towing

Oh !!! we touch something... : :rofl: Glad you had enjoyed your trip Shane your feedback sound the same as what I've seen on the french forum... The snow to the ground get twice more since the pics I have posted here, so the conditions improved alot for sure... Here are some pics taken in Mont-Tremblant park by Dantheskidoo from snowrider.ca on the 29 dec 2011 after the snow storm... I will be on the trails tomorrow... Stay tuned Alain

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION Snowmobile Country announces the opening of its trails! Rawdon, December, 29, 2011 – Winter sports enthusiasts, have no fear: winter is definitely here in Snowmobile Country! A fantastic network of snow-covered trails awaits you in Lanaudière and Mauricie regions. To get the latest updates on trail conditions, to see which areas are open and to plan your stay, visit www.snowmobilecountry.ca. Everything that’s snowmobiling related in our two regions can be found at this joint site. Information about trail conditions is regularly updated and easily accessible. At www.snowmobilecountry.ca you’ll also find an interactive trail map where you can plan your touring based on the type of route and distance you prefer. Snowmobiling in the “Authentic Quebec” region is really outstanding: stunning landscapes, wide open spaces, plenty of outdoor sports and activities, good eating and comfortable lodgings await you everywhere. Look into the many snowmobiling packages available – they’ll save you time in planning the perfect getaway. Snowmobile Country wishes to remind you of the importance of driving carefully and respectfully. For your safety and that of others, it is essential that you respect trail signs and markers. Be particularly careful when riding over bodies of water. Some of our lakes may not yet be fully frozen! Take care to read the signs indicating whether a lake or river is safe! Source: Andréanne Beaulieu, Communications Agent Tourisme Lanaudière 450 834-2535 / 1 800 363-2788, ext. 223 beaulieu@lanaudiere.ca

Thanks viper2 and crazysnow let me know guys if my reports really take long to load. I use the same hosting web site as last year but I can probably resize my picture without loosing too much quality if you have problem with loading time... I actually use the original pic size and because it's fast for me and I figure it's the same for you... maybe I could give it a try for the next report... I figure to hit the trails again on sunday the first or monday... Alain

Here are the trail conditions up-to-date for the park and St-Donat area: http://www.motoneigestdonat.com/Trail-conditions don't know why, it's not up-to-date yet on http://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions but the rest seems ok Alain

We then switch on #23 trail to Cabanon that was pretty nice It was good up to a couple miles before Cabanon were the sand tend to mix to snow We ate at Cabanon, there was good bunch of trailers in the parking The lake was tested and good for drag lovers... I talked with Denis Haineault at Cabanon that confirmed me that they were trying to pack as much trails as possible before the snow storm to prepare a good base for our trails. They had already groomed to St-Michel, they had a dozer trying to opend the Mastigouche reserve from the west side and also an other one on the west side of the taureau reservoir So we tried the ride to the Taureau dam after the lunch. The first miles were a bit sandy and rocky Men at work !!! A bit farther on Mastigouche reserve main road, the road itself had just been repaired and miss snow on around 1,5 miles It became good after that, before the reserve gate and up to around 3 miles from the dam...... The last miles were a bit rocky and we had to slow down. We approched the dam that had near no snow on it blowed by the winds We then went back to our starting point at La Glaciere with a 153 miles on the dreammeter To conclude, it was very very beginning conditions. Many very good strechs with small ruff sections and rocks. The 6-8 inchs of new snow over that will make all the difference and will give decent condition to really start the season for sure. The groomers will have a big job to do to open all trails and it would be normal to expect few days to get all trails done. The forecast preview cold temps for ther next days that will greatly help to harden the new trail bases. We had wait long time but it now look really good for the next... Alain

Hi guys!!! Krikri and I did our first ride yesterday (Tuesday) in St-Zénon area. The snow cover was thin,between 6" to 9" to the ground but they had begin to work trails in prevision of what we got last night and today: a 6 to 8 inch of new snow overwhat we had just enought to make a decent base to officially start the season in Lanaudière. My ride report become a bit obsolete but because a pic worth thousand words I will go for it... So we started our ride from La Glacière in St-Zenon. (The pics are not so good because it was very dark) We first start to go south-west in Coin Lavigne direction on #63 trail because we heard that Mont-Tremblant park was good but the #63 was not groomesd yet After a couple miles, we turn around hoping to find better trail. We took the #350 in front La Glacière that was groomed. With the snow we had, all trails over summer roads are good In place of swithching on #23 trail to the Cabanon, we passed straight and went in Koubec Direction on #350 around 7 miles before Koubec, the dozer had to stop and go back because it sink in a small savanna. We crossed that on gaz and continu on a more ruff ungroomed trail North from Koubec, we took Mastigouche reserve trails. It was not groomed yet but because it's all smooth summer roads, the ride was very good and we opened the throttle a bit I had hope to be able to loop and get to the north of Cabanon on dam trail but we arrived on a trail link plowed from logging andno more indications more than all sleds tracks were turning around so we did the same and went back to Koubec with and other parc road Here the only sunray of the day... We passed Koubec, crossed the water hole and went back on #350 trail To be continued...

