towing

Here's the ride we did on Sunday February 4, 2023

Here in the fields near my home

We tried the brand new #345 trail path to St-Félix de Valois which had been closed for several years due to a loss of right of way in Notre Dame de Lourdes sector and also in the village of St-Félix de Valois the urbanization had taken over the old route which was no longer possible to use. The new trail connects St-Thomas/Ste-Élisabeth via the east side of #131road to St-Félix.  Here next to Benny in the fork south of St-Félix.

The trail goes around the village of St-Félix on the east side to connect with the old trail north of St-Félix near the small narrow bridge which connects the Guillaume Tell snowmobile club in St-Félix and the St-Gabriel de Brandon Snowmobile club

There is a bit of roadside and shared trail but it is still a great realization for the St-Félix snowmobile club to have succeeded in making this new acces of 15kms to connect south/north... personally I was no longer believed it! I take my hat off to them!
Here on the Black River in St-Jean de Matha near Gero Brp dealer

We went up the #63 trail, passed through Coin Lavigne in St-Côme and went up the #33 trail towards St-Donat. The mountain just before arriving was frosty like I had never seen it


There is a new meal option in St-Donat, a St-Hubert! we had our lunch there, it's just a counter with a small dining room but it was full and we had good, fast service and there's a gaz station just in front to feed the BRPs!

We then took Lake Archambault to go towards the Montagne Noire

In the middle of the lake there was a big puddle of slush with a snowmobile deeply stuck in it... When in doubt, throttle out!

Unfortunately the Black Mountain area was under clouds when we arrived there. The rising trail scenery was heavily painted with snow


Once on the top was just as beautiful, too bad we didn't have the sun

But the gray jays were there as usual


Having still a good run to do to return home we continued towards #33 south

And here on Lake Esterelle

I didn't remember how winding and mountainous the #33 section south of Estérel was, a real roller coaster with a zipper! We felt the snow cover a little thinner when we reached St-Calixte. We took a break in St-Lin to then have our dessert at the driving level with beautiful long fast fields towards the south.
As weird luck would have it, we crossed #125 road just few minutes before a fatal accident occurred there, a snowmobile with 2 people have been hit by a car at the road crossing giving no chance to the 2 sledders, we found this out the next morning in the news. On the ride we just seen the police cars on flashes going up towards St-Esprit on #158 while we were just a few kms away near St-Alexis(next village). From what we read, it was the 3rd sled of a group of 4 and some people told the icy trail approach to the road may had contribute to the accident. The 2 peoples were a couple that now leave a 9 years old child orphaned. Road crossing are no joke guys, be double careful when you cross them... this kind of impact rarely forgive.... Sympathies to the affected families and friends
We were finally back home at 7:30 p.m. with 359km on the dreameter. It's ultimately a pretty big ride, not just in terms of mileage but also several winding, less rolling trail sections. We left at 8:30 in the morning and did a good ride. Good conditions overall with the cold we had during the night before and the majority of trails which were freshly groomed.
We closely watch the forecast for the next weekend, hoping for the best!
Alain
 
 

Here's the ride we did on Sunday February 4, 2023

Here in the fields near my home

We tried the brand new #345 trail path to St-Félix de Valois which had been closed for several years due to a loss of right of way in Notre Dame de Lourdes sector and also in the village of St-Félix de Valois the urbanization had taken over the old route which was no longer possible to use. The new trail connects St-Thomas/Ste-Élisabeth via the east side of #131road to St-Félix.  Here next to Benny in the fork south of St-Félix.

The trail goes around the village of St-Félix on the east side to connect with the old trail north of St-Félix near the small narrow bridge which connects the Guillaume Tell snowmobile club in St-Félix and the St-Gabriel de Brandon Snowmobile club

There is a bit of roadside and shared trail but it is still a great realization for the St-Félix snowmobile club to have succeeded in making this new acces of 15kms to connect south/north... personally I was no longer believed it! I take my hat off to them!
Here on the Black River in St-Jean de Matha near Gero Brp dealer

We went up the #63 trail, passed through Coin Lavigne in St-Côme and went up the #33 trail towards St-Donat. The mountain just before arriving was frosty like I had never seen it


There is a new meal option in St-Donat, a St-Hubert! we had our lunch there, it's just a counter with a small dining room but it was full and we had good, fast service and there's a gaz station just in front to feed the BRPs!

We then took Lake Archambault to go towards the Montagne Noire

In the middle of the lake there was a big puddle of slush with a snowmobile deeply stuck in it... When in doubt, throttle out!

