towing
Expert
Saturday morning, clear sunny blue sky -8celcius… let’s ride !!!
We started our ride from St-Gabriel de Brandon via #345 trail to Taureau Dam and then #360 trail for the lunch at Marineau in Rivière Mattawin. We continued on the #360 up to St-Tite and took the #318 trail to cross the St-Maurice river at Grand-Mère and came back to St-Zenon via Mastigouche wild life reserve to finally come back to the starting point in St-Gabriel. Here’s the approximative track from my SPOT device
The trail was not groomed yesterday because it was too warm and the trail was too soft but all froze back during the night and give a concrete hard trail for us to start our ride. Ice scratchers were helpful in these conditions to ride without problems. Snow cover melt a bit from last weekend but not much
The 345 trail was nice, even nicer north from Pourvoirie St-Damien.
Here’s the junction for the shortcut to the right to bypass Réal Massé that is closed
After the #350 junction, there was a bit of loose snow on the trail
Enought to ride without problem…
Maybe a spring’s sign ??? a convertible car with trailer and sled on the back !!!
The #345 trail to the dam was nice, no ripple
There was some water accumulations here and there, all frozen this morning
There was still snow on the dam, easy crossing
The first part of the #360 on the other side was wavy with some ripple in the curves, also some ice spots
The 2e part was really nice and fast. It’s still enough cold there that the river was still all frozen
Except in the rapids like here, one of my favorite spots
And here near St-Maurice river
The last strech from the Zec exit was very nice, a lot of snow up to Marineau auberge
Our initial plan was to come back by the same trail but after talking with Marineau people we changed our mind. They confirmed us that the St-Maurice river was still ridable but not nice, but also that they had recently groomed in St-Tite direction and that we can easily go there and just cross the St-Maurice river in Grand-Mere. So we decided to try this big loop and come back by Mastigouche wild life reserve
Like they said, the #360 in St-Tite direction was perfect, very nice. Even this plowed road was ok with a narrow track for us on the side…
Nice trial up to St-Joseph de Mékinac
There was just this river north from St-Tite that didn’t inspired confidence…believe me that I didn’t stopped in the middle of the water hole to check the depth !!!
We then took the #318 and ride to Grand-Mere. We crossed the St-Maurice river that was still all frozen
Nice trail on the other side…
Few miles passed the Cabane a Hill, we had a little fear when we arrived there…
We really wondered if we were needed to turn back but fortunately, we only had to go down the hill (maybe 500 feet) in the mud and we got a snowy trail at the bottom… yessssssss!!!
The beautiful Auberge du trappeur a little farther
Then a nice trail, here at the Pins Rouges gate of Mastigouche wildlife reserve
Very nice trail in the reserve, still alot of snow there…
We then took #350 trail direction. The trail was a little ruff (ripple) before Koubec but very nice after
And we came back at our starting point by the same route as in the morning on even nice trails. Total: 262 miles
Right now, Lanaudiere south’s snowmobile clubs have closed which was obvious but also, I was surprised to read that St-Donat snowmobile club announced their closure on last friday.... I talked with people in Cabanon and they confirmed me that they will do as usual and that they will keep trails open as long as conditions will permit it… here’s the trail condition web page to check the club’s status
http://www.lanaudiere.ca/en/theme/snowmobile/conditions
I did not see any dirt or snow uncovered spots of the whole ride (unless the plowed road on Mauricie side of course!!) Even there’s still a good snow cover it can be the water accumulations and in some area rivers that can give us problem but with the temp forecast : 4 inches snow for tomorroy and temperature on or below freezing point for all the next week it look very good for the next weekend...
Bye!!!
Alain
We started our ride from St-Gabriel de Brandon via #345 trail to Taureau Dam and then #360 trail for the lunch at Marineau in Rivière Mattawin. We continued on the #360 up to St-Tite and took the #318 trail to cross the St-Maurice river at Grand-Mère and came back to St-Zenon via Mastigouche wild life reserve to finally come back to the starting point in St-Gabriel. Here’s the approximative track from my SPOT device
The trail was not groomed yesterday because it was too warm and the trail was too soft but all froze back during the night and give a concrete hard trail for us to start our ride. Ice scratchers were helpful in these conditions to ride without problems. Snow cover melt a bit from last weekend but not much
The 345 trail was nice, even nicer north from Pourvoirie St-Damien.
Here’s the junction for the shortcut to the right to bypass Réal Massé that is closed
After the #350 junction, there was a bit of loose snow on the trail
Enought to ride without problem…
Maybe a spring’s sign ??? a convertible car with trailer and sled on the back !!!
The #345 trail to the dam was nice, no ripple
There was some water accumulations here and there, all frozen this morning
There was still snow on the dam, easy crossing
The first part of the #360 on the other side was wavy with some ripple in the curves, also some ice spots
The 2e part was really nice and fast. It’s still enough cold there that the river was still all frozen
Except in the rapids like here, one of my favorite spots
And here near St-Maurice river
The last strech from the Zec exit was very nice, a lot of snow up to Marineau auberge
Our initial plan was to come back by the same trail but after talking with Marineau people we changed our mind. They confirmed us that the St-Maurice river was still ridable but not nice, but also that they had recently groomed in St-Tite direction and that we can easily go there and just cross the St-Maurice river in Grand-Mere. So we decided to try this big loop and come back by Mastigouche wild life reserve
Like they said, the #360 in St-Tite direction was perfect, very nice. Even this plowed road was ok with a narrow track for us on the side…
Nice trial up to St-Joseph de Mékinac
There was just this river north from St-Tite that didn’t inspired confidence…believe me that I didn’t stopped in the middle of the water hole to check the depth !!!
We then took the #318 and ride to Grand-Mere. We crossed the St-Maurice river that was still all frozen
Nice trail on the other side…
Few miles passed the Cabane a Hill, we had a little fear when we arrived there…
We really wondered if we were needed to turn back but fortunately, we only had to go down the hill (maybe 500 feet) in the mud and we got a snowy trail at the bottom… yessssssss!!!
The beautiful Auberge du trappeur a little farther
Then a nice trail, here at the Pins Rouges gate of Mastigouche wildlife reserve
Very nice trail in the reserve, still alot of snow there…
We then took #350 trail direction. The trail was a little ruff (ripple) before Koubec but very nice after
And we came back at our starting point by the same route as in the morning on even nice trails. Total: 262 miles
Right now, Lanaudiere south’s snowmobile clubs have closed which was obvious but also, I was surprised to read that St-Donat snowmobile club announced their closure on last friday.... I talked with people in Cabanon and they confirmed me that they will do as usual and that they will keep trails open as long as conditions will permit it… here’s the trail condition web page to check the club’s status
http://www.lanaudiere.ca/en/theme/snowmobile/conditions
I did not see any dirt or snow uncovered spots of the whole ride (unless the plowed road on Mauricie side of course!!) Even there’s still a good snow cover it can be the water accumulations and in some area rivers that can give us problem but with the temp forecast : 4 inches snow for tomorroy and temperature on or below freezing point for all the next week it look very good for the next weekend...
Bye!!!
Alain
