Blackstar

I got the low down on this yesterday from locals in the J&S Variety Store though I didn't go back to check it out. Canyon Lake has a good sized waterfall that freezes in the winter. The ice can be different colours. Right now its blue. Often it is green. Last year it was a rusty brown. It changes as the winter progresses and went you stand next to it you can hear the water running behind the ice. They had pictures. Looked pretty cool. I'll have to check it out some time. If you watch at the road crossings just outside of Elk Lake you will see the sign and the trail that leads back to the falls. They keep it groomed.

I was through there on Tuesday and don’t remember anything horrible. As mentioned above, I believe the road was plowed. It was no worse than the road run section coming out of Elk Lake.

Pic from inside cabin at Tree Bear. We talked with the owners a fair bit. Seem like real nice people. They are from Brantford. Hope things go well for them.

Just got home last night from a trip to the North. Left from New Liskeard 9am Tuesday morning. Rode the A to Cochrane 375 kms. Topped up fuel in Earlton. Fuel and lunch in Matheson. Fueled up once we got to Cochrane. All trails were in great shape. Cochrane close to town was a bit rough but then we passed the groomer heading out to clean up so all good. Checked in to the Railway Station by 5pm. Ate dinner in the attached restaurant that night (ok, not great). Beds are way too soft and they squeak. Had breakfast at the same restaurant next morning. Was very good and good selection. Server was exceptionally pleasant. On the trail by 830. Took the C to the L24 in to Timmins. Fueled up at Esso. On to the L22, then A111C to L143. L143 to the A107C, then the C and in to Shining Tree. Fueled up at Shining Tree Camp. Through the parking lot and down to the lake, we followed the stake line over to Tree Bear Camp. 265 kms and it’s only 130pm. We had lunch and stayed the night. Tree Bear Camp has food, more snack bar than restaurant. Burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, etc. $110+tax per person. Includes dinner and breakfast. That night, dinner was chicken with rice and veggies, coffee cake with ice cream. Not gourmet but decent. The cabins are nice. Kitchen/living area, 2 bedrooms (2 singles in each) and a washroom with shower. All new construction so very clean and neat. I believe 3 cabins are currently available. A 4th could be readied if demand warrants it. we asked for breakfast for 730. We were offered our choice of bacon and eggs or pancakes. Pancakes with blueberries were perfect. Temp was -28 when we left at 830. The ride got off to a rough start and with the cold temps we stopped twice to warm up, Gowganda Lake Camp (put gas in the Cat and had coffee) and J & S Variety in Elk Lake (they have coffee and lunch menu with a table in the rear, it’s beside the bridge). Now on the A, we made quick time back to the truck for 330pm, 255 km day. Worst trails we rode all week was from Earlton to New Liskeard due to the fresh snow over night and high winds. It was choppy but still ok. Lunch at Gillies then back home in St Clements by 11. Just about 900 kms total. I was riding my ‘15 Turbo and my riding partner had an ‘18 Gade 900 Ace. He could go 50% further on a tank of fuel so he razzed me at every fill up. some pics.

I'm told the 5-71 is a mess due to logging.

5-71 is not one of our trails. I was by there today and the groomer had been through but I didn't go into the closed section. Thinking about it now, I think there is a section of busch trail in there that is always wet. I believe that small piece of B-203 north of Linwood is supposed to be open as well.

The trail heading NW of the clubhouse is open as well as the B203 heading NE from Linwood. I believe the 5-71 is open as well. They have been trying to get the ITG updated most of the day.

Sold out by 9pm. Was a good turn out. One more Wing Night for the season left. Open trails today. Let’s hope they last for a month.

Same happened here. TWN said 1 cm Evening, 1 cm over night. 1 cm Friday. We got 4-5 cms in the evening. I started plowing at 10pm and finished up around 4am. I woke to my phone ringing at 9am. One of my guys with a non-working plow. Just got him fixed up and back on the road half hour ago.Just stopped snowing here, another 3-4 cms this morning Decided to wait until tomorrow for a ride now. I hate riding with everyone else on Saturday but what are you going to do?