Unfortunately the Black Mountain area was under clouds when we arrived there. The rising trail scenery was heavily painted with snow


Once on the top was just as beautiful, too bad we didn't have the sun

But the gray jays were there as usual


Having still a good run to do to return home we continued towards #33 south

And here on Lake Esterelle

I didn't remember how winding and mountainous the #33 section south of Estérel was, a real roller coaster with a zipper! We felt the snow cover a little thinner when we reached St-Calixte. We took a break in St-Lin to then have our dessert at the driving level with beautiful long fast fields towards the south.
As weird luck would have it, we crossed #125 road just few minutes before a fatal accident occurred there, a snowmobile with 2 people have been hit by a car at the road crossing giving no chance to the 2 sledders, we found this out the next morning in the news. On the ride we just seen the police cars on flashes going up towards St-Esprit on #158 while we were just a few kms away near St-Alexis(next village). From what we read, it was the 3rd sled of a group of 4 and some people told the icy trail approach to the road may had contribute to the accident. The 2 peoples were a couple that now leave a 9 years old child orphaned. Road crossing are no joke guys, be double careful when you cross them... this kind of impact rarely forgive.... Sympathies to the affected families and friends
We were finally back home at 7:30 p.m. with 359km on the dreameter. It's ultimately a pretty big ride, not just in terms of mileage but also several winding, less rolling trail sections. We left at 8:30 in the morning and did a good ride. Good conditions overall with the cold we had during the night before and the majority of trails which were freshly groomed.
We closely watch the forecast for the next weekend, hoping for the best!
Alain
 
 

Here's the ride we did on Sunday February 4, 2023

Here in the fields near my home

We tried the brand new #345 trail path to St-Félix de Valois which had been closed for several years due to a loss of right of way in Notre Dame de Lourdes sector and also in the village of St-Félix de Valois the urbanization had taken over the old route which was no longer possible to use. The new trail connects St-Thomas/Ste-Élisabeth via the east side of #131road to St-Félix.  Here next to Benny in the fork south of St-Félix.

The trail goes around the village of St-Félix on the east side to connect with the old trail north of St-Félix near the small narrow bridge which connects the Guillaume Tell snowmobile club in St-Félix and the St-Gabriel de Brandon Snowmobile club

There is a bit of roadside and shared trail but it is still a great realization for the St-Félix snowmobile club to have succeeded in making this new acces of 15kms to connect south/north... personally I was no longer believed it! I take my hat off to them!
Here on the Black River in St-Jean de Matha near Gero Brp dealer

We went up the #63 trail, passed through Coin Lavigne in St-Côme and went up the #33 trail towards St-Donat. The mountain just before arriving was frosty like I had never seen it


There is a new meal option in St-Donat, a St-Hubert! we had our lunch there, it's just a counter with a small dining room but it was full and we had good, fast service and there's a gaz station just in front to feed the BRPs!

We then took Lake Archambault to go towards the Montagne Noire

In the middle of the lake there was a big puddle of slush with a snowmobile deeply stuck in it... When in doubt, throttle out!

Unfortunately the Black Mountain area was under clouds when we arrived there. The rising trail scenery was heavily painted with snow


Once on the top was just as beautiful, too bad we didn't have the sun

But the gray jays were there as usual


Having still a good run to do to return home we continued towards #33 south

And here on Lake Esterelle

I didn't remember how winding and mountainous the #33 section south of Estérel was, a real roller coaster with a zipper! We felt the snow cover a little thinner when we reached St-Calixte. We took a break in St-Lin to then have our dessert at the driving level with beautiful long fast fields towards the south.
As weird luck would have it, we crossed #125 road just few minutes before a fatal accident occurred there, a snowmobile with 2 people have been hit by a car at the road crossing giving no chance to the 2 sledders, we found this out the next morning in the news. On the ride we just seen the police cars on flashes going up towards St-Esprit on #158 while we were just a few kms away near St-Alexis(next village). From what we read, it was the 3rd sled of a group of 4 and some people told the icy trail approach to the road may had contribute to the accident. The 2 peoples were a couple that now leave a 9 years old child orphaned. Road crossing are no joke guys, be double careful when you cross them... this kind of impact rarely forgive.... Sympathies to the affected families and friends
We were finally back home at 7:30 p.m. with 359km on the dreameter. It's ultimately a pretty big ride, not just in terms of mileage but also several winding, less rolling trail sections. We left at 8:30 in the morning and did a good ride. Good conditions overall with the cold we had during the night before and the majority of trails which were freshly groomed.
We closely watch the forecast for the next weekend, hoping for the best!
Alain
 
 

I got you beat on the Relais 22 cheeseburger pic Wes 
and I even had them add bacon to mine
bwahhhhhhhhn……
so glad you guys had a great trip as well. Back home safe and recuperating 

Today 2/3 final day. We left Relais 22 this morning and arrived back in Shawinigan safe and sound after 8 days and zero issues thankfully. 73 south was good , 355 sucked ,351 so so and a police check with radar near Shawinigan. Overall some great trails some not so much but still a great time with a great riding partner! Hopefully more snow and cold in the forecast. 

