sunday morning during breakfast, guess who had come to sit just behind us: Mr and Mrs Iceman! accompanied by their friends, world is small!!! Was very nice to meet them and chat a bit (with my bad frenglish) too bad my other crew members don't really speak english so we would had talk longer... Krikri english vocabulary is limited at yes, no, toaster, bumber and wiper! Then we got back on the trail toward St-Raymond. Another nice cold night, -22C when we leaved which already announces nice hard trails And we were not disappointed. The #73 "La Jeannotte" as whe called it was freshly groomed by one of the dozer we had crossed the day beforeWe even had a few sun rays! We took the opportunity to take few pics, with the sun it makes all the difference for photos, looks almost as postcards with itUn vrai tapisWe arrived just at noon for lunch at Roquemont. It has changed a lot since our last visit, which was already a few years ago. It may be my nostalgic side but personally I liked better before. The drink side is very large with a lot of choice of beer but the meal side for dinner is rather limited. It's certainly not everyone's opinion because the place was packed full. We then pointed our skis south to return on home side. We still had a good distance to travel but most on fast fields trail which were very nice Instead of taking the #3 trail all the way ,we went down further south a notch via trails #302/351 which are a little faster in my opinion. We ride along the #40 highway for several miles. Here on the Batiscan River just under the highway We left our friend Snowcruiser just a little further so he got back home in Champlain area while we continued south alone. Following the advice of Snowcruiser we tried a new trail (for us) that goes to St-Louis de France but then newly connect to the #3 trail (not on the map). The trail is not super wide but ride very well and represented for us a shortcut of several miles. We ended up in the power lines just few miles from La Gabelle St-Maurice river crossing . I have approximated the route on the map on my first pic on this report for those interested...We did one last fuel up in St-Étienne just after crossing the St-Maurice river at around 4:00pm followed by a short break. It was then that it get worst...The ice storm began as we started again. The visibility with the ice and night coming was really difficult. I managed to find a functional rhythm: my Nolan electric visor plugged + heated handles at maximum and wiping with my hot left mits at 10 seconds so the ice was wipable. And when my right hand was about to catch on fire (7-8 minutes) I stopped and cool it down in the Kristine visor so she can see something front again As darkness set in, it became easier with the lights. It did not stop us from smiling, was just part of the adventure!We finally been home around 6:30pm. We started to be crusted a lot! and snowmobiling too ... A very good ride, it gave us a total of 246miles for the day and 486 miles gps for the 2 days. The ice storm has not damaged the trail network and has instead added compact stuff the dozers used to give us beautiful solid trails ... We are really in the best of the season and time flies quickly so it is the time or never to go for it! Alain

Was nice to meet you and your crew Don! the return went well for us too, we had our lunch at Roquemont in St-Raymond and been back home in Joliette around 6:30pm... Like expected this morning, not without scratching our visor a bit!"

Thanks Mike! Yes a crime, don't touch the sugar pies!!! I used to be a sugar beast when younger. We had a sugar shack at our farm and it was normal thing to eat a bowl of maple sugar with a spoon or drinking a glass of maple syrup. If I would tried that now I would fall in diabetic coma right away! The St-Côme bakery is part of the history for Kristine and me, I remember the first time we got there together by sled in 1986 with an indy400 single seat we had skeeze a sugar pie in the rear trunk... was not looking like a sugar pie when back home but still delicious!!! Sorry you missed your chance to see them in real. The sculpture festival is always around the end of January, it was 2 weekend with the week in between years ago but they have since few years streched at 3 weekend which is a good thing. We usually go around the middle to see more completed pieces but they continue to build new one up to the end. There was this one at beginning on saturday when we pass: That had turned into this yesterday Will be finished just in time for the week end I guess Alain

A short relax ride this last weekend, a classic for us: go to see the ice sculptures in St-Côme. The 3 weeks festival is running and will continue until February 11th. We went there by St-Jean de Matha trail and returned by St-Alphonse. Here is the trail path of the day for around 120 miles The snow conditions were good everywhere and the night had been very cold at -30C giving us very beautiful trails. Here on # 43 near home in St-Thomas de Joliette .Here on the Black River in St-jean de Matha close to BRP dealer Géro The junction for trail #349 to Ste-Béatrix/St-Côme is located about3/4 mile further north than in past yearshere a part of the new path that join the old route a bit fartherHere in the fields near Ste-Beatrix In the mountains towards St-CômeHaving made a very late start around 10:30, we had took our lunch when we arrived at St-Côme at La Marguerite restaurant. The service and food were excellent So after dinner, we took a good walk along the main street to admire this year's masterpieces. Here a beautiful old style pickup .Even the dog carved in ice in the back.Insects in St-Côme are huge, in summer and winter!A lot of work to build this full size locomotivebut it is going strong...Here a scene with a mother bear and her 2 little kids (we see just one)the details... The Ice Bar!A herd of horses . The sculptors at work. Here to do the fur finish .. and carve the antlersThe result is simply amazingThere are more that you may have the pleasure of discovering if you go there for a ride For our part, going to St-Côme = pit stop at the village bakery to buy a sugar pie and cinnamon buns. Always as good as in our childhood.We then took the trail again, the #343 direction Notre-Dame de la Merci Here the Val St-Côme ski resort We then came back by #43 trail, pretty tigh wood trail up to Ste-Marceline and than openup in fields of St-Ambroise up to home We finally got back home for supper . A nice relax ride with beautiful scupltures to admire and as a bonus we had buns and sugar pie for supper dessert! For those who would like to go to St-Côme, the festival continues throughout the week and the next weekend until February 11th. Snow conditions are at their best, we had an other 5 inches of new stuff on sunday, we are really in the best of the season. Bye! Alain

