towing Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 We are just back from a fantastic week on the warm Cuba’s beaches but I was looking forward to ride the venture again since our first and only one ride was on December 17th. Without any day target other than to have fun, we left directly from home (St-Thomas de Joliette) and decided the itinerary one intersection at a time. Here is the final route that it gave: The weather shock of coming back home was really present with a 52 degree C drop at -22C on this Saturday morning. It was very humid and a layer of mist was still partially shading the sun even at 10:00 am. The trails have been groomed and the quality was impeccable Very close to the #3/#43 trail junction there is a savanna that is always longer to freeze and it is with no surprise that we saw this hot hole in the middle that can be easily cross on each side. The good surprise is that the driver of the dozer had taken the trouble to back on several hundred meters on each side of the woody section to surface the whole trail just apart from the hot hole: I raise my hat to Carcamp snowmobile club! We then took the #3 trail eastbound. The pines of the windbreak lines typical of the place were all frosted over a small layer of remaining ice from the previous ice storm. With the little haze still floating it was really beautiful Winter in all its splendor! We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of snow to the ground and the trail conditions look more like a late January than beginning, a very beautiful start. Here we see a little more the traces of the last ice storm On the #3 trail a little east of Berthier, the Bayonne river is already ready and I am surprised to see that the dozer has even crossed it! Look at my mirror, it's so humid that a frost has formed over it! First time it does that ... Surely no stranger with the haze that still floating over the snow ... With all those fields in perfect conditions our rhythm was obviously fast and the cold biting so we decide to fork on the #63 to the north to ride in more wooded sections, more pleasant under the circumstances. Here a short stop at the St-Gabriel de Brandon belvedere which is located just up a big hill north of the village named Mont Lanaudière, that was a small ski center years ago There is still behind my sled a vestige of an old ski lift. Considering the time ahead, already 11:15, getting on the # 23 north and going to have a lunch at the Réal Massé outfitter seems the perfect timing, so we continue north. Even more snow as we go north, here climbing the big hill in St-Damien of Brandon The snow is not only to the ground but also in the trees creating magnificent scenery With the deep cold the quality of trail was top notch and we could ride at good pace. It's really the big winter up there. We arrive to eat at Réal just a few minutes before noon. The good hot vegetable soup of Réal, the one we could eat with a fork with his much big chunks of vegetables in, it is one of our classic of the winter, always as good and comforting! Although there were quite a few people, the service was good and fast and 45 minutes later we were already on our departure. This one chose the air way to come to eat here! Was very nice to chat with Lus lsd and his buddy BoumBoum that we had not seen for a long time Encouraged by the beautiful conditions beyond our expectations, we had continue on the #23 to the north We had first think to switch on the #350 trail towards the Glacière and then go back down south on the #63 but it ride so well that we chose to continue up north on the #23 We were not disappointed, obviously it starts having a few traffic bumps from time to time but nothing to slow our pace. Sign that there’s alot snow there this year: no rock and no trace of sand even near the Cabanon We finally turn on the #63 just before the Cabanon towards the village of St-Zénon Here seen from behind after crossing it, a sign that it is still the beginning of the season: a small ditch not frozen. We see it well in advance and easily crosses it. There was about 2"thick water and an hard pack base Here the big hills towards the village of St-Zénon Always as fun and beautiful to ride! A little past the village of St-Zénon we stop refueling at the service station Crevier before continuing on the #63 trail south In Glacière direction Very nice conditions. We pass the Glacière and continue south. Much deep snow in this area At the junction with trail #343 we continue south towards Bazinet Outfitter The scenery is white coated there! The Bazinet outfitter I must admit that I had doubts about the next section of the #63 tot Ste-Emilie. With a more irregular base it is more difficult to get it good and we got it rought almost all last season but to our surprise it was very beautiful as I had not seen it as good since a very long time. It was beginning to be a bit dark for moving pictures and I had to stop to avoid blurring. Here in the power line south of Ste-Émilie The Black river just north of the BRP Géro sled dealer is already well signposted We had continue with the sunset and took a small hot chocolate break at the TimHorton of St-Jean de Matha We then came back home around 5:15pm via #341 and #43 trails, which were still nice despite a few traffic bumps in St-Félix of Valois area. Finally a total of 171miles in outstanding conditions, far exceeding what we were expected. The trail network is well established even in the south which already has a good snow cover now and the cold of the last days will help overcome the last recalcitrant to freeze spots thus giving us a vast playground to ride on. Get out and enjoy, the season is on... Alain snowfarmer, GT Rider, zeusand and 11 others 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
im4snow Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Great pics and report.....thx for sharing. towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowfarmer Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Nice report . I forgot are these pictures taken with a go pro? I got a new camera it's a DXO one for an I-phone but the pictures are to big to download to this site. They are over 5mb. towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Nice run for sure, always great to leave from home. towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipeman Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks for the report looks like a good base to survive the upcoming couple of warm days this week......I hope ! towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganRev Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Beautiful pics, gives you the feeling of being right there. Thanks for taking the time to post. Dave towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Looks good Alain! Hope the warm up this week doesn't affect the trails too much and hope for little rain towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hparaptor Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Excellent report. Thank you. towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpysanta Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Great job for report ,its been a good few years since i ran those lower trails east of joliette towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTrider Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Alain.....awesome report. The wife and i will be in the area on Jan18-22. Staying at the Montagne Coupee. Looks like fantastic conditions. Quick question...i know the ice sculpture Festival in St. Come is the following week after we are there but to they start building the sculptures early ?? would love to see some ice sculptures if possible. Thanks !!! VTrider towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted January 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Thanks every body for the good words! as for the oncoming weather, on the forecast we have a snow storm warning for tomorrow maybe a 6" and maybe a quarter inch of rain for Thursday with +4C with a winter return for the weekend. If this is right we will have highways for the weekend! hope it will be this... 14 hours ago, snowfarmer said: Nice report . I forgot are these pictures taken with a go pro? I got a new camera it's a DXO one for an I-phone but the pictures are to big to download to this site. They are over 5mb. Nah I use a Krikri Pro, take very good pics but not compatible with I-phone just with I-Pay...( I = me) ... The camera is still our old Sony 4,1 MP, 12 years old!!! that make 1,8mb pics. You probably have a possibility in your setting to lower the quality to get acceptable file size, don't need so high MP to get good quality on internet. 53 minutes ago, VTrider said: Alain.....awesome report. The wife and i will be in the area on Jan18-22. Staying at the Montagne Coupee. Looks like fantastic conditions. Quick question...i know the ice sculpture Festival in St. Come is the following week after we are there but to they start building the sculptures early ?? would love to see some ice sculptures if possible. Thanks !!! VTrider The St-Côme ice sculpture festival will be from january 27 to february 12 this year. They usually begin to carve in the week before so honestly, the weekend before will probably be a bit early to see something else than some big ice cube but if you are in the area you can take your chance... it's very nice to see the carvers at work. Good luck and have a good stay and rides in my neck of the woods! Alain viper2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neksledr Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Krikri Pro! Good humor Alain, and great reports and pics! Terry towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida Snowman Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 And Krikri is a pro when it comes to photos! Great report Alain. We are heading north Thursday & am ready to ride! Best, Tom towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MXZ700RIDER Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Awesome pictures and trail report! I always look forward to your reports as I often ride that area you travel. We usually depart from St Jean De Matha and head north hitting Bazinette....Masse....etc.... towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazer Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Fantastic Alain, you and KriKri are the perfect team. towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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