irREVerent

I had an email exchange about this last week with Mike Lester of Supertrax, via the link revrnd posted previously in this thread. He advised me that they only produced 3 issues this season, with the 3rd/last one going out around Christmas time. The usual 4th issue of Supertrax would have gone out in February, but was never produced this season "due to the ever-changing landscape in the print industry", which forced them to scale back. I never received the 3rd issue, so he has promised to have it sent to me once the COVID-19 restrictions are eased and they can reopen their office. I also asked about Go Snowmobiling, (I only received 1 issue of it this season) but he didn't offer any information on it...I guess it has gone totally digital already, as Yukon suggested above.

X 2

Nope... should have happened years ago. Hwy. 141 interchange is much safer way to access Port Sydney if southbound on Hwy. 11, and use Greer Rd. to get to Ultramar, Home Hardware, Rosseau Road store, etc.

I've also been wondering... haven't received either Go Snowmobiling or Supertrax since January, despite being a long-term OFSC permit holder. So what gives, OFSC???

Uh-oh...what happened?

X 2...been there several times over the years. Looks unassuming from the outside, but meals have always been quite good.

Not telling...LOL

I made a deal with Harold...he promised to delete that one from his phone...

Since revrnd left the group and headed for Cochrane Thursday, I'll finish off the group's report with tales of our last 2 days, accompanied by some pics. After saying goodbye to revrnd, the rest of us (sledjunk, Moosifer, Infernobuster, yours truly, and my buddy Harold from upstate New York) continued on with our original itinerary, going east out of Timmins and ultimately heading for Gowganda via Val Gagne, Matheson, Ramore and Elk Lake. Two of us made a brief stop at Mikey's (local 'Doo dealer) on the way out of town, while the other 3 went on ahead. Beautiful trail conditions... Unfortunately, after a gas top-up at Matheson, SJ blew a belt before the planned lunch stop at Ramore, and it took almost an hour to clean up the carnage and get back on the trail... Then a late lunch at Rolly's in Ramore, which was still busy with sledders and locals, even though it was well after 1 PM by the time we arrived. We didn't get out of there until after 2:30, and still had almost 200 kms to go...so we made very fast time down A past the KL turn-off and down the power line toward Elk Lake on primo trail conditions, which turned to sh*t when we got to the plowed logging road mentioned previously in this thread. After 5 kms of picking our way through the stones, mud puddles, sand, mud and slush, and a brief rest, we picked the pace up again through the twisty section of A north of Elk Lake, only to run into yet another plowed road for logging a few kms north of town. In need of fuel, we went to the EL EcoCentre, and by the time we got out of there, it was 5:30 and very overcast, with dusk fast approaching. A half-hour later it was completely dark, and as leader, I slowed our pace somewhat in an effort to keep the group together and avoid any blown corners in the pitch black. After meeting a groomer near Gowganda, we finally rolled in to our night's destination at Gowganda Lake Lodge just before 7 PM...tired and hungry, after a 360 km day. We were treated to Ron & Giselle's usual friendly hospitality, including an awesome home-cooked meal of lasagna, salad, garlic bread and dessert (delivered right to our cabin) after we'd had time to check-in and relax. Sleep came fairly soon after polishing off that feast. Our 7th and last day dawned cold and sunny, with a few cms of fresh snow having fallen overnight. After a hearty breakfast, we packed up and headed out, aiming for lunch in Timmins on our way to the trip's end back in Cochrane. The fresh powder snow provided a perfect complement to the recently-groomed trails underneath, and we made good time through the twisties along A106C to L143. Conditions were perfect, with the colder temps and brilliant sunshine, so lots of pics were taken as we headed north up the power line on 143... After lunch at Mike's in Timmins (beside the Bon Air), SJ and Mossifer headed off to the local Yammie dealer to pick up a part, while the other 3 of us went directly north back to Cochrane...a good chance for Infernobuster to let his Sidewinder "stretch its legs" (non, nod, wink, wink...) on the power line, and ditto for Harold's 900 turbo. We three arrived at the Westway mid-afternoon after a near-perfect day on the trails, and the other two came in about an hour later. Of course, we had to stop for a few pics by the Cochrane trails sign, before loading up at the motel and getting ready for the long drive back home yesterday. I had a total of 2,049 kms on my sled's tripmeter at the end of a great week's trip.

Backatchya, SJ...thanks again for putting it all together.

The road running Infernobuster was referring to is the 5 kms of plowed logging road on the A (southwest of Kirkland Lake), as mentioned above by PLC...when we did it Thursday afternoon, it was already brutal -- a mix of slush, mud, sand and fist-sized rocks which were hard to avoid. Can't imagine what it will be like after a couple of sunny mild days. How on earth the "powers that be" considered it to be rated as green on the ITG is beyond me.

Any update on the bridge "detour" on L22 in Timmins, to cross the Mattagami River? Is it still groomed up to and across the bridge?

Yes, seems to be affecting lots of us...see my thread below in the "Test, Help, Suggestions" forum.

Thanks, TD... and didn't mean to imply that you thought there's anything wrong with the Companion. I look forward to hearing about your impressions of the Queen's..

LOL...sorry Rich, I should have been clearer...I was actually asking whether the sidewalk "detour" over the bridge was snow-packed or bare.

Thanks, Rich...was it snow-covered or bare when you were there?

Anybody know why the L22 crossing of the Mattagami River (just south of Hwy. 101 bridge) in Timmins continues to be red on the ITG?...even though the rest of L22 is green, on both sides of that river crossing? That short river section seems to have been red for the whole season. Any info much appreciated...TIA.

Why the change?...what is it about the Queen's that you (and Evil) prefer?

The restaurant at the Best Western (across from the Irving) is a good spot for a meal as well...not nearly as busy as the truck stop, so service is generally better, and the food is good.

Revrnd, while around Pembroke last Thursday, we did the same Westmeath/Beachburg loop (your B to G section above) but in the opposite direction, and it was a very nice ride, despite no recent grooming on the top end of B and local trail 116 (this loop presumably doesn't see much traffic.) Be forewarned...the signage was very poor in several spots.

The south end of 127 is very nice... recently groomed. We did some of those loops (124, 125, 127) this morning...nice tight and twisty bush trails with lots of snow and almost no traffic.

Day 2 of RAP tour with Sledjunk and my buddy from upstate NY...Bonfield to Deep River. 250 kms of awesome trails, almost all freshly groomed last night. A few pics from A112A, at mica mine. Nice to see all the "Ride Your Side" signs, especially on the Missing Link trails.

Don't think Snowtrackers are compatible with Pilot TS skis.

Just to be clear...the Dinner Bell Restaurant is indeed closed to the outside public on Mondays & Tuesdays, but on those 2 days serves dinner and breakfast to sledders staying in their motel rooms.

I've had the same list for years...handy for sure. Thought it originally came from The Intrepid Snowmobiler, but I may be wrong about that.