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Team Vermont on the move 😜


markusvt
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After hanging out in Maine for a week riding with the crew up there,(love those guys!) it was time to go back to Quebec on a bit of an adventure ride. We started this morning from Mattawin and headed out the 360 then up the M20 then to the end of M21. All of it very very nice, lots of snow here.

I would say there were 40 sleds that stayed overnight in Mattawin so I thought there would be lots of sleds out here, but all day it’s been very quiet, advantage of mid week.

Headingout this morning we quickly caught one of the groups that left before us. We passed the back two guys and then the front guy decided to pick up the pace a bit and was riding very very well. Older guy on a Yamaha with textbook perfect riding, I thought it might’ve been Iceman. He was cranking that thing staying inside of the turns and not letting any cobwebs grow on him that’s for sure. We kept the pace up until the intersection of M20 and then he had to stop and wait for his buddies. As far as I know he might still be waiting.

We got to the end of M 21 and then did off trail all the way over to Kanawata , beautiful day, no traffic in the bush. We did get to follow a pretty large wolf on the M21 for awhile. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen one up here close, I always forget how huge they are!

Celine at Kanawata was in a super good mood today and made us a great lunch after Stefan filled us up with gas, $2.35 a liter please.

After lunch we headed off to Barage Gouin for the night. It’s nice to have the restaurant open. Carol is also in a super cheery mood and we are only one of three groups here for the night. A massive group was leaving as we arrived, they had come across the reservoir from Poirier Martin’s outside of Clover. 

Tomorrow the plan to go across the reservoir and then straight north to
Chibougamau, no trails just straight north. We hear we might find snow!

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Edited by markusvt
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Just fan Fu*&ing tastic.  GREAT PICS....feel like I'm there in a lot of them....(well I WAS last week). You guys are a special breed. Up the M21 and into the bush heading north.

We have never really adventured too much (and when we did it wasnt good) going out of the camp and heading north on the PLETHRA of unplowed logging roads. Our machines and setup are just not conducive. But you guys got it down for sure. I see gas is a MUCH more important item on the back of those sleds than spare clothing...LOL. I'm always trying to squeeze in another couple beers and bags of trail mix ...LOL

Wish you boys THE BEST this week and look forward to traveling along via computer......

And oh BTW......22 years of travelling the M21 and never have seen a moose or wolf.......you were VERY lucky....

Edited by snowmaster2112
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Success. Made it to Hotel Nordic in the daylight, barely! Johnny at Gouin booked us at his place for for 2 nights due to the snow depth and consistency, (he did not thing we would make it and would have to return back), bet we did NOT need it.  He said this was not a ride for children 😜 Funny guy. His side trail yesterday was FLAWLESS😏

Very deep snow for the 50 miles on the Gouin made for a bit of tough going and it only got more challenging from there on. More stucks that we bargained for due to the insane snow. ( The 2 recent mega snow dumps have buried everything!)

We did ride 10 miles of the 93 coming into the Hotel. Unbelievable nice trail! Don’t walk, RUN to Chibougamau, the snow and trails are that good! They will be riding for WEEKS more here no doubt 👍

 

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Edited by markusvt
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What an adventure.  That’s a lot of snow! Dig outs are a calorie burning cardio workout for sure.  Enjoy your ride!

We got caught in the storm a week and a half ago running from Sacre Coeur to Saint Felicien.  After multiple dig outs we called an audible at 4:00.  “We are not going to make it.  What’s the closest town? Alma, 17 miles by trail”.  Five dig outs later, find the closest road, Google map to the Universal.  Got the last two rooms. (Nice rooms). Great dinner. 

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The back country’s shine in 2 feet of powder on a trail, no problem at all and no chance of getting stuck. But once you venture off on untracked in 4 to 10 feet of virgin snow, all bets are off.

