PISTON LAKE CRUISER

No sleds here
Island Time

Not Valin
Hello, snowmobilers.

Although the St-Raymond Snowmobile Club supports other clubs facing issues with ZECs, I would like to clarify that the St-Raymond Snowmobile Club and the Batiscan Nelson ZEC (ZBN) are working closely together. The ZBN and the St-Raymond Snowmobile Club have a signed agreement that complies with the law. Under this agreement, the ZBN has no intention of charging fees for snowmobiling in their area.

The ZBN has established a committee to improve access to their area; this committee is working very hard to achieve this goal, thereby allowing you to enjoy their splendid scenery.

So, fellow snowmobilers, let’s all be grateful for the ZBN’s remarkable efforts. A simple “thank you” will surely be appreciated.

The President of the St-Raymond Snowmobile Club.

Work continues

Sunrise drone pic from here in Island Pond about a week ago.

Rental sled, out west for a few weeks.
Crazy shit out here!
Where the truck is where Thelma & Louise went off the Cliff near Moab.

Always know where the emergency stop spots are!

Finally. My wife Nancy and I got out for the first boat ride of 2026.
The boat is 72 years old now. Built by my Grandfather circa 1954. Known as Pépère's boat. I am now older than he was when he built it.... 😲 Beautiful day out there today..
Video

Let's have a thread to post pictures of our Summer Sled Adventures. Whether your "Summer Sled" is a SXS, boat, car, motorcycle, paddle board, kayak..... This thread can give a place to check in and see what fellow QuebecRiders are doing for fun off season.
Here is a couple pictures from locally in Nova Scotia on the SXS.

Roberval
IMPORTANT NOTICE – LOSS OF 2 RIGHTS OF WAY
> It is with great disappointment that we must inform you that Club Passe Partout has just lost two rights of way on private property.
> Why? ATVs were driven on federal trails out of season, broke fences, left tracks in the fields, and ignored signage. The landowners, fed up, have simply closed off access—not just to ATVs, but to us snowmobilers as well.
> Result: Access to Mashteuiatsh, St. Prime, and the upper part of the lake has become problematic.
> We’re not the police, but we ask you to do one simple thing:
- Respect the open season (December 1 to March 31)
- Stay on the marked trails
- If you see offenders, speak up, film them (without putting yourself in danger), and notify us
> Our right of way isn’t a given. It’s a privilege granted by farmers and residents who trust us. A minority has just ruined it for hundreds of members.
> Please share. Let’s protect our trails together.
> — The Club’s Board of Directors

Sorry if anyone had any issues with the site this morning. The SSL certificate expired. I installed the new one this morning. We should be good for another year.

Want to see what it’s like in two weeks?
Left for Island time 2 weeks (plus a few days)
Looked like this


Return to this

We are thinking of coming up for a spring ride this week and were wondering about the current conditions. Is it worth it to come up, leave from Riviere Du Loup and do a loop through the chic-cocs?
Thanks

