Brdgbldr85 Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 ** Started riding out of the Esterel hotel and headed north on trail 33/43 toward St Donat. Local clubs went out this last monday and groomed the trails flat after the rain and made a firm 25 cm thick solid base before the deep -25 f freeze came in. The trails today going to St donat were a 9 of ten. We got heavy snow all day til now, after noon time it gave 8 inches of snow on top. The trails are in great shape and the lakes are about 12 inches thick( always ride lakes at your own risk) so far. Temps are 5-8F and the entire area has a great base. Had to come back from St. donat after lunch, snow was too heavy to find trails to go on. Locals said all trails will be marked by the weekend. Trails are great and Hotel is secure and has great accomodations. Only 1 hour north of Montreal and 2 hours by trail south of the parc. Call Wanda for trail updates and local info at the hotel. Plan to ride the Parc Monday and will post a new update when we return.* Snow base in this area is only 8 inches short of the top of a white picket fence.**************** Ride safe and stay right, Happy Holidays to all!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brdgbldr85 Posted December 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Update for Monday 12-22-08 Rode through the parc today from St. Donat on trail 33 north. Leaving St. Donat Lac Archambault was fast and smooth crossing the lake and well marked going into the Parc. All trails in the parc were a 9.5 of 10 and only passed 20 sleds all day. Groomers are going out tonight and smoothing out todays traffic. Temps are currently below Zero F and have froze over any slushy areas on the local lakes. Plan to ride from the Esterel hotel up to St Zenon tommorrow and will post again after our last day out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Update for Monday 12-22-08Rode through the parc today from St. Donat on trail 33 north. Leaving St. Donat Lac Archambault was fast and smooth crossing the lake and well marked going into the Parc. All trails in the parc were a 9.5 of 10 and only passed 20 sleds all day. Groomers are going out tonight and smoothing out todays traffic. Temps are currently below Zero F and have froze over any slushy areas on the local lakes. Plan to ride from the Esterel hotel up to St Zenon tommorrow and will post again after our last day out. Good report! this has got to be a great time to be in Quebec,with most people preoccupied with the holidays i'm sure there is little traffic.Please let us know if there are any major reroutes or new trails in that region,heading up to St. Zenon last week of Jan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scranton1 Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 We stayed at esteral early season last year and the signage was a disaster with all the lakes in the area. Great mid year area but early season could be a f story. Not a lot of local riders. New snow with no signs makes things extremely difficult if not very familiar with the area. Just an fyi from someone with experience. Great facility! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schooter Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 How are the COLLETT's woking? do I need to pbuy one prior to the Jan trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitz Posted December 24, 2008 Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 How are the COLLETT's woking? do I need to pbuy one prior to the Jan trip I have one for sale .Bought new last year, used twice . Works great .Wife doesn't ride anymore. Was over $ 300 new . Will sell for $200 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neksledr Posted December 24, 2008 Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 Hate to rain on anybodys snow, but here we go again. Just spoke with a buddy of mine who just returned from St Michele. They stayed at LeCentral and had one of their snowmachines stolen. The thiefs stole it right out of the trailer and drove away. Big surprise, the police said that is 'very uncommon' there. Couple the thefts with the economy, and soon you will have zero Americans heading north of the border to ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brdgbldr85 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 quote name='Brdgbldr85' date='Dec 21 2008, 11:00 PM' post='6197'] ** Started riding out of the Esterel hotel and headed north on trail 33/43 toward St Donat. Local clubs went out this last monday and groomed the trails flat after the rain and made a firm 25 cm thick solid base before the deep -25 f freeze came in. The trails today going to St donat were a 9 of ten. We got heavy snow all day til now, after noon time it gave 8 inches of snow on top. The trails are in great shape and the lakes are about 12 inches thick( always ride lakes at your own risk) so far. Temps are 5-8F and the entire area has a great base. Had to come back from St. donat after lunch, snow was too heavy to find trails to go on. Locals said all trails will be marked by the weekend. Trails are great and Hotel is secure and has great accomodations. Only 1 hour north of Montreal and 2 hours by trail south of the parc. Call Wanda for trail updates and local info at the hotel. Plan to ride the Parc Monday and will post a new update when we return.* Snow base in this area is only 8 inches short of the top of a white picket fence.**************** Ride safe and stay right, Happy Holidays to all!!! [ Checking how to add pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 quote name='Brdgbldr85' date='Dec 21 2008, 11:00 PM' post='6197']** Started riding out of the Esterel hotel and headed north on trail 33/43 toward St Donat. Local clubs went out this last monday and groomed the trails flat after the rain and made a firm 25 cm thick solid base before the deep -25 f freeze came in. The trails today going to St donat were a 9 of ten. We got heavy snow all day til now, after noon time it gave 8 inches of snow on top. The trails are in great shape and the lakes are about 12 inches thick( always ride lakes at your own risk) so far. Temps are 5-8F and the entire area has a great base. Had to come back from St. donat after lunch, snow was too heavy to find trails to go on. Locals said all trails will be marked by the weekend. Trails are great and Hotel is secure and has great accomodations. Only 1 hour north of Montreal and 2 hours by trail south of the parc. Call Wanda for trail updates and local info at the hotel. Plan to ride the Parc Monday and will post a new update when we return.