towing

The dozer that was supposed to be out only Friday night was coming back from his run !! from there we knew that we had the best possible trail condition. There is still a lot of snow in the park. We saw maybe 2 bare spots on the whole way to l’Étape We arrived there for lunch at around 11:30 After a good lunch and talking with friends, we took the #23 trail in St-Raymond direction. The strong late March sun had softened a few inches snow layer of the hard base giving a slippy funny driving even we tried to keep it moderate on the throttle to save the trails a bit. We passed the Champlain Lake relay and continue on the #23 up to about 10 miles from Tourilli before turning back to step At #23/#369 junction near l’Étape, we took a break for a last talk with Stef. which need to come back earlier to Quebec city and he took the #369 south to our starting point For us, it was unthinkable to comeback so soon and wanting some return on our travel investment Krikri, Steph and I made the trip to Mont-Apica. The trail had few ripple in some curves but overall very good

With a great three days weekend ahead, it was unthinkable for Krikri and I to stay home without enjoying at least one last sleedding day but as our area was almost entirely closed, we had to look elsewhere for hoping to one last good ride this season. After a quick check of the possibilities, we quickly choose the Laurentides wildlife reserve in north of Quebec city. We were glad that Steph that ride several times with us this winter finally decided to join us providing the double trailer and me the pulling vehicle so we could share the fuel bill for the trailer ride before the snowmobile one. We where puzzled to whether we should start from, the north of St-Raymond or Stoneham and if we were better to ride Friday or Saturday ... In searching for information, we found that St-Raymond had been groomed Tuesday, that the Mont Apica relay was completely closed and that area was groomed last Sunday and that Arrière pays club was supposed to groom Friday night .. . dilemma ... Stef. from Quebec city with whom I discussed a few times in the past (he also post pictures reports on the net) wrote his intention to ride Friday from Stoneham in a post on CMIQ so I got in touch with him and we finally decided to accompany him and we would start Friday morning from the Relais du Nord in Stoneham. Our Easter Friday started early. At 6:30 AM Steph from l’Assomption was home to first inter-change of vehicle on the trailer, load my venture and our entire rig to finally got on the road at 6:50 and we arrived at the Relais du Nord in Stoneham north of Quebec city at 9:15. We had a funny show arriving there seeing the furious owner of the place dropping a snow bank in front each vehicles that owners had "forgot" to pay for parking ... we happily paid our $5 for the day! Stef. from Quebec was already there and we quickly got ready and finally hit the trail a little past 9:30. I was expected some bumby trail for this area, especially at the beginning, and we were surprised to ride on a perfect trail just from the start. Just a few bumps when we took the #369 A short stop at the famous Bell hut. Here Stef. and Steph on each side of Krikri The wide trail along the Montmorency river was just fantastic We took a few minutes for a pics stop at this typical spot at the river bend Steph had swapped his big cat for his girlfriend’s BRP on this ride We then continued at a great pace in these perfect conditions We were so happy of our choice of date and spot with those conditions beyond our expectations...and we had another good surprise ahead ...

Thank you JG !!! i'm glad to know you enjoyed following us throught our pics reports. I'm also glad tell you I will post one more in just few minutes!!! For the sleds, my 4 last sleds experience prooved that the last season with them was always the best one, I just hope it will continue the same way... keeping my fingers crossed. Can't wait to see your's refreshed new look!! take care Alain

