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Spent a week in Nfld recently. Never been, was quite an experience. Flew into Deer Lk and rode out of Corner Brook for the week. Craig Borden , Rugged Edge in Corner Brook is the man! All the staff we interacted with were equally accommodating, absolutely top notch. Excellent guide and host. We rode a variety of sleds. I rode a 146 Polaris Voyageur 650 all week. Other sleds were Yamaha transporter and AC Norseman 800s 154 skid. All excellent shape and no issues. Primarily rode from Deer Lk west to Corner Brook then South to Stephenville and north of Corner Brook to Woody Point. Lots of snow and trails generally well maintained. Very remote riding areas..little to no services between towns. Vast areas of crown to play off trail. Lots of warm up shacks to stop at, we always packed lunch and snacks. I would call it adventure sledding..it helps if you are into remote riding and navigating more remote areas. The locals pretty much just use the trails to access remote camps and off trail play areas. Huge bog areas and cut over areas to play in. I found it to be more similar to BC riding than anything else I’ve experienced in the east. Terrain and weather similar to Gaspe Que riding..can get very windy and poor visibility w squalls and drifting. If you enjoy exploring off trail breaking your own trail in the hills this is it. The area south of Corner Brook in the Lewis Hills and Blow me down Mountains on the west coast is huge. You could spend an entire week riding out of CB and playing in this area and never run out of new ground. All that being said..I’d go back. The people of Nfld are the best. Very welcoming and truly want you to experience their customs and way of life. I’ve heard from others this same description but you must see it to appreciate it. Every where we went we were made to feel like friends and family.

Only one pic today. Fresh pow all day chugging fuel. L123 out to opastika and back thru kap. Late lunch in moonbeam. Arctic riders drag was heading west on A from smoothrock.

And thats a wrap on the 26 Season for me. Sleds washed, stabilizer added, everything winter related inc snowblower, sled lifts and carts jammed in the trailer. Even washed all my gear today! It was a great season albeit with a few hiccups. Dirt bike is home waiting for the Simcoe County Forest trails to open on May 1.

So I had an impromptu trip north to Kirkland lake. Kirkland lake south to Elk Lake was great. Kirkland lake to Cochrane was brutal for 150km of the trip. Not any one clubs fault as there are multiple groomer breakdowns. Cochrane, temiskaming, Shining Tree, all had groomers down. Remaining groomers working 24/7 until they go down. so question is with the dumping of snow that New Liskeard north received why isn’t the OFSC moving groomers up from clubs that have parked for the year? Snocrest riders, Orillia, Haliburton are not grooming. Why not move 2 or 3 groomers to help out? Why punish permit buyers who are willing to drive hours and spend $$$$ sledding? Especially when you’re paying $2.15 or more for premium and hotel plus food! I met some Cochrane guys and they said there will be trails to ride for a few weeks at least it looks like. This morning there was 8-10” of fresh powder in Kirkland Lake. If you are considering going get up there.

Yes, today was interesting. I don't like to(maybe refuse to is more accurate) ride poor conditions, so planning has fallen into my lap, both winter and summer. I spent the day with TATA, the northern clubs' FB offerings, the ITG and the weather network. Regarding the storm, I took two risks. First, that we could drive to KL tomorrow. Second that the trails would be passable on Tuesday. I was almost skunked by too much snow earlier this winter in the Parry Sound area, when we couldn't see the edges of the trail. We are counting on at least the A trail being open to Kap on Tuesday. It remains to be seen if that is too much of an ask. As for accommodations, yes they were running out. Settled on the KL Super8 Monday and Friday nights. Advantage Inn in Kap Tuesday and Thursday nights. Comfort Inn and Super8 in Kap had only King single rooms, etc left. Hearst was getting tight for Wednesday night, but we got two rooms at the Companion with meals and indoor sled parking on the sledder plan. If any OCers are on the Corridor this week and see us, say hello. We are the group of 3 old and really old guys on the Blue Yamaha Apex and 2 black 2018 Skidoo 900 Aces. We have had the pleasure of meeting 1049 and his wife, Nunz, wife and friends, Soup, and Volunteer2 and friends on this similar trip in previous years. Hope everyone is getting some sledding in these next 2 weeks. Rick

Thanks, Im at around 7200kms for the season plus 900kms or so on the GT 600 ace doing trail work, firewood and grooming. I've been sledding since dec 7. I'm still game for another kick at the can if the mrs wants to go again this weekend but i've had my fill now and im looking forward to the ice melting and getting the misty river out and just putting around the lake with the honda 50 outboard. Much cheaper lol.

