We left the parking lot north west side of Orillia around 10am and rode up lake couchiching to the top end then the 204 and 15 to gravenhurst. The land trails were a bit lumpy due to no groomer, but these are realatively short trails anyways then the lakes. Gravenhurst to Bracebridge to Port Carling and then Bala was a winter wonderland. the snow was heavy in the trees, trails were groomed and awesome. This is truely some beautifull countryside!!

From Bala back to Gravenhurst things fell apart. We encountered at least 6 major mudholes and thus the groomers can't run this area so on top of stoping and helping other riders deal with the mudholes the trails had lumps and bumps big enough to swallow a truck - well not really, but it was nasty. I lost a hubcap on my rear wheel and somehow my snowflap was grabed by my track and with my studs kinda shreded the thing - that tells you that some of the bumps were hard hits!! This last part of the trip added about 2 hours to our day then it needed, but there is no way it can get groomed. One section was about 1/2 kilometer long and several holes connected, but everyone was jumping up to a live rail track and running it. Now I know this is not the place to ride - I have heard it's hard work to get the carbon scoring off the trains after, but the riders set up spotters up and down the tracks and those that ran it did so quickly - it was either that or your sled got turned into a nasty dripping gooey mess!! hehe.

235k on the day and we were back at the trailer at 6:30 pm or so - shoulda been more like 4pm, but no pain no gain right???

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Nice pics Dave. I wish i was there for the ride.

Thanks for the report.

Glad I wasn't there.

i spent 2 hours in that mud hole second from the bottom 2 weeks ago

What are you made out of sugar?...LOL

We started from Port Carling all weekend and went north so we had to cross the first water hole you posted several times. It's amazing how much it grew since Friday morning. The first time we came up on it there was only one narrow track down the middle but we all took the bypass trail around on the left. That was a mistake and we all got real dirty. Then on the way home we realized we could squeak by near the tree and that was the way to avoid this mess. Unfortunately there were others!

you need to learn the short cut between Gravenhurst and Bala. Mostly lakes, a little road thru Torrence and some Snow Crest non serviced road trail sans giant mud holes associated with the infamous C101D. It generally takes about 30 minutes town to town.

We were out in the bush looking for possible reroutes of parts of the C101D on Saturday. Lots of still very wet swamps, bogs and flowing creeks. Bad season for sure, no frost in the ground.

Tinker - is there any way you could explain the alternate route from Bala to Gravenhurst - other then the swamp area it was an awesome ride around lake muskoka - I wanna ride it again, but not just to go to port carling then all the way back to avoid it.

I was on C101X (not sure which one) that runs from Gravenhurst to Bala on Saturday.. Bump central and I lost count of the mud holes... No way a groomer had ever been in there.. We decided to take trail 17 as a shortcut back down to coldwater, lots of nice lake runs and it was nice to explore a trail I had never been on but more and more mud holes! We were lucky the coin op car wash in Orillia was still open Saturday night as we pulled in and hosed down the sleds, mud and ice caked on everywhere! Don't get me wrong still nice to get out, but I will stick to more main trails!

I think Tinker is talking about the Old Stone Rd. When you cross Southwood Rd at Nine Mile Lk turn right on Southwood road about 2 miles to Old Stone Rd, its a unmaintained rd that will bring you out onto either Peninsular rd or N. Muldrew lk rd, you can run either one into Gravenhurst, they come out right at Boston Pizza.

Sugar and Blue Light.

Good to see I'm not the only one trying out this new Homer Simpson diet

Actually Glen, the way we go is up Gravenhurst Bay to Bear Bay. Cross 169 to Pine Lake and take the lake north to Snider's Bay road. Take the road west to Old Bala road ( snow crest #10) follow it north to the trail end and keep going up the road to Torrence. Hang a right at the stop sign, cross 169 again and head into town paralle to the RR tracks. About 1/4 mile down, you turn left and cross the RR tracks. Follow that road to a little unmarked cottage road about 1/2 mile . Hang a left and follow it back west to 169. Cross the highway again ( slight jog 50ft to the left) and follow that cottage road about 500 feet to a small trail that dumps you out onto the bottom of Long Lake. Run the lake north to the top where c101d crosses the lake and follow the last bit of trail into Bala.

If trail #10 is hurtin, we have a series of little back lakes and beaver ponds to circumvent it but they would be impossible to navigate if you don'y know where you are going.

Sometimes, we just run straight up the out back to Torrence as well. All depends on conditions.

