towing

After a good lunch break, we take the #345 trail in Kanawata direction The first miles are good and then it become wider.. And then we ride a trail on a wide forest road, very beautiful and fast The trail conditions are very good, just a little ripple in some curves but nothing to slow us on the venture two-up We take a break on this bridge, a couple of you will recognize this river Here’s a section of trail along the road And then back in the mountains ...

The week-end before, I had talked to Krikri that I wanted to make a little 2 day sled trip before the season finishes. The mild weather in the last weeks rush things and I spent a part of the week to make plans. The Haute-Mauricie seemed a perfect target, but I needed partners to go there safely. Things had almost done all alone with Carlito who contacted me on Wednesday because he was looking for a partner for a last ride this season and was willing for a weekend ride. Seeking into the trail conditions, I saw that the snowmobile club l’Alliance du Nord that groom #83 trail and Parent area had ceased to groom on the previous weekend but was still open and over the phone I was told that there was little traffic and trails were beautiful ... heu...yeah ... lets take a chance, go for it, we are going. I had slept in Parent once 2 years ago on a ride with my friend Coyote who brought us at a beautiful little cottage that was not expensive, so I call to L’Ombre du Vent and made a reservation on a cottage in Parent. Steph with whom I rode this winter called me Thursday night and did not hesitate long before confirming his presence and another of our friend called me but was a little afraid of risk of bad trail condition since l’Alliance du Nord was not groomed anymore and he not wanted to risk riding hundreds miles in big bump trails, so he give up ... a decision that had prove very bad for him, he missed a real good one ... Day # 1 Saturday morning under a beautiful sunny sky -20C (a spring ride ... loll) Carlito, Steph, Krikri and I are starting our ride from La Glacière in St-Zenon. The trails are extremely hard base with about 2 inches of powder giving perfect conditions. Here a short break just before the Cabanon We then heads north through #23 and #345 trails A little break here on the new Mattawin bridge We then continue on the #360 and #345 to Repos. Krikri has not had time to pics but a 10th miles from the junction a dozer (from le Royaume club) is down beside the trail. A recovery mission was made thereafter, I will show you some details on day # 2 We pass the intersection of the M20 and take a break at the bridge near the small Gilardo dam We do a first pit stop at Repos at 12:15 with 100 miles on the dreammeter ...

I'm dissapointing too but i'm not a reference, i'm dissapointed to stop even if it's in late april I should sleep in Parent tomorroy night, will bring back some pics... We will start from there tomorroy morning... kanawata is supposed to have groomed too Hope to be able to pics some others groomers on the trails this weekend... would be good for us!!! I love cold trail condition but also like alot spring one... as for damage, never had any other than a bit of mud in the skid, early season riding is alot worst for damaging something, but we are so happy to ride that we pass over it... I ride at 18C and it was crazy funny!!! alot more than at -38C... The worst thing to encounter for me is freezing rain... get crazy at scratching the visor to try to see something... Alain

St-Zénon area is already groomed, I call at Kanawata and they groom tomorroy... You can take a look at the trail conditions web site it had many updates today... Surprisingly, Latuque is closed!!! http://www.snowmobil...a/en/conditions It seems to be in the last run with connectivity through the trail network... Alain

Hi gizz I try to seek information too, I am planning a 2 day ride sat/sunday probably to parent. What I seen about grooming is about clubs alliance du nord on Trail condition web site they write: http://www.snowmobil...a/en/conditions Sector 14 Mauricie Club motoneige Alliance du Nord Parent, Clova, Réservoir Gouin General conditions Good State of trails Good ground coverage Notice to users Last week and weekend access to trails in our area. Last surfacing March 9, 2013, we do not surfaced after this date. THis information was updated on the 12 seems to be the last call for this area...I hope for more updated information today (always check at the updated date) and I will do some phone call tonight, if you get something on your side keep me inform.. Alain

congratulation grumpysanta, install those scratchers and get on the trails!!! Alain

seems that it was an happening and you got the best of it between friends. We feel a bit of the fun you had through your pics Amazing pics groomer, some very good shots and it's great to see yourself on a couple one! Love your pics too crazysnow!! thanks for sharing.. Alain

I'm happy with my season until now. We had been in full winter condition with deep snow cover since Christmas.. very good. As for condition now after the rain here in the south we loose 1/3 of what we had but i don't think they will groom again near home because the rivers let go. More north seems good but no new snow from what I saw today in St-Alexis des Monts (by car) Still huge snow cover but will be pretty icy. I heard Cabanon should be out to groom tonight, probably many others club will do the same for shaping trails for the weekend... Sorry to read you're done for your season, ironically you got freaking cold temps for your trip and i got too warm for mine !! a season in swing from an extreme to the other but at least we had great trails for riding... I hope for an other couple ride before installing summer tires on the venture... Alain