On 3/28 we finshed our 10 day saddlebag we totaled 2031 miles. That includes 1 day of repairs and 1/2 day of a slow 20 mph ride nursing a broken track.
That's a wrap for our impulsive March saddlebag. After the White Road being closed due to the Rain. We decided to do a saddlebag trip from Baie Comeau to the ontorio border. However we didnt quite make it but got super close. Just a 1/2 day's ride to ontorio..
I guess this was an official start/research of a border to border for the Quebec province from labrador to Ontario saddlebag that I'm planning for next year.lol
This was my longest saddlebag trip breaking my 1500 miles record.
95% great conditions and loads of snow left!
Day 1: Baie Comeau to auberge 31 = 218 miles
Day 2: Saint-Félicien @ Hotel du jardin = 172 miles
Day 3: Chibougamau @ hotel Chibougamau = 181 miles
Day 4: Matagami @ Hotel Matagami = 266 miles
Day 5: Senneterre @ Motel Reneco = 206 miles
Day 6: clova = 171 miles
Day 7: relais 22 = 315 miles (100 bonus miles on wrong trail)
Day 8: alma @ hotel universal = 150 miles
Day 9: Sainte Rose @ Pourvoirie de la Seigneurie Olaf = 150 miles
Day 10: Baie Comeau @ hotel manic 2000 = 206 miles.
Great trip met old and new friends. Russell in st felicien who helped me when my sled broke down a couple years ago. Also in that town and in Chibougamau i ran into my buddies James R. Bergeron and the Troy Powersports crew. True die hard riders! Then met the legendary beaver & Gary who ride 10k per year for a decade plus. Knows most inn owners etc. Funny guys! Then met Steven & Ellen. Steve also rides 10k per year. Great funny couple also extremely knowledgeable. Then martin relais 22 owner who is funny guy. He helped fixed a blown tunnel cooler with jd weld and a ripped track. And finally silveo the manager of olaf outfitters. That place was awesome! I highly recommend it.
Many good laughs. A break down of course but we manged to fix it barely. After calling 6 places looking for a track.
Then 100 mile bonus taking the wrong trail 45 miles the wrong way then going back to get gas out of our way. Making for a hundred bonus miles and a 315 mile day.
One of the Highlight comments was from Tom when we're looking at the map there was a long dead end Trail in the middle of nowhere and he said what idiots would ever take that trail. I spoke up and said us we did it last year!

I met a fellow QR member last season. I was lucky enough to have traded phone numbers with him. That exchange paid dividends this week when I was unable to find a riding partner. Gaf called me up and that was that. Great couple days around the Mighty Mitchi with Bill and his friend Wayne.

Thanks Don, really appreciate the in depth reports and photography! Certainly was a great year to be a sledder!

Abitibi Trip⛏️🌲
Friday March 27

As always great stay at Hotel Forestal. This place has come a long ways over the years. Restaurant has always been solid here with Natalie and Valerie doing awesome work here. The Breakfast buffet is easy and fast. 

Dinner was great. We met Lee sorry did not catch his last name and his wife Kelly. Lee is quite a character and has been all over Quebec. Great conversation. 
Definitely an ambassador for the sport. Great guy. 

Love the loft rooms here they are very well done. 

Today is it. The end of a terrific season.
Time to “put on our snowmobiles for one last day this season.” 

We are out early and on sleds before 8am. 
Pretty hilarious i think the last day is probably my earliest start all year as at 7:51 am, I start inreach track. 
Cold this morning out here -18c. Crisp. Snow is crunchy. Can’t be fooling around with no gloves on for very long. Good amount of guys outside loading sleds and gear to leave. That will soon be us in Amos. 
Let’s get this over with.
Local trail right in front of hotel is not fresh groom but fine and dandy. We run to junction and head West on TQ83. Beautiful trail here as well. All real nice in this town no complaints. We take 313 now and its another beautiful ride. Wow really a nice mix of everything out here. Minus the big mountains of course. The terrain varies and is a nice mix. 

Part way up and well if it isn’t another one of those mechanical wonders I love so much. Ski Dozer, groomer or surfacer, call it what you like. 
He is grooming perfect trail. Now as discussed in an earlier episode it’s simple really. 
For trail to be perfect it needs to be groomed 
Grooming a perfect trail is how it stays perfect
All temperature dependent of course. 

Now he is heading south usually so tempting to want to ride on that white ribbon. But is perfect over here no need to even put one ski over there.  

Arriving at 309/313 here is where dozer came from we continue un groomed perfect trail north 313 direction TQ93 Barraute region. Before arriving to TQ93 I hear Playhard very excitedly on radio. 
Moose Moose Moose 🫎 🫎🫎
3 moose must be real  
Playhard has a tendency to read all the signs and now this being his first season mic’d up he kinda narrates as he leads let’s say. 
It’s all individual styles. He really probably doesn’t realize it even,  he is just riding along loving every minute of it. 
This week have heard him say moose alot before but usually only once each time. So without asking i just back down a bit and each time the 🫎 well it was a trail warning sign for moose. 
Same thing for Bambi, then sign for Deer. Too funny.

