AC+YA

This was after making it back across that frozen river from New Brunswick the night before in the blizzard. The tree line had been blown away and there was a 20 foot high drift along the south side of the river we had to dig down by hand to finally get the sleds through/over. It was dark and we were told to aim for the lights barely visible at times. We took the roads once climbing off the river. Long day. Same spot as seen in the previous post by Gadgetman. Beautiful view of New Brunswick from Quebec.

The 2019 storm came when we were in New Brunswick and had to hold over for a day and then we pushed on for a tough day to get back across the river north to Quebec. It was a long day with many stuck issues. Even the groomers were getting stuck trying to open some of the trails. The motel warned us to move the sleds to where they are in the picture the night we arrived based on the wind predictions. It was bare pavement we pushed across to park next to our rooms and then decided they could be right and went back out and moved the sleds. The hallway was walled with windows and they covered over the next morning as we watched. Perce rock and other places along the way back on the Gaspe are shown. Some pics don't want to stay vertical, sorry. This was a long ride from RDL down through NB and back up to finish the Gaspe Loop. As I mentioned earlier the plans were changed by the storm and we missed some of the mountain trails that trip. We did mountains in NB in winds which tried to push you off your sled. Fantastic experience because we worked together to make it out.

We've been twice. It is about 40 minutes off the main trail. It has good places to eat and stay. The Rock is cool to see, but I will only do it again if I am stopping there over night, but have been there twice already.

One of my favorite pictures from near LaCache. The big storm in 2019 stopped us from taking this trail that trip. The North Shore and through the mountains are a must. One day went from Perc'e Rock to Murdochville to LaCache To Matane. Was one of my favorite days of sledding. We had a beautiful sunset and were forced to follow two moose for quite a while as they would not get off the trail into the deep snow. We kept stopping so as not to push them. Got to the Quality Inn in Matane just before they closed the kitchen and had dinner.

Ordered most of the things I planed to put on mine last spring and have received almost all of them. Just need the sled to get started installing them. I have the adjustable windshield already. Glad I didn't wait to order.

You are 100% correct on what most new sled buyers put $ into. I have already done it for my new on-order Doo and already planned to add the block heater suggested by Gadgetman. It should add the assurance on the -40° nights that when able to be plugged in, that the following morning will not be a bad one. I have always been able to slowly put heat into my two-stroke motors and eventually get them started on the Cats. My electric start Cat 800's have always started with just the key or button. My Yamacat's have failed me a few times just because the battery's could not crank them enough at those temps. Your fix would have done it as all those times I had access to plugs which powered hair dyers under the hood for 15 minutes. I hated asking for use of hair dryers and now returning to the 4-stroke I want to basically take care of the issue before hand much as you have done. Hoping I have great success with the new ACE 900 Turbo much the same as many others have. I wanted to get back to a 4-stroke for my retirement years and long miles I want to run. My Cat's with 2-strokes (even the new made in USA motors) have done great for longevity, but I try not to go over 20K miles before selling them. I have one which is getting close. You do a fantastic amount of work to keep and even improve your sleds which is great. I just want them to keep running and I want to lazy with no exhaust valves to clean. I still keep grease in all bearings unless oil lubed. Thanks for all the great ideas I have taken away from your posts.

I have talked a bit with a couple clubs where I ride often and have been warmly received over the past 20 years. These clubs over the years have naturally had lots of cross border riders from the USA. The Alouettes and the Trailblazers once had many trail passes sold to people from the states. I know that since the 9-11 attack the world has changed. Passports, exchange rates, the loss of local permit sales, no more try our trails free weekend, no more 1-day passes, and now border closings due to covid all have come into play. I think at one time after the close of the wood mill in Dub, US permits helped maintain the minimums of permit sales needed to remain a club. It is much harder for me to get riders to visit Ontario with me for a weekend. There was a time when the guys would decide to go across the border for a quick ride and just grab a day pass at the party store or ski hill in Searchmont and run up to Halfway and back. It's no longer easy. Canadian's don't understand that the majority of people in the US don't have a passport, just as my 4th passport has expired and I am in no hurry to get a new one. I live in Michigan where an enhanced drivers license which I do have also works. Many states don't offer such. Some haven't paid attention to the new "on line" pick your club where you ride most either. I spent some time trying to pick my clubs when I got Quebec Permits and it was not easy to get where I wanted it to go since language is another barrier. It is an expensive well planned process now and the numbers touring have also dropped. When I ask do you have a DUI, insurance, passport or enhanced DL, the trip plans end and they say, "let's just go to the UP". If the D trail is closed, I might invest in a deep snow sled and see if I can make it up the old D trail to Chapleau from Searchmont. Maybe ox and ski can come and show me how it's done?