We had a great weekend albeit not at Steves pace. We got 1263kms on and 80% of the trails were mint. The Matagami run to Lebel and then down to Senneterre was 11/10. My dad had never been to Quebec and he loved it. The old guy wasnt afraid to squeeze the flipper on the 850 Polaris when the timing was right. We saw the same moose on Monday but it did jump off the trail for us. As much as it pains me, I think my season is over. Its been a great one but my dirt bike is sending me signals that it wants to be ridden sooner than later. Here are a few pics from my trip.

We just got back from Val-D'or yesterday, we was stuck with weather for 3 nights Sunday to Wednesday at Forestel hotel not cheap place to stay $400 for a night, but no choice. We was trying to go on trail Monday and Tuesday but no chance to ride 240km at that condition without any sign or trail. Finally we got our on Wednesday -26C on ungroomed 309 trail. It was tough as It was me and my wife only. Always check the weather and have a couple extra days.

Absolutely it’s is a must doo trip out to NFLD for some amazing sledding. Craig from Rugged Edge sure is the man out on the Rock!!!!! Have been riding out there the last 5yrs .

We did this out and back run yesterday. Trails were generally good; a bit rough nr Whitney, awesome around LSP. No significant water cuts. Wow, the club clears a lot of downed trees around Harcourt and south.

Good running today. Temis, rouyn, preissac, amos. Waiting on pizza to arrive at amosphere. Doing matagami loop tomorrow.

The Orange looks good in pictures I ordered my first yellow sled 900r

Couple pics of the new adjustable seats. Felt firmer but not uncomfortable and less bouncy than the current mxz seats. Really easy to change the height. Looks kinda like some of the lynx seats i think. The storage underneath for a spare belt i like.

Left amos down thru preissac and malartic to valdor shelter. Some really good, some just ok and some needed a groom. Grey jays were hungry at the shelter. Valdor to Rapid 7 was the best ride of the season! Got in behind a moose that wouldnt get out of the way just west bellterre. Damn thing was stubborn. No way of getting around it on that tight section. After 45 min of playing that game we doubled back to the hwy and opted to run the shoulder for 10kms instead of going around thru moffet. Ville marie club house for lunch. Got a head start for the final run to temis and flogged it on fresh groomed. Way ahead of the pack, didnt check my phone till i pulled in to the truck and trailer on fumes in temis. Whoops. Lol. Phone calls missed. Hmmm. Thinking someone must've ran out and i got the full linq gas can. Nope. One sled broke down and parked in Laniel. Loaded the trailer and headed north 43kms to get it. All good and couldnt have happened in a better place. 1480kms for 3 days of riding.

The melt is on. Even had to call the OPP about ice falling in the road on 17. It wasnt this bad when we went through, our friends took this pic less than an hour after we went by. It will take a bit to fully melt though. Lots of snow, and ice. Had to put the extension on the auger for Friday and Saturday fishing. Did well, released the big girls, only kept 7 in 2 days. Even managed to have enough slush to make our annual Canadian livewell. Saw fox, otter, bald eagles, a golden eagle, and a wolf. Was a good last week of our walleye season. There will still be riding to be had on the crown land. Ski

My backyard. Was at the gorge Sunday. Better know as Western Brooke Pond, the adds you see promoting Newfoundland. We still have a ton of snow on the west coast of the island. With any luck we will be riding into May.

Beat the storm. Dry roads all the way to cochrane. Just starting to snow lightly. Checked into comfort inn. My Ford 5.0 burned 103 litres towing from Port Sydney.

I stayed at the Studio 6 in Hornepayne on Wednesday, the burger and pizza place is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. We went to the Home Hardware and bought M&M meat pies from their freezer and cooked them in the room. Breakfast was minimal, cereal, bread and strawberry jam, coffee and nothing else Bought a Hornepayne Snowbear Beanie to support the club.