Today’s mission was the 93 from Chibougamau to La Dore. I know they only groom this once a week, usually Wednesday and Thursday, but they haven’t groomed it since last week. Even so the trail was perfect all the way down 

The groomer was heading out this morning the same time we were to go groom an almost perfectly groomed  trail. The 93 this year has been rerouted some from the old trail, sometimes as much as 10 to 15 miles away, I’m not sure why they did that but it’s actually better all the way down. With 160 miles between gas stops there is very little traffic on it. 

We did stop at the sawmill and check out the gas situation there. They have a pump, it is powered up and seems to be some type of special key code activation, it does not take credit cards.

We also found a safe place to play in the snow a bit.

We passed a groomed trail to a outfitter or something of some sort, LaHaulte  De some thing, but we didn’t go down and check it out. It is the only sign of civilization on this whole run. 

Once we got down into population we took some of the orange trails to the hotel, everything was groomed perfect and it was mainly the locals just getting out and about,

Tomorrow is off trail from La Dore all the way over to Windigo, big mission, should be fun.

 

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Edited by markusvt
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      Mark, YOU GUYS ARE NUTZZZZ. We stayed at Mattawin monday night and only a few sleds. Did 1000 miles this week up around the lake, on trail only! One of our guys pulled off trail up around Girardville,and it took 20 minutes to get him out, cant imagine riding like you guys. Have a good trip.

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1 hour ago, 800steve said:

Mark, YOU GUYS ARE NUTZZZZ

They are a bit off, (trail that is) but they love it and know what they are getting into. GPS and not afraid to use it. 

When they took me to Havre ST. Pierre I witnessed first hand how this team operates and it’s impressive. No way in hell I would have made it to HSP that day without them. 

Big Respect for these guys. 

Sometimes I think about buying me a sled that could go where they go on these adventures, then I see their pictures and feel great about my decision to stay on the trails.

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10 minutes ago, GSX800 said:

It is great riding along with your pictures and commentary.  Too many 60 plus year olds and those that are really close in our group.  I think we’ll stay on the trail.  

  Those guys are not as young as you think.

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Arrived at Windigo early actually after 185 miles of off trail from Saint Felician.  Stellar day today with bright blue skies and the temperatures that got up to 25F. So much snow, maybe the most I remember in doing these type of things.

In the middle of the bush we met three Canadian guys coming from their camp. They asked where we were going and we told them Windigo. They said you can’t get there from here I said oh yes we can.  Often the locals know their own little areas but they don’t venture out to far. He invited us to go visit him at his camp in the future, I know exactly where it is so maybe we will on our next trip through. Everyone is so friendly even in the bush. His team was on 24 inch expedition SWT‘s, they are on go anywhere sleds for sure. He is disabled and had a cane strapped to the back of his sled after a recent hip replacement, everyone can stop the whining now on why they can’t get out!

We also met a guy out on the rivers with his buddies that is a paraplegic, he is riding a modified free ride sled with his buddies, going everywhere they can go. Super nice guy very helpful, it was an honor to meet him on his local back trails.

We did ride a little bit of the 83 coming into relay 22, but then rode off trail all the way into Windigo using some of the Park Roads, the rivers and the Lakes, everything is in really good condition!

Relay 22 was rocking for the few minutes we got to hang out there, Sophie, Caroline, and Carrie Ann are there to welcome everybody and are very good hostesses.

Most old guys in this group ranging from 53-62.

There are two other Vermonters here tonight from Barrie that rode we the trail from Chibougamau , 310 miles one way. 

It’s an easy day tomorrow back to the truck though we have to decide do we go across the lake and rivers or just stick on the trail, we will decide that at breakfast I think.

we did get to see some wildlife today, no wolves but we did feed the gray jays out of our hands. We also saw a snowshoe rabbit hopping through the woods happy as can be, and another one being dragged flopping around by an owl, I think that poor dude was done.

 

 

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Edited by markusvt
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Just stellar boys, wishing you a great ride to the trucks. Thanks for taking us along.
PS When in the bush and meeting locals just drop snowmasters name. He knows lots of folks

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