ZR1BANDIT Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Is it possible to make it from searchmont to chapleau on my 2025 sidewinder on one tank of fuel ??? thanks ----- Quote
PISTON LAKE CRUISER Posted January 2 Posted January 2 26 minutes ago, ZR1BANDIT said: Is it possible to make it from searchmont to chapleau on my 2025 sidewinder on one tank of fuel ??? thanks ----- Well, the ITG says it is 210 km. From Searchmount to Chapleau by trail. If conditions were perfect do you think you could make it? Quote
ZR1BANDIT Posted January 2 Author Posted January 2 35 minutes ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said: Well, the ITG says it is 210 km. From Searchmount to Chapleau by trail. If conditions were perfect do you think you could make it? last i checked was able to get approx. 14 MPG but like you said perfect conditions its very close just wondering if anyone has made it Quote
PISTON LAKE CRUISER Posted January 2 Posted January 2 15 minutes ago, ZR1BANDIT said: last i checked was able to get approx. 14 MPG but like you said perfect conditions its very close just wondering if anyone has made it Take a windshield washer jug of gas with you and dump it in the tank as soon as you have used more than that amount. 2 Quote
Ox Posted January 2 Posted January 2 And toss the empty in the bush? I've pulled fivers out of the bush - with bite marks in them... . 1 Quote
PISTON LAKE CRUISER Posted January 2 Posted January 2 46 minutes ago, Ox said: And toss the empty in the bush? I've pulled fivers out of the bush - with bite marks in them... . That's the reason why I said to use a Windshield Washer jug. After emptying, we flattened them, put the cap back on and stuff them under the bungee cords that help hold our luggage on until we get to the next gas station and leave them there if no longer required. 7 Quote
stoney Posted January 2 Posted January 2 1 hour ago, Ox said: And toss the empty in the bush? I've pulled fivers out of the bush - with bite marks in them... . Are you reading in between the lines on this one…😂 they are also great for getting a little fire going trail side. 1 Quote
skidooboy Posted January 3 Posted January 3 I know @AC+YA has done it several times. They carry extra fuel, maybe he will see this and chime in. Depending on conditions, tune, and any issues at all, It could be done but, to be safe, you should really carry several gallons of extra. No need to become a statistic. Ski Quote
Ox Posted January 3 Posted January 3 I've been one of those statistics on that trail - before Halfway. But am not saying that it was our fault at all. Bad info on map. (trail length total) Poor communication otherwise as well. We got choppered out a few days later. It makes for good stories down the pike, but I'm not sure that I'd recommend it for lesser men... With that said tho - to this day, that stretch is our #1 "go-to" area. We love it to ... death? I have carried satelite communications since 2000 b/c of our experience. Call ahead before leaving. Make sure that the folks on the other end know who you are (maybe emergency numbers for you) where you are comming from, and when you are leaving. If you have a new phone, it may support satelite texting when off grid. I know some Yanks that have that feature, and it works at camp there. Also, snow report from last night at Anjigami said there was up to 4' of snow in the bush, but that lake ice is almost non-existant. Of all of the layers, the best that he had to offer was a 3" layer. . Quote
ZR1BANDIT Posted January 3 Author Posted January 3 thanks guys for the info-----sounds like a fuel caddy will be needed. thinking of just trailering to wawa and heading out from there. does wawa motor inn alow truck and trailer parking while being gone for a few days then returning ? Quote
skidooboy Posted January 4 Posted January 4 Wawa motor usually lets you park there if you stay before and after you return. But, call in advance to verify. You used to be able to park across from the arena, not sure if that is an option any longer. Or call Kenny at the Big Bear in Hawk Junction, and speak with him about rooms, and parking. He is a good guy, and willing to help, and has great food!. Tell him Eric and Lynne from Dubreuilville, sent you his way. If you are going to Chapleau from Wawa, understand, it is a few miles closer than Searchmont but, not by much, you will be in the same predicament. There is no fuel or any services between searchmont, wawa, chapleau.. Good luck, and good sledding. Ski 1 Quote
J Feces Posted January 4 Posted January 4 On 1/3/2026 at 12:35 PM, ZR1BANDIT said: thanks guys for the info-----sounds like a fuel caddy will be needed. thinking of just trailering to wawa and heading out from there. does wawa motor inn alow truck and trailer parking while being gone for a few days then returning ? The ride from searchmont to Wawa is great and worth the effort if conditions allow. I have not done it when halfway haven was closed tho…if trail was groomed and I carried fuel I would try it. Dropping in Wawa is also great option, it’s really not that much further when on the road anyway.. I did the big northern loop from there a few years ago. Wawa motor in was very accommodating for parking. We did stay over and leave from there as well as staying over when back. Good luck with the trip. 1 Quote