Wednesday was a cold one. -28 to start. Had fresh grooming for 85% of the day and what was left was very good too. Spent last night at Marina Chibougamau. Back west on 93 today with a couple inches of fresh snow. Ran it as far as Senneterre. Conditions were great. Not enough snow to make things push so all good. With the snow came warmer temps which were appreciated. Headed east from Senneterre on 83 to the local trail that cuts back to louvincourt. Man is there ever a pile of clear cutting in that neck of the woods (former woods). Thousands of acres of open area. Don’t go there in a blizzard. Trail into louvincourt was great. 386 south is closed, but that wasn’t our plan. Caught back up to 83 and finished up in Val D’or. Little choppy coming into town. But still very manageable. Back to the truck in the am. Has been a fun trip. Just shy of 1500 km so far. Figure we will finish around 1750 kms in 4 days. Getting my kms in to close the season out. Gotta be 6’ of snow in Chibougamau and in Matagamy. Spring hasn’t arrived yet up here.

They were open today, but had some staffing issues. One young lad running the whole show. Apparently, they opened a little late, and had a group of sledders waiting at the door when he showed up. He did a good job and got everyone fed.

Up the west side to matagami. Heavy on the throttle, groomed but loose and fresh on top. Started emptying linq cans at north shelter. Saved a bit just in case and we needed it. One 900t took 36.5 litres. Fried chicken at the grocery store. Mmmm. East side down to Quevillion loose, fresh on top,light chop. Fuel lights on. Needed full tanks again. Quevillion to Sennetere 5 stars of sledding perfection pure bliss, skipped fuel, sennetere to barrutee was punched, fuel lights on, pulled in on fumes. Barrute to amos shelter on 93 punched. Back into amosphere with 530kms for the day. The one pic on the road you could see where the forest fires scorched the left side, right side of the road was untouched. I thought it was a cool pic. The next couple weeks up here are only gonna get better as the air gets beat out of it and the base starts setting up again.

Check out Silver Mountain Lodge NL for your next trip Rob Clarke is amazing he does all the back country tours in Gros Morne unbelievable experience. Go see Western Brooke Gorge . Fly into Deer Lake and get picked up to his lodge. Bucket List trip!!!

I have a 2025 XCR 9R and I must say I absolutely love the machine. I bought it in February of 2025 and since have put 12,951 kms on it without a single issue. The fuel mileage is within a litre or two of my buddies 2022 VR1 850 and the oil difference is immeasurable between the two. This fall I plan on going through the engine and at least putting pistons in it and all the suspension bearings. Awesome sled.

Sledding as we know it will die with our age group. Costs are a huge factor and I'm not talking just the cost of the sport. It's the cost of everything else in life. If I have 20k (let's use that number) to spend on a toy it sure as hell isn't going to be on something i can use for a 6-week max season. It doesn't make sense at all economically. I'm also going to counsel my children not to do it either until they reach some sort of economical milestone and can afford it. While sledding is a unique and great experience, something motorcycling has a way bigger bang for the buck for a ridable solo recreational toy. Like it or not but modern economic realities that are completely avoidable (won't get political here) has destroyed our Canadian way of life. And let's face it, snowmobiling in some from is Canadiana through and through.

Great year that's for sure, 7,550kms for me Took the sled to the dealer today, having issues with muffler overheat, they think there is a bad batch of temperature sensors as they have replaced many this year. Feeling lazy, so I'm letting them do all the end of season service. Did summarize the snowblower and Fertilized the lawn as it's stating to turn green. Washed the bibs, but that turned out to be a waste of time as I've managed to wear it thin in the butt area. New bibs next season.

Everyone has their own preferences and it’s good we have choices. Here’s my take. - I buy for dependability and reliability. There is no comparison here. I hear of blown up 2 strokes all the time. Few and far between to find 4 strokes with motor issues - I had the chance to jump between my 2019 900 T and a 2024 850 etec last week. I felt the turbo has more low end torque where I needed it. The 850 was sluggish until you got it over 50 and got the exhaust valves opened up - handling has so much to do with setup. In this instance my 900 handled better than the 850 despite the weight. Could that be changed with some setup on the 850? Yes. But so many ppl don’t spend the time or get the knowledge to make things handle at their capability Reduced smells and noise are a bonus as well. Lots of opinions on both sides. 4 stroke is the sled for me.