Thanks mike. At home in Joliette we had very few rain till 5pm today but it start to rain hard up to 7pm. still raining but not much until now. The temperature have play between 2C and 7C today 4C most of the day. It's 1C now and I hope it is snowing up north... It melt here for sure but need to see a sunlitght tomorroy to evaluate... I thing sure, when all freeze back it wil be very icy. If no new snow scratchers will be mandatory... good luck for your ride and keep us inform how it looks like... Thanks Fuzzy, I really hope for an other couple rides this season. I less sure I will be able to start from home and will probably need to dust-off the trailer that had an easy life this winter... stay tuned... Yes hoping it will survive well to the rain. I have to go to St-Alexis des Monts for the job tomorroy morning and will see how it look.. I was a pleasure to meet too, i'm glad you took the time to hook me before we left! I was happy we did the #23 trail there at least once this season but the #360 up north along mattawin river is sooo nice... Seems you had a nice weekend trip!! Yes it was and there are some others to come for sure We are still in the rain stage, hoping the snow stage to come.. At least all will freeze back for sure and the temperature lowering will keep the snowmobile clubs in the mood to still continue grooming... Has for milage, I will have to check but i don't have so much... in the 4000 miles yet this season... more to come... Alain

Too bad I miss you... would have been great to meet you and NH Moose in persons. Yes I read the badluck of NH Moose on the other tread... no luck at Elitech... As a side note, I had not reported yet but I had followed you track pretty much on my last week trip. 972 miles through Champlain/Roberval/Dolbeau/Ste-Rose du Nord/Sacré Coeur/Anse St-Jean/ La Malbaie and back to Champlain on #3 trail. We had a real great trip... It raise our season's mileage a bit with over 1250 miles of fun in the last week... Thank you JG!!! it was really the way we did this ride... and we are satisfied with the result ! Too bad to see ending signs appearing... we keep our fingers crossed to avoid rain in the next days. Alain

To my surprise, the #63 trail to St-Michel although bumpy have alot snow and was even good in the big hills near the village, just a little mud at the bottom of the slope We refuel near the Central and I talk with an other sledder who just arrivied from l’Annonciation and that tells me that the #33 was nice on this side ... We does’nt need more, next: Mt-Tremblant park direction though #33 trail. Street in the village is still acceptable The path of the #33 trail has changed this year. There is a closed sign at the usual junction and we must continue a few miles farther toward l’Auberge du lac Taureau to get the right junction here the signs are on the left This trail is faster with better visibility than the previous After the #63 junction we continue on the #33, the trail was much more bumpy. But hardly had we started we meet the groomer We take a break at the cafeteria relai Rouge-Mattawin, we had not yet stopped there this year. We then continue and enter Mt-Tremblant park. The first section was quite bumpy but much better after the junction to the Coin Lavigne so we maintain very good speed there We then took trail in front Coin Lavigne to #63 trail. Despite the first section was plowed it was still acceptable with just a little brown. The return was made by Ste-Émilie / St-Jean de Matha where we took a quick meal. We finally came home around 8:30 p.m. and complete our “we don’t know where we to go ride” with 293miles on the dreammeter In summary there are still a lot of snow in our area despite mild temperatures in last weeks. Weather in the next days will be decisive for the next. .. rain or snow?? With the actual snow cover i’m pretty confident to get good conditions for next weekend, as weather forecast plan cooling down temperature but no doubt the season is well underway ... Alain

With this beautiful weather, this spot will be ideal for a short break There are several tracks and it's easy for us to get to the parking lot and we walk to see the rapids and waterfalls We relax a bit near the falls Krikri without her helmet ... We go back on the saddle and continue westward Finally take the #345 south and then the trail that is not on the maps that connects the #345 (not far from the #23 to the north where we were) with #23 just south of the Cabanon ( see map at the end). This new trail is beautiful and fun to ride Finally find ourselves at 3:30pm, 10 minutes south of the Cabanon... Dilemma ... back toward home to the south? it is far too early and it's too beautiful: Go, we ride up to St-Michel des Saints

A big hi!! to mxz7000 that was there and recognized my Venture parked in front the shack and came to talk to us a couple minutes just before we leaved. We then continue west... We feared a bit because we already know there is plowed road, hard to do in spring condition but we have a sidewalk to ride on Unfortunately, the trail portion just beyond this road is also plowed but practically on the mud on an half mile, the hill you see farther is on mud and rock ... too bad that it's over there because the rest of the trail was fine We pass the Auberge du Trappeur Rivers are beautifuls Another hesitation at the #349 junction to St-Alexis des Monts or continue the #23 ..... The #23! We will do the same later with the M10 trail That's what I call keeping his right side of the trail! We are entering the Mastigouche wildlife reserve Which is quite nice with lots of snow ...

