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Joliette/St-Donat Black Mountain photo-ride report 22February2020 ***new video added 14e post***


towing
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Here is the map of our yesterday ride February  22, 2020  Joliette/St-Donat

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With the very mild temperature forecasted and the very cloudy weather we hesitated to go to the Black Mountain knowing that we would probably not see it at its best but we had still tried our luck. About -5C at start from home under a very cloudy sky. Here in the St-Ambroise de Kildare sector

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The propane crisis in the fall left its mark here and I would like to take this opportunity to thank this farmer in St-Ambroise sector who still let us pass through his unharvested corn field

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at the shack north of St-Ambroise we continued on #43 trail

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The #43 is beautiful but it is definitely a slower/more winding trail. Here a bridge that will need repairs in the St-Alphonse de Rodiguez sector


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Here, crossing the Ouareau river via the shared bridge for snowmobiles and ATVs

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On the other side the trails are distinct although they cross and overlap few times and it is a bit confusing in some spots

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We then took #310 to go through Notre-Dame de la Merci where we refueled at Pétro-T gaz station. Their large parking lot makes it an interesting place as a starting point for many snowmobilers.

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We then continue along the #125 car road via a local trail for joining the #33 and then the # 317 trail

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To finally head towards the Black Mountain

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It's starting to rise...


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It's starting to get snowier ...

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And we arrive at the top just a little before noon. We were darn lucky: the sky has completely cleared and the sun was there! 


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And gray jays are also!

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With the mild weather, the decor was not frosty as sometimes but we were still very lucky to have had the sun with us. The temperature was mild and we ate a small snack right there to take advantage of all the beauties of the spot

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We stayed there for a good hour and a half. In no hurry, we took advantage of the moment to admire the magnificent view ...

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And we had fun with the gray jays who had fun with us too I think

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On a clear day like that the view is simply spectacular ...

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Sometimes there no need to being so equipped !!!


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Kristine's technique with her old 2005 sony without zoom (which takes most of the photos from our reports) is just as effective!

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The result...

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We had a lot of fun with them and I almost drained my whole Go-pro battery just during the time we were there ... surely some nice videos to come when I have time for the editing...


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We finally left a little past 1:30 p.m.

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Here coming down from the mountain

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I forgot to indicate it in our route map but we went to see the Mont des Cenelles a little further. Vegetation has grown and it is starting to be more difficult to see well

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The best part of the view is directly from the trail going down, really beautiful...


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We then continued on the #33 trail and completely went around Archambault Lake


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And then headed  east towards Coin Lavigne


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Here at the junction of the restricted acces trail of Parc du Mont-Tremblant


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A little further on the #33 trail we encounter this: a loader bogged down on the trail

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They had to use a bigger one to get it out of there ... They did pretty much damage to the trail

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But 5 minutes later we crossed the dozer which was already on the way to repair the trail damage

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So we continued with very good trail conditions

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And stopped to fuel up at Coin Lavigne


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We then continued on #33 trail, the section which had been announced closed earlier in the week but which was now re-opened and groomed

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We took the #343 to join the #63 trail

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that we took to go down south. Here passing at the Domaine Bazinet outfitter


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We continued south and the trail conditions remained very nice for a mild Saturday. Here just north of Ste-Émilie de l'Énergie down the big hill.


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And here passing at St-Jean de Matha ...

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We stopped to eat in St-Félix de Valois around 6:15 pm to take a good break. this section was the only one of the ride really worn out at the end of the day. Then we came back through Joliette. We finally arrived home around 7:45 pm with 219 miles on the dreammeter for the day, very happy with our visit to the Black Mountain which was even better than expected with the sun that showed up, and our ride with really good trail conditions on most of the route despite the mild weather.

We must admit that time flies and we will be entering March next weekend, so now is really the time to ride before it is too late! For ourselvest, we are taking our snowmobile vacation from next Sunday for a week and at the same time a ride report break. Continue to post your own ride reports!

Otherwise,  Pays de la motoneige trail conditions web site is always a good place to have details of the conditions in Lanaudière / Mauricie: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/

Think snow!

Alain

Edited by towing
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Hi Alain,

Thanks for taking us on another ride. You hit the mountain at the perfect time. 

Sony made one heck of a camera in 2005. Kristine really knows how to use it. The photos are terrific. 

We hope you have great weather and smooth trails on your vacation.

 

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2 hours ago, snowmaster2112 said:

Those pics of the Jays are incredible and your trail reports are a  splendid read as always mon ami. 

Thank you Chris! It was a funny ride 😊

 

1 hour ago, GT Rider said:

Hi Alain,

Thanks for taking us on another ride. You hit the mountain at the perfect time. 

Sony made one heck of a camera in 2005. Kristine really knows how to use it. The photos are terrific. 

We hope you have great weather and smooth trails on your vacation.

 

You are welcome Jim! I had tried many time to replace that darn old sony but found nothing on the market that can take pics instantly while moving without having to go with an action cam This old thing had 2 buttons, one for power and the other to shoot... the newer stuff is more complicated and have many buttons that are accidently hit( kristine keep it in her mitts). Newer is not always better! 

I too wish the best for your trip, have fun and enjoy every moments!

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17 hours ago, mikerider said:

As always, enjoyed your report and pictures.  The pictures of the jays were very special. I never tire of seeing those friendly birds.

mike

 

 

Thanks Mike, I never tire of playing with them! and they let us take some great shots of them, pics and video I just miss time this week for editing video but I will make something nice with that in the next weeks. They are part of the nature's beauties 😍

Edited by towing
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6 hours ago, towing said:

Thanks Mike, I never tire of playing with them! and they let us take some great shots of them, pics and video I just miss time this week for editing video but I will make something nice with that in the next weeks. They are part of the nature's beauties 😍

I sure wish we had those Jays down in the states. When I tell people back home about them eating out of your hand I think they think I’m making it up. Until I show them the pictures.....

Alain......where are you guys heading for your “annual” trip this year ?

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Ok....I think what I’m gonna do is capture a couple (should be relatively easy) and take them back to the finger Lakes region in NY and see if they multiply. LOL

at the Central having breakfast  with two locals

15 sleds in back parking lot....mostly Ontario Plates.....imagine that

Edited by snowmaster2112
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7 hours ago, snowmaster2112 said:

When I tell people back home about them eating out of your hand I think they think I’m making it up. Until I show them the pictures.....

I got the same reaction years ago but I didn't have pictures to prove it. LOL

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13 hours ago, neksledr said:

They are here Chris, this one feeding from by hand during hunting season in New Hampshire this year!

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What's amazed me is that they are instinctively friendly to humans even like this one in the middle of the wood. Those from the Black mountain may have being tamed from all people going there with food but I meet somes in remote area that were even coming into our hands

13 hours ago, snowmaster2112 said:

I sure wish we had those Jays down in the states. When I tell people back home about them eating out of your hand I think they think I’m making it up. Until I show them the pictures.....

Alain......where are you guys heading for your “annual” trip this year ?

I got the same reaction from many people here that had never the chance to encounter them

2 hours ago, viper2 said:

Great report Alain, where are you headed on your trip this year?

I had not pull the trigger yet, still watching the weather but likely big chances it will be toward Saguenay Bill land...

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