mikerider

Thanks RoadRunner for posting the pictures.  I never met anyone like Ken who so enjoyed every inch of every journey. You could see him taking it all in as he rode along the trail.
mike
 

With sadness, Ken Casey, known as 'Yellow Boots' or in French, Bottes Jaune, has passed on to the Snow Gods and off to start a new chapter in all that the afterlife has to offer, which hopefully is more snowmobiling. He was 93.
Ken started snowmobiling in the '60's on his beloved Boa Skis. After wearing out Maine's trails, he ventured into Quebec during the '70's. He eventually spent years riding the Lac St. Jean area before moving on to the Gaspe where he would spend each winter going around and around the Gaspe. Often he would do these trips solo. He had thousands of photos from his trips. He had enough misfortunes on some of these adventures to fill a book and make our misadventures often seem trite. He was so excited one winter when he found a Boa Ski museum in Quebec.
One year during the '80's I believe, He and a couple other riders left Washington State by sled and rode to Maine. What made this interesting was a disagreement amongst them caused Ken to decide to leave the group in Yellowstone and finish the trip alone to Maine by himself.
His obituary mentioned that in order to learn French, everything in his house had a label identifying it in a French term.
I remember riding with Ken in the '60's and '70's. I was 30 years younger and far faster on a sled. Ken never went over 40 mph, but never stopped. I would go off ahead. 75 miles later we would arrive at our break stop at the same time.
Several years ago I ran across Ken at a snowmobile show. He told me he was hanging up the boots. He had a great run but it was over. His wife asked he no longer ride, she needed his company during the winter months and she was too worried about him traversing Quebec at his age. It was the first time I saw sadness in his usually sparkling eyes.
Ken always wore those yellow snowmobile boots.  He knew very early on that the trails in  Quebec and the Quebec people are a part of life to be treasured.
Rest in peace, Ken. And keep it under 40!
 

With sadness, Ken Casey, known as 'Yellow Boots' or in French, Bottes Jaune, has passed on to the Snow Gods and off to start a new chapter in all that the afterlife has to offer, which hopefully is more snowmobiling. He was 93.
Ken started snowmobiling in the '60's on his beloved Boa Skis. After wearing out Maine's trails, he ventured into Quebec during the '70's. He eventually spent years riding the Lac St. Jean area before moving on to the Gaspe where he would spend each winter going around and around the Gaspe. Often he would do these trips solo. He had thousands of photos from his trips. He had enough misfortunes on some of these adventures to fill a book and make our misadventures often seem trite. He was so excited one winter when he found a Boa Ski museum in Quebec.
One year during the '80's I believe, He and a couple other riders left Washington State by sled and rode to Maine. What made this interesting was a disagreement amongst them caused Ken to decide to leave the group in Yellowstone and finish the trip alone to Maine by himself.
His obituary mentioned that in order to learn French, everything in his house had a label identifying it in a French term.
I remember riding with Ken in the '60's and '70's. I was 30 years younger and far faster on a sled. Ken never went over 40 mph, but never stopped. I would go off ahead. 75 miles later we would arrive at our break stop at the same time.
Several years ago I ran across Ken at a snowmobile show. He told me he was hanging up the boots. He had a great run but it was over. His wife asked he no longer ride, she needed his company during the winter months and she was too worried about him traversing Quebec at his age. It was the first time I saw sadness in his usually sparkling eyes.
Ken always wore those yellow snowmobile boots.  He knew very early on that the trails in  Quebec and the Quebec people are a part of life to be treasured.
Rest in peace, Ken. And keep it under 40!
 

