towing

Mont-Apica 

No it was few years before but I too have very good pics of this great surprise encounter! i'm glad you reconize us and took the time to stop and chat a bit

it's you that pointed us the little curious beast that was looknig at us in the background, just behind my partner

Kristine got the lumix out and zoom in some great pics of it


Hoping our paths will cross again on the trail! 😄
this looks like the last new bridge of the 49e trail in LSJ area ?

hope everybody doing well, maybe with some thumb itching beginning!
Not sure if it will help you or get it worse but I share with you some pics I like from past seasons, feel free to contribute yourself to the post!
This first one was taken somewhere between La Cache and St-Paulin many years ago, not sure why but It always make me drooling when I look at it! 🤣

here's another one from a relay that still exist and is popular but completely changed from this pic... any thought?

 

hope everybody doing well, maybe with some thumb itching beginning!
Not sure if it will help you or get it worse but I share with you some pics I like from past seasons, feel free to contribute yourself to the post!
This first one was taken somewhere between La Cache and St-Paulin many years ago, not sure why but It always make me drooling when I look at it! 🤣

here's another one from a relay that still exist and is popular but completely changed from this pic... any thought?

 

No it was few years before but I too have very good pics of this great surprise encounter! i'm glad you reconize us and took the time to stop and chat a bit

it's you that pointed us the little curious beast that was looknig at us in the background, just behind my partner

Kristine got the lumix out and zoom in some great pics of it


Hoping our paths will cross again on the trail! 😄
this looks like the last new bridge of the 49e trail in LSJ area ?

hope everybody doing well, maybe with some thumb itching beginning!
Not sure if it will help you or get it worse but I share with you some pics I like from past seasons, feel free to contribute yourself to the post!
This first one was taken somewhere between La Cache and St-Paulin many years ago, not sure why but It always make me drooling when I look at it! 🤣

here's another one from a relay that still exist and is popular but completely changed from this pic... any thought?

 

Great idea Towing.
Many will know where these pictures are from. This was a trip last February. Unfortunately they don’t groom the east -west trail that leads to the cave from the local trail that runs north and south. So have to ride a few km of ungroomed moguls. Was reading they are trying to discourage people from visiting the cave. 
 

Great idea on the thread.  I am definitely ready for some “throttle therapy” as Kenny calls it.
 I have no clue on the clubhouse, looks  remote. 
I love meeting fellow QR riders on the trail.  Those would be some of the best pics, but I always forget to take one.  Here are some favorites to keep the thread going.  

 

Entre La Cache & St. Paulin….Was that the year I met you at the top of the mountain and we took this pic?
 

hope everybody doing well, maybe with some thumb itching beginning!
Not sure if it will help you or get it worse but I share with you some pics I like from past seasons, feel free to contribute yourself to the post!
This first one was taken somewhere between La Cache and St-Paulin many years ago, not sure why but It always make me drooling when I look at it! 🤣

here's another one from a relay that still exist and is popular but completely changed from this pic... any thought?

 

hope everybody doing well, maybe with some thumb itching beginning!
Not sure if it will help you or get it worse but I share with you some pics I like from past seasons, feel free to contribute yourself to the post!
This first one was taken somewhere between La Cache and St-Paulin many years ago, not sure why but It always make me drooling when I look at it! 🤣

here's another one from a relay that still exist and is popular but completely changed from this pic... any thought?

 

hope everybody doing well, maybe with some thumb itching beginning!
Not sure if it will help you or get it worse but I share with you some pics I like from past seasons, feel free to contribute yourself to the post!
This first one was taken somewhere between La Cache and St-Paulin many years ago, not sure why but It always make me drooling when I look at it! 🤣

here's another one from a relay that still exist and is popular but completely changed from this pic... any thought?

 

Here is the ride we did last Sunday

With the good snowfall on Friday followed by a mild temperature night, we already knew that the trails conditions would deteriorate  quickly under the effect of traffic, so we postponed our departure to Sunday. We launched directly from the home in St-Thomas de Joliette on Sunday morning under a beautiful sun and a temperature of -15C.

Superb winter conditions, very hard frozen groomed trail  giving ideal conditions. Here on #3 towards Berthierville

The wood sections were very snowy

Nice encounter on this winter morning


The La Chaloupe river is ok but stay in the marked trail!

We continued on #3 to the east with perfect conditions

Another great encounter! they weren't nervous at all, just happy to run outside

In the St-Barthelemy sector where the trail get souther the snow was a little swept but on an icy base it ride very well

I chose to keep #3 and go through Maskinonge village instead of #63 which goes through St-Justin. It's good but there is a section of 500' swept away where you can see the dirt. In the afternoon we came back by St-Justin on #63 instead and it's more snowy

Here Ste-Ursules sector


We are used to heading between #3 and #63 via St-Sévère but the Rivière du Loup that we have to cross direct on the ice is not safe yet so we opted for #63 trail

We took a break on the beautiful site of the Magnan Falls in Charette

The falls are usually completely frozen but this year you can still see the water flowing


We continued on #63

And took the #3 towards St-Étienne

And crossed the St-Maurice on the #3 at the height of La Gabelle. A few slush spots but it's marked and rides well

The east side of the St-Maurice was a little rougher but still ride well and the snow cover is very good

We stopped to eat at pizzeria du Lac at Lac à la Tortue near Grand-Mère.