Strong Farmer Posted January 4 Posted January 4 On 1/2/2026 at 1:14 PM, ZR1BANDIT said: Is it possible to make it from searchmont to chapleau on my 2025 sidewinder on one tank of fuel ??? thanks ----- I give you some great advice I learned when I rode area in past. If you use Sheppard morse road, it isn't ploughed in winter except last few km's near trail on moose horn lodge end. Locals run it all the time. So it be a safe packed trail to use. It shave approx about 18 ish kms off trip. If you call owner at moose horn lodge and tell him you need some gas, he have it for you. Also a great place to stay in area so I wouldn't be afraid to head up and stay there and tell them you need gas. closer then town and with short cut you should be able to make it with minimal gas. It be just be 30kms shorter then going into town I did it this way before and never stopped at half way for gas. cheers. Quote
PISTON LAKE CRUISER Posted January 4 Posted January 4 20 minutes ago, Strong Farmer said: It shave approx about 18 ish kms off trip. If you call owner at moose horn lodge and tell him you need some gas, he have it for you. Also a great place to stay in area so I wouldn't be afraid to head up and stay there and tell them you need gas. closer then town and with short cut you should be able to make it with minimal gas. It be just be 30kms shorter then going into town I'm confused, which is it "18ish kms off trip" or "it be just be30km shorter then going into town" Quote
Strong Farmer Posted January 5 Posted January 5 23 minutes ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said: I'm confused, which is it "18ish kms off trip" or "it be just be30km shorter then going into town" Short cut will save just over half distance of following trail approx 60 percent less distance. Then if he gets moose horn to give him 5 gallons of gas he won't have to go extra 10 kms into town from lodge on same tank of fuel. So that's how he could save almost 30 Kms off trip. ACYA told me about this years ago and me and my dad used short cut serval times over years. It's usually as good as trail and owner of moose horn was in process of cutting a trail off into power line to avoid ploughed road at lodge end. Road was never bad when I used it. Quote
skidooboy Posted January 5 Posted January 5 1 hour ago, J Feces said: The ride from searchmont to Wawa is great and worth the effort if conditions allow. I have not done it when halfway haven was closed tho…if trail was groomed and I carried fuel I would try it. Dropping in Wawa is also great option, it’s really not that much further when on the road anyway.. I did the big northern loop from there a few years ago. Wawa motor in was very accommodating for parking. We did stay over and leave from there as well as staying over when back. Good luck with the trip. We used to start in the Soo or Searchmont, after doing it a few times, we realized we lost 2 days on that trail on a trip. It is 6-10 hours by trail, unless you are carrying the mail, and not stopping to rest, pics, etc.... It is less than 2.5 hours in the truck to Wawa from the Soo, on good dry rds. It became a no brainer for our group. Also, with the Ontario Govt switching from, the MTO to a for profit company (Ledcor) maintaining the highways up there, It is wise to become a member on FB of the northern ontario traffic alert page, and put the 511 ontario ap/site on your phone, and watch the alerts, and cams like a hawk. They have been closing 17 and 11 down very regularly for issues they never did in the past. Sometimes 17 is closed for days at a time between Wawa and the Soo. This will go on until the weather patterns calms, and or the bigger bays freeze solid, to limit lake effect snows in the region. Ski 3 Quote
T bird Posted January 5 Posted January 5 4 hours ago, Strong Farmer said: Short cut will save just over half distance of following trail approx 60 percent less distance. Then if he gets moose horn to give him 5 gallons of gas he won't have to go extra 10 kms into town from lodge on same tank of fuel. So that's how he could save almost 30 Kms off trip. ACYA told me about this years ago and me and my dad used short cut serval times over years. It's usually as good as trail and owner of moose horn was in process of cutting a trail off into power line to avoid ploughed road at lodge end. Road was never bad when I used it. You used this 10 plus years ago…. Quit sending folks astray!!…. You don’t know crap from shoe shine…. Keep your boots in your own crap!! 2 1 Quote
Strong Farmer Posted January 5 Posted January 5 6 hours ago, T bird said: You used this 10 plus years ago…. Quit sending folks astray!!…. You don’t know crap from shoe shine…. Keep your boots in your own crap!! 2019 was last time I used it. It's a summer road that's only ploughed a few miles on moose horn lodge end. I am sure it's still fine, get can't lost. Goes from one end of trail to other 👌 Quote
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