Krikri told me I'm a perfect guy You are welcome dooright!!! glad you enjoyed following us in our rides this season You're welcome David. Yes, I had made a five day trip in the first week of march. It have been a great loop from Champlain (near trois-Rivières) going to Roberval/Monts-Valins/Sacré-Coeur/Charlevoie/ Champlain. Krikri took thousands pics but I have just few with sun because we travel under clouds near the 5 days which was the only bad note of the trip. I was discouraged to attemp a ride report the way I usually do it and took a break for this one but as a spring/summer project, maybe it would be entertaining on the forum..I will probably do it. It was a pleasure to meet you and Linda this season and I hope we will have the chance to ride together the next time Thank you very much Fuzzy!! It's easter holiday this week-end and I think Krikri would get depressive to stay home with so much snow outside, so we will find a way to ride somewhere.. near or far from home My sled mileage just get to the half of Iceman's one... still young!! My pleasure gizz!! an image worth a thousand word! maybe we crossed our path on the #33/#63 west of St-Michel... trail condition was very uneven this last weekend. The day beginning was looking as a january ride but in the afternoon, march came back strong!!! it's amazing here(home) how it melt since saturday.. no more new snow from the last week storm and the march sun is very strong, it smell the end.. You're welcome Bob and I'm glad you took the time to hook me and we meet you Family time is great too and as a father of 4 boys, i know it's sometimes hard to insert sledding in the schedule... I had the chance to have a wife even more snowmobile enthusiast than me which help of course... I'm glad you enjoy my reports!!! yes it is...still huge amount of snow in many sectors but many snowmobile clubs run out of money..and energy... December have been very tought with big storms and the huge wet snow that had needed many days of work to recover from. I think it would have been a good idea to continue the season a couple week but staying open without grooming is not a good idea... I will probably post some kind of report of my march beginning trip during the low season... and maybe the first ride of the next season in november??? My pleasure Crazy!! you too made some "crazy good" reports, alone and team-up with a couple guys here You succeed to do realtime day reporting which i'm unable to do, my hat to you and a couple others guys here like iceman that doing this long life to QR Alain

We stop at St-Michel to refuel and then we headed to the Parc du Mont-Tremblant via trail #33. There was alot of sledder and with the warm temperature the trail condition degraded considerably We then rode the Parc du Mont-Tremblant And have forked east to go through the #63. The trail south of Pourvoirie Bazinet was probably inspired of the Snowcross which took place this weekend at slides of St-Jean de Matha but arriving near St-Jean de Matha, trails where very much better. We stopped for supper at the village and returned home on decent trail condition even though the snow was a little slushy on some spot. We were back home at 9 pm with 270 miles on the dreammeter. Steph who made the ride from his home in L'Assomption sector must surely exceed 300miles.My venture also celebrated his thirties during the ride (in kms of course) it's still young!! It was the last ride with connectivity in the trail network this season as many snowmobile clubs have pulled on the plug after the week end. The weather forecasts looks very bad with rain and very warm temp for the week so even if it left alot of snow to the ground, the grooming is almost ended for the season . Take a look here to know which snowmobile clubs are still in operation... (always check at the updated date) http://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions It unfortunately smell the end of the season... Alain

We take the north trail that was bumpy up to Taureau Lake dam. The day have become warmer and the powder we got before lunch was now wet snow... Good to know that there is cellular coverage at this spot to help you if you ever got in trouble in this area... Trail # 360 which goes around the lake was beautiful and very fast up to l’auberge du Lac Taureau then we choose to ride the Taureau reservoir instead of the trail to get to St-Michel des Saints. This section is not marked (it has been several years ago) and the reservoir being almost empty, it is on the ice cover deposited on the bottom that we ride. Docks in the air ... and hills on the lake marked this typical part of our ride The summer water level normally goes to the edge of the trees on the islands ...

We pass the pourvoirie Réal Massé closed, it closed every year around March 10 regardless of the conditions. We took a break at the #23/#350 junction. Since it was early, we decided to make a detour through the village of St-Zenon before going for lunch at Cabanon. Few miles to get to La Glacière were beated But it was then cool nicely groomed to the village of St-Zenon where we stopped to refuel. Here the view just north of the village of the Kayagamac lake south of St-Michel des Saints. This section of trail was quite beautiful even for the scenery than for the trail itself We stop to lunch to Cabanon at 11:00 ...

