towing Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 A ride for us that the plan had changed until the last minute to finally go this way : The big loop south/north Joliette/Grand-Mère/Mattawin/St-Zenon .Saturday morning 8:00, -12C under a cloudy sky , we started the ride directly from home. The trails were all freshly groomed overnight and we were among the first to leave our trackprintEven it was cloudy , visibility was good and it is at very good speed that we progressed eastwardHere crossing the St-Maurice River near La Gabelle damThere were a few miles not recently groomed on the east side of the river. We also saw that the amount of Friday new snow was more generous as we went east.But not far under the power lines it was freshly groomedWe quickly arrived to Grand-Mère. I like the inspiring symbol on the sign ... but yes, having already seen in previous years some clear water spots norther on the river, the warning to remain on the trail is well justified but with the deep cold we got this season the river was completely solid frozen all over before new year.Classic view ...And we arrived at the #23 junction on the St-Maurice river around 10:30, ahead of shedule to this meeting point established with my friends Coyote and Rapex who themselves started from St-Zenon and ride the #23 to came join us.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 Although we had to wait a little, our friends finally arrived and we continued on the St-Maurice riverThe view is always beautiful on the St-MauriceThe trail was nice and very fastCoyote always as skillful with his Nikon with only his left hand at trail speedWe then picked up the trail on shore, very snowy sceneryCoyote on the back...Rapex forward ...And we arrived at around 12:30 at Marineau in Mattawin . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 We had a real great time with our two friends with whom we not had the chance to ride with since our trip to Chibougamau in 2012.Our partners did not ride on their own sleds and were trying two Yammi Vectors, one standard and one with the famous performance vibration dampers on the chassis that you may have heard from... Coyote will make a report on them soon onwww.passion-yamaha.comWe took the #360 trail in St-Zenon direction. Here the classic view of the rapids on the beautiful Mattawin riverThe #360 was just beautiful ...In every sense of the word, trail and sceneryWe switched on #M20 trail that my friends had not had to chance to try yet.It was just as nice and fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) Here a brief pause at the Eagle falls observation point that cannot be seen really well in winter... I usually accessed them by the top of the falls by walking a bit. These are the falls that I showed you on another ride-report of this same spot .My partners who followed us ...Here at the M20/#345 junction where we switched south to continueWe head to the Taureau Dam where we took a break. A big Hi to GTXrunner and his girlfriend that we met there and had the chance to talked a bit with.We then got back on the trail to the south. It was already getting dark for photos , especially at the speed we were goingWe crossed the Dozer as usual a few miles before reaching the Cabanon where our partners were housed .We've talked a bit before leaving our friends and take the way to return home via #23/#63/#3 trails. We finally arrived home at 9:30 p.m. with 306 miles on the dreammeter. A big ride easily feasible by those trails... a good day ride suggestion for those who like long rides or a 2 days ride for those who want to do lower mileage/day...Again, we are in the best time of the snowmobile season and conditions are really at top, ahead anything you may asking for. It is now or never to go and enjoy !Alain Edited February 18, 2014 by towing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 Another great report. Those conditions are incredible and it is killing me to not be there! 360 is one of my favorites. The picture on river where you met your friends has that big bridge encased in concrete. We always wonder why all that concrete. Maybe to protect steel from elements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazer Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 Nice ride Alain and super report as usual you and KriKri are a team not to be messed with. How did your friends feel about those new dampening devices? Is there really a noticeable difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooright Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 Great report , love the pics . Have done that loop as a day trip a few times .... good times ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Another great report. Those conditions are incredible and it is killing me to not be there! 360 is one of my favorites. The picture on river where you met your friends has that big bridge encased in concrete. We always wonder why all that concrete. Maybe to protect steel from elements? Thanks Snobeeler ! For the concrete bridge, it is more a question of cost at the time of construction. There is just metal rods in there, all concrete! not necessary a good design because the metal rods are protected just up to the time some small cracks develops and the salty water find his way to the metal... You should see Turcot motorway interchange in Montreal... It's a fear to pass there and look how bad it is, falling blocks and rust seeping out every where... Nice ride Alain and super report as usual you and KriKri are a team not to be messed with. How did your friends feel about those new dampening devices? Is there really a noticeable difference? Thanks JG . Coyote will do a report very soon on PassionYamaha.com Great report , love the pics . Have done that loop as a day trip a few times .... good times ! Thanks dooright, it's a classic for us. When we were stopped at the M20/#345 junction up north, it was around 3:30 pm and we talked with 2 others sledders that where just arrivied and took a break there. When we told them that we had started our ride from Joliette and had pass Grand-Mère, eat at Mattawin and ride from there they asked us how many days since we had started.... We told this morning... You should had look to their faces, they would not believe it, and I told them: and we go back home tonight... WHAT??? and by the way we are two up on a Yamy... They were stunned with opened mouth looking at us... One replied, Is it a joke?... No?!?! I'm sure they had not believed us but we had a good time with this... though it is an easy ride.... Alain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikerider Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Great as always. One of the pictures riding the river is beautiful scenery. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasledgirl Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Thanks Alain and Kriki! I especially like that out house on the trail!! Great to see some clubs think of us girls out there! Ha! Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MXZ700RIDER Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Great pictures. Makes me miss being up there to ride even more. I was up in Quebec riding two weeks ago and can only dream about riding there now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.