NHTOM

Ohh boy! Looks ridiculous. Plus the crazy scenery. Congrats on todays ride. Epic.

Rode right by the front and vandals have broken out the windows, busted in the doors. The great times there are just a distant memory now.

Just got back from 3 days riding out of Drakkar in Shawinigan-sud. We usually saddlebag, but didnt have enough time to do a good one so we opted for day trips . Wedns Day 1 we arrived around 1pm and went out for a quick 120 mile run just checking things out. Up 351 to St.Tite, down to the river at 23, down 351 to hwy 40, east on 3/302 and back in. Thurs Day 2 We got out around 815, up 351, 360 to St. Joseph. Pipeline 355, 73 into Letuque. Pipeline aint what it used to be. Only about 10 or 15 miles of it. And it was a bit choppy. Used to be much longer. Then gas up, snack and down 73 to Riviere pierre. 73 was crazy good, very fast. Then 353,302. Trails again , just super. Smooth and a bit soft. Then we went thru St.Adelphi. OMG do not ride thru there this time of year. zero snow, or ice in village. Without the wheels Id still be there spinning. But once out of town, near perfection back into Shawini. Total on day 252. 90% excellent Fri Day 3. Over to st. ray on 3 to Rogers (moment of silence) ,then the orange trail past the pig farm and onto 351. 351 east to 302, 3 ,23 north. We left at 815 and arrived at Relais St. ray on 23 at 1055. So yes the trails were again incredible. Mostly fresh groomed and hard, scratchers a must. The way back we meandered and did some quasi site seeing. As the temps headed toward 40 trails got soft, but not rough. Still great riding. 212 miles, and back in at 430 after a major beer stop at the Relais Le station on 351. So theres still plenty of snow, on fields, up and down hills etc. But road crossings are rapidly getting ugly. Things are fine in the frozen morning, but afternoon till beyond sunset theyre soupy, bare, and worse. Got to have wheel kits and scratchers. Still riding left, and the Batiscan and Mauricie rivers are still safe. but dont wait long.

Yes Reggie has the permits right there at Drakkar. Have stayed there twice this winter and its all good. Very good host. Cheaper than Comfort Inn, Free secure parking, better free breakfast, no river crossing to hit trail Also many other anglophone riders to talk to. Give the place a try.

Bill- Where are you? We miss the reports, hope everything is Ok with you. Its like this site has gone cold.

Watch the forecast right up until Sat night, as it is subject to change. But if it holds as shown I wouldnt go. It cost's just as much to do a rainy crappy ride as a sunny good one. We constantly adjust dates right up to the day before. We'll ride in the rain if we have to, cause were already saddlebagging, but I wont start in the rain....

Sled-Ho, Thanks for the info. At some point I will do it just like in the photo. I think because its Hog Tied(real tight) to the bumper it keeps sled from bumping tow sled on steep downhills and road stops. Thats why conventional towing requires the rider on board to brake on downhills. this method looks way better to my old eyes.

Interested in this method. So you tie 1 ski loop tight to the bumper? Is that 1 ski up in the air a bit? A picture would be great.

TQ 3 is a powerline trail and lots of road crossings till your beyond Quebec City suburbs. Then its fairly straight up and down powerlines. It gets way better as you approach 369. 369 is a rocket ship ride , very fast, wide few turns to Lertape and 23. 23 North is also quite wide and fast enough. Have fun. Its a gorgous ride thru the mountains.

I share the same frustration. Ive never found a site that shows the weather observers snow totals the day after a storm, as well as snow on ground. Down here its posted on the NWS site. The big depth maps just give a general idea, but thats about it. I was up Sunday, and there was only about about a foot on the ground from Shawinigan to QCity. Letape had a solid 3 feet, St.raymond a healthy 2. But, it snowed, glazed several inches on tuesday, so should be better now.............

I melted down a 600SDI on a Gaspe trip very close to the rock several years ago. My son towed me to the nearest relais at about 6pm. The folks at the Relais called the owner of the Doo dealer in Chandler. Half hour later the dealer picks me up on a ramp truck, brings me to our Hotel. Next morning at 730 same dude picks me up at Hotel and brings me to dealer. At 8am they had the sled apart, but didnt have the parts. The mechanics then dragged a sled off showroom floor, pulled the engine and pirated the piston, and a few other necessary parts. During this time my buds were off riding, dealer looked sad for me and sent me out to play on his side by side. At 4 pm sled was fixed, and I was back on the trail. It wasnt cheap, but at the same time no charge for all the ferrying around of me and dead sled. They even took me out for Lunch!

Youlll be all set. Might be a little rough in the Park tomorrow(23 Nord). But you can always ride the flat stuff on 73 towards LaTuque. Or if its really bad, head east to the Ice Hotel for your culture, then hit various Happy Hours.

I think you might want to mail it in for friday. From thurs mid day thru friday looks like rain, even up in the park (23). Not fun. https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/weather/quebec/saint-raymond?switchto=f https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/qc-113_metric_e.html?unit=imperial

And having that extra day in there is very important for 3 things. Big snowstorm, or a breakdown, or a rainstorm (yes it can rain in Quebec).

The road salt gets up under there and never gets washed off cause the top of the ball hitch acts like a roof. Good find Bill! That would have been ugly popping loose about 20 miles from Letape at minus 30.

For me Id want sledding and a Lake. Cabano comes to mind. Really nice lake there, great snowmobiling, not far from RDL. Close to Gaspesie. Since the taxes and upkeep are year round, Id want to have a great spot for summer and winter .

Had them on 1st time last year. Results were amazing went from throwing bogies and wiped out hyfax, to zero wear last yr. Gotta make sure they are super tight on slide rail. My riding bud lost one of his. Even with just the one he still had very little hyfax wear. You can get em on Amazon as well. https://www.amazon.com/Between-Lines-Designs-Dura-Scratchers/dp/B008YFSH44/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513639286&sr=8-1&keywords=dura+flex+ice+scratchers

Thanks Bill. As always, you da man. Wishing you safe and smooth riding this winter.

Hi Bill, Mailed in my trail pass info and check to you wednsday, PO said youd recieve it today 12/8. Hope I made the "early bird" rate. If not let me know and Ill mail the balance. rgds, Tom Straub

Unreal. Every year the govt seems to screw up something regarding snowmobiling. Not giving farmers what they promised, then farmers hold sled trails hostage. Now some govt agency wants us off the forest roads?? No greenys are going to do anything with those roads when theres 4 feet of snow on them. Dont they know that? Plus if nobody registers a sled then no money for the govt either. Morons.

Area webcams show bare ground, but they groomed last night. Time to head up! Clicked Position: - Position: 48.47355,-71.69819 - Trail: N CLUB DE MOTONEIGISTES LAC ST-JEAN (202) Segment groomed on April 21th at 20h39 By the vehicle 202-4. The segment was groomed 15 hours before the last update that occured on April 22th at 12h00. http://fcmq.viaexplora.com/i?l=e&r=1&s=EQW2C4G0FoEZ4OwCYEIKwBpZIBwBYA2JAZgQwJzRwyT1gAYBdDYAZwlhYBcJg0BHVgFNiwIA

According to the Caribou Club website, the trails all closed last Mon Apr 10. Could be the groomers are picking up signs and heading back to the barns for the summer......?

Anyone out there with recent intel on this trail?. Some years its good, some years rarely groomed, esp North of Lac edourd. Just wondering if anyones been on it recently, esp Lac Ed north.