towing Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 It was not an easy week for us sledders, rain and mild weather but fortunately it ended up freezing back before the weekend. South of our area near home got slam and even there’s still snow Berthierville and Joliette snowmobile clubs decide to wait for more snow before re-grooming. After a short consultation with Steph, starting from St-Gabriel de Brandon, going up north and having a lunch at Marineau in Rivière Mattawin quickly became the choosen option. Here is the final path traveled:So we attached the trailer and drive up to St-Gabriel highschool parking to drop down there. It was 8:30 under a gray sky, -10C Steph, Krikri and I started our ride going northbound. Just groomed trail to start with= superb conditionsOnce we traveled up in the mountains beyond St-Damien, it becomes obvious that the rain had very little effect in the north and they had the most of the precipitation in snow. It gives us a beautiful new snow depth groomed to perfection on a good hard base: very nice Halfway on the # 23 we choose to take the local trailWhich brings us to the #350which cannot look like a carpet more than thatWe then take the #23 north. Very nice condition, no ice no rock. In fact, I expected less good conditions but we have been getting superb winter conditions from the beginning and just groomed trails... a big thanks to the snowmobile clubs!We take a first break at the Cabanon ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 And then continue on the #345 north to the bridge of the Mattawin river. New snow freshly groomed ...Beautiful and fastI love to ride near the Mattawin river, and this time it still does not disappointed us ...Like others did, we stopped for a short break to enjoy this beautiful sceneryThen got back on seat and rode towards the #360The short section where the #360 and #345 run together had few bumps in curve but past the Repos junction continuing on the #360: beautifulStill freshly groomed top grade trail ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 And the beauty of #360, in addition to good conditions you have the scenery bonusFrost had make up the trees in a magnificent wayWe can’t pass through without stopping a few minutes at 4-40 rest area to enjoy the sceneryThe flow rate is at his highest level for emptying the Taureau reservoirHere a Picnic table to gives a good idea of the snow there, pretty good for the winter we have.We took back the #360, wide and fastThe last section outside the ZEC before arriving at Marineau is very snowyOur classic view there ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Subsequently, the entrance to the bridge was sanded but the rest was okHere in the woods just before getting to the service stationWe finally arrived at 12:15 for lunch with 122miles on the dreameter. As always there, we had a great meal with fast and nice service.After refueling, we retraced our steps on the #360 . The sky had returned on the gray sideAs usual when we make this circuit, we switched on the M20 northA little ripple in some curves otherwise nice and fastThe last ray of sunshine in the afternoon, before it starts to snowHere at the intersection of M21 trail, a 15 miles dead end mostly used by chalets users further north. I had never got there so we gave it a try ...Having less traffic, the conditions there were impeccable. ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 There are some good stretches but the majority is woodland trail. The trail ends a few hundred meters farther on this runawayHere a nice picture of Steph and his Renegade in their element ...We then retraced our steps to resume and continue on the M20A large portion of the M20 narrowest section on the northern part was redone and is now much wider and faster. A great improvement to this trail that was already nice beforeWe took a break at the M20/#345 junction.A gray jay came begging us some food ... He was too shy to come to eat in our hands but jumped on our food when I put it on my GiviSnowmobilers have always something to tale about ...We then took the return path via the #345 south. The traffic of the day had done his work and the morning carpet turned to have a few folds in it then! Krikri with his broken rib did not appreciate much being shaken so she was very happy that we cross the dozer halfway between the bridge and the Cabanon. For those who doubt that there is much new snow there, look at the dozer coming with the blade down pushing snow. Result impeccable trail back ...We stopped to refuel and eat at around 17:30 at Cabanon. We have then took the same morning path to return. The #23trail up to the # 350 was pretty ruff butit was better then. Luckily, we crossed another dozer that had left from St-Gabriel about halfway on the # 23 which gave us the dessert to finish the ride. We finally returned to the trailer at 7:45 p.m. with 293miles on the dreameter.My best ride this winter where we got full real winter conditions all along, it feels good! Also the weather forecast for the coming days is encouraging. Even if there are no big precipitations expected, cold temperatures are previewed and no damned thaw on the horizon! I still hope some snow for the very south to restore the trail network to full operation (and I can start from home!) Hoping for the best Alain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikerider Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Just fantastic pictures Alain. Conditions look so nice. As always, I look forward to reading your reports and seeing your pictures each week. And thanks for all the river pictures!!! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida Snowman Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Beautiful ride, report & pictures Alain & Krikri. It's nice to see mid-winter conditions finally in place in those areas. The cold forecast will help. That's a big day of riding with a broken rib that's healing! Krikri is a real trooper!! Best, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teet F8SP Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Great pictures and report! Best Ive ever read and I say this every time you post. Do you have your go pro set to time delay pic settings so it takes a picture at timed intervals? Or are these pics taken from a video? Trails are setting up nice up there and more snow to come will bring things to 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTrider Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Alain... Rode the same trails on Saturday...had lunch at Marineau at noon. Our paths must of crossed at some point. Great day of riding. Really enjoy your informative posts. We will be back up soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganRev Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I really enjoy your posts, you take great pics, makes you feel like your right there. Thanks for taking the time to post. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkippyDoo Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I love the M20/21 trails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
