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So, speaking of accolades, a big shout out is in order to Gaston's Sports in Kap. Last week we unloaded our cousin's Vector at the Advantage only to discover an oil puddle in his trailer, and another one growing slowly in the snow under the sled. A quick look indicated it was not a cracked oil tank, but seeping out from the belly. Not something we were going to address in a frozen parking lot. Rather than load up and head home we called Gaston's and they said "Bring it right over." Dropped it off at 10 am and they called us back at noon. Turns out it was not a big issue, and the bill was very fair. Great people who saved the rest of our trip.

Definitely sucks when seasons come to an end but the memories this sport makes will last forever.. Thanks to all who made this year possible.. Hope everyone has a great summer..

I think Gaston is now retired. Same great service for me in 2010, after blowing the 2nd piston in a 600SDI just outside of the Canyon Base Camp. The next day. we walked into Gaston's at 9AM, bought an Apex LTX. They had it put together, plated, OFSC decal ready to go at lunch time. We rode to Hearst to stay on schedule. (In the picture of the sleds in the Companion garage that night, looks like only our sleds there (16 Feb 2010). Same thing at the Yamaha dealer in Hearst years later. A Vector had a track change before the trip. Chaincase oil leaked out of the damaged seal. Dropped of the sled just as he was closing. Mech worked after hours, then finished the next morning, to replace the chain case side bearing and seal. Dealer had the sled ready to go by noon time.

Another model year will come and go without a damned sled from any manufacturer interesting me in the least. The last year that a new model excited me was 2016 and the sled was the Blizzard 900 ACE. I waited a year bought a 2017, kept it for 4 years and 20000+ km, and would buy the same sled if offered new today. Another season(only 4000 km) has passed where only a couple of groups passed me on the trail, so I know I don't need more power as I passed dozens of groups. Having just come back from NCDN, I have reaffirmed that its not my kind of riding over a long haul. Too much straight riding at high speeds without enough turning for me. Okay for extending the season as Blake mentioned a while ago. I much prefer Searchmont, or Elliot Lake, to Hornepayne area as Mark suggested recently. I also really enjoy east central Ontario from Minden, east around the south of Algonquin park and around the north side to the Bonfield area - two thirds of a RAP, so to speak. The constant changes in elevation and mixture of turns of vastly differing radii is what turns my crank. Its a good thing everyone likes something different because that helps me find under populated trails to ride all season long.

Last hurrah short tour was a total success, as parts of it have already been described earlier in this thread. Adding some pics now. A highlight of the trip was meeting Volunteer 2 and crew in Kap at the Advantage Motel on Wednesday evening. We discovered that we had basically the same plans for the next three days. Unfortunately one of our new found friends, had a sled go down on Thursday and 2 guys drove home on Friday. Thanks V 2 for the Friday ride on your sled - nice steering set-up with the two different makes of carbides. Now I don't have to worry that I might have to buy a Gen 4 when its time to replace my XS 900. V 2 and Kenny joined us Friday, for ride to lunch in Hornepayne and back to Hearst. Perry the groomer operator suggested a modified local loop to ride around Hornepaye - about 50 km of hardly ridden heaven. In our discussion before leaving Horepayne is was mentioned that the LCBO in Hearst closed at 6 PM and we wouldn't be able to make it back back in time. It was 3:50 when we left the Esso station and I thought some of us could beat 6 in Hearst, so I told the leader, Malcolm, to take off while I waited for Doug to fuel up, and that myself and likely Doug would pass the group shortly. I caught and passed the front four riders in 4 or 5 km, heading for the LCBO or Beer Store, and I had one headlight in my rear view mirror that stayed just behind me. When I stopped about 50 km up D108A, it was V 2 who had accepted the LCBO challenge. We continued on the breakaway to Hearst to arrive at the Hearst Beer store at 5:25, only to find it was open until 8 PM. We had assumed that the LCBO and BS would close at the same time - don't assume. That meant more time for us to drink beer in the sun drenched hotel parking lot at about +8 degrees. Saturday was to be a short roughly half day. With temps just below zero, we left town on the A trail to the west end of trail L163 and rode all the loop trails eastward over to L153 south to the A trail at Mattice. At that point we had to ride the $hit show to Opaz, then the 123 and 143 to the Advantage in Kap. I had 999.6 km for the trip. Only 50 or so were bad sledding. Great way to end the year.

Patiently waiting for this beauty to come in..

If someone wants to steal my Cat, I won't get in the way.

if your not at Cochrane or Kap can you really call yourself a snowmobiler...............

If I was buying this year, it would be between the SRX and a Gade X Turbo R. But I'm good with what I have for now. Probably not looking for a new one for 2 years. Maybe Covid will be done by then and I can pick up a low mile used SRX since I like the classic colours of this years. Maybe they will do black/Gold or Black/Red for the next one. That would be even better.

Thought I would order something green this year. Order placed in February........still waiting!!!!!

Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up, prevents reoccurrences from guilty party.

Shoot them dead and put a very big knife in their hand. You feared for your life. I have two locks on the coupler and a wheel clamp on each of the wheels. Hopefully that's enough to get them to look at someone else's.

One trailer I store has a solar powered vent with a fan.I believe it is from a marine application.

Why not just take a wheel off of your trailer when parking for the summer? Mine gets jacked up with the frame resting on blocks, wheels removed, and axle hanging unsupported. If anyone wants it, they will have to show up with two wheels, 10 lug nuts, cable cutters, and tools to smash a couple of locks. I just might over hear them...

I do

if your looking around the room and trying to figure out who the A-hole is and cant..........................well............

Yup. In town to get beer. That was all. Oh and the pictures too

Thanks.. I know I kinda went off topic with this.. I do love snowmobiling and everyone who is involved in bringing this great sport together but my true passion is chasing fish. Cant wait to hear the feedback on the new 900 T r’s that some of you are ordering.