Yes, I was worried a bit just after the thaw at seeing report on tv with rivers flooded and ice jam in the south of the province but our St-Maurice river stayed solid as a rock! Today at home we got a 6" of snow last night with 1-2" of sleet(ice pellets) over the top today. No rain or ice today temps remain at -3C in the higher. It was just what we needed to put back the trails in shape . Actually still light snow. I was in Montreal City today for job and they got ice all day long, a pretty thick crust at the end of the day but just a bit norther here at home we were ok for snow and ice pellets

Thanks Chris, I was searching an update from there! It's pretty much what we got here at home, a 6" of snow last night with 1-2" of sleet over the top today. no rain or ice today temps remain at -3C in the higher. It was just what we needed to put back the trails in shape

The trails being ready at home we step on the opportunity to start the ride from our yard, was really a plus to our day! We had agreed with our friend Snowcruiser from Champlain( east from Trois-Rivières in Mauricie) to leave our homes at the same time and meet us halfway for each other in the St-Barnabé sector which worked perfectly. From there, we improvised a ride whose finally been this path: Very gray and warm temperature near the freezing point at start of our ride. Near home a dozer had been abandoned in a field, mechanical troubleI guess ...The majority of the trails were freshly groomed with a little/or alot of loose blowed snow depending the spots Beautiful fast trails overall, it was the visibility that limited our speedHere between St-Barthélemy and Maskinongé on #3 trail. It was good to go in the morning but rather icy when we return home in the evening after a warm day at over 4C degres. Here we can still see traces of the previous week's thaw with water that had gone up through the snow in the fields next to the trail Some thinner spots like here in Ste-Ursule that were brownish in the morning suffered during the day and patches of earth began to come out at a few places in the evening. It'll take some new snow there...But the majority of trails were niceThe sky begin to clear out, it helped a lot for the visibilityWe met Snowcruiser near St-Barnabé in the mile we expected, it was the 2nd time we tried to meet like that and we arrived less than half a mile from the last time! . Once together, we decided to go up north to St-Elie de Caxton, a trail that we had not done for several years. The first section is shared with Atvs, not ideal especially for a warm day with soft snow but we sailed through the ruts without much difficultyIn St-Élie village the trail passes on a residential street along a river. A sledder in front of us was lucky in his misfortune when tossing too much to the left his ski broke down the crust and the snowmobile swing toward the river, he almost went for a swim!! the snowmobile finished hanging in a bunch of branches that braked the fall and held the snowmobile in place.We stayed to help and another good Samaritan in a car stopped. Gently, we strapped front end to the Rav4 to avoid it flip upside down in the river and pulled from behind with an expedition. The sled was out of trouble without we really straining.We then continued north towards St-Alexis des MontsWe stopped there to eat at the Microbrasserie Nouvelle FranceA first time there for us, a place that has a lot of character and the food was really goodWe then leave in the north direction. Here the famous little floating bridge near the villageand the river seen from the bridge ...The snow is very good in the area of St-Alexis, here on the Lac a l'Eau Claire (clear water lake) a very inspiring name to put on a trail in winter! We went up on the #349 trailUp to the #23 junction that we took to the eastA few miles farther, we met other peoples in trouble, but those had search for it a bit I think. Always the same excuse "we did not know it was a snowmobile trail". The gentleman was trying to call a tow truck but did not have a phone network ... We helped them to get to the road and put them in touch with the snowmobile club so that they could figure out how to get their jeep out of thereWe passed in front of the old Cabane a Hill, which has become the Cabane chez Nathalie's place since few years.Going toward St-Mathieu we began to have some brown spots but no earth. We reached the St-Maurice River, which does not seem to have suffered from the last thaw. A few miles farther at trail #3 junction we leaved our friend Snowcruiser that went home going east while we took it west. The mild day with a lot of traffic(free week end) had done its work and it is a very bumpy trail with several brown spot that we had up to the other St-Maurice river crossing near the Gabelle dam. On the west side of St-Maurice once in the fields the condition was much better and we could ride fast despite the trail was worn. We stopped to eat super in Ste-Ursules where a few spots of earth had begun to come out. We then returned home by #3 trail passing near Berthierville with similar conditions. We left the house at 8:30 in the morning and returned home at 8:30 PM with 225miles on the dreammeter for the day. In short a very good ride, the best snow conditions were a little more north in St-Elie and St-Alexis des Monts being the snowiest areas in what we have ride. Let's hope that the snow on the forecast for the beginning of the week will restore the trails conditions where it begin to suffer, need some new stuff to keep the trail network in shape... Alain