* Snow base in this area is only 8 inches short of the top of a white picket fence.**************** Ride safe and stay right, Happy Holidays to all!!! Just looked at Esterel hotel web site. Looks like a nice place to stay. Its on my list now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionjack Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Esterel is a very nice place if a little dated. The service is excellent and the security is 2nd to none. Plus the trails are excellent in that area. It is a little on the pricey side tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Esterel is a very nice place if a little dated. Huh? :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Huh? :wacko: That means it's an older place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackstraw Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 Esterel is a very nice place if a little dated. The service is excellent and the security is 2nd to none. Plus the trails are excellent in that area. It is a little on the pricey side tho. How are they with leaving your trucks there and saddlebagging? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 How are they with leaving your trucks there and saddlebagging? Their web site shows a locked corral with gate controlled from front desk. They brag about security a lot so I bet it is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionjack Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 Huh? :wacko: Sorry I'll use simpler English. I'll bet the place was a palace in the 70s. Today it is old and dated and could use some remodeling and UPDATING. I forgot to mention that RAMBO watches your stuff. And we parked our sleds out front where they can be seen by the front desk and they are secured with a fibre optic cable that is monitored by a panel at the front desk. You will feel very welcome at Esterel, lots of anglais spoken there. Wanda was very helpful including filling us in on the detours required to get there last year from the West, as we arrived well after dark - after skiing the afternoon session at Mt. Tremblant on a whim. The lounge area was rocking as we checked in, but quiet by the time we showered and come down for a drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Sorry I'll use simpler English.I'll bet the place was a palace in the 70s. Today it is old and dated and could use some remodeling and UPDATING. I forgot to mention that RAMBO watches your stuff. And we parked our sleds out front where they can be seen by the front desk and they are secured with a fibre optic cable that is monitored by a panel at the front desk. You will feel very welcome at Esterel, lots of anglais spoken there. Wanda was very helpful including filling us in on the detours required to get there last year from the West, as we arrived well after dark - after skiing the afternoon session at Mt. Tremblant on a whim. The lounge area was rocking as we checked in, but quiet by the time we showered and come down for a drink. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scranton1 Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Sorry I'll use simpler English.I'll bet the place was a palace in the 70s. Today it is old and dated and could use some remodeling and UPDATING. I forgot to mention that RAMBO watches your stuff. And we parked our sleds out front where they can be seen by the front desk and they are secured with a fibre optic cable that is monitored by a panel at the front desk. You will feel very welcome at Esterel, lots of anglais spoken there. Wanda was very helpful including filling us in on the detours required to get there last year from the West, as we arrived well after dark - after skiing the afternoon session at Mt. Tremblant on a whim. The lounge area was rocking as we checked in, but quiet by the time we showered and come down for a drink. Great convenient place to park and stay or tour. Charged us 10 bucks a day to leave the truck........Great Deal. The place may have been built in the 70s but its first class compared to the majority of places in Quebec. Similar to the HI in jonquier. We had a great trip in December with great conditions. The club really did a nice job this year marking the trails and lakes with the early onset of winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackstraw Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Great convenient place to park and stay or tour. Charged us 10 bucks a day to leave the truck........Great Deal.The place may have been built in the 70s but its first class compared to the majority of places in Quebec. Similar to the HI in jonquier. We had a great trip in December with great conditions. The club really did a nice job this year marking the trails and lakes with the early onset of winter. I just talked to Wanda at Esteral, she said there was no charge to leave the trucks there, I find that hard to beleive with the amount of security. We are thinking of leaving them there for our 5 day trip towards abitibi and then try to make it to the winter gathering at 100 Lacs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 I just talked to Wanda at Esteral, she said there was no charge to leave the trucks there, I find that hard to beleive with the amount of security. We are thinking of leaving them there for our 5 day trip towards abitibi and then try to make it to the winter gathering at 100 Lacs. Not that hard to believe,I don't think i have ever paid to park my tow vehicle anywhere in Quebec.That would be poor business in my opinion.Most times we stay at that particular place for 1 night anyway,but if i owned a motel and had the room i would want as many trucks parked there as i could get.An example would be passing La Glacier on your way to St. Michele and seeing a ghost town there.It might make you think it's not a good place to stay,esp. if you got to you motel and it was packed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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