Ah good to be out again. After a very long January watching all the riding taking place. I have escaped from bablyon to the trails.

This trip thrown together in an area we would normally not really target. However if Mrs Ice says she wants to see the Mountain Noire then she will see it,

Playhard and his Brother Adam arrived around 4pm yesterday. Both their sleds already here at my house waiting. We went out for an early dinner and decided on an 8:30 departure.

From home TQ3 to St Etienne crossing river st Maurice at La Gabelle, gas full St Etienne. Light snow overnight maybe 1.5-2” fluffy stuff. TQ3 to TQ63 then local orange to St Leon de Grande. All great lots of sleds out but most going the other way, it’s Saturday. We are in very populated areas. This is how it is.

350 then Back on TQ3 here is all great riding.

Local Orange through St Norbert. To 345.

From here on TQ43 is quite a bit of shared trail and just not super compared to what else is out there available. Tight here in many sections Mrs Ice has the point and is doing stellar work of railing the right. Just slower going then we are used to, very twisty, with lots of road crossings and traffic. But it was known and this was expected. It’s all Part of the game. On and on this TQ43 seems never ending. Through Entrelacs and Estrel. Seeing Lots of rentals and a few big tourist groups out for afternoon rides. The Guides do let us pass rather quickly once they found a good spot. So onward TQ43 some more to St Agathe and here we are. Headed for Mountain Noire in the morning.

Great day with excellent group of riders.

Excellent experience for Mrs Ice in smaller tight trail. She is a natural.

Saw lots of people stopped in very questionable places, but probably my favorite was the guy at the road crossing parked with his two up right where you wait to cross. helmet off just standing there chatting with the wife on back. Leaving one sled wide next to him for two way trafiic at the road crossing. Hello?

I lost points today as I did not give my Valentine her lunch break very bad husband.

Lots of photos as we have Team Iceman’s mass media department along. Thanks to David and Caro for the pictures.

Looks like a great day. Thanks for sharing. I hope today goes well for you all.

More photos from, Saturday

Saint Come Ice Festival today?

Have fun!

16 hours ago, Florida Snowman said:

Saint Come Ice Festival today?

Have fun!

No we didn’t go through.

Sunday ❤️ ride day 2

Stayed last night in downtown Ste Agathe des Monts. Super 8, was super. Nice parking right outside front door and we decided on St Hubert Delivery which we at in the breakfast area, right in the lobby.

The two women at the front desk were great, glad to get us extra napkins and a big garbage bag to clean up after ourselves. 

We got another beautiful day to ride this morning and we decided to do the 6-7-8. We had breakfast at seven in lobby says it opens at 7 

but Adam has had 4 coffees already and breakfast was served at 6am if you wanted. A Continental breakfast. Help yourself. 

Out the driveway 5 strong 8am.

I am gonna lead today. To start. Out to 33 fresh groom first tracks. Parc Linear. Go go. Sweet run up to 317 like i said i don’t remember much here its been years. Man that 317 i though i was headed to Godbout for a few minutes, quite a roller coaster. All great fresh groom maybe some night riders last night but its awesome. 

First trip with all 5 using radio coms. We need to use some keywords and agree what will be our Standard operating procedures. Rare we are this big of a group. 

Arrive at local trail up to Mtn Noire. Seen 5 sleds so far.

As usual Sunday morning is awesome early. 

Up to Black Mountain and Mrs Ice gets her wish big sunshine and blue sky on the mountain. Spent time to climb up tower and check everything out. 

Really was a spectacular view and cool stop.

She takes us to all the best places this woman. Down the mountain and we rejoin 33 it’s a left turn to circle up and around the 33 Clockwise toward ND merci and eventually on to Coin Lavigne. 

33 was tabletop and I tell Caro to take point so she can run and have fun out front. She did an impressive job yesterday in the twisty stuff for hours. Really a natural up there she is. Calling out traffic and hazards.

No real surprise as the teacher(mrs ice) has had an ok teacher of her own, I think. 🤔 

There’s no replacement for experience. Seat time. On and in different conditions, terrain and territory. 