With sadness, Ken Casey, known as 'Yellow Boots' or in French, Bottes Jaune, has passed on to the Snow Gods and off to start a new chapter in all that the afterlife has to offer, which hopefully is more snowmobiling. He was 93.
Ken started snowmobiling in the '60's on his beloved Boa Skis. After wearing out Maine's trails, he ventured into Quebec during the '70's. He eventually spent years riding the Lac St. Jean area before moving on to the Gaspe where he would spend each winter going around and around the Gaspe. Often he would do these trips solo. He had thousands of photos from his trips. He had enough misfortunes on some of these adventures to fill a book and make our misadventures often seem trite. He was so excited one winter when he found a Boa Ski museum in Quebec.
One year during the '80's I believe, He and a couple other riders left Washington State by sled and rode to Maine. What made this interesting was a disagreement amongst them caused Ken to decide to leave the group in Yellowstone and finish the trip alone to Maine by himself.
His obituary mentioned that in order to learn French, everything in his house had a label identifying it in a French term.
I remember riding with Ken in the '60's and '70's. I was 30 years younger and far faster on a sled. Ken never went over 40 mph, but never stopped. I would go off ahead. 75 miles later we would arrive at our break stop at the same time.
Several years ago I ran across Ken at a snowmobile show. He told me he was hanging up the boots. He had a great run but it was over. His wife asked he no longer ride, she needed his company during the winter months and she was too worried about him traversing Quebec at his age. It was the first time I saw sadness in his usually sparkling eyes.
Ken always wore those yellow snowmobile boots.  He knew very early on that the trails in  Quebec and the Quebec people are a part of life to be treasured.
Rest in peace, Ken. And keep it under 40!
 

With sadness, Ken Casey, known as 'Yellow Boots' or in French, Bottes Jaune, has passed on to the Snow Gods and off to start a new chapter in all that the afterlife has to offer, which hopefully is more snowmobiling. He was 93.
Ken started snowmobiling in the '60's on his beloved Boa Skis. After wearing out Maine's trails, he ventured into Quebec during the '70's. He eventually spent years riding the Lac St. Jean area before moving on to the Gaspe where he would spend each winter going around and around the Gaspe. Often he would do these trips solo. He had thousands of photos from his trips. He had enough misfortunes on some of these adventures to fill a book and make our misadventures often seem trite. He was so excited one winter when he found a Boa Ski museum in Quebec.
One year during the '80's I believe, He and a couple other riders left Washington State by sled and rode to Maine. What made this interesting was a disagreement amongst them caused Ken to decide to leave the group in Yellowstone and finish the trip alone to Maine by himself.
His obituary mentioned that in order to learn French, everything in his house had a label identifying it in a French term.
I remember riding with Ken in the '60's and '70's. I was 30 years younger and far faster on a sled. Ken never went over 40 mph, but never stopped. I would go off ahead. 75 miles later we would arrive at our break stop at the same time.
Several years ago I ran across Ken at a snowmobile show. He told me he was hanging up the boots. He had a great run but it was over. His wife asked he no longer ride, she needed his company during the winter months and she was too worried about him traversing Quebec at his age. It was the first time I saw sadness in his usually sparkling eyes.
Ken always wore those yellow snowmobile boots.  He knew very early on that the trails in  Quebec and the Quebec people are a part of life to be treasured.
Rest in peace, Ken. And keep it under 40!
 

With sadness, Ken Casey, known as 'Yellow Boots' or in French, Bottes Jaune, has passed on to the Snow Gods and off to start a new chapter in all that the afterlife has to offer, which hopefully is more snowmobiling. He was 93.
Ken started snowmobiling in the '60's on his beloved Boa Skis. After wearing out Maine's trails, he ventured into Quebec during the '70's. He eventually spent years riding the Lac St. Jean area before moving on to the Gaspe where he would spend each winter going around and around the Gaspe. Often he would do these trips solo. He had thousands of photos from his trips. He had enough misfortunes on some of these adventures to fill a book and make our misadventures often seem trite. He was so excited one winter when he found a Boa Ski museum in Quebec.
One year during the '80's I believe, He and a couple other riders left Washington State by sled and rode to Maine. What made this interesting was a disagreement amongst them caused Ken to decide to leave the group in Yellowstone and finish the trip alone to Maine by himself.
His obituary mentioned that in order to learn French, everything in his house had a label identifying it in a French term.
I remember riding with Ken in the '60's and '70's. I was 30 years younger and far faster on a sled. Ken never went over 40 mph, but never stopped. I would go off ahead. 75 miles later we would arrive at our break stop at the same time.
Several years ago I ran across Ken at a snowmobile show. He told me he was hanging up the boots. He had a great run but it was over. His wife asked he no longer ride, she needed his company during the winter months and she was too worried about him traversing Quebec at his age. It was the first time I saw sadness in his usually sparkling eyes.
Ken always wore those yellow snowmobile boots.  He knew very early on that the trails in  Quebec and the Quebec people are a part of life to be treasured.
Rest in peace, Ken. And keep it under 40!
 