After a good meal break we left and retraced our steps on the same route with a few exceptions. Here in the area of Notre Dame du Mont-Carmel

We did a pitstop in St-Étienne. Unlike past years where the trail passed in the yard between the gas station and the BRP NC dealer, the trail this year passes behind NC and you have to take a very short trail to go to gas or at NC

We saw this impressive dogs team on the way back, there are 2 wide...

We took a break again at the Magnan Falls in Charette but at the top of the falls this time

As I said at the beginning it's rare to see the water in the falls it's usually all hard frozen

We then continued west. The trail conditions had deteriorated a little since our lunch but from the fork of the #350 St-Paulin sector it became very beautiful and fast again until St-Cuthbert.

Here a snow bridge not far from the village of Ste-Ursules

We took the #63 to go through St-Justin, it was superb

We came across the Dozer de St-Barthelemy without the drag which was at finishing some work on the trail

We went through St-Norbert to come back, the trail was more bumpy from the traffic but it was ok

We were back home around 4:30 p.m. with 322kms (200miles) of happiness on the meter!

I know that most of you won't ride that south but the good news is that the trail network enlarge and is getting more and more connected to spread the traffic through. There are few rivers mostly along the St-Laurence river that are not ready yet. St-Maurice river is crossable but the trail on the river is not ready yet. The interactive map seems pretty accurate now on the trail condition. 
If we can keep getting January like temperature it will be perfect...
Bye!
Alain

My pleasure GSX800, kristine with her new camera took great shots!
You are welcome viper2, we still have some rivers that are not ready but it is surprisingly good, considering the lack of real cold we had. We just got a bit in the last 3 days and it will go back to milder weather for the rest of the week... last year we had already got many nights in the -25C /-30c bracket.
You are welcome Snowmaster! I like alot riding those fields, it's very relaxing. On the ride we did I had not really sees more traffic from the free weekend, we did see few old sleds but not that many. The north side have been a lot busier with people dropping in St-Zenon/St-Michel, many guys from ontario and us that have enjoy the free weekend there. The dozer was at making some pile of snow with the front blade for installing more stakes, a lot easier for him to maneuver forward/backward without the drag! 
You are welcome Florida Snowman, i'm not as recognizable with the skidoo as I was with the yammy but Kristine's jacket can be a good hint, it would be a pleasure to shake your hand on the trail!. Wish you a good season and a safe nice trip this week...
Will PM you...

I put together this musical ride video from last sunday Joliette/Taureau reservoir loop ride. It was pretty much a copy/paste as for snow levels but had the chance to get a cold winter day that we enjoyed very much.
 
Here a list of relays that have ended their season in St-Zenon/St-Michel area on last monday march 20, 2023
Auberge la Glacière (gaz open)
Pourvoirie la Barriere
Domaine Bazinet
Repos (gaz open)
Kanawata (gaz open)
 
Those other one below are still opened:
 
Auberge le Cabanon
Pourvoirie du lac blanc
Koubec
And all St-Michel village restaurant
 

Here is the ride we did on sunday March 12th

it's one of my classics ride but I admit that this season with the St-Maurice river closed and the detour in the Mauricie wildlife reserve on the #360 it added some body work to an already big day ride.
We left at 8:30 towards St-Zénon. The trails near my home were just groomed but very hard in the morning, scratcher mandatory!

There is still a lot of snow even in the south of the area. I had put on the roller skis to do 2 shorts side of the road sections but no mud to start the day. Here in the maple grove in St-Norbert

For the rest, no roadside or marginal section to go north. Here's a guy who holds his right to cross!!!

Beautiful trails going up to St-Zenon.

We fuel up at the Cabanon before continuing towards the Taureau dam on perfect grooming


We went through the dam. The reservoir level is already very low.

And started the #360 to the east. It was not freshly groomed but still nice and fast

Riding the #360 in these conditions on a blue bird day like this is near the peak of snowmobiling happiness!!!


We took a first real break at stop #440, our usual spot

The 2 picnic tables... there's still snow there!

The 2nd part of #360 to Mattawin had been groomed overnight and was perfect

The beautiful Mattawin River

We finally arrived for dinner at Marineau at 1:30 p.m. with 245 km on the meter. The lunch rush hour was already passed but despite this superb day and conditions there are already fewer sledders on the trail.

We took a good lunch break (still so well received by Marie-Josée at Marineau) refueled and continued on the #360 which was perfectly groomed

Past the #355 junction, the #360 to the south had not been groomed recently and was less good. Near St-Joseph de Mékinac village on a plowed road section the groomer will really have to built us a little sidewalk on the side of the snow bank soon, there is way enough snow for the groomer to do that.

To the south of the village there is another short short plowed road section and then it becomes quite nice

On the #23 to the south the rivière des envies is holding up and was solid but this one is always to be watched at spring 
It's not the snow that is missing there!