im4snow Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Outstanding reporting, pictures, and conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Just fantastic pictures Alain. Conditions look so nice. As always, I look forward to reading your reports and seeing your pictures each week. And thanks for all the river pictures!!! mike Yes, with the frosty trees and sun it was magic! a delight for the pics catchers we are... thanks for the good words and they will have many more river pics to come... and even video! Beautiful ride, report & pictures Alain & Krikri. It's nice to see mid-winter conditions finally in place in those areas. The cold forecast will help. That's a big day of riding with a broken rib that's healing! Krikri is a real trooper!! Best, Tom Thanks Tom ! Yes it was for Krikri, in fact she's pretty comfortable and ok but hurt herself when she do some movement she should not do without thinking before... We all know she would recover faster if she stay calm at home but it's not an option... and in fact she hurt herself in the same way when she's at home, better going riding! Great pictures and report! Best Ive ever read and I say this every time you post. Do you have your go pro set to time delay pic settings so it takes a picture at timed intervals? Or are these pics taken from a video? Trails are setting up nice up there and more snow to come will bring things to 100% Thank you very much Teet! In fact my pics system have some malfunction these time...because of a broken rib! Yes it's my lovely wife in backseat that take all the pics you seen in this report with an old sony small camera and most of them at trail speed. I had a Gopro running on this last ride, I had some great video data... I will try to edit a video soon. Alain... Rode the same trails on Saturday...had lunch at Marineau at noon. Our paths must of crossed at some point. Great day of riding. Really enjoy your informative posts. We will be back up soon. We crossed our path for sure, I enter to lunch there at 12:15! We were seat in the rear of the canopy to the left. I really enjoy your posts, you take great pics, makes you feel like your right there. Thanks for taking the time to post. Dave Glad you enjoy, it is he effect we want to have in our report, and you know what... I myself re-read many of them sometimes years ago and live again my old ride an other time! They are great souvenirs for ourself too I love the M20/21 trails. The M20 is even more fun to ride with the widen section on the north side! Outstanding reporting, pictures, and conditions. Thanks im4snow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Nice report Alain, looking good up there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpysanta Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 BEAUTYIFUL PICS as usual and great report what day of the week did you do this trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcstar Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 BEAUTYIFUL PICS as usual and great report what day of the week did you do this trip Yo Grumpy it says it right on every photo.......Saturday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazer Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Wow Alain those trails were a real treat, I wish the rest of the province was like that. As always you and KriKri are a real team together Beautiful pictures my freind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpysanta Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Alain can you send me info on that place in parent looks good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teet F8SP Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 Hats off to your wife for taking such great pictures while riding!! Always enjoy reading and re-reading and re-reading your reports!! We will be up in a week to stay at the Real Masse for 3-4 days, looking forward to seeing more of your reports! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 Nice report Alain, looking good up there Thanks Viper, yes they now got the edge it was missing the weeks before, very nice now Yo Grumpy it says it right on every photo.......Saturday! Sometimes you won't see what you have just in face... happened to me more than once! Wow Alain those trails were a real treat, I wish the rest of the province was like that. As always you and KriKri are a real team together Beautiful pictures my freind Thanks Trailblazer! Alain can you send me info on that place in parent looks good You probably write about the other thread for a Parent trip. The cottage are l'ombre du vent, you have all there: http://www.ombreduvent.com/home.html Hats off to your wife for taking such great pictures while riding!! Always enjoy reading and re-reading and re-reading your reports!! We will be up in a week to stay at the Real Masse for 3-4 days, looking forward to seeing more of your reports! She have many years of experience in doing that and she's pretty skill! I re-read those many time myself!!! if you want re-read an old good one 2012, check this one, :http://www.quebecrider.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2357&hl=chibougamau Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catchem Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Alain, I just wanted to tell you how nice it is to get your ride reports. My buddies and I read up on your reports of the conditions each time you ride. It was kind of cool to actually be in a couple of your pictures and not even knowing it, till on our way home on one of your January trips. Thank you very much for all you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 (edited) My pleasure catchem ! ho ya, you were on our pics...small world!!! and you can be proud, we keep just the best pics and you were one of them!!!...loll Edited February 19, 2016 by towing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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