With sadness, Ken Casey, known as 'Yellow Boots' or in French, Bottes Jaune, has passed on to the Snow Gods and off to start a new chapter in all that the afterlife has to offer, which hopefully is more snowmobiling. He was 93.
Ken started snowmobiling in the '60's on his beloved Boa Skis. After wearing out Maine's trails, he ventured into Quebec during the '70's. He eventually spent years riding the Lac St. Jean area before moving on to the Gaspe where he would spend each winter going around and around the Gaspe. Often he would do these trips solo. He had thousands of photos from his trips. He had enough misfortunes on some of these adventures to fill a book and make our misadventures often seem trite. He was so excited one winter when he found a Boa Ski museum in Quebec.
One year during the '80's I believe, He and a couple other riders left Washington State by sled and rode to Maine. What made this interesting was a disagreement amongst them caused Ken to decide to leave the group in Yellowstone and finish the trip alone to Maine by himself.
His obituary mentioned that in order to learn French, everything in his house had a label identifying it in a French term.
I remember riding with Ken in the '60's and '70's. I was 30 years younger and far faster on a sled. Ken never went over 40 mph, but never stopped. I would go off ahead. 75 miles later we would arrive at our break stop at the same time.
Several years ago I ran across Ken at a snowmobile show. He told me he was hanging up the boots. He had a great run but it was over. His wife asked he no longer ride, she needed his company during the winter months and she was too worried about him traversing Quebec at his age. It was the first time I saw sadness in his usually sparkling eyes.
Ken always wore those yellow snowmobile boots.  He knew very early on that the trails in  Quebec and the Quebec people are a part of life to be treasured.
Rest in peace, Ken. And keep it under 40!
 

With sadness, Ken Casey, known as 'Yellow Boots' or in French, Bottes Jaune, has passed on to the Snow Gods and off to start a new chapter in all that the afterlife has to offer, which hopefully is more snowmobiling. He was 93.
Ken started snowmobiling in the '60's on his beloved Boa Skis. After wearing out Maine's trails, he ventured into Quebec during the '70's. He eventually spent years riding the Lac St. Jean area before moving on to the Gaspe where he would spend each winter going around and around the Gaspe. Often he would do these trips solo. He had thousands of photos from his trips. He had enough misfortunes on some of these adventures to fill a book and make our misadventures often seem trite. He was so excited one winter when he found a Boa Ski museum in Quebec.
One year during the '80's I believe, He and a couple other riders left Washington State by sled and rode to Maine. What made this interesting was a disagreement amongst them caused Ken to decide to leave the group in Yellowstone and finish the trip alone to Maine by himself.
His obituary mentioned that in order to learn French, everything in his house had a label identifying it in a French term.
I remember riding with Ken in the '60's and '70's. I was 30 years younger and far faster on a sled. Ken never went over 40 mph, but never stopped. I would go off ahead. 75 miles later we would arrive at our break stop at the same time.
Several years ago I ran across Ken at a snowmobile show. He told me he was hanging up the boots. He had a great run but it was over. His wife asked he no longer ride, she needed his company during the winter months and she was too worried about him traversing Quebec at his age. It was the first time I saw sadness in his usually sparkling eyes.
Ken always wore those yellow snowmobile boots.  He knew very early on that the trails in  Quebec and the Quebec people are a part of life to be treasured.
Rest in peace, Ken. And keep it under 40!
 