The projects taking place always come first as does the economic engines of the areas. They have left roads and bridges that were easily utilized by the trail system, but as ski points out are taken back as needed without debate. Some modifications also seem to be removed or destroyed in the name of the ecosystem or to remove possible liabilities of use. The wood rights went back to Hornepayne and there have been multiple road building projects to access the wood resources north of Dub. The roads run from Dub and can connect logging to the mills in the west and all the way up to Hearst not just Hornepayne. Someday these routes may be available, but if used will be taken back when needed by industry. The gold mining around Dub has boomed and is also taking back the use of roads used for trails. There was some re-routes worked on, but never needed or opened up. There were new trail sections opened, but not really finished to the point that lower snowfall amounts could make them usable. without the snow, the trails were bypassed back to roadside sections destroyed by plows well before the ice fishing season was finished. Railroad crossing access is always maintained first. It will be a trying season if the covid thing stops. The weather and covid masked the problems with maintaining the D108A last season, but the interactions with logging are not fixed yet. A dedicated trail is needed as the old 100 mile loop has been taken back and expanded on both sides by logging. Short term there may be a sharing plan, but often loggers decide to wipe away and close trails at the worst times of the season. Halfway closing is a huge hit to touring riders starting from SSM and will put more pressure on D trail and the old F trail connected areas. This will just push the more dedicated to head to Quebec as opportunities for connected touring are lost. As the drive/trailering I need to make is pushed from 6 hours to 12 hours, I can go east and make fewer but longer trips in Quebec. The exception is when weather cooperates and the Soo to Sudbury has good conditions, but often this is not the case.

Sean thought it was a person who had come around periodically asking for things and favors. He had left to spend some much needed time away with a women friend. Before leaving he had wrapped the refrigerator to insulate and had taken all the precautions per usual to winterize since the generators would be off. He usually ran only a small Honda generator when alone as the fuel costs were too much to keep water and all the other things going during the extended periods of the off season. When Sean returned to try and get things going, the place had been lived in and no housekeeping performed. The generator had been turned on and full use of water and electric was taken and all the beer consumed. It was trashed and when the fuel ran out, this person or persons had just walked out leaving it all to freeze up hard. It was a mess and it seemed that no help was available to Sean other than local Ontario based friends of his...............sad situation. Yes it was a delayed opening his final season there. It is crazy that the owners of Halfway Haven are from my town and the towns next to us. It is also funny that ox, myself, and Hoosier are all living close together in the Ohio, Michigan, Indiana Tri-State Area. We all love what Canada has to offer.

Hoosier, I live just a bit north from you (Michigan-Indiana line) and ride from the Soo or Searchmont usually 3 times each month. There are great trails going east also and would have a weekend that we could meet and go east if you don't want to do the extra 3 hours north by car. Elliot Lake is a good ride.

Jean and Don sold and will be gone soon or maybe it was the beginning of this month. She messaged me a couple months ago. The new owners may get more traffic running to Elliot lake from the Soo if the Trailblazers get the D201F back going and it makes for a good loop to Elliot. Enjoy that entire area! Very remote yet not way way north. This is where Dan does all the off trail lake jumping............

Many have been going from Black Creek to Chapleau via Halfway Haven and I think I made that trip faster than the old direct F trail. All it did was hook the two in a better way. I took Toll Creek Road usually to save a few hours since it was shorter and no need to go out of the way to Halfway Haven.

No. Just like the last time it closed, and now the F trail is closed also. Very sad if there is no work around, even the big northern loop section between Timmins and Chapleau will be done. This will isolate the northwest from the area between SSM and Sudbury.

The issue back then was that Wawa get cut out of the loop as it is an out of the way dead end except for those trailering to Wawa to start the loop and must first run up to Dub and then get on with the loop in either direction. This is why I believe that the old trail was chopped and Halfway included in the trails from both directions. The F trail from Black Creek was cut also so everyone had to go through Halfway. I believe this was needed to keep them alive even in normal years. Sault Ste. Marie has been cut out of the looping except for those starting from there, especially since Searchmont lost GAS. Without back tracking to SSM or Goulias River at minimum, those following the Northshore cannot make it. There was extra time added to these big trips 1 or 2 days when not skipping SSM by running directly from Elliot Lake to Black Creek and then to Halfway and beyond. All these routes are GREAT RIDING! I have been sad ever since the loss of GAS at Searchmont which started to destroy Halfway Haven. Halfway will never have the traffic they once had back in the day when the people from Michigan ran up and down to Wawa from SSM as fantastic weekend riding. Many also did the 1 day rides from Searchmont to Halfway and back. This was killed when the 1 day permit somehow got lost. All that was needed was some OPP or trail patrols to enforce the 1-day since so many rode the entire weekend on the 1-day. Nobody ever checking. I have made it from Goulais River to Chapleau without ever going near Halfway Haven and almost twice a month was going from Searchmont to Chapleau direct. 180 Km direct and much faster. Also have done Chapleau to Black Creek direct and much faster. Again, the actual official trail portions NEEDS TO BE GROOMED. This will make for some of the best OFF TRAIL Riding anywhere for those who know what is out there.