Yes Middle Brook Cabins great stay there and phenomenal trails/backcountry in that area . Craig took us there the week before SnowTrax crew was coming in we were the Guinea pigs for the tour he was going to do with them lol.

Well, we made it through the storm. We were at the far northwest edge of the storm. Hard to tell just how much we received, due to the winds. It wasn't the 3-4 feet they were calling for, or received south of us. Lots of big drifts though... You can tell by the side and front of the garage. We are back to the 9-10 foot pile in the front yard again. Added some pics the neighbors sent us. They could walk from there high deck to the roof of their garage. The only saving grace is, in about 8 weeks, it will all be gone. Ski

Amazing to look at the ITG this morning and see that the big loop and Sault to the big loop is still open on April 12th. That said, I don't think I would want to be starting a trip today.

Congrats on a great season!!

I think it depends on the person. The xrs seat is not a 2x4 by any means, it has firmer foam so when you sit down, you do not sink into the seat so much that your butt is now 3” lower than where the top of the seat started. With the xrs seat it is higher to start with and less sag, so the angle of your knees is less sitting more upright, making it way more comfortable, but with less sag and a more narrow seat, it’s better for an active rider to move from side to side, plus its edges are more defined/firm and do not roll over like on the comfort seat, it’s really better all around, IMO.

Changed the comfort seat out on my 23 900T to a seat from an XRS, this was a game changer for me, It changed my posture and I sat up higher , this made me like my sled coming from a Cat chassis.

You have the wide comfort seat on the 900T......the newer one is still on the soft side, but noy as soft on the previous version. Both are too soft for me, the 850 seat is perfect, but the idea of being able to have it a bit higher would be nice.

I hear that. My daughter enjoys riding - but riding someone else' sled - she won't be buying a sled anytime soon - she'll come out of school - be career focused and let's face it - be saving money for a home - whatever that will look like by then..... My son, is a total gear head - he will buy something and be in it - but he'll also need to be balancing saving money to not be living with me for eternity. These kids face an extremely harsh "real" world - that we never faced. Yes, we all had to save, sacrifice, but not like today - sorry, but that's how it is. Anyway, enough of the doom: Had a great just shy of 1000 mile season - wish I could have done more - but time did not allow it - grateful for what I did get and grateful my 2012 Cat worked when I needed it to

Problem is people aren't happy with a sled unless they 'keep up with the Jones's' for lack of a better expression. Have to have an 850, 850 turbo, 9r or 900R, big shocks and big gauge, pushing 30k. I have as much fun on my entry level Sport 600efi Expedition as any other sled, bargain price and has everything you need . I don't have a trail pass on it ( other sleds) but have spent enough time on the trails with it doing club maintenance that it works just fine and leaves a smile on my face!

I'll say it again. Setup is the difference between "oh shyte" all day and "whoo hoo" all day. Being wore out after a few hundred miles or ready to keep going. I figure 90% of riders I come up on in the trails are riding ill handling sleds. I always wonder why they dont take the time to learn. Confidence in your sled makes snowmobiling so much more fun and gives the rider confidence in their ability. It's all "win win"

550 CC - $9500 Basically brand new with only 770 miles Handlebar bag and saddle bag included Great condition Located in Guelph area

That’s a secret! Go to a club meeting! And it’s still a secret!