So its the last day of this trip.  I'll finish posting the trip where I started here on the Eastern Townships.  The rest of the trip is in Bas St Laurent, under Trail Conditions.
Tuesday morning.  The sky is clear and the temp is cool.  Today is a short day.  We are riding back to Valcourt to the truck and then heading home to CT.
A look at the groomer map and we will take trail 25.  We pull out of Hotel Bernieres and the groomer turned around in their parking lot last night.  This is how you should start everyday of snowmobiling.  Trail 75 to 5, very nice.  Trail 75 splits off to the left and we stay on 5.  Trail 25 joins us from the right and it is all groomed.  Not too far along as we approach St Apollinaire there is a detour sign for 5 and 25 pointing to the left onto what was a local yellow trail.  Hmm?  This is the way we rode in at the beginning of the trip.
We follow the signs along and 5 and 25 now go south of St Apolinaire instead of on the north side.  Easy enough to follow.  Not too much further and 5 breaks off to our right and we go left staying on 25.  We go by Bernier Sport Ski Doo and the Polaris dealer in Laurier Station.  The trail is perfect.  Oops, there's Sandi's brake light again.  I look up ahead and today she has found deer out on the trail.  They run along a short distance and off into the woods.  We pick up speed and the brakes come on again, more deer.  It must be social day for the deer.  Twice more this happens.  At least deer don't mind jumping off into the woods not like Mr. Moose that kept us at bay for over a mile.
Trail 25 is perfect.  This is a fun trail.  One that isn't traveled as much as say 35.  I hate to keep repeating myself but the trails are exceptional this year.  I remember when we first started riding in Quebec, it would be a treat if you hit one groomed trail on a 4 or 5 day trip.  Now we expect it everyday and the groomers are meeting our expectations.  We are being spoiled in a good way.
At an intersection with a local trail about 10 miles before the junction with 35, we stop to take a break.  We have only seen a few sleds today.  While we are sitting there, a couple of sleds come up from behind and they turn and go towards Princeville.  Then we hear more sleds coming from the direction of 35.  Seven sleds pull over and stop.  Locals but a couple off them speak English.  We chat for awhile.  They are out on a day loop.  I wonder if they called in sick to work this morning?  Always fun to talk with other sledders.  We part our ways and head down to 35.  The railbed is fine.  We stay on 35 and in Norbetville we stop at a small restaurant, Lydia's Restaurant, for coffee and a restroom break for Sandi.  This is a nice place.  35 has been rerouted to here and I bet this place is going to get a lot of snowmobile customers.  It is clean, on the trial and the prices look great for a lunch stop.
It has cloudy up now and there are a few flurries in the air.  We finish up and run 35 into Valcourt.  Only a few spots today that weren't fresh groomed and those were still good.
A wonderful six day trip from Valcourt to Amqui and back.  A little drifting one day.  Mild temperatures and fantastic trails.  Next trip planned for Feb 8th to the Delta in Jonquiere.  See you there.

Pic on trail 35 near Norbertville.
Jack & Sandi

Another morning and it is time to ride.  We have to hit the Powerball so we  can do this all winter!
Heading back now.  We are going to Hotel Bernieres for tonight.  We load up and since we rode out 5 we will go back part of the way on 35.
We leave the Universal and head out trail 5 to Club les Adventuriers and turn right.  This has all been groomed.  When we turn after the clubhouse, Sandi is the first track on the fresh trail.  A few miles down the trail and all of a sudden I see Sandi's brake light come on.  I let off and see a deer running ahead and away from Sandi going down the trail.  It doesn't take him long to find a place to dive off into the bush.  Sandi picks up speed and continues on.  We run out the 10 or 15 miles and take the little connector to trail 526 and then 35.  Sandi is kicking up the snow dust now.
A few miles from Club les Explorateurs on 35, Sandi's brake light comes on again.  As I round the corner I see a big moose trotting down the trail in front of her.  The four legged animals are out today.  I slowly go around Sandi and stay back but keep pace with the moose.  This may take awhile.  He doesn't seem interested in jumping off the trail into the deep snow.  He's cruising along at 10-12 mph.  The trail is so nice.  I don't want to go this slow.  The moose stops and looks back at me.  Oh oh.  I better stop too.  I'm keeping my distance.  Sandi is stopped behind me.  The moose stands there for a minute and then turns away and starts trotting down the trail again.  As I pull up, I noticed a big yellow stain in the middle of the trail where the moose stood.  Hmm.  Marking the trail as his trail.  We come to a long straight away.  I stop at the top of the hill to give him some room.  I can see him looking from side to side.  Finally he jumps off to the left and into the deep snow.  Good.  Now is our chance.  We pick up speed and pass by the moose.  Overall it was about 1 1/4 miles that we followed the moose.  Close enough to keep him moving but not so close to aggravate him.
We cross the street at the clubhouse, get on the rail bed and roll on.  This part of the trail wasn't groomed last night but probably was the night before.  It is still so good.  Every now and then I fall back away from Sandi and test out the sled.  This is fun!  The gas mileage isn't going to be as good today but that's OK.  I just don't want to see another moose for a surprise.  Not to far from Tourville, the trail was groomed last night.  This is even better.
We stop at Tourville for a break and a little lunch.  Its early and we are the only sleds here.  We say hi to Reggie.  He usually pumps the gas there and speaks good English.  Always nice to see a familiar face.  By the time we leave, a dozen sleds or so have pulled in.
We get back on 35 and start rolling again.  All fresh groomed with only a few tracks on the trail.  At 551 we turn right to go to Montmagny to the Ski-Doo dealer.  I know you four strokers are going to laugh but I've got to get a liter of oil to get me back to Valcourt tomorrow and this dealer is on the trail.  I brought 2 liters with me but we have put on more miles than I thought we would.
I put the oil in and we stay on trail 5.  When we get to the junction with 543 near St Raphael, we decide to take 543 for a change.  We haven't been on this trail in a long time.  It is much different than 5.  This is almost all open fields.  Not bad today but on a windy day it would be hard picking out the trail I bet.  In St Charles we pick up 5 again to 75.  Again this is all very good shape.
At one of the road crossings in St Etienne, there are two sleds on the other side of the road facing us.  Two people standing next to the sleds with bright safety green vests on.  As Sandi crosses the road, one off them holds his hand out to stop her.  It is the Levis police.  He looks at her sticker and the CT plate and motions her on.  I pull up and he smiles at me.  I recognize him from last year.  We have been stopped by them a couple of times before and he remembers the CT plates.  I chat with them for a minute or so.  As I leave, I'm thinking to myself "What a tough job going out on the company snowmobile and getting paid for it!"
We finish up the day pulling into Hotel Bernieres and checking in.  Time for supper and a good nights rest.  One more day on the trail tomorrow to go back to Valcourt to the truck.
Jack & Sandi