Saturday, March 23 cloudy with-5C. This week’s storm and the cold weather had given so good conditions that most snowmobile clubs had decided to extend the grooming giving us the chance to leave the trailer at home and Snowcruiser, Stef, Krikri and I started our ride directly from home in St-Thomas de Joliette. Here’s the path of the day My club which maintains St Thomas was closed but just a few miles farther the joliette club had groomed and and it was perfect. St-Felix de Valois was just as beautiful St-Gabriel de Brandon was also well groomed. The trail itself that was very hard at start becomes soft and powdery as an after storm day when we were up the big hill in St-Damien de Brandon. Here at the intersection with #349 trail The conditions were nothing spring and it was more like mid-January After pourvoirie St-Damien there was a very bumpy section but it was much better then ...

You got the perfect timing for this ride guys !!! thanks for the pics and report (love the hub and fish one's!!!) Alain

4600 miles up now and even more smiles... Alain

Yes actionjack, Carlito's apex looks really cool and he is really proud of it . The side panels perfectly matched with the hood and the 2 walker evans shocks on the front make his sled very cool and distinctive in the bunch Thank you grumpysanta! It's late for this season but let's stay in touch for the next season... Thank you Steven, i'm glad you enjoyed!! You are right with the daylight. Even I like to ride at night, riding up to 6 and 7 pm under daylight is very very nice and we got the chance that all the stars lineup to give us a perfect ride..lucky we are. Loll !!! season's is not over for me... just ride an other 269 miles this wekend and I hope for some more stay tune for the report tomorroy... Alain

Thank you rmk! it was a joke to laugh a bit...it is impressive the first time you see the store door and windows also covered with those steel grids, it looks like a bunker! I repost the last pics that were not displayed... all you be ok now Alain

We continued our way to the dam. Here we see the Mattawin river ahead Near the dam, another dozer caming from the #360 west We took break at the foot of the dam Taureau reservoir level is already low Carlito The trail between the #345 junction and the Cabanon suffered from traffic and was particularly ruff, suspensions worked hard. The trail between the Cabanon and La Glacière was better Except the last small stretch before La Glacière which was also due to be groomed The adventure ended on Sunday around 18:30 when we returned to our starting point with 505miles for the 2 days. No badluck, just fun and beautiful trails set apart the last little bit. Probably my best season’s ride I would also like to thanks Carlito and Steph having accompanied us thus making possible the realization of this trip for us. Your presence and good humor made this trip for me and krikri most memorable ... Thank you! Alain

Good stuff groomer. a very good reminder at what happen when riding too fast for what you see infront and too close from each others... Alain

We take a break at the Gilardo dam The water frozen and made a curtain of ice throughout the tree trunk Back on the saddle to #360 The dozer that was down on the edge of the trail on Saturday was no longer there and the trail was freshly groomed from this place From the #360junction there were strange tracks in the trail ... Between the junction for the new bridge and Taureau dam on the #360, we passed this unusual convoy Yes, the broken dozer recovery team: A large Volvo truck 6 wheels drive (used in quarries) pulling a trailer containing the dead body Wow!!! I don’t know how many tons it weighs, but it does not sink in the trail at all !!! even when climbing hills ... it gives you an idea how the trails are hard!! Incredible .... It was preceded by a large Case backhoe and a snowmobile flagman ahead. The convoy was traveling up to the dam and then turned west to reach the road near CanadAventure ... a very big ride for this kind of conveys on a trail, really impressive ...

At the next intersection ,trail come back very wide and fast The pics does not do justice to this section which was among the best I've done this year My partners took the lead to make their engine sing a bit and I lost them for few miles... until shortly before arriving at the Manouanne where we stopped for dinner. My partners looking at me a little sideways when I stopped there. They just read creamery on the banner! In fact there is not much choice because this is the only restaurant open in the village, but we had a good meal. The other restaurant la Reserve is closed this year. We then went to fill up at the uncommon village store. Carlito look grids all around with a worried look ... I reassure him that it was because of the bears…loll . It is still worth it because the gas was a $1.42 instead of $ 1.80 in outfitting We then returned on the #33 to the east is still beautiful to Repos South from Repos there was some bumps in few curves but still beautiful ...

