tricky

X2. Best of a sad lot, but the white is missing. Seems each decade Skidoo comes out with a Blizzard for a couple of model years with the classic yellow/black/ white. Those are the only ones that I will buy new. Hope this one can last until 2026! 17K km now and counting.

Saw a few of these new signs through Mattawa, Missing Link, North Renfrew, S Renfrew and Maple Leaf areas last week. I thought that they were effective. I think that they could become "noise" if placed too close to other signage, but where I saw them I thought the placements were appropriate, and I admit to getting complacent at times. It is really unfortunate that many people don't set their sleds up to steer when all the manufacturers provide the necessary adjustment points to do so. I have exchanged sleds with friends for short test rides only to find that their sleds don't turn properly above crawling speed.

Four of us stayed this past Tuesday and Wednesday at Morning Mist. Met Brent and Nicole - very helpful people. Great cottage with 4 bedrooms reasonably priced. If you don't mind looking after kitchen duties, this is a great place to stay. It was the right choice for us. Also at least two days worth of great trails to ride from Stonecliffe. Grooming and groomers everywhere. Hats off the Mattawa, Missing Link and North Renfrew clubs and the OFSC also. Last two seasons the grooming across the province has been the best I have seen it in 25+ years of touring. Koodos to all involved!

Do you recall the mileage from A107C to Timmins on the L143?

If you have 200+ km range, then fuelling in Cartier will see you to Shining tree. My mileages were a little different than you have suggested for the trip. From Windy Lake Motel to Cartier I had 28 km. To the 111 and C junction, I was up to just over 100 km cumulative, and at gas in Shining Tree, I was at 223 km total. Trail and snow conditions were great when I was there. Hope they are the same for you. Enjoy.

Or carry extra fuel

Not sure that your question will be seen in this thread by people like Mike who may be able to help. I have ridden that stretch of A trail and club local trails over 20 times and am not aware of a lookout there. There is a lookout just west of Mattawa on A112A on the way to the mica mine. Any chance that is the one you are looking for?

We rode from Windy Lake to Shining Tree and on up C trail to Tata Chika Pika two weeks ago. We didn't stop for fuel, but ride 900 ACEs. I think it was just over 100 km to the junction of C111D and C. At that point there was a sign that said 98 km to Shining Tree - wrong!! - it was 120. Still no problem for our group, but a nervous stretch that last 20 km. Revrnd is correct that the option is to head south to Capreol before heading north.

Agree with TDoo. We were though that stretch two weeks ago and the gravel(?) roads were totally covered with snow.

Thanks JF and MM. I have discovered that Brent and Nicole own and operate both resorts. I really hope that I can sway my group to stay there next week while we do 'Half a RAP'. I really like to support people who are that invested in our sport. JF, "bar and night life" are not required for these aging cronies.

I know that I have read fairly recent reports here on Morning Mist and/or Pine Valley Resort, but now I can't find the thread(s). Can anyone direct to a past thread, or offer up information or opinion on either place.

No you did not, and that is why this is such a mess. A mess that cannot be laid at the feet of local clubs.

Thanks MM. That is really good news for the area.

How about Windy Lake Motel, on hwy 144 at Onaping, to Dunlop Lake and back. If you want a little extra trail time, there are decent loops to ride out of Elliot Lake. I would not give up on Dunlop Lake just because the direct run to Halfway Haven is not available. If the snow conditions are good enough to cover the rock, there are plenty of good trails in the area.

Was thru it Thursday and there was no ice and no water. Have seen both in past years and either way there was no problem. The only problem I have ever seen in approximately ten crossings is when travelling from west to east (137 to 136) and the east side hill is icy, then studs are a must. I saw unstudded sleds slide backwards down the hill and decide to turn around. Even if that happens, there is not all that much time lost going back on 137 to the A trail. Since you are traveling counter clockwise, the only issue could be no studs and the steeper east side hill is icier than I have ever encountered. Then the icy downhill could cause an out of control slide where some turning is required.