Trail is freshly groomed all the way to intersection for 310 from here 33 still good but showing some use. Into Coin Lavigne for lunch and gas again easily more than 20 years since I stopped here. Beat the rush as everyone waking up now.

Great Stop. Mrs Ice gets her break after almost 100 miles this morning. Everything is right in the world. 

Inquired with Stephane one owner I believe of Coin Lavigne as trail 33 up to 63 showing last groom February 5.

First he said machine broken?

Then I showed him IMotoneige and said it’s groomed every side just this machine is broken? Then says well trail is on parc road so does not get bad like trails in woods. Better answer. but I am not convinced.

First section of 33 not terrible but all turns the corners are badly bumped up. Not seen this anywhere else lately. We pass orange local totry to take 33 to 63 and into St Michel. But after a few km it’s clearly not the trail for us. I got Playhard all patched up good he is finally feeling good first time in years. He cannot and should not be hammering through this mess. 

He called out to abort so we turned around and headed for local orange trail to 63 then up through Cabanon to St Michel des Saints. Trails through here better then i have seen in forever, maybe never this nice. 

Great Day 

Short Run back to home tomorrow. 

Until next time 

10 hours ago, iceman said:

More photos from, Saturday

Excellent! Early morning is always best. Have a great ride home.

Great pictures on the mountain. Did you feed the birds? They will land on your arm and eat out of your hand.

just fantastic Don. Glad you guys are having a great trip and ditto on the pictures. The one of you and Caro at the top of the tower is a keeper !!

4 hours ago, Snobeeler said:

Great pictures on the mountain. Did you feed the birds? They will land on your arm and eat out of your hand.

Saw a few birds but they did not come down. Was some birdseed around there they probably were not hungry.

7 hours ago, snowmaster2112 said:

just fantastic Don. Glad you guys are having a great trip and ditto on the pictures. The one of you and Caro at the top of the tower is a keeper !!

Thanks Chris really awesome out there.

13 hours ago, wng-2 said:

Excellent! Early morning is always best. Have a great ride home.

Like a slot car track this morning.

Monday ❤️ ride day 3

Stayed at Hotel St Michel right across from Gas in town next to Pub 111.

Fairly new place. Awesome stay. Walk next door to eat. Home run. 

Today is straightforward get us back to Chez Ice as it’s turnaround day. We got 103 miles to Chez Ice. Then a bonus ride to Trois Rivieres and Moto Thibault, to drop off David’s machines and get Mrs Ice’s “blue thunder” and my Andre Apex a little love before Gaspe in 2 weeks. 

7-8 today as decided to do no formal breakfast and hit the trail. Got the bags on and we are moving. Never rode from town to Cabanon on a perfect trail…. before today. Slot Car fast. Railing it the entire way. First tracks. Just nearing Cabanon they must have dropped the green because the race the other way was on. All good through there then 23 east is sweet as the rest. 

To 345 and time to let the Mrs run a bit. She hustles that Apex smoothly love to watch her work. 

Snohorse is old faithful in 3 all weekend. Then Playhard followed by our Tail gunner Brother Adam. 

Happy to get to ride with Brother Adam this run, as always a good time great company. On and off trail. 

Playhard is feeling super good and I am so happy he is back in the saddle and loving it. 

Down to 350 and still great trails no issues. Through Lac Blanc seeing some traffic but not crazy. Through St Alexis then onwards to 63 then to 3. All awesome here merci Club Armony, yes sir. Gas in St Etienne and we wrap it up to the house. Strip bags from sleds its 11:30. Playhard, Brother, Mrs Ice and I make tracks to Moto Thibault. Snohorse is waiting with David’s truck when we arrive. 

We drop off sleds get dressed down. Return to chez ice. David and Adam finish getting changed and are southbound, NY tonight. 

Great run, trails super, riding partners excellent. 

Now back to School for Mrs Ice her next adventure first week march Gaspe

Snohorse and I are not ready to surrender just yet 

1901 miles on the new Renegade XRS 900r since feb 6

North tomorrow up to the Lac. Time for some Bingo in the honey hole and beyond. 

I think these 2 children missed their mother.

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great run! I see Monkey is still in the saddle, lots of miles under his belt!