I have one. The top of it is burned through.

My neighbours 600etec surrendered on the L159. The great team at the Hearst dealer diagnosed the problem but no parts were available. We loaded his sled on the back of my truck and he headed home.

#1 and #2...

I know some guys store sleds in their trailers, but this is another reason why I will never ever do that.

Just wanted to thank all the Clubs, Volunteers, Land Owners, Business Owners and everyone who makes this sport possible. A job well done. This had to be one of the most challenging seasons ever, with the weather, and the covid situation. Hats off to everyone. We pulled it off. Really looking forward to next season, and here's hoping it will be just as good, if not better. Kenny Johnston from PBR Riders said it best in his current facebook post. Also i want to say it was great to meet so many new OC members, and to see the ones we've already had the pleasure to meet and ride with so many times before.

Pricks! Had a local land owner last week, family watched his pick up truck leave his place. Neighbors knew the truck, saw it on their road, tracked it down a block or so away. Got the truck back, but not his wallet. Wife now has me taking all the keys out of everything, where I used to not do that. Are we able to shoot these mother buggers, with at least some rock salt?

We rode from Kap to Hearst on Friday. Took the 155 on way over then went north and took the same trails starting on 163 on way back. I think after all said and done Friday was 480km for us. If not for 123 I was thinking of calling a cab to come get me in Opasatika. I would have brought truck back for sleds. It was brutal beat up. Groomers were out around Hearst Friday but the 8c temps were making it tough.

Great job as usual by everyone that keeps us all on the snow and going. Challenging year to say the least - but like every other year, those of you doing the heavy lifting always seem to just get it done and we are a very lucky group who get to enjoy the fruits of those labors. Stay safe everyone and have a great summer.

Not quite sure how that will handle the NCDN trails, but to each their own. . In all seriousness, congrats. Looks great..

@Sksman and @tricky, glad the trip was a good one. Hard to beat all those L series trails. ...

Can't say it any better. Thanks for starting thread. When riding this last trip had thought about a thread like this so beat me to it. Was an unreal year thanks to EVERYONE that put this year together

So glad that you enjoyed the trip and figured out the irrational trail choices that so many make on the NCDN. On Saturday, we only had to return from Hearst to Kap. Even on a good day, using the A trail all the way would not be much fun, but this past Saturday the A trail was like a busy, mushy, washboard highway. But it was packed with sleds, when local loop trails were almost empty. We left Hearst westbound on A, to the western L163 intersection, then took the top of 163, 165, 159, 161 and 153 to Mattice where we had to rejoin the A trail. We road the 40+ km of $hit to Opasatika, then jumped on the L123 and L143 back to Kap. On those last two local trails, which were in perfect condition, we only saw one group of six riders. I am left to conclude that sledders are lazy (won't take the time to read a map) or not very clever (don't know how read a map). In any event, I hope most of them stay that way and leave the nice trails to serious sledders. We are lucky on this forum to have advisors who can help us plan the best routes and lodgings anywhere in the province. Regarding this trip, there was good advice from many quarters and its much appreciated.

Glad your 1st trip up there was enjoyable! Thanks for the update on the Chain of Lakes. I've know it was there, but have never heard of anyone staying @ it. Good to keep in mind if you happened to be in town during a hockey tournament (I guess that's 1 thing we didn't have to work around this winter). How was the access to it? On the bold, I think folks just stick to TOP A if they're trying to put on miles. I know when I was 1st riding thru there on loops we stuck to TOP A as well. It wasn't until 1 stop @ the Moonbeam clubhouse than an older couple told us about the L123 and guiding us to it. Since then we've spent more time on it than TOP A. The previous 2 winters when we were discussing the route to or from Kap on the Great Big Loops, L123 & L125 was part of the day.

A buddy and I were in Cochrane Best Western on Wed and switched to Chain of Lakes Motel in Kap on Thursday and Friday. Chain of Lakes was a decent little place. Needs some updating. But clean. And rooms were comfortable for a couple guys. My wife probably would not be impressed to stay there but it is Northern Ontario. My buddy said his wife would not mind it. I guess it’s all in how you choose to experience the stay. Overall good trip with just over 900km in 2 1/2 days which included a hwy 11 shutdown Thursday and a trip to GM dealer. For my my first time riding the area I really enjoyed it. The outer loops were great. I recognized some of the places from pictures that had been posted and the trail Numbers. I do not understand how the outer loops get such limited traffic when the A trail gets beat up pretty good. Thank you to everyone for posting all your travels. It was really interesting seeing places I had read about.

Glad you guys had a good season ending trip. Hornepayne to Hearst or vice versa, can be done relatively quick. Last season Mrs Turbo Doo and Myself left Hearst at 1130am, after a very very late night with @Evil, and rode down to Hornepayne and back, and were back in our rooms at the companion, changed and enjoying bevies at 4pm. Gas at esso and late lunch at Cindy's. It's 160km, one way, or 320kms round trip. As @revrnd says, it all depends on who's leading, right @Evil..

Just another thought - most trailers have a single vent somewhere along the top of one wall. If you want good ventilation, install one vent low on one side and one vent high on the other side at the rear. As because warm air rises, you will have a flow from the lower vent to the higher vent. Just have to install some kind of louver on them to prevent road crap while towing in the winter. You can get some estimation as to the size of vent you need by multiplying length X width X height to find the cubic volume of air in your trailer and decide how many cubic feet per (hour? day?) you want to move through. My dad was a mine ventilation technician and I would sit at his knee while he figured out volumes and flows for a whole mine system....continually updated as new work areas opened up and others got filled in. Used something called a slide rule?