scorpionbowl Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 (edited) The drive up from the US [12/7] was mostly snow/flurries once you cross the border. Snow in Drummonville was decent, but conditions really improved in the mountains. It didn't look like there was any grooming around L'Etape, but trails were broken. Lac Cartier wasn't frozen. Coming down into Chicoutimi, the snow really thinned, but it was snowing, with about 4" of new snow. Leaving Valinouet, conditions were a little thin, but not bad at all. 93 to Chapelle was excellent. Switching to 251/2 was a little bumpy, but soft... Then it was off trail, to the school bus... This is a great time of year to go off trail [but on the logging roads]... Then I continued the 252 loop back down to 93 to the warm up shack where 93 heads to Sacre Couer [which wasn't groomed]. 93 back to Chapelle was PERFECT... After gas, a burger, and meeting the new owner, it was time to loop over 267 to bras-louis. Conditions were good, probably groomed a day, or so, ago with fresh snow. The early washout was still there with a sled flipped over, be carefull, especially when riding west to east. The online reports said trail 477 to Onatchinway was closed, so I was glad/lucky to see this when I drove by... so that will set up tomorrow's ride. I only saw a handful of sleds, and conditions in this small region are excellent, but I would hate to ride here on the weekend... Edited December 9, 2010 by scorpionbowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceman Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Looks good brother have fun up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowa Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Im Heading up saturday through tuesday! Thanks for the report! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckf Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Great photos Gary! Are you up there by yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzy Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 We were suppose to head up today from Ottawa and ride till Friday. Decided not to with all the snow heading our way soon. After seeing your report, I'm thinking we made the wrong decision!! Thanks for the pictures and enjoy all the white GOLD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpionbowl Posted December 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 John, it's just me. The false sense of security with a sat-phone still gets to you when you're 20-30 miles off trail, riding an ETEC time bomb. Fozzy, one thing I've learned is that if you wait for more snow, better weather or something else, you'll hardly ever ride. If possible, you have to do it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadRunner Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 John, it's just me. The false sense of security with a sat-phone still gets to you when you're 20-30 miles off trail, riding an ETEC time bomb. Fozzy, one thing I've learned is that if you wait for more snow, better weather or something else, you'll hardly ever ride. If possible, you have to do it... Nice Report Scorpion Bowl, That area is a snow paradise, RR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groomer Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 pic 4 ,looks like the same place than your pic on your avatar ??? nice pics btw !! groomer !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NH-Moose Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 John, it's just me. The false sense of security with a sat-phone still gets to you when you're 20-30 miles off trail, riding an ETEC time bomb. Thats true especially with these 2-strokers! With almost no other sled traffic to tow you, especially off trail, who you gonna call anyway.....sled busters (the guy with the Heli recovery service)! Got his number in your black notebook? Thats when the GPS coords come in especially handy! Enjoy, glad to see you've got great conditions, a running sled, gas, jerky (Heidi Joes?) and trails to yourself! I'm off to work now :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpionbowl Posted December 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Day 2... Just a trace of new snow in the city, but magically, about a foot of new powder on the mountain. Which turned into at least 16" in some places... This much fresh powder can be a nuisance... Certainly not a good day to be riding an Apex. Further up Bras Louis, near the Onatchiway turn, there was only about 4" of new snow. Heading out to Onatchiway, the snow only got deeper. I got sucked off the trail about half way there, then I caught up with some locals stuck and all over the place, so I decided to turn around. Visibility was very poor and you couldn't tell where the trail went. 16" of fresh powder is about as much as I saw, who knows what they got towards the relais. Continuing around the 267, I hit the December washout, this is as bad as I've seen it... The track is about a foot above the water, and the water is a good 8" deep. Once the nose of the sled goes in, the bumber just hits the wall of ice on the other side. This is why you have to ride with a shovel, and maybe now I'll actually get a hatchet. Once again, traffic was light, and groomers were out. As usual, most traffic was between Valinouet and Chapelle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadRunner Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Day 2... Just a trace of new snow in the city, but magically, about a foot of new powder on the mountain. Which turned into at least 16" in some places... This much fresh powder can be a nuisance... Certainly not a good day to be riding an Apex. Further up Bras Louis, near the Onatchiway turn, there was only about 4" of new snow. Heading out to Onatchiway, the snow only got deeper. I got sucked off the trail about half way there, then I caught up with some locals stuck and all over the place, so I decided to turn around. Visibility was very poor and you couldn't tell where the trail went. 16" of fresh powder is about as much as I saw, who knows what they got towards the relais. Continuing around the 267, I hit the December washout, this is as bad as I've seen it... The track is about a foot above the water, and the water is a good 8" deep. Once the nose of the sled goes in, the bumber just hits the wall of ice on the other side. This is why you have to ride with a shovel, and maybe now I'll actually get a hatchet. Once again, traffic was light, and groomers were out. As usual, most traffic was between Valinouet and Chapelle. Another great report scorpion bowl, you have hit some really nice conditions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smclelan Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Good report and some nice pictures, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazysnow Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Good report and some nice pictures, thanks. Good stuff have fun be safe Thanks for the report Day 2... Just a trace of new snow in the city, but magically, about a foot of new powder on the mountain. Which turned into at least 16" in some places... This much fresh powder can be a nuisance... Certainly not a good day to be riding an Apex. Further up Bras Louis, near the Onatchiway turn, there was only about 4" of new snow. Heading out to Onatchiway, the snow only got deeper. I got sucked off the trail about half way there, then I caught up with some locals stuck and all over the place, so I decided to turn around. Visibility was very poor and you couldn't tell where the trail went. 16" of fresh powder is about as much as I saw, who knows what they got towards the relais. Continuing around the 267, I hit the December washout, this is as bad as I've seen it... The track is about a foot above the water, and the water is a good 8" deep. Once the nose of the sled goes in, the bumber just hits the wall of ice on the other side. This is why you have to ride with a shovel, and maybe now I'll actually get a hatchet. Once again, traffic was light, and groomers were out. As usual, most traffic was between Valinouet and Chapelle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida Snowman Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Yo Gary! As usual you are early riding at Mts Valin! Great photos. Have fun & be safe. A Satelite phone can't get you back on the trail from a blown corner! Hope to ride with you soon! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpionbowl Posted December 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 ...and sometimes you see amazing things off of the sled [near Lac Jacques-Cartier, just north of L'Etape] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groomer Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 wooooooowwww !!!! awesome shot !!! :o :o groomer !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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