Group of 6 sleds. Some 24 years, most 20+ years saddle bag experience. Age spread: 50-76 years Conditions: -20c (ok temps) Snow dust - Pretty Bad. Route: Hearst to Hornpayne and back. Terrain - lots of hills and valleys - A trail along highway 11. Issue: Sled 6 misses a 105 deg turn, visor\glasses frost issue. Snow pack is very deep, over the waist up there. Owners of cluck up, Sled 4 (me) and sled 1 (lead) primarily. Historically, we keep trailing sled in mirrors, or within 2-5 min spacing - always. This trip, not only did we blow this rule on the Tuesday, we also blew this rule on the Sunday up at the Canyon, when 1 Sidewinder overheated from lack of coolant, and had to be towed to SMR (down West side), where a SMR towny went home to get some antifreeze for us, as Esso didn't have any (Sunday - everything else closed). So, spread from SLD 1 (1 may have been closer to HP turn South than I indicate) to SLD 6  was in the 30-40KM area.  Primary contributing factors: 1. Sled spacing complacency; 2. Snow Dust, 3. Vision - frosting in helmet\glasses

Last winter three of us were heading up to Midland from Waubaushene. Probably going 80ish when we caught up to a couple sleds going closer to the speed limit. I was last in line so couldn't see exactly what was what. Followed them for about a kilometer when they suddenly pulled over, one to the left and one to the right. Red and blues came on and I thought "oh crap, we in trouble". They didn't stop us, we rolled past at a crawl and they had a look at our passes on the way by. Off we went with a wave.

Yup, fair observation, and I own 50% of that cluck up. I'm going list this lesson learned in a new thread, and describe how even 20+ year trail baggers have a cluck up when we get complacent!

Yup. We've done\tried Gaspse twice over the years, and having to modify the plan (and include "snow" days), is a lesson learned for us in that region.

Fueled at Esso SMR Friday 27 Feb. No issue except having to pay inside, not at the pumps. I didn't notice any sign that no Prem available, but we took Reg. Restaurant at SMR Esso on 24 Feb had about 8 people in it, not packed like the "old days". Sled traffic through station was steady both 24th and 27th.