Well done Dan.

I see that a portion of the C111D at Windy Lake that was 'Red' last week, has been totally removed from the ITG. Has that happened everywhere in the STP area where the rail crossings were 'Red'? Is it happening all over the province where the non-agreements with OPG and Conservation Authorities were keeping trails closed? Does removing the trail from the ITG mean that the trail is a total los for this year? I've read as much as I can find on this issue, but can't say as I have heard from the OFSC officially. Have I missed something from head office? Surely this is still not seen as a club or district issue.

Are there any OCers going to be riding Deep River to Bonfield area tomorrow and Friday? Four of us will be sledding out of Mattawa Golf'n Ski for two days. Would like to say hi, if you are on the same trails.

Thanks sledjunk for the information. I had wanted to stay there for several years, but the daily trip mileage never worked out. This year it did, and I'm too late!

Last Monday afternoon three of us drove from the GTA to Windy Lake Motel. As usual the Linton family and staff were great hosts for Monday night's supper, stay, and Tuesday breakfast. Called to try to book Post 392 for Tuesday night, but they were "closed". I didn't make the call so I don't know if that was just closed for the day or more to it. Had great snow, weather and trail conditions on C111D and C to Tata-Chika-Pika for Tuesday night. First time staying there with recent owners (2 years). Again experienced great hospitality, supper and breakfast(a bit too large for all of us). Good conditions again Wednesday took us up C and A106C to Cochrane for late lunch at Tim's. Then it was south on the A trail to Iroquois Falls and Auberge MacDonald for the night and our first stay there. Even though there was no restaurant onsite, I can recommend the place. It is beside the beer store, across from the liquor store and acceptable restaurants are close by. Complimentary muffin and coffee was Thursday's breakfast. Also complimentary at the Auberge was indoor heated sled storage. Nice touch that would quickly be oversubscribed if more that five sleds showed up. Thursday started out cold at -22 and windy and stayed pretty much the same all day as our trip took us to Auld Reekie Lodge at Gowganda. Good hospitality, service and food again, if a bit more expensive. The A trail south of Matheson to almost Kirkland Lake was the only bit of nasty trail we encountered in four days. Good chance to use that expensive modern suspension. Friday AM began with -29 temp, but quickly warmed up in the bright sunshine. We had an enjoyable ride back across A107C to C south and 111 back to Windy Lake. Our original plan was to ride a bit in the Sudbury area Friday and drive home Saturday but the impending snow storm scared us off. We rode directly to Windy Lake Motel, had a great early supper and drove home. Great friends, mostly great weather and trail conditions for four days. Found two, new to us, overnight destinations in Tata-Chika-Pika and Auberge MacDonald. Can't wait for the next trip!

At Big White. Google it. Nice!!!

Did a four day trip last year with my 900 Blizzard, a 1200 Renegade, an older 1200 (geared taller than stock) short track and a '15 Viper 129". The Viper consistently took the most fuel, followed by the Renegade 1200 and my 900 always took the least fuel by a significant amount. This past week running north on the C trail, the low fuel light on for 50+ km, my Blizzard would only accept 31.4 L (double burped) in Timmins. Skidoo says the tank is 40 L. Yesterday AM we left Gowganda full, again burped. I rode 277 km to the trailer, not sparring the throttle, again with warning light on for over 40 km. I hope to siphon remaining fuel from the tank this week to see how much was left. Then I will fill and see how many litres it actually holds. On that same Gowganda to Windy Lake ride, my buddy's 120" 900 ace just showed the low fuel warning after about 260 km. My '15 Renegade 600 etec was good on fuel, but not as good as my 900.

This must be a separate issue from the inability to get agreements with rail companies. Oui? Non?

Five inches so far in Milton. Its lovely outside!

No, soup. South on C in the afternoon, then west on 111 to Windy Lake.