tricky

Yukon, Thanks to the Sno Voyageurs for keeping the trails rideable. We got to thank a groomer operator at the garage, knowing that the combination of high traffic volume and little snow is a challenge. I hope you get the snow, and that I get the word that I can travel from home to sled since there are no trails at home.

Yup, but that is why the LCBO is deemed essential, and I went there Tuesday PM after Dougie's news release and stocked up big time!

Rode yesterday from Anten Mills up to Midland and back. C trail okay most of the way up, but less snow more snirt and dirt at the Midland end. Best trails were 415 and 416 in the Elmvale to Hillsdale area. Deepest snow was close to Horseshoe Valley, but the Old Barrie Road/Forbes Road portion of 422 at hwy 400 was lacking in snow as you would expect. We rode it to get back to the truck at Anten Mills. Clubs had done a great job with what they had. Their had been recent grooming in the south for sure.

Or you can go to the secondary residence if you are staying 14 days or more. That is stated in the same item 16 of the Stay-At-Home Order, that allows the less than 24 hour visit.

Both above statements are the facts regarding magazine subscriptions related to OFSC membership. Many years ago, we received OSM when we bought our OFSC annual permit. Back then OSM was Ontario Snowmobile(r?) Magazine. When Supertrax was awarded the OFSC deal, OSM went international as "On Snow Magazine". OFSC has offered us Supertrax and Go Snowmobiling with our annual permit for at least 4 or 5 years, but in 2019-20 there were very few hard copy issues printed, and some us who asked for the option haven't received anything. If you currently receive or are offered OSM, they have your address from somewhere, and that could be from old OFSC registration or the International Snowmobile Show relationship.

In making Cochrane reservations, has anyone been told that the people in any room have to reside in the same home? Friend of a friend said he found an available room, but couldn't book it because the users were from different households. Sounds like a bad rumour to me, but curious????

You will have to change that. When they get enough snow, its amazing!

Had a good solo ride out of the 'Spot' in Mount Forest today. Taking input from Scott and Blackstar, I planned my loop up and around Durham in the clockwise direction. I didn't notice more snow to the east because by the time I got east of Durham the trails there were beat. From the Spot, I went north toward Holstein, then west toward Ayton and then north up the west side of Durham, east around past Tobermory Lake and back south with the intention of taking B111 to Markdale area. When I started northeast on B111 at around 1 PM it was pooched and I was seeing way more traffic than I had west of Durham. After only a couple of km of moguls I turned around thinking I might take B111 or B202 south. Again I tried a couple of km of that and turned around wanting to get back to some lesser used trails. Ended up going west on the south side of Durham past the dump and back over to the trail south to Ayton, not on the trail marked to Ayton, but the most westerly one that I had used in the AM. The difference in traffic over there as opposed to the east was huge, and consequently the trail held up through the afternoon. I also was surprised how well the road sections held up - no bare pavement as my chicken friends had predicted. Also not as much mud on the day as there may have been earlier in the week, because the brown spots were mostly frozen today. The brownouts were mostly to the south close to Mount Forest, but there were some throughout the day. All in all, except for my attempts to use B111, the day was a 7 out of 10. Good 165 km shakedown with my new Snowtrackers, which I had never used before. I also agree I won't go back for more until we have a substantial snowfall.

With the whole province in grey, or shutdown status, now until January 23, why does it matter where one PHU ends and the next begins? Am I missing something here? What I originally understood was that if PHU 'A' was in yellow or green status, and PHU 'B' was in red, orange or grey, the OFSC didn't want you to sled from B into A, and therefore a section of trails between the two areas would be 'red' or closed. The whole province is in the same status, so why the red closures?

Read the "B103" thread on this forum for first hand reports on the trail condition from Lindsay to Haliburton. A bit of a mixed bag, but generally its better from Kinmount north. As gobills said, the portion north of Hali just opened.

Speaking of closed trails, the official staging area on the east side of hwy 6 on the north edge of Mount Forest, is on a portion of the B111 trail that is closed. 1 km away the B111 is open to Holstein and beyond. Does anyone know if I could park at the staging area and ride to the open trail either on the closed trail or down the side of County Road 109. Are the conditions worth making the effort? I am anxious to try out my new used sled.

I have a computer. I use the ITG at home. I use this forum. I don't have a smart phone, and can't carry my computer on my sled. Sign it or F*** it! A "Trail Closed" sign tells me all I need to know while sledding. The ITG, for me is for planning. If its open when I plan a trip, I won't know, on the fly, if it has been closed unless its signed. If a trail is really closed, then CLOSE it!

Got to love the local knowledge available here. Thanks. Should be a bit colder Thursday, Friday.

Thanks Blake. Has there been more snow that stayed since then?

I was in that green hot tub in the last century. My friends made me do it, honest. And I still sled with one of them. Good memories of the Chimo including a very cold morning when we took at least a half hour to get 4 sleds started. No batteries or electric starters to fail back then.

I would agree with both comments. Stayed there in '94 or '95 and it was decent with good restaurant and hot tub, but wasn't new. I guess the tub is gone????

Currently the D trail is closed north of Sundridge to the A101D, preventing a link to Bonfield. Does anyone here know if this is a simple lack of snow/frost and the long road section? Hoping that might be open later this week. Any Chance?

X5, or whatever the number was. Really appreciate the trail and room reviews. You have motivated me to get sledding this week somewhere, even though some of my riding buddies are staying home out of respect for the spirit of the provincial 'lockdown'.

I like the sticker location. Mine is there so I can exchange windshields depending on the temperature. Same??? Also like the yellow ski loops. Otherwise are you using the stock adjustable skis?

Looks marvellous Eric. Can't thank you enough for these encouraging early season reports. Lifelong memories being cast!

Thanks for the great report. Good planning and good decision to not let all the 'noise' upset your trip. Very happy for you and your son.

I don't feel like I am stupid. I know that I can't snowmobile on closed(red) trails. That is all I am sure of. I live in a region, Halton Health Unit, that has no OFSC trail. If trails were to open this week in Orillia, can I legally trailer there to sled? Can I go to Cochrane now to ride opened trails? Can I go there January 10? I thought that I can drive anywhere after that was the advice I got on this excellent forum, but legally, can I? My 'new to me' sled is ready to go and I am chomping at the bit. MPP Charlie Angus says we are not southern Ontario's playground, but that is exactly how the Cochrane area businesses actract us. WTF gives???

Thanks for the report Soup. I count on the information gleaned from this forum. Since I joined this forum there is no one's info that has more positively influenced my trip decision making. Five or six successful group trips out of the Sudbury area over the past three years have happened because we listened to your reports. Also went to other destinations when you advised against Suds. Keep the faith. Keep the reports coming and the best to you in 2021.

Condolences to the young man's family and friends. Each year on this forum there are incidents that generate empathy and ridicule at the same time. I wish both the incidents and the reactions would cease. Better for me to say no more.

Yes, congrats to the club. I sure hope the first riders out follow the signage religiously. There must be a few farms that the club has access to that have winter wheat growing. If corners get cut early and a track gets established off the signed route, it sometimes gets hard, even for well intentioned sledders to stay on course.