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Happy Belated Birthday Jean Guy!! And thanks for the good job you do even here on the forum and on the trails B) have a good summer and take care Alain

Alain

yep...... it's now over... :( http://www.lanaudiere.ca/fr/thematique/motoneige/conditions I did my last ride saturday (2april) from cabanon I ride up to the Repos round-trip. It begin to have some earth spots on the first half to the dam but the rest was still nice. The main problem this year was they give-up earlier on the grooming, last pass around the 18 march so some trail sections were pretty bumpy... it's why I don't report here. Maybe it was not the best, but it was nice for those like me to be able to ride in our backyard, less trailer. Finally, the first ride was on the 11 december and the last one on the 2april... not bad for a season, even more thinking what we were expected at the end of january before the real snowfalls begin... So the season is over for me, cutting at 4907 miles of fun... I left you some pics of the season... ...

Yes, Greasemonkey you're right and this expert-x from Boivin really rocks B) very expensive but highly efficient and give a very unique look to the Venture The #360 trail along Mattawin river is one of my favorite trail, love to ride in winter with the water flowing just aside the trail your pic Je me souviens with the mirror effect in the river is a very nice shot Here's a good shot I took last year... I had not stopped at cabane a Hill this time, but I think (not 100% sure) it had been sold a couple years ago. I remember the owner you talk about, most of the time it was him that was giving us gaz when we fuel up there few years ago... Yes I know I'm lucky, first because I have 4 healthy kids, 2nd I have a beloved wife that share my snowmobile passion and third I have a snowmobile paradise in my backyard :D It's look good to have some more report in the next days, it's snowing now !!! Alain

Few miles passed the Cabane a Hill, we had a little fear when we arrived there… We really wondered if we were needed to turn back but fortunately, we only had to go down the hill (maybe 500 feet) in the mud and we got a snowy trail at the bottom… yessssssss!!! The beautiful Auberge du trappeur a little farther Then a nice trail, here at the Pins Rouges gate of Mastigouche wildlife reserve Very nice trail in the reserve, still alot of snow there… We then took #350 trail direction. The trail was a little ruff (ripple) before Koubec but very nice after And we came back at our starting point by the same route as in the morning on even nice trails. Total: 262 miles Right now, Lanaudiere south’s snowmobile clubs have closed which was obvious but also, I was surprised to read that St-Donat snowmobile club announced their closure on last friday.... I talked with people in Cabanon and they confirmed me that they will do as usual and that they will keep trails open as long as conditions will permit it… here’s the trail condition web page to check the club’s status http://www.lanaudiere.ca/en/theme/snowmobile/conditions I did not see any dirt or snow uncovered spots of the whole ride (unless the plowed road on Mauricie side of course!!) Even there’s still a good snow cover it can be the water accumulations and in some area rivers that can give us problem but with the temp forecast : 4 inches snow for tomorroy and temperature on or below freezing point for all the next week it look very good for the next weekend... Bye!!! Alain

The first part of the #360 on the other side was wavy with some ripple in the curves, also some ice spots The 2e part was really nice and fast. It’s still enough cold there that the river was still all frozen Except in the rapids like here, one of my favorite spots And here near St-Maurice river The last strech from the Zec exit was very nice, a lot of snow up to Marineau auberge Our initial plan was to come back by the same trail but after talking with Marineau people we changed our mind. They confirmed us that the St-Maurice river was still ridable but not nice, but also that they had recently groomed in St-Tite direction and that we can easily go there and just cross the St-Maurice river in Grand-Mere. So we decided to try this big loop and come back by Mastigouche wild life reserve Like they said, the #360 in St-Tite direction was perfect, very nice. Even this plowed road was ok with a narrow track for us on the side… Nice trial up to St-Joseph de Mékinac There was just this river north from St-Tite that didn’t inspired confidence…believe me that I didn’t stopped in the middle of the water hole to check the depth !!! We then took the #318 and ride to Grand-Mere. We crossed the St-Maurice river that was still all frozen Nice trail on the other side…