From Durham's Facebook page. They are very good with the daily updates. 2-7-20 Durham Trail Blazer trails have Limited riding conditions 245-243 remain closed for logging , please do not drive by Trail Closed signs . Before planning your trip please consult the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide . We have been grooming and will be grooming but some trails are in well worn state . Enjoy your ride

Heading there to stay one night next week. And its now called Tree Bears Camp. Treebearscamp.com They have a Facebook page as well.

I drove some stakes in my backyard yesterday. There was no frost at all. Feb 3 and no frost? It's a crazy winter but its seems like that all we've gotten the last 5 years or so. With a groom, a bit more snow that may come Thursday and some colder temps, the Durham trails will improve. I wouldn't expect "Far North" type conditions but they will be decent for a ride Saturday. Well, Saturday morning at least. I'm tempted to try a ride around Arthur on Thursday. Probably a few hazards out there but likely not many people riding them as you can't go anywhere. What I seen from the road today looked good.

Rode through that hole today along with several smaller ones. I'm not sure why that section is even open. The club has always kept it closed until they get enough snow to fill the ruts. As Diceman said, its very easy to detour around as all it does is cut a corner of a road section and the club has been doing that for several years now. It used to be a nice little section in there until ATV's found it in the summer. Trails around Durham were brutal today. They haven't groomed since Sundays trail wrecking. Markdale had groomed all its trails last night and were in good shape (at least the railbed and the west side). The section of trail down to Mount Forest showing limited is very thin.

I had thoughts of doing that run today myself but had some stuff that needed done around the house and decided to hold off on a ride until next week. Glad conditions were good for you. I dont imagine it will be in that condition by noon tomorrow. Feb 1 tomorrow and District 9 still trying to scratch some trails into rideable condition. Another crappy season for the south.

Sounds like that's what has happened. O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!

Congrats Dan.

Really? I'm kinda waiting to get one. I want to frame it and mount it on my wall. I got no issues with how fast anyone rides. Slow down when you see me and stay on your own side when you don't and we will get along just fine.

Ya, just had a plan in my head. Will have to look at options.

I wasn't planning a big loop. The wife and I like the owners at Dunlop Lake and I had planned her first saddle bag trip, Dunlop to Halfway and back. I have been watching for that trail to open and actually thought that would be inside the next week or so. Guess I will have to look else where.

Damn, I had plans for this season.

I seen a groomer coming into Bloomingdale tonight. Didn't see which tractor it was.

I agree with the bold. I disagree. The trail and its users becomes the problem of the trail builders. If I was a land owner I wouldn't be signing that agreement unless you cover me for anything that could possibly happen while there is a trail in place. Snowmobiler, dog walker, crosscountry skier, hell a transport truck, what ever....It better be your problem not mine or you can put your trail somewhere else.

I've been driving around the last few days and noticed there is still a lot of corn on the fields as you go north from Waterloo. I heard that a lot of the crops ended up with bacteria growth due to the freeze thaw and moisture during November. Good to see the farmer helped you out.

She says she is. But she bought a place in Florida a few years ago and is more interested in going there. I have no interest in that. She rented it out from Jan 11 to March 11 this year so we will see what happens. I still like plowing, I just don't like how it interferes with your life/plans. You're trapped at home. I have an employee who wants to continue plowing for a few years as well and it doesn't make sense to drop down to a single truck. I also have a son who decided to return to University. He has 2 years left and once he gets out in the world with a job and a place to live then I may quit plowing but for now I'm holding spot for him to return to incase his plans fall through. Then a buddy of mine lost his plowing insurance coverage so I took on his contracts and hired him to come do the work. I bought him a Kabota UTV with a plow and he goes and does his thing each snowfall. He wants to keep this arrangement for a few more years yet. Or in short I'm still plowing....lol

Hope to yes.....lol Sleds are serviced and read to go. We are out of town until Jan 18 so hoping I can get some riding in from then until end of February. Plowing has tied me to home for the last couple years but I hired a guy to take over my truck. So far he's been a disappointment.....lol The skill level he bragged about it his resume and interview is not showing up yet with easy snowfalls. If he hasn't got things figured out by the time I get home in January I might be screwed.