The St-Maurice was still solid, no slush

We then took back #3, a little bumpy but still going fast. There is a short section of plowed road in the power lines which would also require a small sidewalk to not play in the mud!
Otherwise it was riding fine

We crossed the St-Maurice at the Gabelle and it was still very good

We fueled up one last time and took a little break in St-Étienne before continuing on #3 trail. A little bumpy at first in the woods but nice and fast in the fields.

The whole rest of the trip was nice with a good snow cover

We finally got home around 7:45 p.m. with 475 km on the meter, very satisfied with our ride but haven't took long to fall asleep that night!
Despite the impressive snow cover, the season is already well advanced. Some outfitters in the north, such as Repos and Kanawata have announced that they will close after this next weekend which is quite usual for them. Some others continue to operate until the trails close...
There is still great snowmobiling to do, it's often the best conditions of the year so enjoy these last weeks of sledding
Alain

Day#4: Matane/Forestville
A day that started early to be on the wharf around 7:15 a.m. for boarding the 8:00 a.m. ferry to Baie-Comeau

Once boarding done we go upstairs in the passenger section for a 2.5 hours to relax. We had plenty of time to visit this infamous boat which has caused so much talk for the wrong reasons, but in our case everything went well.

It is therefore a little before 11:00 am that we begin our snowmobile ride on the north side of the St-Lawrence river.

and we went west on #3 trail

The Manicouagan River footbridge is very impressive

Very high in the air, it offers us a very nice view of the surroundings (to be seen in the video)

We stopped at Chute-aux-Outardes for lunch and then continued on #3 trail, which we kept for the rest of the day. Being a mountains, lakes and rivers lover, I really like the north coast.


The famous section of #3 trail in the Pessamit sector which was closed for almost 2 seasons is now reopened and apart from a few 50km/h signs we barely recognized it and realized that we had already passed when we arrived at the Betsiamites river bridge

We continued to Forestville where we arrived around 4:00 p.m. with 181 km on the clock to spend the night at the EconoLodge
I put together a fairly complete musical video memory of this fourth day that I share with you below. Set sound on and quality to 1080 for best viewing.
 
Day#5: Forestville/La Malbaie
We start our ride at 8:00 on the trail from the Econo Lodge in Forestville because we had a good day ahead with a gray weather and a little snow.

Beautiful mountainous and wooded sections on trail #3

We decided to not going down south to les escoumins to keep the day's milage reasonable and cut through by the local trail bypass

Approaching Tadoussac

We ate there before taking the ferry of the Saguenay River.

Here, leaving Baie Ste-Catherine

It was more snowy in the afternoon but it was riding well

We took trail #378 which goes further north instead of keeping trail #3 which went down along the river. The route is beautiful but it was more bumpy on the 2nd half, we regretted it a bit.
Arrived at the petit Manoir du Casino around 4:30 p.m. with 290 km on the dream meter

The services on site are very good and the 2 spa areas, especially the Spa O'Quartz with its tropical decor and its many pools and waterfalls, is an exceptional place to relax after a good day on the snowmobile.
I put together a fairly complete musical video memory of this 5e day that I share with you below. Set sound on and quality to 1080 for best viewing.
 
Day#6: La Malbaie/Quebec
An outstanding sunny day awaited us for the last day of our trip, seen from the hotel on our way to breakfast...

We stayed closer to the St-Lawrence river to continue west taking the locals and trail #378


Here's the view at Baie-St-Paul

We took #3 trail further west. The trails were all very nice.

We took a lunch break at the Relais Ste-Anne, happy to see that it survived the covid's time well.

We resumed after lunch for the last segment, still on trail #3 west

Here crossing the Montmorency River on the west side  of Quebec city

As we expected a little, the trails were more bumpy when crossing Quebec city, especially west of this small bridge (St-Charles River I believe) where my wife seriously think of just walking through it !

But it got back to normal maybe a 12km further just after Val Bélair and we quickly returned to our starting point a little after 3:00 p.m. with a little less than 220 km for the day.

We were impressed to see the foot of snow accumulated on our van and trailer and had a good snow removal job to do, but despite the 2 hour drive to do, we came back home for dinner very happy with our trip and to relax in our stuff.
So an another very nice trip for us without problems which filled our heads with beautiful memories that I try to keep even more present with the help of my videos that I put together for each day.
Here's the last one, Day#6 La Malbaie-Quebec which is very nice with the beautiful sun we had. Set sound and quality to 1080 for best viewing.
Hope you enjoyed the ride!
Alain
 

I put together this musical ride video from last sunday Joliette/Taureau reservoir loop ride. It was pretty much a copy/paste as for snow levels but had the chance to get a cold winter day that we enjoyed very much.
 
Here a list of relays that have ended their season in St-Zenon/St-Michel area on last monday march 20, 2023
Auberge la Glacière (gaz open)
Pourvoirie la Barriere
Domaine Bazinet
Repos (gaz open)
Kanawata (gaz open)
 
Those other one below are still opened:
 
Auberge le Cabanon
Pourvoirie du lac blanc
Koubec
And all St-Michel village restaurant
 

Windigo is closed as well.  Relais 22 still open.  She's winding down.