Saturday morning, clear sunny blue sky -8celcius… let’s ride !!! We started our ride from St-Gabriel de Brandon via #345 trail to Taureau Dam and then #360 trail for the lunch at Marineau in Rivière Mattawin. We continued on the #360 up to St-Tite and took the #318 trail to cross the St-Maurice river at Grand-Mère and came back to St-Zenon via Mastigouche wild life reserve to finally come back to the starting point in St-Gabriel. Here’s the approximative track from my SPOT device The trail was not groomed yesterday because it was too warm and the trail was too soft but all froze back during the night and give a concrete hard trail for us to start our ride. Ice scratchers were helpful in these conditions to ride without problems. Snow cover melt a bit from last weekend but not mutch The 345 trail was nice, even nicer north from Pourvoirie St-Damien. Here’s the junction for the shortcut to the right to bypass Réal Massé that is closed After the #350 junction, there was a bit of loose snow on the trail Enought to ride without problem… Maybe a spring’s sign ??? a convertible car with trailer and sled on the back !!! The #345 trail to the dam was nice, no ripple There was some water accumulations here and there, all frozen this morning There was still snow on the dam, easy crossing

But the fields a little less. I had a blast to skipped over waters but the wife on my back seemed to had less fun than me …. Same in St-Félix, there was nice trails but many slushy spots And in Joliette sector near home My Venture have a wet nose ??? I wonder why ??? It’s dull that now we have a good snow cover in the south the temperatue was too warm and we can’t keep it longer. I have not see a single dirt spot for the whole ride but with so much water and the warm temp on the forecast for the next days, the south snowmobile clubs give up and announced their closure. In the north the temps remain colder, there’s more snow and near no water accumulations so we can hope to still ride a while if mother nature can cooperate a little… We got around -10 Celcius in the 2 last nights that help alot for the grooming team. St-Donat and St-Zenon reported good conditions up there… Here the trail condition web site (just pay attention to the updated dates): http://www.lanaudiere.ca/en/theme/snowmobile/conditions I will be up north next weekend… Alain

The Lac Blanc pourvoirie We continued on the #350 also called Gaston trail in this part. A lot of snow and groomed trail but a little bumpy because very soft snow (new wet snow) Farther on the #350 at Koubec… Very few water spots in the trails in all the north, a couple slushy spots on the whole track in the mountains, all the rest was fine Réal Massé that close soon each years was at their last weekend. Like each years they groom a shortcut for the #345 south that can be take around 2 miles souther on the #350. The #345 was 10/10 very nice This trail segment of 1,5 miles that was plowed for wood transport earlier in the season was now perfect Here the little heated shed at the top of the hill in St-Damien If it was winter in the north, it was unfortunaltely spring in the south… very slushy in the south of de St-Gabriel de Brandon and many water accumulations… the track was vey nice

Despite the warm temp from the last days, krikri and I did ride from home in the south of lanaudiere last Sunday (13 march). We took #3 trail in Louiseville direction and switch north on the #350 to St-Paulin and Pourvoirie du Lac blanc in St-Alexis des Monts for the lunch. Here’s the day track in yellow… 1 Celcius at ride start and mild temp (no frost) since friday to sunday. The good snow fall from thursdat had melt about the half at home but there was still a lot of snow, wet snow. It ride nicely even no recent grooming, here near home… I was surprised that St-Barthelemy snowmobile club had groomed after the snow and the trail was nice .... Some water accumulation in the fields, especially closer to St-Laurence river but just few in the trail. Here the “new” Cabane a Gerry a St-Paulin rebuilt after a fire last year. We then got north on the #350 trail and already see that there was more snow in the mountains and the snow cover was bigger. Nice trails, here on the Lac Blanc just before the pourvoirie and there was no slush.