Here we take back the #63, which itself connect the #3 trails few miles further The trail is very fast and quickly we are in St-Étienne .We then cross the St-Maurice River near La Gabelle dam. A little slush on the edges but it is often like this during the season as they vary the level with the dam. The rest is perfect And we continue east on #3 trail Near Shawinigan, curiosity takes me and we take the M3 trail to join the St-Maurice river. It is still as in winter, not slush at all At the #23 junction, we have a hesitation ... continue on the inviting St-Maurice that we already ride a couple time this season or take the #23 westbound that we have not done yet this year: Go for #23 trail Here the ski slope in St-Mathieu du Parc And we take the opportunity to lunch at the sugar shack Chez Hill

Saturday morning-3C, the first sunny day after two weeks of clouds, Krikri and I go to ride but has no idea where ? so it will therefore be the <we don’t know where we go ride>!!! We leave from home at St-Thomas de Joliette and went north-east. Fields trails are freshly groomed and with the night’s cold it gives real highways trails. Go for the fields, we ride towards Mauricie on #3 trail Shortly before Louiseville, we switch on #63 trail that we know still snowy instead of #3 trail that had already marginal snow a few weeks ago. The trails are beautiful but the small parts of roadside are quite hard as expected with the mild temperatures from the last few weeks But what is he doing here on this already perfect trail??! ! Maybe he also wants to enjoy the sun as us! To stay in the fields we shortcut on this trail through St-Leon and A3 trail throught St-Sévère and seek back #63 trail after. It is the most direct route, which would be the best path to put the TransQuébec #3 IMO (see map at the end) The big river is still good, no slush Our only partners for the day ... they follow really good!

Thanks for your report Iceman I'm starting from Champlain tomorroy morning, targetting Roberval via Lac-Edouard for the first day. We should play thought Mt-Vallins, Escoumins and Charlevoie area for the next 5 days... thank you for opening us the way Alain

Thank you for your detailed report Iceman !!! I am at preparing my next week annual trip and look closely yours. Big chances I will follow your track for a big part of my trip Keep posting!!! Alain

Great report with many pics!!! just mask your max speed on the GPS shot and your average is just ok at 69.5!!! your old girl been faithful to you looks like an other great trip !!! Alain

Thanks mikerider ! i'm glad you enjoyed the report. When i think of it, few peoples write me the exact samething, including recently a great guy from France!!! you in Maine and him in France enjoying your morning looking at my Quebec ride... the world is small with the net!!! my pleasure Fuzzy! I'm glad you liked! How many miles??? not enought!!! In fact, only 2125 miles done this season, just a 2 day trip+ single day rides. Had to admit it was high quality miles on deep snow cover, most of them starting from my door...ok I won't complain!!! and I am at planning a few days trip for next week... We have still warm temps running in the 0C to 3C during the day but only snow on the forecast for the next days... no rain!! would like some cold to harden the trails but still looks good for next...... have a good ride! thanks GT Rider !! That St-Hubert is a must for us if we ride around there. Not only a nice place with good meals but also great memories for us... My pleasure Tom to share a bit of the great fun we had on this ride!! Thanks Phil! I don't want to think of it but time goes fast and we are already at the end of february... I hope for an other 5 weeks of riding but the warm temp we are having now make me freak a bit... Thank you grumpysanta, we are very lucky to have all needed line-up to this results: great rides and fun together Krikri and I and this for so many years now. As a side note, we just learned tonight that a person near us got hit by a cancer and it look pretty bad... so my word is: if you are healthy, don't wait for later, life is now ! enjoy and take the best of it Alain

I'm totally shocked Mark, this rest area is around 20 min. from home... Can't believe it, it's very bad,.. I'm very sorry for your loss Mark It really sucks Alain

Keep those snow boots dancing !!!! lollll I go hanging a couple straps on the clothesline!!! Alain

Sounds you are in for a great trip JG even with some... keep it safe.. take care Alain You just hit the bad mix: New snow+warm night+warm day+ weekend traffic=....bumps!!! hope your trip goes right and you hit better trails conditions... Alain

Thanks Linda !!! I hope you are wrong for the warm temps... I know that there is a storm on the forecast for wednesday and the max temp. seems to be around the freezing point for the next week.... I hope for the best... and keep you informed how it goes.. Alain

And headed for the Caribou Park entrance. As expected, the traffic had its effect on those soft trails with new snow and mild temp. and sled suspensions had to work a bit more Here in the Mt-Tremblant Park I unfortunately have no beautiful pics of this section because the combination cloudy dark sky / bumps /speed gave fuzzy pics. The section between the #310/#33 junction and Coin Lavigne was better and went very fast We then forked east.. This section was particularly bumpy ... Here the junction to St-Côme village where we wondered if we continued straight ahead or to st-Côme We finally went straight and continued for supper at Domaine Bazinet around 5:30PM On the return, #63 was bumby but arrivied south from St-Jean de Matha all the clubs had already groomed which was much appreciated! We returned to our starting point at 8:30 p.m. with 242 miles on the dreammeter In summary: despite the warm weather around freezing point in the last day the snow cover is increasing and instead of grainy hard snow conditions of the last weeks it is now the beautiful new snow lining our trails. The season progresses quickly, so take advantage of the opportunities you have to ride and go for it... can’t go wrong now in the area Alain

krikri began to overheat folowing me on this mountanous trail at a good pace ... we pushed her into the snowbank to cool her down a little ... The landscape quickly whiten ... and to my surprise we were already at the Black Mountain I do not know if it's because of the snowy day but the gray jays were not there. Those more timid mésanges were there to replace ... They still left this message to our attention ... (bring a lunch)lolll We stayed a moment to enjoy the place And then went back down to St-Donat Visibility on Archambault Lake was really not very good so we limited our speed and ride cautiously We then crossed St-Donat ...