This time though is real. Not a large one very young,
He crested one of the famous Abitibi rollers and moose was sleeping at bottom of other side on trail. 
He was not going fast and both were just as surprised to see each other, I am certain.  Feel bad for this poor creature the snow is close to 4 feet in most places I would not want to have to try to walk in that either. 
Closer look at the beautiful beast showing some blood 🩸 around its mouth area and i saw some blood on trail where was laying, not alot but some. Its hind left leg seems injured too. Using it to move but seems to be favoring the other quite a bit. 
Moves up trail stops and looks at us. Hate to see any animal injured. Now what? This moose is not going to jump off into that deep snow. We waited a bit just let it relax. It slowly kept moving north and finally was like a small bush trail off to left it moved over and partway off big trail and we snuck by. Saw three guys just up ahead taking photos so I made sure to give tgem heads up for moose ahead. 


Onward to TQ93
Left turn we are on final stretch now. We are closing in on Truck. Here trail is amazing and stays that way all the way to the Trailer in Amos, finished up on fresh groomed trail from outside Amos right to hotel. Great cherry on top for an awesome season. 10 am

We now get sleds unloaded then loaded on trailer. Slip into area near restaurant and get changed out in the coatroom. Was great. Then its time to hit black trail. 
Playhard has the com and does just friggin awesome 
One oversized truck with escorts trucks gave us a bit of a slow down on 117 but we eventually get by. Lots of police on road too. Friday, sunny day and end of the month. Not reallly worried about police. We truck on. 
Playhard doesn’t want to give up the wheel. Little bit of traffic by 64O near Montreal. Then 40 east and hammer time. Left Amos 10:40. Dropped trailer at shop 6:30.
Finished up the week together with a loss. 
We trucked it up to Shawinigan to join Mrs Ice at Centre Gervais Auto. First playoff match for the Shawinigan Cataractes (LHJMQ) (CHL) it’s the First Cat’s hockey for David with us here. 
Playhard did his first “tomahawk chop” well at least he got to do one as we lost 4-1. Phoenix of Sherbrooke take game 1. 

Playhard stayed the night at Chez Ice and this morning he is inbound USA. 

Spectacular season 
With the return of Playhard in the saddle again after a year off the band was back together again. 
The team is solid all great assets on and off the trail. 
Snohorse,NHmoose and Mrs Ice as well. We covered a good bit of the province with our trips this year. 
Rode nothing in January 
Finished up with just over 5kmiles. 

It not about the miles. 

Looking forward to next season. Lots of riding still left for those wanting to go for it. Quality trails with ongoing grooming. Abitibi is full on winter still. But It changes quick. 

We shall see what the snow gods have in store next season for us. You Can plan all you want. Where and if and when the snow falls will determine the rest. 

Thanks to everyone who reads along. 


Thanks to all the snowmobile clubs for making beautiful trail and especially thanks to all the land owners, without them this would not be possible.


Another season in the books, it was a great one. 


Until next time…..


































VIDEO-2026-03-28-12-17-32.mp4 VIDEO-2026-03-28-12-17-57.mp4 VIDEO-2026-03-28-12-16-46.mp4

Great ride Don...super nice area up there...and yes very important to have 2 or 3 things you can look at to determine where you are and which way to go...a lot has changed in the last few years and years of experience helps a lot in combination with that....you definitely want to be carrying spare gas ...thanks for taking us along...great to see Playhard back!!

