Cochrane March 13-14th

[ecarnell]

Stayed in New liskeard last night then continued trailering to cochrane this am.

 

parked at Thrift lodge (staying next two nights) and headed out up to do the abitibi loop.

 

on the trail 10am ish after filling up sleds, gas caddy and 2 extra empty 4l jugs of oil with hi test - as was really worried abilitbi camp would be packed , potentially run out of fuel , and wasn’t wanting to stop in today (As cochrane is packed...)

 

First 40 km out of town was a little bumpy for cochrane - but flat white carpet mostly after that.
ice road still at 100cm!

Saw two groomers today.

 
Dumped the 8l in at 85km mark in the 850.

 

made it to the canyon - 145 km, NO WATER flowing !

 

fast boring (as no powder) hydroline run down to smooth rock - great late lunch at the restaurant (chicken wrap and poutine!) 230.2km to that point.
The 900 ACE made it the entire way with one bar to spare on gauge.

 

very bumpy A trail back to Cochrane. Was fast, as had to keep it 80-105km/hr to skip over the bumps.

 

300.2 km for the very short day.

 

checked in really early this aft at Triftlodge. Unloaded truck, drove to get some beer, cleaned off tracks/adjusted suspension, locked up and covered by 5pm.

 

early relaxing night tonight as plan is the head to Hearst and back tomorrow.

 

I can’t stopping thinking about a blacked out XCR now thanks to UsedtoSkidoo!!!!

 

 

Edited March 14, 2021 by ecarnell

[Johnny_5oh]

Nice pics. Makes me want to do a last of the year ride maybe next weekend! Already have next Friday booked off maybe I can get a day off the following week.

[Polaris1]

Awesome pics for those of us seasoned Ontario riders south of the border....

[T bird]

@ecarnelli couldn’t agree anymore with your comments above! Alamein all another gear day!!

[volunteer2]

11 hours ago, Johnny_5oh said:

Nice pics. Makes me want to do a last of the year ride maybe next weekend! Already have next Friday booked off maybe I can get a day off the following week.

As TD says  get the rooms booked      Cochrane was full when I started  booking    Moose in SRF seems to have room so give that a try  

[Turbo Doo]

7 minutes ago, volunteer2 said:

As TD says  get the rooms booked      Cochrane was full when I started  booking    Moose in SRF seems to have room so give that a try  

Busy Busy up here.  I've never seen soo many sleds at the Super 8 in Hearst,  and the Companion Inn in Hearst.  Also the lot was basically packed also in Hearst with trucks and trailers.  Nuts..

[volunteer2]

25 minutes ago, Turbo Doo said:

Busy Busy up here.  I've never seen soo many sleds at the Super 8 in Hearst,  and the Companion Inn in Hearst.  Also the lot was basically packed also in Hearst with trucks and trailers.  Nuts..

A sign of the pandemic times   

[Spudman]

Headed up this morning. 3 nights at Best Western. Father/Son trip.  Going to see Mike and Joe tomorrow.  A trail to Kap/Hearst and back.  I know its gonna be jammed up there but super excited to finally get a north corridor run in.

Really appreciate the trail update thanks

[ecarnell]

Just stopped for a soup and coffee in kap - 150 km from cochrane.

chilly start in the am.

 

First 40 km perfect, next 60 to moonbeam hadn’t been groomed in a while..... stuck....

 

 

moonbeam to kap perfect - except for the OPP stop. All good.

 

[UsedtoSkidoo]

3 hours ago, Spudman said:

Headed up this morning. 3 nights at Best Western. Father/Son trip.  Going to see Mike and Joe tomorrow.  A trail to Kap/Hearst and back.  I know its gonna be jammed up there but super excited to finally get a north corridor run in.

Really appreciate the trail update thanks

Kid driving grandmas 600?

6 minutes ago, ecarnell said:

Just stopped for a soup and coffee in kap - 150 km from cochrane.

chilly start in the am.