Yes, just few inches of new stuff since the thaw. One chance they had a super solid trail base there... seen report of today and it seems to hold well but we really hope the snow on the forecast for next week will fall. Just coming back from riding to the south of our area and today at 4degC had been killer on the south trails along st-Laurence river, many brown spots. Alain

Here the 2nd part of my last ride of the 14 january. You will see the improvement for the dam crossing... Alain

Thank you guys ! The part #2 up to the dam coming in few minutes... Alain

From what I read on facebook St-Michel is pretty dry, we hope the snow on the forecast for the beginning of the week will restore the conditions. At home near Joliette we had more snow after the thaw so better conditions reported on our side and to the east in Mauricie.

I put together some images I catch with the gopro during my last ride of the 14 january. Here a first video of those...

Thanks skidoo420! Did the trails were still groom as boulevard in those years? We began riding in 85-87 and it was groom two lane in some spots of St-Zenon area. We stop riding then after we bought our house and when we restart in 1994 we didn't see this type of grooming anymore... Yep, that give us another ride option and it's always a good spot for taking a break Thanks extreme600! For the dam, even it is not official, it is possible to ride down aside the water evacuators. From there you can feel the power of the water flow that is sometime pretty huge! You post a really great pic too! You are welcome sledzz! You are welcome 603backcountry! We would like some more new snow in the north but with the arctic cold conditions were mint!

We had one severe thaw this last Friday! At home near Joliette we had heavy rain, 11C in the afternoon, water everywhere, lost about 2/3 of the snow we had... and next in the night and Saturday morning a big foot of new snow... Mother nature is weird !!!! In sum we had finished with near the same snow to the ground we had before. But with all this water that not had time to retreat before being covered with a foot of new snow we had to expect few days to restore all the trail system especially in the south of the region, that's why after a little research and checks we opted for a start from St-Gabriel de Brandon to go north up to the reservoir Taureau dam. Here is the track of the day we did: Sunday morning, sunny with -30C! We had the whole four seasons in one weekend, we were back in winter I guess! After fighting with the frozen trailer (frozen padlock, coupler, chains, top cover) and getting to our drop point we did a late departure from St-Gabriel passed 10:30Beautifully freshly groomed trails Some water holes here and there mostly frozen, here other traces of the thaw like this glacierFurther on the #23 trail the section maintained by the Club of St-Charles Mandeville was not grommed yet but ride very well. We met the dozer at grooming it when we returned at the end of the day ...We passed Réal MasséAnd continued on the #23 north The amount of new snow was less in the north but the trail conditions were good A few water holes here and there like this one, in the worst we seen. Can be cross easily, not deep at allOtherwise very snowy sceneryWe stopped to refuel and lunch at the Auberge Le Cabanon around 12:15After we continued toward the taureau Dam on the #345 NorthThe club had done a good job in this sector there was not a single bump, a real magic carpet rideStill have to be careful with the frozen water spotsAnd places that have been more flooded but no risk of breaking through the ice it's hard frozen back in this areaWe dropped the #345 to switch toward the dam, a section of trail newly reopened this yearThe Taureau reservoir damThe catwalk that was closed a few years ago was redone a little wider than before at 62"and the big difference they removed the cement stairs in front which was forcing us to turn short on the corner of the building, a real great improvement Otherwise a nice place to revisit that have some charmAt this point, we took the #360 east to loop through the Mattawin River Bridge. again a carpet ... The light vapour on the river who betrayed the freezing temperature even on the pic Here the view across the bridgeWhere we took another little break Before continuing on the #345 to the south ...here again top notch conditions with a little dazzling sun at some pointsWe stopped at this gang to see if they were needed any help with a tow and during this time a first dozer that started his run passed. Sympatic english peoples in this gang, maybe some boys on forum here?Let's say they keep that grooming top notch there We passed the Cabanon and continued on the #23 south by our morning path. They were also at grooming there Here a small rear shot after passing itThe sun was falling down and the temperature tooWe stopped to take a warming up break at Real Massé And continued then towards the south. The section groomed by Mandeville had been did during the day and we cross the returning dozer. We finally been back to our starting point at St-Gabriel de Brandon around 6pm with 160 miles on the dreammeter. In the end a very nice ride, with the intense cold the trail conditions were at their best they would be and this cold already helps to accelerate the reopening of trails further south but there is alot to do with fallen stake under the snow and rivers/ice bridge to check along the St-Laurence river sector. You can take a look here to check the last snowmobile clubs updates on theirs trails: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/ Bye! Alain

I'm back on-line! Happy New Year to you snowfarmer and all QC riders readers here!!! Wish you many healthy miles and smiles this year Alain