Monday March 23rd on road outside of Gouin

Great photo spot

Abitibi Trip ⛏️🌲
Sunday March 22

7:30 breakfast. Leisurely morning. Out back of hotel I start track. A Few sleds have left but not many. Did I mention it’s snowing, they need more snow, (not)
Maybe 2-3 inches. Still snowing now not the greatest visibility. Out the back of hotel we turn right, west on TQ93. Won’t be needing scratchers today or any day this week i do believe. Lots of snow. Borderline on too much snow at once and has yet to be fully groomed in for sure. Some places only groomed once since storm. Following only a few tracks here headed west as well. Trailis decent here and down over River Harricana in town its winter here.

We wind around and take 307 north off TQ93 here trail is decent too. It’s spring conditions, so sorry it’s not getting a spectacular rating from me yet. But like i said I get it. We go up and now to 396 getting better here as for sure been obviously less traffic. 3-4 sled tracks ahead. Left side untouched. Cross river Haricana again , Here Club Matagami has just groomed last night. Is very nice here but real loose snow. We decided it was 40 miles up and then turn back, we are “ loopers” today, right snohorse? We are staying one more night in Amos so just kinda meandering around. It’s quickly obvious anything other than Trans Quebec is not terrible. But some of TQ93 is not fabulous at all. 
Backtracking we stop for gas in Pikogan next to Rodeway Inn. My gas light on at 129km today. Cote Nord and Gaspe running 150-160km before seeing light. Loose trail conditions severely affecting mileage. Oh well. 
Back through Amos past Hotel and continue on TQ93
So so, nothing to jump up and down about but we are riding. Sun is trying to poke through snow has stopped. We run down to 309 and here we finally have something as nice as 396 earlier. Seems we been through some real trash at places to get to it here but we are here. 309 to La Corne 316 direction La Motte. Mixed bag here, very rideable. Now to 307 and north back to Amos Airport and rejoin TQ93 into town to gas and hotel. 

172 miles in at 3:24. 
Alot less trucks only 4 with trailers left now. 
Maybe 10-12 sleds i say. Tonight. 

Waitress here was cooking, tending bar and waiting tables. 
Melissa is a boss. Getting it done solo. Wow. Impressive felt bad for. David and I offered to make our own drinks that was quickly denied. Our offer to help out cheffing it up in the kitchen was also declined. We tried. 

Tomorrow we are headed to La Sarre area. 
Hoping to see machinery has been burning fuel grooming while I sleep 5-6hrs . 


Show me the Purple please. 


I don’t want to have to do anything drastic. 


Stay tuned.

Abitibi Trip⛏️🌲
Saturday March 21. 


Finally time to get the last ride in this season with Playhard. We threw around every option. The original plan is the one that stuck. West it shall be. Earlier in the week I played trailer checkers. Bringing trailer up from shop unloading the Mrs. Ice machine  “blue thunder” into garage awaiting its douche before hibernation. Back to moto Thibault. Take on two. One of my Apex and one of David’s Apex. Loaded and back to the house staged for Saturday morning launch. Playhard arrived about 6pm friday. He brought along some delicious giant chicken fingers from Sunoco in Champlain off I87. Nice. 


Good nights rest and no hurry got all day. Pin trailer and load my gear in Davids truck. Off at 8:41. 
Nice dry road and beautiful day to trailer it black trail. 
Been six years since last ride up this road 117 here. Make excellent time. 4:30 in Amos. Hit gas station, Canadian Tire and ATM in centerville. Then off to Amosphere Hotel. 
All good here at Amosphere. Had awesome burger with smoked meat, bacon, sauce bbq and cheese. With crispy beer batter fries. Wattatow. Damn good.

Tons of snow. Looks full mid winter. Good amount of trailers both at Forestal on way by in Val d’or and here. 
Easily 25 sleds and 12-14 trucks trailer. 
We shall see what we find out there tomorrow. 