We'll be up Friday night. If ya want a tour, let me know and I'll show ya the route Saturday. Could meet at BP and run up from there. Good wings in Bala at the cafe

Thats the infamous C101D alright. We could hear sleds running the bumps from outr deck at cocktail hour all weekend. We went down the lake and up onto the trail to check it out. Went 1/4 mile, laughed at how bad it is again and turned around. Believe it or not, it was groomed ONCE this season a month ago.

thats my cottage at the bottom of long lake if any one is by feel free to stop and say hi, have a beer

the cottage the little trail to the lake runs right beside? I have never even seen a sled there and I have been taking that route for over 20 years. Go figure.

this is the first year i have had sleds there. i used to have a sled at my uncles in fergus but he is to old to ride with me all day.


i will probably be up this weekend.

Better bring lots of beer after this internet invite.

well, if we end up running by, I'll definately stop in and say hello.

our group of usual suspects includes my 04 gade, wifes 600 beaver sled and 3 new xp's.

And my gang is usually 2 800X's 1 crossfire, 3 xp 800x, couple apexs, couple mach z's.........so just between us whats that?.3-4 cases?

i usually see 30 sleds by in day. if there is a few i will have beer. if more you guys can hit the beer store in town it's only a 2 rip up the lake

Anyone know conditions from Orillia to Midland? Should be good with all the new snow!!!!!!

I rode the Railbed last weekend and it was golden to Coldwater! I haven't rode or heard of how C-trail is from Coldwater to the hole in the wall at Hwy#12 I'd imagine some swampy areas in this stretch due too low lying areas , but spoke with a guy who ran the re-route across the ice in front of Henry's and Doral marine and he said it's decent and staked , I also ran C-trail in midland last weekend and it was good. The warmth didn't do to much damage up their and its gotten more snow , so I'd say giver . I'm sure the groomers have been out buy now and have laid a fresh strip.


Yukon

Hey guys-- i ride right out of bala--- located on river st. If ever up in the area some time would love to hook up and get the tour of the short cut routes-- would save lots of time and clean up of mud!!

We ran up to Bala Saturday morning by way of the short cuts. They were all in real good shape. The road portions had ice on them. Heard very few carbides cries We ran the c114 to the c102d to Bass Lake house for lunch, then headed west into the six star trails for a loop north. Caught the C trail and headed back south. That was awsome running, right until we crossed the big bridge on the C. From there all the way back to the C101D was BRUTAL.

The lakes were amazing



MXZ Ontario, we are up every weekend at Pine Lake near Ghurst. Pine Grove cottages right on 169. Send me a pm and we can arrange a "short cuts tour" if you want.


Rombo, we came past your place twice, light on, nobody home:)

I could have used a beer after that stint on the mogul, I mean C trail.
We'll try again next time by.

we were out most of the day saturday.


then we were in a a white out on the trail heading back to the cottage hit a wash out and fawked both front suspensions and spend all day sunday in the garage tearing apart what was broken.



should have the sleds going again next weekend

That sucks but it still sounds like your Sunday was better than ours.


http://forum.ontarioconditions.com/phpBB3/...p?f=4&t=896

Geeze Sean that sucks. Sorry to hear that and say hi to your wife.

sorry to hear.


Good news is 3 to 4 weeks is must of been a clean break my buddy broke his ankle first snow fall end of november. his third cast comes off march 15


our crash on the weekend in know that trail pretty well but it was snowing so hard i had no idea where is was

With the colder weather on us this week, do you think it will tighten things up??
We are headed to Bala for the weekend. It is a "Family" weekend, so I really do not what to do any mudbogging...

Sounds like north from Bala is a better bet, than south back towards Gavenhurst - Correct???

Bala to 9 Mile is good, 9 mile to Gravenhurst is not groomed yet.

9 mile?? Is that 9 mile lake???

Yes

Any club talk about when that might get done? There's a group of us heading across there again on Saturday.

Yo Mouse. Want me and Killswitch to meet ya at the Wharf and show ya the fast way to Bala? Wifey won't be going anywhere for a while so its just me and KS riding for the weekend. Where ya heading?

My suggestion after riding there last weekend would be to head north west towards Bass Lake House( c114 to c102d ) and then west into the Six Star trails. They were excellent last weekend.

We're off to Midland for the weekend. There through Honey Harbour on Saturday, riding out of there on Sunday and riding home through Orillia on Monday.

We're stopping at friends' cottage in Honey Harbour for lunch Saturday so we don't want to get there too fast. Snowcrest is reporting the C101D now open so we'll probably take that route all the way to C. It's a nice ride when it's groomed.

You and KillSwitch would be more than welcome to join us for the ride. And, if you like HotDogs, follow along right out to the big water.

I hope someone has groomed the C between the C101D and the Moon river because it was a disaster on the weekend.

Me too. !

The Top C trail to the moon bridge never seems to be groomed enough, not sure why the clubs neglect this main access trail.
It's always a mess.