I agree with you that the OFSC should do all it can, if it can afford it, to keep trails groomed if snow conditions are good. Not arguing that fact. If the OFSC was awash in cash, they should definitely do it. A few hundred permit buyers may be a bit low but it is probably the amount of southern riders going north. Let's make it a few/several thousand. I don't know the D14 and D15 numbers. We just had a great season all over Ontario. Trails were open from Lake Erie and everywhere north for many weeks. Every groomer in the OFSC fleet was working hard and the repair bills and fuel consumed that followed was very large. I'm sure that the OFSC burnt through any "extra" cash that they had. Does it make financial sense to the OFSC and the provincial permit buyers to spend extra money to float groomers hundreds of miles to keep trails groomed in the far north, for a few thousand permit buyers out of 80000+, at the end of the season? Will spending that money affect the southern clubs, where most of the OFSC's income comes from, next season? Possibly, with trail reductions and less groomers. As a permit buyer (and club board member), should I care about the service workers and businesses in the far north? No. Do they contribute to the finances of the OFSC? Most don't. I want the OFSC to be solvent and to be able to provide a decent product throughout the province. Most of the permit buyers ride close to home and will not trailer 2 hours, let alone 6+ hours to snowmobile, myself included. I, personally, would rather the OFSC use that money, (that isn't there), closer to the where the majority of the permit buyers are, for bridges, trail upgrades, groomers, etc.. However, if the Ont Gov were more of a financial partner with the OFSC, then yes, there should be an obligation to provide a better product in the far north at the end of the season. Looking at our district's numbers, trail permit sales only increased by an extra 2%. Using that calculation(2%), over the entire province(80000), the OFSC may have only sold an extra 1600 permits in a very good year. The money is not there. We could be looking at the same situation, trail, club and groomer reductions, next season. I hope not but it is a reality. I already know we are "possibly" losing a groomer for next year. Just my $0.02. My glass is empty. Have to make another drink! 😉😂😂

Hearding to hearst this week for 4 days and a run to Hornepayne one day is the plan, hope to see some OC members up there

I had the privilege of joining a group to go sledding on the rock in 2008. The group trailered down. I flew one way and drove the truck and sleds back coming home. Absolutely epic trip. We saw the Lewis Hills, Gros Morne riding to Western Brook Gorge and my favourite day was a trail ride from Steadybrook, to Deer Lake, to jack ladder, then inland into the long range mountains that brought us back out near corner brook and then a final return to Steady brook. The access roads in the long range mountains near cornerbrook were phenomenal. The scenery is to die for and you will never find nicer people. Will definitely go again some day. It’s a long drive / ferry ride, but was worth the investment. It is definitely beautiful, but also an area to be respected. There is stories of guys mistakingly riding off of massive cliffs hundreds of feet high. It is most definitely avalanche country and a lot gets covered up by the massive snow falls. When it melts in the spring lots of hazards begin to appear. We were there in April and had good weather, but I’m sure “you can’t see your nose” whiteout conditions do occur. Your right on the coast with ever changing weather.

I called the Amosphere and they now had rooms for Friday night so just out of nostalgia I cancelled my rooms at the Frontier and booked at the Amosphere. I am taking my dad and I think he will like it better being able to pull up to the door of the room.

The gas station at Smooth Rock seems to have many issues of running out of gas, that said they pump a lot of fuel there. Jeff said in his first post that they carry fuel and so they should be good to get to Kap or at least Moonbeam without any issues no matter whether they come up the C to SRF or go to SRF via Cochrane and the A trail.

Plc Thanks I think we stayed at the fairfield inn before years ago. I am thinking of going to Chapleau staying overnight head to timmins and come around the top back to the soo. Been years since I have been back to Ontario. Will see how this storm effects the area. Thanks again

thanks, good to hear, I ordered a 2027 VR1 9R with Dynamix, had a chance to try one out and tons of bottom end power for sure, I will do some clutching to it and wake up the top end a bit once I get it. Should be a wicked trail sled for next year,

It sounds selfish but I hope that the OFSC lets the clubs give their trails once last pass today or tomorrow and pulls the pin on grooming for the rest of the season to save some money. I can all but guarantee that the travelling sledders are done after today and in a few months we will hear about how big of a deficit the OFSC ran this season.

I went to my friends 50th on Saturday. We counted 19 people in the room that all used to sled together. 7 of us still own sleds. caught up with one guy I went on my very first trip with, the interest is still there, but he said walking into a dealership and seeing the cost is what stops him. Kids are 19 and 17, school costs are there, sleds just not doable right now. to the point above, it’s not that he needs to keep up to the jonesss, but he is leery of buying someone else’s stuff, doesn’t trust it and can’t stomach buying used and then having an expensive failure. costs is a big time issue

A flying Nunz? Sally will be jealous. You have to be old to get it.

Rumor has it, that's Nunz

I found a wallet at a boat launch in Marten River that had $2k in cash in it. Returned it to the guy as I found it.