I have done the trail from Hornepayne direct to Longlac at 270Km without gas. This trail still exists as far as I know at least when pandemics are gone. Yes, made it without using the extra I had with on my 2-stroke Cat XF-8000. I added gas on the way back so I could play since I proved to myself it could be done with hard packed trails. Conditions make all the difference. Nobody is making these long distances without groomed trails unless they have deep snow sleds pulling supplies "expedition" style and that is not what we are talking about. The money put into the bridge on the old F trail between Dog Lake and Chapleau created a direct link between Chapleau and Dub and Ernie's even had food and gas and if people were again using the trail would probably re-open some lodging earlier in the season. He always opens it for ice fishing later in the season. That trail was fast and would create the loop to Timmins from Dub. This is less than 185 Km and broken up by the stop at Dog Lake with fuel/food and potentially a place to sleep. Back when Halfway was closed we even took a day to break trail out to Halfway from Valentine's just to do it. We used saws and carried extra fuel. It was a great day to remember.

My dealer wanted $500.

She is not happy with me trying a SkiDoo, but I hope she likes it also. Paige is still a Cat Girl and will be riding her 2019 XF-8000 again as it only has about 10,000 miles on it. If the SkiDoo comes as late as they say it could and the season starts early AND the border is open to those with vaccinations, I may be riding my 2018 XF-8000 at the start of the season. It has over 16,000 miles on it. Both motors still running like new with nothing done to them other than cleaning exhaust valves. Seems they are lasting like the Suzuki motors did so far. (These are miles not kilometers.) I was scared to go 2-stroke on anything but a CAT as we run lots of miles, but feel great about the 4-stroke 900 T lasting. I have a 300 HP supercharged ACE motor in my SeaDoo which has never had any issues either. All the 600 & 900 ACE motors NA and Turbo have been bulletproof as far as I know. My CAT Turbo Sled had driveline issues which made me swear off turbos, but have not heard any bad news about the SkiDoo Turbo Sleds coming apart. I will be giving this one a good testing while it is under it's 3 years of warranty.

I remember you introducing yourself one morning at breakfast two seasons back at the Companion in Hearst. Hope to see you again this season. Thanks again. Scott

Thanks. I will PM you this fall about the lights you put in. Just too busy right now and it may be a while before the sled gets here. Seems SkiDoo told my dealer that all the Spring Order sleds will be later than usual and it could be as late as next January before they arrive here in Michigan. Not a good start on my first 4-stroke SkiDoo. I have had 5 SkiDoo sleds over the years. My first was a 1969 Olympic. This should be a great sled. Paige and I have had both Covid shots and are hoping that can open the border to us by next season? Really going to hurt if we can’t ride in Canada another season....... Take Care. Scott

I have ordered my first NOTACAT since 1998 and it is like those you have ordered. (XR-S Renegade Turbo 900 R) I cannot figure out if a "mid to high" adjustable windshield can be fitted on a wide body 4-stroke. I like the option when it is real cold, but like the looks of the mid size otherwise. Then all the deflectors and such plus how the mirrors mount are what i am trying to put together. Seemed that all I could find was that a "low to mid" adjustable was available? Maybe someone can help me figure this out. Thanks

I remember that happened in Matane. I was there a few days later after returning from a trip around New Brunswick where we were caught in that blizzard. Amazing what we made it through on the way back up to Gaspe. I ordered the same machine. Hope everyone loves them. My first NOTACAT since 1998.

Paige and I really missing all the QC Members this season! Saw 65°F here at the bottom of Michigan the past few days. So happy you all have seen the weather change up there and can have a great experience. (A bit jealous) Be Safe!

I had 5 Susuki motors make 20K. A couple well over 30K. The 700 Crossfires were fantastic except no reverse. Cat had a great sled and lost all the momentum when they didn't put electric start or reverse on them. The good thing was that I bought new leftovers still in 2008. Had to finally get reverse as my back got too old and my daughter got stuck trying to turn around one very cold night near SRF.

I was absolutely wrong. In the past I understood the "Adventure" model to be a 2-up only and I was thinking of the Titan. I see the "Adventure" in the name of many different sleds now in the Polaris Lineup which I am more impressed with then ever before, but as I turn so many miles in "normal" seasons I was looking for a new 4-stroke Turbo motor also. The 750cc turbo twin of years past seemed to have good power and perhaps a version of that type of motor or as triples seem to be all the rage now? I seem to be drawn to the Matryx front ends with the 146"x1.5" pre-stud lugs. BTW, why has SkiDoo not started using LED lights yet? Waiting to see what Cat has, but ready to see only colors and more auto shock change stuff. No new motors expected, but needed as those 2-strokes seem to last a long time. I have two CTec-2 800's with 17K and 8K miles still running like new with no motor work except cleaning exhaust valves.

There is no flat on the reverse side of the spring shaft and will likely not hold position or just work its way off the shaft. I have already tried to spin worn ends.