NSHM

Yesterday Sandi took a day off.  Dave and I went out for a little toot.
Once again the groomer map showed most trails done overnight.  We took 83 west to St Bruno and then 23 north.  83 was fine.  23 is showing the lack of snow thru Alma.  A lot of snirt where the trail runs in town and across the bridge to 93.
When we were at the bridge, I recalled the first time Sandi and I were there many years ago.  The trail stopped in a small park just before the south side of the bridge.  This was way before many of the businesses were there.  There was a pay phone in the park.  Remember pay phones?  The trail map had a phone number printed on it to call for the transport.  A dime went in the pay phone and I called the number.  I don't know where the phone rang but it was answered and I was told the transport would be there in a few minutes.  If I remember correctly, a van with a trailer came over the bridge to transport us and the two sleds.  It wasn't much money.  A couple of dollars per sled.  He brought us across the bridge and dropped us off at the Tourist Center's parking lot.  Off we rode.  Boy things have changed but that shows you how into snowmobiling the Quebec people were and still are.
Back to our ride.  There was a club member checking trail passes at the intersection of 23 and 93.  A quick look and he waved us thru.  I like the little re-route around Alma that was done a few years ago.  It gets the trail out of the yukky stuff in town.  As we approach the intersection of 93 and 367, I see a dozen sleds parked.  Must be a group of newbies reading the trail sign.  Nope, I see two Police officers checking sleds.  Odd to be out on a Wednesday.  Usually weekends are better since there is more traffic.  The officer asks for the paperwork for the trail pass.  He checks the pass number on the paperwork to the number on the sticker on the sled and waives us on.  Its good to see them out checking.  Of course we weren't going over the speed limit as we approached them.
The 8 mile stretch of 93 along the power line is fun and we turn left onto 367.  It is starting to snow a little.  What a pleasant sight.  Not hard but a nice light snow.  Just enough to kick up some snow dust into the air.  We pull into Vauvert just to see that it is closed on Wednesdays.  Off we go on the local trail to St Jeanne d'Arc.  There is a bar on the local trail just before St Jeanne.  We stop to see if they have food.  Just beer.  I wasn't sure of the French but he may have said food on weekends.
Off to St Jeanne and we tank up the sleds.  Back on 93 towards St Augustine.  Relais Érablière is open.  I haven't stopped here in a long time.  It has been closed whenever I've rode by.  Good stop for lunch.  Not many choices but soup and an all dressed hamburger with fries of course is fine.
Back down 93 to the 367 intersection.  The Police have left their post.  We turn left on 367 and run along to Evaion Peribonka.  Right on the local trail and then 328 thru Begin.  All nicely groomed.  At 93 we turn right and work our way back to the two bridges and back to the Delta.
Another lovely ride.  Around Alma and back in Jonquiere the trails are showing some snirt.  No snow in the forecast and worse that that, it is warming up for the weekend.  I think north of the river and down thru the park should be fine.  In town, the road crossings and parking lots I imagine will be showing more pavement.  The big fields are thin on the hills and corners.  Quebec desperately needs some snow.
Jack & Sandi

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
 
 

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. 

Check out the chocolate bar at Forestel
 

Today 1/31 Matagami to Val-d’or Forestel. To warm 34f. Trails around Amos are hanging on by a thread in places much better towards Valdor but anything near town sucks.  
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Yes indeed, I misspoke there. I will edit that. Thank you.

Oh , Rolled this moon rock out of the center of trail  !

I'll practice loading a picture.  This is from the other day on trail 383 / the old local 22.  A lot of logging has been going on.  The trail is way off in the middle of the picture.

Looks like 62 miles.

This isn't being addressed properly...and we are missing a great opportunity here...we have all these people lined up against us and this sport we love..trying to extort money, close trails...and come up with more restrictive regulations ...all the time.... FCMQ should have a reciprocal policy...get caught with your car or truck on our maintained trail system and the fine is 100$ a foot for every foot you are in on the trail...plus a 1000$ minimum recovery fee...this money goes to the nearest club that grooms or goes towards bridge and trail maintenance....only seems fair...and it should also count towards you drivers license and insurance costs....and if you are a school bus driver the fees are doubled

What could the conversation be?
 
I'm low on gas.  Is there a station nearby?
My son just got his first snowmobile and I'm showing him the trails!
I was out late last night at Joe's Bar & Grill.  I'm avoiding going by the Police Department!
Is this the way to Tim Horton's?
My wife is in labor and this is the shortest way to the hospital!
 
Jack & Sandi

They are getting more time on the trails than I am this year... 

Encore
trail 345
 

I'm only drinking bottled water from now on when I'm in Quebec, guy with the most sets of keys at the end of the season gets a free trail pass next winter...just understand how much you will be helping them by preventing them from getting back behind the wheel...and how the hell did this idiot get a school bus license??

It's the buddy system. Dumb and dumber.

It's the buddy system. Dumb and dumber.

Two for the price of one
 
 

If you livd in Victoriaville and your kids have not made it home from school
they are probably on the short bus on the snowmobile trail
 

At Windigo enjoying the finer things in life. 240 miles/smiles today
trails were mint
the section of 83 east of Rivière Trenche is MUCH improved since the other day. All good !!!!!

We also always used to wing it, but those days are gone. Some places are hard enough to get by booking ahead. Like Snowmaster said, hockey tourneys are the # 1 cause of room unavailability. (And  the shrinking of Canadian parents checking accounts) 🤑 Last Friday the Universal was full of them!

We also always used to wing it, but those days are gone. Some places are hard enough to get by booking ahead. Like Snowmaster said, hockey tourneys are the # 1 cause of room unavailability. (And  the shrinking of Canadian parents checking accounts) 🤑 Last Friday the Universal was full of them!