They have a new state of the art gas pump
whip out your card and do the touch thingy and bingo

We had been planed this ride with our friends Bily and Snowcruiser a while ago and we were spoiled with a nice cold and sunny day!
 here is the track of the day

Kristine and I left home in St-Thomas to join our partners norther. Here south of St-Gabriel

The meeting point was at St-Gabriel de Brandon

The cold night below -15C had hardened the trails and with the grooming we had beautiful winter conditions. Here in the fields between St-Gabriel and St-Damien

Once we climbed into the St-Damien mountains it was even snowier


First little chat break (thanks to Bily for the pic)

Here on #23 groomed by Mandeville club
ç

And here further north on #23 maintained by the royaume club


We passed in Cabanon's yard and headed towards St-Michel des Saints

This section was a little rougher, especially the big hills near St-Michel that are needing more snow

We had a lunch at the legendary Central

We took a long meal's break/snowmobiler chat, we didn't see the time passing... you know when you're in good company!
We then took a chance by looping down via the local trail which returns towards St-Zenon. We had seen on imotoneige that it had not been groomed for a long time (no info). It wasn't perfect but apart from a few holes it rode pretty well


There is few kms section more difficult with a savannah that the dozer has not groomed yet

After that there's a bit of roadside to get to the Rondeau convenience store and it gets nice again after. We passed through St-Zenon village and then at the Glacière

And took #350 infront to join the morning route on the #23

We took a last chat break at #23/63 junction at the top of the mountain's hill in St-Damien and then returned to our partners' starting point in St-Gabriel before heading back towards home. We passed the dozer which had already started his run south of St-Gabriel

We returned home around 7:00 p.m. with just 300km on the dreameter. Really happy with this weekday great winter run!
We saw some brownish snow especially south of St-Gabriel and the big hills near St-Michel which was really lacking in snow otherwise the rest was OK. I'm hoping for a month of February with cold temperatures, that's what's been missing the most lately and obviously some snow to make the conditions even better. 
I was also able to take some good video sequences with sunshine this time and I hope to have time to make a little edit which I will put here in the coming days
Already in february, time flies!
Alain

And the video of the ride. As usual crink up the sound and the resolution if needed 🍿🍿🍿
 

You are welcome Chris! I'm glad to see you too had the chance to ride in the last week 👍
You are welcome viper2!
Haha! 😁 You save on the fuel for sure! My video of this ride is at embedding and I will post it in few minutes when ready, you will have a 2e free run! 
Ho yeah! too bad we were so near and miss... glad to see you too had the chance to enjoy this handsome weekday on sled 🌞
Thank you P Hardy, we were really lucky this ride have been planned many days ahead to match my buddy Bily's schedule and we got an handsome cold sunny perfect day, the best so far of the season. It was important for me to make this ride happen with him that is fighting cancer for 6 months now and he is between treatments sessions not not really knowing what's his future... we had not ride together for years and it was really cool to share this ride that fill something  and did good for both of us.
Glad to see you where in my playground but i'm a bit jalous for your encounter! I never seen one in this area but there are. Few years ago there was one that was visiting Koubec many time/week and many people had took picture of it but since we rarely heard about seeing some on the trails in that area.. you were lucky! 
After calling that due to out of control circumstances he would not open until February, many peoples including me were thinking it was a no go this season but he took us by surprise by opening the auberge on the 1st february (few days ago). He will open Thursday to Sunday https://pourvoirie-real-masse.com/motoneigistes/
It is an handsome place pretty unique as for ambiance/look, food and top notch customer services 👍

We had been planed this ride with our friends Bily and Snowcruiser a while ago and we were spoiled with a nice cold and sunny day!
 here is the track of the day

Kristine and I left home in St-Thomas to join our partners norther. Here south of St-Gabriel

The meeting point was at St-Gabriel de Brandon

The cold night below -15C had hardened the trails and with the grooming we had beautiful winter conditions. Here in the fields between St-Gabriel and St-Damien

Once we climbed into the St-Damien mountains it was even snowier


First little chat break (thanks to Bily for the pic)

Here on #23 groomed by Mandeville club
ç

And here further north on #23 maintained by the royaume club


We passed in Cabanon's yard and headed towards St-Michel des Saints

This section was a little rougher, especially the big hills near St-Michel that are needing more snow