Here at the #83/#13 junction Misrepresentation! We have seen the twisty trail but the three bumps were not there ... Conditions were even better than Saturday , no ripple in the curves, very beautiful let’s ride during day… The #13 with my 2 partners infront A section before la pourvoirie des Cents Lacs is rather narrow and twisty on #13trail, just enough to even more enjoy the rest of the trail ;-) We fueled up to make sure you get to the Manouanne. The trail south of pourvoirie was beautiful, wide and fast We then hook on #33 east which wasnice but a little narrower ...

THE 2ND DAY Initially I had search information for the trail path that we have made on Saturday but I was hoping I could then continue south on Sunday from Parent and take #13 and #33 trails through the pourvoiries des Cents lacs and Manouanne to buckle up the loop to Repos but there was mix information about Mauseur Lake that was not safe. With trails that we had on Saturday, it would’nt have been a punishment for us to go back on our track to come back but we would like to loop... especially since I had never done #33 west of Manouanne section. We talked with other snowmobilers in Parent and got confirmation that the trip was not only feasible but that trails were also in very good shape, so everybody agree and we chose this option for our return Sunday. Here the path of the ride At sunrise with nordic dew on snowmobiles, -22C pre-departure ... We went to have our breakfast at the famous Central Hotel in the village of Parent. We then begin our return to the south. It is on this lake (Mauser) there was a small section not safe and they moved the trail near the shore. For the rest, an highway ... ...

Thanks Tom, with this week snow and cold temp many most snowmobile clubs stand and still groom giving us an extra sledding week-end with a very good trail network. It seems that l'alliance du nord change their mind and groom some sections: http://snowmobilecou...a/en/conditions Enjoy!!! I will be on the trails this saturday too!! Thanks Bob...Family first... Thanks Snowdogs ! I hope you have a good time during this last winter surge here! Thanks TrailBlazer!! Carlito that ride with us told me " I don't understand how you can get so much good trail, I will always ride with you it seems the dozers just groom infront your skis!!!" You would have loved the #83 for sure, and all the top loop we did: beautiful fast trails dooright is right on! On the good side, The Chalet are beautiful in and out, full equiped with even a kitchen and dishes and very cheap $75+10$each= with taxes $135 splitted in four...$34 each !! On the less good side it is not well soundproof in between the 2 sections... Still unbeatable bang for the buck Alain

I have been told the same, I also know that Mattawin is supposed to groom too for the weekend. Watch for the updates on this links, there are already some details for some area like Mattawin and l'Alliance du Nord... http://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions Alain

We were near to bump into each other markusvt!!! but you were a bit ahead me, at 4:00pm on the 16 we were at the #345/#83 junction! incredibile trail condition on this area, in the best I encounter this season.... Great pics !!! Alain

Thanks Linda !!! the next week-end should be still good for many area but some clubs have begin to give up so we have to check for connectivity for saddle bag trips... We got some good powder snow today, -5C most of the day and maybe around 8" actually and still snowing at home in Joliette... Still some riding for me ahead too... Alain

Here is the cottage which is mounted semi-detached. We have the right section And we then come back to the village (the cottage is at 5 minute by sled) to go to the restaurant La Station where we spend a few hours in relaxing with a good meal within friends before returning to enjoy the cottage later in the evening. Me on a cat ... bad plan for my venture sees me and starts to sulk ... loll So we finished the first day with 246 miles on the clock on outstanding trail conditions Day #2 is to follow soon ... Alain

Parent direction… I'm not really a speed guy but here, how the hell can you ride at just 45 ... Here the intersection for Gouin And we continue at good speed ... not groomed since a week .... pfff…. I can’t believe it The #83 highway... A little before reaching Parent, we cross a burned area with a few curves And we arrive at l’Ombre du Vent in Parent at 6:00 pm ...

Carlito ... Here is a view of the Manouane lake just before arriving ... At the Kanawata We fuel up again there to be sure to reach Parent because there are no more services this year in Casey. Very original pump! Back on the trail towards Casey The trail is beautiful and fast, a real highway We take a short break along the trail at Casey We are now entering on the Alliance du Nord snowmobile club territory ... Not groomed since a week??? Is it a joke or what??? Here at the #345/#83 junction ...