 

First 40 km perfect, next 60 to moonbeam hadn’t been groomed in a while..... stuck....

 

 

moonbeam to kap perfect - except for the OPP stop. All good.

 

XCR is the wiser choice. Good luck!

[Spudman]

Grandma's 850 Assault lol

 

[UsedtoSkidoo]

34 minutes ago, Spudman said:

Grandma's 850 Assault lol

 

Lol. 

 

If you're thinking a new polaris that 850 motor is a winner btw. 

[Gadgetman]

5 hours ago, Spudman said:

Headed up this morning. 3 nights at Best Western. Father/Son trip.  Going to see Mike and Joe tomorrow.  A trail to Kap/Hearst and back.  I know its gonna be jammed up there but super excited to finally get a north corridor run in.

Really appreciate the trail update thanks

Maximize those while you can. They grow up fast, move or get stationed at different parts of the country, and sometimes you don't see them for long stretches. I got a day trip with him in, last March, first time it worked out in over 8 -10 years.

[ecarnell]

Made it to Hearst for fuel - 282 km.

 

now time to turn around !!!

[scottyr]

I have done that many times.   Its a long day.  

 

[UsedtoSkidoo]

2 hours ago, Spudman said:

Grandma's 850 Assault lol

 

I either have no attention span or need glasses.  I thought it said  Spider-Man......who is on my lake. 

 

Lol. Oops 

[ecarnell]

Back in Kap at 4:45pm for early small dinner of wings at Chucks . 410 km thus far.

my son, I think , had the 900 ACE to the bar for a fair bit of the 40 km coming in and  out of Hearst on A trail.

 

think we are going to break up ride back to cochrane for some great Quebec style poutine in smoothrock(also know as “no groomers” or “bumpy ride”.)

 

the A trail to Hearst was great, I softened up my front , and with the extra traffic ride back was awesome.

 

 

Edited March 14, 2021 by ecarnell

[revrnd]

@irREVerent I think we picked the only week that the sun didn't shine up there.

 

Nice pics!

[signfan]

Ecarnell how was the ride to the Canyon yesterday?  Good running or rough with the traffic?  Did you do the loop or just up and back the east side?

[irREVerent]

2 hours ago, revrnd said:

@irREVerent I think we picked the only week that the sun didn't shine up there.

 

Nice pics!

Seems like it, doesn't it?

[ecarnell]

Man - boy can my 13 year old ride!

home sweet and sound (well to the thrift lodge at least)  - 560.0km for the day!

 

[ecarnell]

1 hour ago, signfan said:

Ecarnell how was the ride to the Canyon yesterday?  Good running or rough with the traffic?  Did you do the loop or just up and back the east side?

We did loop - from cochrane up, then down east side to smoothrock.

great except A trail out of smoothrock to cochrane..

 

Note:the A trail for 30km out of smoothrock was even WORSE this evening.

[ecarnell]

Nice ride back from Kap - Except A trail out of SR.

a least this am you could skip across - tonight was a solid 30km of standing doing 50-60km/hr max

 

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by ecarnell

[signfan]

Thanks.  Am thinking maybe we'll do the Canyon tomorrow.  Maybe up and back on the east side.  I appreciate the intel.

[Re:Leaf]

10 hours ago, ecarnell said:

Man - boy can my 13 year old ride!

home sweet and sound (well to the thrift lodge at least)  - 560.0km for the day!

 

Riding from Cochrane to Hearst and back is 560km depending on the route you take (280km one way). Riding 560km in one day is an incredible achievement for you and your son. Dubreuilville to Hearst is 320km approximately plus 280km from Hearst to Cochrane equals 600km. 
 

Some 13 year olds ride 560km (Virtually) in a day playing PS4 while laying on the couch and texting their friends at the same time. 
 

The bumpy section on the A trail between smooth rock falls and cochrane is a great life lesson for your son. Navigating through rough times in our lives can lead to amazing groomed trails ahead.