towing

We are just back from a fantastic week on the warm Cuba’s beaches but I was looking forward to ride the venture again since our first and only one ride was on December 17th. Without any day target other than to have fun, we left directly from home (St-Thomas de Joliette) and decided the itinerary one intersection at a time. Here is the final route that it gave:



The weather shock of coming back home was really present with a 52 degree C drop at -22C on this Saturday morning. It was very humid and a layer of mist was still partially shading the sun even at 10:00 am. The trails have been groomed and the quality was impeccable




Very close to the #3/#43 trail junction there is a savanna that is always longer to freeze and it is with no surprise that we saw this hot hole in the middle that can be easily cross on each side. The good surprise is that the driver of the dozer had taken the trouble to back on several hundred meters on each side of the woody section to surface the whole trail just apart from the hot hole: I raise my hat to Carcamp snowmobile club!





We then took the #3 trail eastbound. The pines of the windbreak lines typical of the place were all frosted over a small layer of remaining ice from the previous ice storm.



With the little haze still floating it was really beautiful






Winter in all its splendor!



We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of snow to the ground and the trail conditions look more like a late January than beginning, a very beautiful start. Here we see a little more the traces of the last ice storm





On the #3 trail a little east of Berthier, the Bayonne river is already ready and I am surprised to see that the dozer has even crossed it! Look at my mirror, it's so humid that a frost has formed over it! First time it does that ...



Surely no stranger with the haze that still floating over the snow ...



With all those fields in perfect conditions our rhythm was obviously fast and the cold biting so we decide to fork on the #63 to the north to ride in more wooded sections, more pleasant under the circumstances.



Here a short stop at the St-Gabriel de Brandon belvedere which is located just up a big hill north of the village named Mont Lanaudière, that was a small ski center years ago



There is still behind my sled a vestige of an old ski lift.



Considering the time ahead, already 11:15, getting on the # 23 north and going to have a lunch at the Réal Massé outfitter seems the perfect timing, so we continue north.



Even more snow as we go north, here climbing the big hill in St-Damien of Brandon



The snow is not only to the ground but also in the trees creating magnificent scenery







With the deep cold the quality of trail was top notch and we could ride at good pace.





It's really the big winter up there.





We arrive to eat at Réal just a few minutes before noon.



The good hot vegetable soup of Réal, the one we could eat with a fork with his much big chunks of vegetables in, it is one of our classic of the winter, always as good and comforting!



Although there were quite a few people, the service was good and fast and 45 minutes later we were already on our departure. This one chose the air way to come to eat here!



Was very nice to chat with Lus lsd and his buddy BoumBoum that we had not seen for a long time


Encouraged by the beautiful conditions beyond our expectations, we had continue on the #23 to the north





We had first think to switch on the #350 trail towards the Glacière and then go back down south on the #63 but it ride so well that we chose to continue up north on the #23



We were not disappointed, obviously it starts having a few traffic bumps from time to time but nothing to slow our pace.



Sign that there’s alot snow there this year: no rock and no trace of sand even near the Cabanon



We finally turn on the #63 just before the Cabanon towards the village of St-Zénon



Here seen from behind after crossing it, a sign that it is still the beginning of the season: a small ditch not frozen. We see it well in advance and easily crosses it. There was about 2"thick water and an hard pack base



Here the big hills towards the village of St-Zénon



Always as fun and beautiful to ride!





A little past the village of St-Zénon we stop refueling at the service station Crevier before continuing on the #63 trail south



In Glacière direction





Very nice conditions. We pass the Glacière and continue south. Much deep snow in this area





At the junction with trail #343 we continue south towards Bazinet Outfitter



The scenery is white coated there!






The Bazinet outfitter



I must admit that I had doubts about the next section of the #63 tot Ste-Emilie. With a more irregular base it is more difficult to get it good and we got it rought almost all last season but to our surprise it was very beautiful as I had not seen it as good since a very long time.

It was beginning to be a bit dark for moving pictures and I had to stop to avoid blurring. Here in the power line south of Ste-Émilie



The Black river just north of the BRP Géro sled dealer is already well signposted



We had continue with the sunset and took a small hot chocolate break at the TimHorton of St-Jean de Matha



We then came back home around 5:15pm via #341 and #43 trails, which were still nice despite a few traffic bumps in St-Félix of Valois area.

Finally a total of 171miles in outstanding conditions, far exceeding what we were expected. The trail network is well established even in the south which already has a good snow cover now and the cold of the last days will help overcome the last recalcitrant to freeze spots thus giving us a vast playground to ride on.


Get out and enjoy, the season is on...



Alain

Finally done, our first ride this season along with here our first ride report! We surely crossed Hden that posted earlier with pretty much the same path but in reverse: we did Cabanon/ Mattawin round trip


Saturday morning, around -18C very gray sky and snow. Starting from the Auberge Le Cabanon parking lot in St-Zénon


Dooright had trace the route for us earlier this last week and it was an easy one to pick this path knowing that the vast majority of the trail is on forest road base so it is easy to get beautiful trails condition even with a limited snow cover




There are a few miles from the start of the auberge out of these forest roads which still lack some snow but on this Saturday morning, freshly groomed with cold temperature it seemed almost perfect. Once back on the main road, it feels like in the middle of the season, almost no rocks and very beautiful


Here at the entrance of the Mastigouche wildlife reserve




What helps a lot is that the firsts snowfalls threy got were very wet, which once frozen left a dense and compact material on the ground rather than fluffy snow this is what explains the good trail condition the snow cover still thin at about a foot before the precipitation of the weekend.