Home tonight after 1,600 miles this week around the RDL area.    Conditions couldn't be any better and traffic was very sparse. Outstanding smooth trails.
mike
 

This morning we leave the Universal heading east for Amqui.  It is overcast and a little breezy.  The groomer map shows most of trail 5 was groomed.  Guess what trail we are taking.  Sandi is in the lead and it looks like only one sled got out before us.  The trail is perfect.  This is Quebec at her best.   In the fields the loose snow has blown in over and there is no trace  of the trail, only the magic red stakes poking up thru the white ground.  Today is a day we depend on the stakes.  The surface is smooth and crisp.  The sleds are handling superbly.  Sandi stops in the parking lot of the Trois Pistoles Relais, looks at me and points down the trail.  No pee break today, the trail is great.
Along the power lines a little snow has drifted in over the fresh groomed trail.  A few sled tracks ahead of us now.  I always like this run.  The power lines are so much fun.
We pull into Relais L'Etang before Rimouski.  Only a couple of sleds here but its early.  I remember when this was built.  What an improvement over the old rickety place.  We see the snow blowing around pretty good now.  The wind is really picking up.  We were planning on taking 578 to Mont Joli but those open fields might be tough going.
We leave the Relais and when we get to Rimouski where the junction of 35 is, formerly 548, we decide to stay inland away from the St Laurent and take 35 instead of going down 578.  Trail 35 joins back up with 5.  In the woods this is good but out in the fields the snow has drifted.  When we get to the junction of 587, Sandi says she wants to take 587 instead of going to Mont Joli.  I don't know which is better, down by the river on 5 or going over the mountain on 587 to Amqui.  OK Sandi wants 587, 587 it is.
A few miles in the wind is really picking up and the drifts are getting a little more challenging.  We keep on motoring.  Sandi says I can go first for a change.  OK.  My turn.  The next ten or fifteen miles are tough.  A few small groups of sleds coming from the other direction.  Just enough to leave marks and keep the trail visible.  I see the mountain off in the distance and the many wind mills.  Oh I hope 578 wasn't a bad decision going over the mountain.  We start climbing and it turns out to be really good.  Most of this is protected by the trees.  No open fields in the mountain.  The trail follows the roads that were cut to bring the enormous wind mills to to ridge.  This is fine.  What a sight these towering structures are.  A lot of them aren't spinning.  I wonder if they are still being setup?
The 2017 is my first "X" Renegade with the fancy dash.  I scroll thru and select the altimeter.  This is cool.  It changes every 100' in elevation.  I don't know how accurate it is but it reached 3,400' and then started dropping down.  We have reached the top and start our descent.  Sleds approaching from the rear.  We slow down and let them by.  Five younger ones on mountain sleds.  Well, most are younger from my perspective now.  I was taught if sleds catch up to you, they are going faster.  Be nice and let them pass.  We let them pass and we also let them open up the trail for us.
We ride down the rest of the way and get into Amqui.  We find the L'Ambassadeur alright but getting to the gas station, that was difficult.  I missed the sign on the way in and we end up riding the sidewalk into the center of town.  We are parked in front of the Subway.  I take the GPS and ask for fuel.  It says the station is 150' away.  I can't see it.  I ask a local and it is just out of sight around the corner.  We tank up and then go back to the hotel and check in.
We didn't fall off the trail and we are in safe and sound.  Not even lost luggage today.
Tomorrow we head back to RDL.  We will see what was groomed before we pick our path.
Jack & Sandi