You're right revct1, I just hope for lower temp... we had just 15mm of rain last night but around 3C today and we will have to wait until sunday to monday night before all freeze back with a -12C. Groomers will probably able to work after that. Right now it is very slushy... Yes Je me souviens, there are more grey jays than before... There are also others spots in lanaudiere where you can see them like in the Mt-Tremblant park or like on this pic of few years ago on #345 trail between the Dam and the repos at the M20 junction. I just stop to talk to my ride partner and we had this surprise... Not shy at all, he was just waiting for his lunch... or maybe he wanted a ride Alain

Thanks jagman56 Do you want it in miles or pics 241 miles ...and around 100 pics :o :blink: ... :D Alain

We switched on the #63 to get back passing by Glaciere and we were surprised that the trail was not yet groomed after the last snow. But we crossed the groomer farther before St-Zenon junction We came back with #63 trail freshly groomed and from St-Jean de Matha up home by the same trail as in the morning but recently groomed during the day. Total 241 miles Today at home near Joliette, it snowed a part of the night and all the day for a supplementary accumulation between 10” and 12” of snow and the same amounts have been reported in the north of our area. It had now changed to rain/hail here with 0 Celcius. The forecasts give warm temp around the freezing point for the next hours. With the good cover we now have,it looks very good to have many rides ahead in march… Alain

The suspended bridge The nice wides trails of Notre-Dame de la Merci... And we got lunch at la Cuillère à Pot in St-Donat The sun unfortunately quit us for the rest of the ride. Here the Archambeault lake, pretty much snow on the lake and some snow drifts It was impossible for us to be as near and don’t make the loop to the Black Mountain To feed our greedy flying friends We took Mont-Tremblant trail to get back. Like a picture worth a thousand words, here’s a pic I took on the 22 january of a table at the park entrance And 6 weeks later, it is somewhere under the snow heap!!! It was riding great in the park, alot of powder. The trees were full of snow there

All the rivers in St-Jean de Matha, Ste-Béatrix and St-Côme were in winter condition. As we went north, we saw that they really had more snow than us… In fact, near no rain at all in the north We passed St-Côme and continued on the #43 to Notre-Dame de la Merci. Here Val St-Côme ski station in background Beautiful trail It was just bad they do wood transport in this area. We had 1,5 mile to do on this plowed road. At least, we had a narrow clean strip on the side for us. Not so bad because the rest of the trail worth it. ...

Yesterday Wednesday, Krikri and I have took an holiday to make a ride on St-Donat side from home near Joliette. Here’s the day track… It was not looking like that in January but the snow cover had increased alot with the many snow/rain mix shots we received in the last weeks. If we had all received in snow, it would have give a 4’ to the ground nearly what they have in the north of Lanaudiere but in the south it result in maybe the half of that in very dense stuff. We can now expect a good sledding month for march… Here at ride start near home in the south of Lanaudiere There was very few visibles ice spots, remembering us the last weekend rain… We rode up to St-Jean de Matha and took the #341 to St-Côme Good trails in Ste-Béatrix ...

First, let's just talk about SPOT performance/usage. The first reason I bought it was because we often ride alone(just one sled)and change our plans during the ride, so and if we don't get back home at one time, my family/friends had no ways to locate us quickly. This week again, I heard about a guy that was reported missing by his family and police/snowmobile club were searching for him. With my SPOT in tracking mode, we can be located with our day track by a simple clic. I use my SPOT1 for the third season and it never fail. Power it on at ride start and off in the evening when the ride is done, the lithium batterie life is outstanding. I do all my sled season in tracking mode + maybe 10 motorcycle rides during the summer and change batteries once a year by security. With my handle ram mount, I get about 80% of the tracking point automaticly sent while riding and the OK messages sent stopped never fail to get in. For my intended usage, it do the job greatly. The possibility to send 911 emergency request was for me a bonus, not the main goal. As for 911 fonction of the SPOT, I'm sure it work...meaning that the emergency signal will be sent to the SPOT desk that will first call the contact you programed when you registered to try to get information and will then contact the local regional 911 service responsible for the location reported by your spot device with the 911 request... they can't do more than that and that part will work. From there, what is it realist to expect... the emergency service that receive the call have a gps position and an emergency request but don't know anything else unless the information the contact you programmed when you registered is able to give them. They don't know which type of emergency they have, something between a life/death case and a false alarm. They will for sure send somebody but you can figure in which situation they are, even worse if the call is from a real remote location... At least, there is somebody that receive your 911 request and will process it, without a SPOT or sat/cel phone there is no request possible. IMO, the local emergency services need to have some more informations to help them taking the right action in the right time. At least, a SPOT that is able to send text or e-mail would permit to give them the certitude that it is not a false alarm and the nature of the emergency and give them an idea how it is possible to reach you... It is clear for me that a sat phone and a GPS is way more efficient because you will be able to report your exact emergency and have bidirectionals conversations but it is also way more expensive. But I admit that the link of scorpionbowl for a rental a $30/month make me wonder...seems a real good deal... What do you think... Alain