In many spots this snow had stay in the trees creating magnificent scenery




Here the Mattawin River Bridge





There are a couple miles more rough after the bridge



Until we get on the #360 in Zec Chapeau de paille territory.

Very nice trail


The trail is groomed up to the junction with #345 north to Lake Repos outfitter. Then there are a 10 miles that were not groomed yet before joining the section maintained by Mattawin. Honestly, apart from a few trees that have fallen in the road and it did not really made a big difference and it is still a pretty fast section while staying alert.



Here on the section maintained by Matawin with the glaciers that begin to form


Very nice and fast


This section along the river is always very nice to ride.





The beauties of winter




It looks like this on many miles !!




The #360 at its best



All this on a beautiful and fast trail




The last miles to join the Marineau auberge once out of the Zec are obviously less beautiful because the base is more rough and there are still some holes not completely clogged but it ride well even two-up. Here the classic view of the Mattawin River


We arrived at noon at the auberge Marineau with a little less than 80 miles on the dreammeter. We had a good lunch break and were nicely received as always.



The sun tend to point a bit after the lunch. Here a snowy section just after the bridge leaving from the Auberge



The view over the river with a little more light



We took the reverse path on the #360 to return


It looks like mid January in this area



We must pay attention to the branches that can hit our helmet. I got screwed and almost lost my Gopro when it got hit by one that I had missed and got ejected in the side trail snow.





It was snowing a little less in the afternoon




glaciers section seen the other way





Here in the ungroomed section, the worst pass with a lying tree in the trail that you must care of. There are a couple others that just partially obstruct the trail (I don’t even let the throttle) and all them can be seen very well in advance no problem




And although it was not yet groomed, we pushed some good speed spikes without problem


Since the #360 was riding so well, we decided to push up to the Taureau Dam before returning to the Cabanon. Minimum as beautiful if not better on this side



Dam crossing is no longer possible but it is still a nice place to take a break



On the return on the #345 not far after the Mattawin bridge we crossed the dozer


And we continued at a good pace towards the south. We took a small break at the entrance of the  Mastigouche reserve


We finally got back at the trailer a little before 4:30 pm with 178miles on the dreameter, not bad for a first ride.


In summary already very good for a season start, very few rocks and the snow that is actually falling in quantity will help to improve the conditions and widen the trail network. Temperatures are winter one and the lakes and rivers are actually at freezing, we can safely say that the snowmobile season is already begin and we will be able to enjoy it for the Christmas holidays!

You may want to take a look here to follow how the trails opening will go on, many details here:

http://snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions


Alain



 



 
 

Just saw this and thought I would pass it along. Could be worth going to if anyone is in the area.
http://snowgoercanada.com/latest-news/914-freestyle-snowmobile-demonstrations-for-montreal-s-375th-a-one-of-a-kind-event-in-the-city-centre?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=275579&utm_campaign=2016-12-22

Explored those a few years ago.  Think one leg intersects the trail heading up to Repos (forgot #) near the bird feeder area.  The other appeared to be a dead end.  Wonder if they added to these???

We always look at those turnoffs along the 360  that point off to M20/M21 and think ? ... Hmmmmm  !!

The only thing missing on that part of the trail is a scenic river as the mattawin river and honestly it has a good mix of everything: opened and covered areas, long stretches for speed, long and short curves, nice views -Oh and also it there is the m21 local -my little section of paradise
 
We're all a bit jealous and anxious to get up there -Nice report
 
Thanks

Yes,you cross the river on the bridge he took pics of before you get to the dam coming from the Cabanon.

Hi Alain
As usual great report and pictures.  Thanks for sharing with us.

SUPER  JOB  ,HAVE FUN  and see you up there  soon.
 

Outstanding report, as always, Alain!  You had a memorable first ride.  Appreciate your sharing!

Thanks for the report and pictures.   Trails look good for this time of the season.

Nice ride report Alain . Hoping to get out on our local trails this week . We have Ive 200 km groomed around us . More opening everyday!

Great report as usual.  Much better start than last year.
Yes get a lanyard for the go pro with a little plastic clip. The glue on those mounts fails sometimes so although I don't like making holes in my sleds body panels I use bolts on the mounts every where.  Even the little plastic go pro sticky back mounts (except on my helmet).
There's a little road that T's off 345 to get to the east side of the dam (that must be blocked off).  The continuous trail is the 360 north of the dam and and along the river.
 

Awesome report, much appreciated as always.  You may want to attach the lanyard to your go pro in case it pops off it doesn't end up on the trial...
The Dam is a nice spot for pics.  Its probably a good thing they don't let people cross there anymore..  It was always a bit sketchy especially when the snow gets deep and the rollers up and down get beat in that can't be groomed out.  Surprised nobody ever went off the edge.

Good job Alain and many.thanks to Kri Kri for her stunning pictures, glad to see you two back in the saddle again.

Hi Towing! Very nice report! I was at Le Cabanon around noon for lunch. Back to the truck at 3PM. Salutations!

Nice pics Alain, looks like a good start to the season

Nice!  Looks exactly what Randy and I found on our run Thursday, worth the trip for sure.

Great first ride Alain  (one of my favorite section of trail next to river)  We hope to start the season January 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
g

great pictures and ride report as always,what type of rear skid is in your new ride towing?thanks mark.like others love your efforts on your sharing you passion

Nice !      Yes, the ungroomed section from the bird feeder to the mattawin club turn around did have a few trees down but was very good still .

So jealous! Glad to know you had a good ride and that there is grooming already.

Great report and pics.

Outstanding report, so glad to see you back in action giving us these beautiful pictures of the trails !

Always enjoy your reports and pictures. Great trip.
mike