Gadgetman

Just posted that their Groomers are now parked for the season. Trying to keep trails open until Friday.

Thanks. My summary description amended to reflect ITG yellow section.

Summary: Sled KL to Cochrane Sat, back Sunday (below 0 overnight Sat) Did 108 to A from KL, good. A up to Yellow section OK -(warm so no grooming) Yellow section North of Matheson to North of IRQ - Bad - no grooming, and a few wet areas on trail. Section north out of Matheson - center dirt ((200 metres) Stayed A to Cochrane - moving avg about 44km\h vice Feb 60km\h. Went to Cochrane Fire tower before some light rain started. (Even A out to tower had some very thin sections (I expect won't last a sunny day or 2). Sunday -8c, decided to head back to KL and capitilize on the frozen trail where we rode gravel and slush Sat. Yellow section of A trail was now crusty, (scratchers) and summed up as BRUTAL. Moguls, 30deg banked corners, most with moguls. IRQ - rumor is club is having an internal groomer operator issue and not grooming. North of Ramore (not sure which club) - owner of Rollys said, after I mentioned a big wet area (looked deep), that if the area that always floods is now soft, Groomer won't go out (issues in the past at that spot). KL was grooming Sunday as we approached town. Again, hard packed, crusty. I expect Cochrane (my opinion - I know the expression) has only a couple days left based on forecast. Note - Guys doing the Canyon stated the Yellow section from fuel to the hydro lines was also Brutal. Tough, tough two days of riding.

How did this thread morf to QC? Brutal out of Matheson and Val Gagne. Expect those trails to close. Moving avg speed only 45kmH compared to winter 60kmH avg. We got to Cochrane about 1330hrs. Went to fire tower and back. I figure A trail only has a few days left if sunny.

Trail great so far for spring. A108, north end west of Melba creek. Hard and crusty but good snow depth.

Trail great so far for spring. A108, north end west of Melba creek. Hard and crusty but good snow depth.

Driving to KL Friday from Ottawa. Riding to Cochrane Sat and back to KL Sunday. Anyone happen to pass by this Yellow stretch of trails as it crosses highway 11, and can tell me if the snow conditions with this Yellow status? Thanks

Sold.

Never gone to either.

You could give some thought to QC, with that snow depth, should survive the warm weekend better? Hub out of R-Noranda (Quality) (working North and East) or Val-Dor (Forestal - expensive)sive). From your location RN may be the better option.

North part of D108 - I posted a while back had wash-out which we barely got passed last week of Feb, also didn't look like ankle deep water. If they haven't been able to get back to that spot, I can't see how what was left of the snow bridge could still be there.

Timmins - Casey's - Closed Sundays. Trail up to it (not signed - look for a mini ski-hill next to the trees) and Super 8 is GTG, coming off L27, just used it 2 weeks ago. Most of the old forest is removed, some construction around the back access.

About 44KM North of HP, in the Prov Park there is a minimum crossable (our group) opinion wash-out. Just enough of a snow bridge for the skis and track to get across, very carefully. Also, doesn't look like a shallow spot, so coming off the snow bridge could be a wet time. We did it Wednesday, 26 Feb. Hearst and area got more snow Thursday. It is well marked. Trails were great, and some new in the woods taking you off some of the old winter road sections. Did the day trip to HP from Hearst. Food in HP at what looks to be the primary food spot was good. X marks the wash-out on the GPS plot.

They received fuel by noon, give or take.

Out of gas. Hoping for a delivery today.

Thanks. I sent in a support ticket to 509. The SM to Large are 1 shell size, XL-> 2nd shell size. The Large cheek pad won't work in the XL shell, according to 509 support. Week trip starts this Saturday, sticking with the 509 and added a bit of foam to snug up the helmet a bit.

Thank you.

You did generate an idea. I see I can buy replacement liners for my 509, I will contact them next week and ask if the L liners will work in my XL helmet, which then solves my "loose" XL helmet issue. Thanks again.. Sometimes you just need to look at the problem differently. Cheers

Thanks. I have several challenges with the AMS helmet compared to my 509 Delta R4: AMS: 1. My right ear was compressed to the point I shortened the ride. 2. Just trying to push/pull the helmet over the top part of my large head was brutal (especially on the trail). (30cm head) 3. I find the snap buckle system much harder to use on he AMS than the 509 "snap" buckle. Changing the cushions may work if I completely change the opening cushion in addition to the cheek cushion. The only thing I liked about the AMS was that the headed visor LED faces front, so I can easily see that it is on when riding. Thank you for the suggestion and your time.

Worn for 6 hrs on 15 Feb 2025. Large will NOT work for my head size. Comes complete. $475 Shipped.

Thanks everyone. Focus of the question is not the cost, right or wrong, moral or not, cost of staying open or the trail closed, but so that I can remind some of "my" trip members to bring enough cash, in this credit card society. Looking at doing it in the other direction this year. Based on how beat I am from yesterdays first ride of the season and only 140KM, I think the Tower gets pushed to another day.

Thanks. Good to know as they are only a few hours from me. Cheers

We staged out of there last winter for 3 nights, yes, really expensive but 3 nights were cheaper than our normal 6 or 7 day trips, so bit the bullet. Food was 1 hour to serve, and expensive like the rooms. I think they were still trying to recover from COVID staff departures. Location is good and rooms are nice. I've kind of given up on counting the coins on food and hotels, when I look at the sled, SUV and how big the cost\Km is in this sport. (Not a shot at you at all, please.) We are trailering to Cochrane 21 Feb, two tanks of fuel each way in the SUV. Historically, two blown pistons (600 SDI) over the years, which resulted in a new 2010 Apex coming home and the Black GSX being left behind, and my wife asking if I painted the GSX while on the trip. Explaining a new sled was much more expensive and painful.

Last time I was up, I think it was 10 litres, $50. This year, anyone been up yet? Thanks

Looks like the only way I see to sled across is to take the OFSC 40 and 20 to Pointe Fortune, cross onto the FCMQ 312 and 317 , then cross over. Crossing shows Green, not that I'm a fan of crossing that river anywhere or anytime.