We hung out at that intersection yesterday and talked to some folks my buddy knew.
It looked fabulous heading south on that Lepine trail with only a couple tracks on it.
Just got back to Andre’s on the Gouin.
175 AWESOME miles today and never saw another sled

Tell your buddy true saddle baggers pack quarts of rum, others pack 2 stroke oil! LOL

Thank you so much for the reports and especially for the pictures Team Ice! Our group of 4 had the privilage of 6 times around Gaspe over the years. Sadly, age and the lose of one of our group has ended our yearly saddlebag trips after more than 30 years. Your detailed reports and the wonderful pictures have brought back a lot of wonderful memories of Gaspe for me. Thanks again and please keep up the great reporting!
Brian

Cote Nord Trip 🐳
Trail Day 4 Wednesday March 11


7am breakfast downstairs at Hotel. Nothing fancy but did the job. 
Plan is simple we are running to the trucks now. 
Les Escoumins tonight. Out on sleds rolling at 8am trying to beat heavier snow and stronger winds forecast later this afternoon. 
Maxim (Max) manager at Travel Lodge him, along with Mia and Macey very helpful super friendly and speak English too. Great option in Baie Comeau, with by far easiest access. Very snowmobile friendly. Ski Doo Dealer on same trail. 
Its still real icy not alot of crumbs or anything some real glare ice in many spots. Scratchers are working. Just before big reroute to go on road over bridge in Chute Outardes, Along the road incoming from Snowhorse’s radio “cop” huh? 
I glance left and he is pacing us alongside on road. We are barely doing 60km its pure ice we are just trying to get out of town. He drives off. 
We pass the earthen dam at Manic 1 (I think that is it) and come to where the detour really starts. Right where you go out and down to the road over bridge. All on the single track trail. 


Cop is parked here waiting. Seeing us jumps out walks over, seen him from far. Pull up and shut it down. Asking where we going I tell him. He takes quick look probably for mirrors then says to the guys where are you from, the usual. Then asks for paperwork but quickly changes his mind once we begin reaching for it. Maybe a test to see our reactions to his request? Anyway he said in English to us nevermind, have a safe ride. I told him thank you and you be safe as well out there. We went our separate ways. But our shadow watched to make sure we made full stops at the road crossings there and the Employees parking lot you cross also. 


There is a sign in French at road over bridge says only one snowmobile at a time on the bridge. alternating sides if necessary. 


Interesting. Must be a gong show on weekends in season. We did the one at a time, as our shadow was parked up the hill looking I am sure. 
Apex hot now, showing Yellow light. Can’t scratch up frozen mud to aid cooling. All before bridge here its bare. I roll on and it took longer than I would have liked but light went off never saw it again. 


Once clear of town and past Club House Bolides Ragneau, this trail improves quite a bit still hard but some snow dust here. Its a start we are heading back towards snowmobiling not icemobiling. 


Absolutely love this new TQ3 configuration with the Pessamitt bypass. So great the trail and the views. We roll on two sleds pass other way going north, we exchange bonjours but they were anglophones like us. Heard them talking on radios before seeing them. 


Just at 10:30 snow begins here outside Forestville. 
Snowy in Forestville 
Gas and call to Les Escoumins to secure the exact rooms we want. 
We roll. There is new snow here, scratchers are finished. (Thank you for all you did for me, without you I would be nowhere far.)


Direction Portneuf sur mer, we take by pass and cut corner. TQ3 now to Escoumins, more frosting here trail still slippery under. We make great time
2hr 50 minutes to Forrestville from Baie Comeau 
Then 1hr 35 minutes to Les Escoumins. 
Arrive at trucks it’s blowing good now. Not the  worst I seen here as storms go. But it’s a good one. 
John and I make the run to Grocery store and are well provisioned. 


Will evaluate in morning. Snohorse and I are very interested to wait a day if necessary to see some purple. NHmoose is looking for weather window to extricate himself from up here its 10 hrs to home for him easy. We have hard stop for this run as I really need to be back on Sunday latest at home. 
Looking like Friday and Sunday are two black trail days, to drive out of here. When sleds are in box behind truck if I have choice it’s gonna be a black trail not a white one. 


No pictures today. Sorry. 


Will see what happens. 


Stay Tuned……