You know me pretty well Je me souviens ;) I just did my first ride today...I did not tried the Mont-Tremblant Park but did 153 miles in St-Zénon area . I will come back with pics tomorroy. I can tell you that the snow cover was on the thin side but with the snow falling right now it will probably be the real beginning at the next groomer pass in the next days... Stay tuned Alain

Wowww... Handsome... Alain

Good news!!!! 1rst: I'm confirmed that renovations have started!!! two guys from the french forum have been there and saw that they begin to lift some little chalet to form new concrete basements and restore them so it seems clear that the new owner want to keep the original spirit of the place 2nd: The auberge should be open this season with services (food and fuel) Alain

Oups.... :unsure: got trapped........ ;) Good observer viper2....happy to read you again Have a good season Alain

It's the bad part of the internet, when you post a picture it can be copied everywhere by everybody <_< But I'm really surprised that a magazine do that... Have you ever send them this pic for the photoneige contest ??? they usually use this contest to get a good pic bank and they also already have some reporters to contribute to it. Maybe somebody else use your pic as it was his... Anyway I understand how you feel... it's a cheap shot Keep your good work, we enjoy it Alain

Just the complete the good advices you already receive, I let you this link (lanaudiere web site) http://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/accommodation By clicking on the hotel of your choice, you will get all the details including what type of security they offer ex: Lighted parking, Locked enclosure, security guard... Hope this help Alain

Here at home (25 miles south from St-Gabriel)we just got an inch to the ground. St-Donat area had around 5 inch to the ground sunday (11 december). We need snow :( Stay tune, it can change fast... Alain

wow !! nice pics My right thumb blip the computer mouse just at seeing them.... Ride safe and have fun Alain

I just answer you with this post: http://www.quebecrider.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1987 Hope this help... Alain

I'm glad to confirm that the parc du mont Tremblant will be still opened to sled this next season It is unfortunately still in the long term plans to close the parc to snowmobiles.In fact, it is the last National Parc of Quebec province that still accept snowmobile on their territory. We have a bunch of parc that still accept snowmobiles but they are named "reserve faunique" like the reserve faunique Rouge-Mattawin or the reserve faunique Mastigouche in Lanaudiere. There are also all ZEC that are areas managed by private peoples(Real Massé and Coin Lavigne by example) that all accept snowmobiles like before. For the Mont-Tremblant Parc, there will be only one trail that won't be opened and it is the trail link between the Pimbina entrance(also named St-Donat entrance) that run into the parc up to the Cypres relay. This link was supposed to be closed last season but was opened because the alternate new trails were not ready... So, from St-Donat you will need to take the Caribou entrance to ride the parc or take the new #33 trail (should be ready...) that will run to Coin Lavigne in St-Côme and ride the Parc from St-Côme entrance. Here is a snapshot of this year Lanaudiere map that reflect those changes The whole 2011/12 map can be download here: http://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/maps-brochures'>http://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/maps-brochures or checked online here on the interactive trail map: http://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/map And for those who read french, there is a note on the St-Donat Snowmobile club web site that confirm that the snowmobile will ride the parc this season: http://www.motoneigestdonat.com/La-nouvelle-carte-des-sentiers-est Alain

Snobeeler, maybe the Montagne St-Pierre ??? Alain

I would bet the Pelchat hotel at Escoumins... Alain

For our age, just avoiding to look too much at the mirror do the trick for me ;) As for the Koubec, this pourvoirie is very unique when you get there, you feel you just jumped 100 years back in time :o The interior of this relay is exceptional with the huge double side hearthstone in the middle. I really hope the new owners will restore the site and not build an other Sacacomie luxury hotel there... it would be a sacrilege to put the excavator in a so nice place. You will surely remember Snobeeler in the 90' when the little restaurant was in the buiding just behind the one on the picture(pulled down now)... It was a narrow old dark place with low ceiling (was probably built more than 100 years ago) with a very old woodstove at the back... an unique place like no one else just at the opposite from the luxury places we frequently see, but so nice... I really hope it won't be the end Alain

Ouff!!! what a mess.. sometimes mother nature really freak out!!! It's for sure hard to pass throught but if nobody is hurt it's the more important... those time made us appreciate when things get back to normal B) Take care Alain

Woowww, they have big budget for highway overpass in Stoneham, nice one B) Alain

Thanks guys :) Yes I'm well equip to ride those trail year round but it just miss me the time to do it in summer... have to work to get some money to ride the winter... like all of us I rode a bit more this season with my older son on his ATV Riding with our kids: priceless... I have to admit that summer rides offer some different pleasures... I won't try this one in january ;) But winter sled rides are the best B) Alain

Hi guys, no snow here yet but it will coming soon with the temp. we have. I frozen myself yesterday on a bike ride (2C with wind in the middle of the day) to get some pics of the brand new bridge over the Mattawin river. My summer toy... It's built few miles east from the dam giving a new trail loop in the Mastigouche reserve The new trail ready and nice, many signs are already installed And an other sign that the season is coming soon, the dozers begin to line up at Cabanon Hoping my next ride report will be with my winter toy... Alain

hee it's not fair <_< you can't have snow before us Please, blow hard on my side ;) Alain

Thank you guys :) Have a great summer too B) bye!!! Alain