We had a lunch at the legendary Central

We took a long meal's break/snowmobiler chat, we didn't see the time passing... you know when you're in good company!
We then took a chance by looping down via the local trail which returns towards St-Zenon. We had seen on imotoneige that it had not been groomed for a long time (no info). It wasn't perfect but apart from a few holes it rode pretty well


There is few kms section more difficult with a savannah that the dozer has not groomed yet

After that there's a bit of roadside to get to the Rondeau convenience store and it gets nice again after. We passed through St-Zenon village and then at the Glacière

And took #350 infront to join the morning route on the #23

We took a last chat break at #23/63 junction at the top of the mountain's hill in St-Damien and then returned to our partners' starting point in St-Gabriel before heading back towards home. We passed the dozer which had already started his run south of St-Gabriel

We returned home around 7:00 p.m. with just 300km on the dreameter. Really happy with this weekday great winter run!
We saw some brownish snow especially south of St-Gabriel and the big hills near St-Michel which was really lacking in snow otherwise the rest was OK. I'm hoping for a month of February with cold temperatures, that's what's been missing the most lately and obviously some snow to make the conditions even better. 
I was also able to take some good video sequences with sunshine this time and I hope to have time to make a little edit which I will put here in the coming days
Already in february, time flies!
Alain

I like to edit my own stuff for the reward at the end: memories! I don't think I would have fun to do editing on other people's files... but I still have a lot of unedited base files from many trip (snowmobile and others) that I may have fun to work with at retirement!
You are welcome! I had the chance to ride this last monday under sun, i will try to put something together with that soon, it will be handsome!

And the video of the ride. As usual crink up the sound and the resolution if needed 🍿🍿🍿
 

And the video of the ride. As usual crink up the sound and the resolution if needed 🍿🍿🍿
 

very nice...love it!!

Sorry to hear about your friend's diagnosis, I hope he has many winters of riding left.

Went by Laglaciere on Friday a.m., corral  was packed with trucks and trailers
Hank

And the video of the ride. As usual crink up the sound and the resolution if needed 🍿🍿🍿
 

And the video of the ride. As usual crink up the sound and the resolution if needed 🍿🍿🍿
 

And the video of the ride. As usual crink up the sound and the resolution if needed 🍿🍿🍿
 

And the video of the ride. As usual crink up the sound and the resolution if needed 🍿🍿🍿
 

We had been planed this ride with our friends Bily and Snowcruiser a while ago and we were spoiled with a nice cold and sunny day!
 here is the track of the day

Kristine and I left home in St-Thomas to join our partners norther. Here south of St-Gabriel

The meeting point was at St-Gabriel de Brandon

The cold night below -15C had hardened the trails and with the grooming we had beautiful winter conditions. Here in the fields between St-Gabriel and St-Damien

Once we climbed into the St-Damien mountains it was even snowier


First little chat break (thanks to Bily for the pic)

Here on #23 groomed by Mandeville club
ç

And here further north on #23 maintained by the royaume club


We passed in Cabanon's yard and headed towards St-Michel des Saints

This section was a little rougher, especially the big hills near St-Michel that are needing more snow

We had a lunch at the legendary Central

We took a long meal's break/snowmobiler chat, we didn't see the time passing... you know when you're in good company!
We then took a chance by looping down via the local trail which returns towards St-Zenon. We had seen on imotoneige that it had not been groomed for a long time (no info). It wasn't perfect but apart from a few holes it rode pretty well


There is few kms section more difficult with a savannah that the dozer has not groomed yet

After that there's a bit of roadside to get to the Rondeau convenience store and it gets nice again after. We passed through St-Zenon village and then at the Glacière

And took #350 infront to join the morning route on the #23

We took a last chat break at #23/63 junction at the top of the mountain's hill in St-Damien and then returned to our partners' starting point in St-Gabriel before heading back towards home. We passed the dozer which had already started his run south of St-Gabriel

We returned home around 7:00 p.m. with just 300km on the dreameter. Really happy with this weekday great winter run!
We saw some brownish snow especially south of St-Gabriel and the big hills near St-Michel which was really lacking in snow otherwise the rest was OK. I'm hoping for a month of February with cold temperatures, that's what's been missing the most lately and obviously some snow to make the conditions even better. 
I was also able to take some good video sequences with sunshine this time and I hope to have time to make a little edit which I will put here in the coming days
Already in february, time flies!
Alain

93 from Chibougamau to Matagami was damn near mint the whole way. We passed at least three groomers. As always, Chapais had the best trails. Staying at a Gite in Matagami tonight $$$ and no supper just breakfast.          

Shaw to Lac Edouard was so so. Left Sunday am from Domain Edouard ended up at Pourvorie La Dore tonight awesome place!! Most of 355 was good fields around LSJ ok but warmth will kill them quickly if it happens. 93 was good so far.