I just found this information that would be very interesting for those who preview the purchase of a SPOT device in the next months: After the SPOT1, SPOT2 and the combo Gps with Delorme, they are about to launch the "SPOT connect". Seems to do about the samething as the one in the combo Delorme but paired with your Smartphone or Iphone. I don't have all the information but it seems that it will also be able to be paired with blackberrys in near future... Here the Spot website link: http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=116 Alain

really sorry to hear this bad news :( wish her and you the best for next and a full recovery soon... As for SPOT locator it is a nice security device to locate you in case of problem but in fact,it is more complicated than just pushing the 911 button and getting the helicopter... It would be interesting to make a post on the security best practice and what can be done to make our rides safer... the limits of the SPOT device, the air medic service, insurances.... I'm not better than anyone here, I just carry a SPOT for now but neglect to do more... Alain

Thank you guys :) Alain

Koubec break and back to la Glacière to fuelup We then took the #63 south where we meet the dozer doing his run And we stopped for supper at Domaine Bazinet Back home on even nice trails after the meal, total: 255miles To conclude, it’s now or never the time to ride!!! The trail network is fully operational and the trail conditions are at the best they have been since a long time.…. Season goes fast , Let’s ride!!! Alain

Here in Cabanon direction We took the #318 to go in St-Michel for the lunch. Again, very good snow cover but this section was more bumpy than usual. I think that they had groomers problem because there was only one doozer at Cabanon when we pass there in place of 3 or 4 as usual After the lunch at vieux moulin à scie in St-Michel, we took the shortcut on the Taureau lake in north direction. The reservoir level in lowered a good 30 feets, maybe more… always impressive to ride in the bottom of it. The 2 rocks on the top of the hill here are in the water in summer… We continued on the shortcut up to l'Auberge du lac Taureau… where we took back the official trail that follow the reservoir. It was full to the top here 2 months ago Up to CanadaVenture junction i t was a little bumpy but after, freshly groomed trail. We took a break near this little river and ride this perfect trail up to the Taureau dam… Also here it is really evident how they lowered the water level the #345 on the way back was very nice With those very hard trail condition, we figured that we had enough fuel to loop in Mastigouche wild life reserve (Last fuelup was at lunch in St-Michel).We had not been deceived, trail conditions AA1

Krikri , my friend Snowcruiser and I took a ride on St-Michel side last Sunday. We made the loop around Taureau Lake round trip home. Here’s the ride track The trails have nicely hold the warm up and rain from last thursday/friday and the snow cover is good in all our area. The result is very hard and fast trails, very different from the powder of the last week but so better to make strong trails that hold the traffic. Here a shot near home at ride start… There are some icy spots here and there but not much. Here on the track between St-Felix and St-Gabriel And here north from St-Gabriel in St-Damien direction Here a little south from Réal Massé, they received a couple inches of powder over the hard trail base in the north of the area

Just arrived from a 255 miles ride, went around the Taureau reservoir in St-Michel from home and all the trails were in good shape even in the south near home. Very hard base every where with a couple inch of new stuff over it in the north. Just beware for icy spots or curves but nice conditions otherwise, the best conditions I saw this season. I come back with some pics soon... Alain