I know this happens and really don't understand why people steal or acquire trail signs. It just seem that every year there is less signage and the posts are still there.
Anyway an idea that might work is if the clubs were to have some plastic inexpensive signs made up that look the same and size made and sell them in there club houses at a much larger price. I'm thinking  something that cost 2 dollar and sell for 10. The profit could then be used to buy the regular signs that are put out on the trails. They could also offer them when the trail passes are purchased. Personally I like signs. Just a thought.

Left Sunday morning from the Roquemont hotel in St Raymond and went up to Lac Edward for lunch then over to the Delta 258 miles.
Great to see Bill, Dave (farmerold), Shane and the Gutz brothers.
Monday, we went around Lac St Jean (not the shortest route) and back to the Delta 252 miles.
Today, a super quick trip through the park and back to St Raymond, left the Delta at 9:00 and had coffee at Mont Apica, lunch at Le'Tape and were back in St Raymond by 4:00 203 miles.
713 miles and 95% were 9-10. Plenty of snow everywhere.
Tomorrow we head home after breakfast. Hopefully the roads are good after this storm!
Pic from the lookout at Mont Apica.
Stan 
 
 
 

Home tonight after 1,600 miles this week around the RDL area.    Conditions couldn't be any better and traffic was very sparse. Outstanding smooth trails.
mike
 

Groomer,      Those last few pictures are amazing/beautiful!!!
 
mike

Looks like the Russian map to the White House!   lol

Home tonight after 1,600 miles this week around the RDL area.    Conditions couldn't be any better and traffic was very sparse. Outstanding smooth trails.
mike
 

Home tonight after 1,600 miles this week around the RDL area.    Conditions couldn't be any better and traffic was very sparse. Outstanding smooth trails.
mike
 

My Buddy Mike and I drove to that Gaspesie last Wednesday for a quick blow the cob webs out loop. We unloaded the sleds and did some prep work for our trip  
 
Day 1    We left from Pointe a la Croix early Thursday morning   About 2 miles out of New Richmond it started to sprinkle rain, so we did what true die hard sleds do, checked into the Francis and ate chicken wings and washed them down with beer for the rest of the day. trails were awesome  
 
Day 2. Left New Richmond and traveled along the south shore on perfect trails. We based in Chandler and drove to Perce, a beautiful day.  We had a bowl of soup at Rolands and drove down the sidewalk to get a picture of our sleds on the wharf with the Rock in the background. To our surprise the section of the wharf that connects to shore was blown out by the storm a week previous. So a picture from shore was the best I could do. Looks like a new lookout on the road behind the church, we didn't drive up because of time constraints. We road from there to the Hotel Adams in the town of Gaspe for the evening. After supper we came back to our rooms and I was pleased to see about 10 other sleds lined up infront of the rooms. 

Day 3.   Saturday was another beautiful sunny day. We left Gaspe full of fuel and drove to Murdochville 90 miles of freshly groomed trail that we put the first tracks on. Filled up in Murdochville and rode on first track all the way to LA Cache. The Groomer was there but no sign of life, we motored right through and up to St Paulin.  There is lots of wood being cut on that piece of trail, budworm salvage.  Looks like new stall at St Paulin, food was good and we continued to La Mechins for gas. We pulled in with 140 miles on the tank of gas, both sleds took about 33 liters of gas. From there we rode to the Quality Inn at Matane, a 282 mile day. 
 
Day 4   We left the Quality Inn with about 4" of fresh snowI  I got to the just of the TQ 5 and noticed my GPS wasn't in the mount!!!  Crap, we turned around a drove slowly back to the motel, no sign of it. I pouted for a minute, said sledding is expensive, and headed out. We rode through fields, drifts, and woods trails for about 20 miles. I was sliding down a long straight away on the 591 and couldn't get my foot set right in the boot well, looked down and believe it or not there was the GPS!!  What a relief, I made sure this time it locked properly into the mount. We continued on down to Groomers region, trails were unbelievable. We missed Jean Guy by minutes but stopped at the little golf club on the way to 8 mile lake, a great spot and a very nice lady running it.  From there it was back to the truck by 1pm and start our 4 HR truck ride home to Nova Scotia.  We rode 720 miles and had perfect trails the whole time, can't wait to go again. Sorry i dont have more pictures but it was not my first trip, however still love the trails!!!

1850 miles with no issues.
We road 228 miles today from Forestville to the Delta and I NEVER took fuel......The MPG conditions were variable all day but I found that range to be quite impressive.  (9.5 Gallons) plus 4 Gallon Jerry
The low fuel light was on in Jonquire but I did have a gallon left in the tank.  We were also carrying all the gear for our 8 day adventure.
Range translates to safety in QC when saddlebagging.
Realizing a two stroke isn't for everyone....myself included if this thing grenades.
If it doesn't and Doo engineers got this correct.  It's something to really consider in the future.
Sled is such a blast to ride.
My 2 Cents #NOTBRANDLOYAL
BJ
 
 

Can't believe your two hot rodders survived those roller coaster hills. They scared the crap out of me.
mike

Can't believe your two hot rodders survived those roller coaster hills. They scared the crap out of me.
mike

Ran over a rabbit with explosive indigestion?

Day 2:  Continued
Once the Groomer got to me we spoke for about 4 minutes.  His name was Luke.  He was coming from Senneterre & going east to Balbuzard and returning back west to Lac Faillon where another driver will take the groomer back west to Senneterre.   He stated he would not, and could not, go down off trail in the direction of Jim's track marks.  I knew it was all on me at that point to find help.  I had to get back to Balbuzard ASAP and try to communicate again with Morel & summon Surete Du Quebec, CMP or the likes for a search & rescue mission.  
At that point I drove my sled back east, again thru the water hole, the 6.8 miles to Balbuzard.   As I drove into their parking lot I noticed a pick up truck that had not been there several hours ago when we first passed thru. It had a Skandic in the bed on a platform with a sweet drop ramp setup.  Miracles happen!   I went up to the entrance of the lodge, entered the lobby, started taking off my boots to go inside.  Then Morel & this other man came in the vestibule.  Morel spoke very little English but this other man spoke great English!   I asked him if that was his truck. He said yes & that he just got there 15 minutes before.   I quickly explained the dire situation.  He immediately told me that he would help me!  He had come with his wife for a night away from home and also was informed, as I was several hours earlier when Jim & I first passed thru, that the chef was delayed a few days etc.  He introduced himself to me as Luke (the same name as the groomer I had just been with).    He went and told his wife he was going to help me find Jim.  She looked at him very concerned but didn't try to stop him.  Darkness was upon us now. Temps were dropping.  Immediately Luke & I unloaded his Skandic, he got his snow suit on, we grabbed two sets of snowshoes & we took both sleds and started back the 6.8 miles to where it all started.  Again went thru the water hole (my 3rd time thru but not my last).  We got to the point of where Jim went off-trail and had a discussion of the search & rescue plan.  Luke would go down alone on his Skandic as he needed the spare seat for Jim if/when he was located.   We didn't know how far down that trail it would be.  Jim, when found, would come up on the Skandic with Luke.  We would worry about recovering Jim's sled tomorrow. 
I watched Luke & his Skandic easily maneuver down that slope in 4-6 feet of powder snow like it was easy.  An amazing machine indeed. Very shortly after he made the turn @250 yards down to the right behind the tree line I noticed his lights in the trees stopped flickering & reflecting off the trees.  Was he stuck?  Oh no!  Several minutes go by & then the reflections of his lights turn around & I notice even more lights.  He found Jim!!!  I can't see as they're out of my line of sight but after about 10 more minutes I see two sets of lights coming towards me up the slope!!  Luke was towing up Jim on his sled with both machines powering up the incline.  Amen! Amen! Amen!
Once all three of us were together hugs went around BIG TIME!
"Cool Hand Luke" I called Luke & we all rode our individual sleds back the 6.8 miles of now freshly groomed trail, except for that damn water hole yet again, to Balbuzard.
All's well that ends well.  
Tonight's outcome could have been very, very different.
 
217 miles