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Hi Mike, sweet wrap. 3 hours from Stanstead would put you in St Raymond. The place to stay is the Roquemont. I consider it safe. From there you could go to L’Etape and back one day. La Tuque and back the next day. Day 3 would be your choice. I know you said basecamp for the first time, but if you felt like it you could go to the Saguenay day one and base camp 2 days there. It’s 180 miles from the Roquemont to the Saguenay region straight up 23. Plenty of options to stay up there. Most use the Delta. George

I spend six to seven weeks each winter at the RDL Universel Hotel. The hotel is awesome as a place to base out of, having two restaurants, a cozy small bar, a huge Spa, pool, saunas, hot tubs, heated sled garages, you name it. They also offer several different levels of rooms depending on your needed level of luxury. RDL also offers all types of restaurants, some within a couple blocks and many in their old downtown section of the city, a mile away, and the latter a romantic evening walking through the old downtown on a snowy evening. Caught up in a blizzard while in RDL, visit the Polaris and Skidoo dealers, both are large and impressive. Two blocks away is a small indoor mall which I hear is known for exceptionally fine high end women's clothing. But in the end, go for the RDL snowmobile experience. The trails are just plain awesomely groomed and beautiful scenery. . Great food stops along the way. And the club houses! There is a club house about every twenty five miles leaving RDL that truly offers the flavor of the area. mike

It would be pretty hard to go wrong starting in the Riviere du loup area. The grooming is top notch and you can put on a lot of miles and never be too far from your home base. Really easy to cut a day short or extend it, as you may find that a 150 miles is an easier day on their trails. And (pre-Covid) there are lots of trail side stops and services. The Universal and the Levesque are two to the better hotels in town. Most years the second week of March is safe for snow around town.

Any trip with the wife will be a place or places with Spa Nordiques or at least indoor pool. Richeliu La Malbaie - long drive The 4 Points or whatever its called now - Quebec City Auberge Vieux Moulin - St Zenon area - bring locks Manior Lac William Victoriaville area (Chaudiere Appalaches) L'Esterel - cool place north of St. Jerome. For me I could go any of those places and come up with decent ride out and back using GPS planning and viaexplora/imotoneige. http://fcmq.viaexplora.com/indexen.html#map Now that I ride out of Maine we are hoping to do a tour of the La Cache hotels in lower Chaudiere by leaving from Jackman area. Who knows post-covid what places may be gone.

Ditto-ditto-ditto. These are central to grooming hubs & gas & restos. And anywhere anytime definitely check the morning grooming reports on fcmq/viaexplora. Delta for Saguenay. Universal RDL for Bas-St-Laurent. Cabanon for St Zenon. Roquemont St Raymond for Portneuf/etc/etc, has honeymoon suite upstairs right over the front desk & micro brew/resto on site, gotta ride 1-2 miles into city for gas & major retail. Fave "Home away from Home" Drakkar Shawinigan Sud, best local hospitality, everything a short drive or delivered, just not sure about snow conditions at this time. And yes yes yes the Manoir Richelieu is yummers, with biggest challenge getting the Mrs back onto the trails after getting a taste of the spa.

Hi All, We ride NH & VT and have never ridden in Canada. I'd like to plan an early/mid March trip for 2022 and I'm having a problem deciphering all the different areas available. My wife is a casual trail rider who loves the scenery and finding great places to stop for food and a beer. She is good for a 150 mile days. All the regions are confusing as I'm not really sure geographically where I should be looking and could use some guidance. We would be crossing the border from Vermont on 91 and then I'd like to give a 4 hour driving range from there in any direction. Where does that get us? As our first trip, I'd like to find a nice hotel to use as a basecamp to explore and not do a backpack trip on our first visit. I've seen the Snowtrax episode about the Manoir Richelue which looks awesome. I checked the trail map and it doesn't look like there is much variety if we just go out of there for 3 days? Maybe I'm wrong? I've seen a lot of people suggest west of Quebec City? I'm thinking we drive up on a Monday and ride Tues-Wed-Thurs and drive home Friday. No weekends. Thanks for any suggestions! -Mike

Universal is a great spot to stay for day tripping.Get the imotonege app it shows there the trails are being groomed and plan your day accordingly.There is lots to see in that area. l can guarantee it won’t be your only trip to Quebec.😀

As for the Universal RDL vs Richelieu.... I'm a Fairmont Fan..... But if you're there for 3 Days, and looking to do 3 loops from one location, the Universal is very good place. And Mayor Mike will most likely be in residence with good suggestions. GutZ

bonjour !!! more rock'n roll today -16c and strong winds !!! jean-guy

Starting from Sainte-anne-du-lac , Repos , relais 22 , Parent and 100 Lakes will be other stops. Talked to lady at Lac Faillon on Sat , they have closed for the season and she did mention that trail to Clova was impassable .

Where are you starting from? heads up on 83 between Lac Fallon and Clova

This year is not a normal snowfall year. Not near as much as usual. I and many others here have gone out of Rivere du Loup most years into April no problems. First week of March is usually perfect.

I will be there on Thursday but thinking with mild temps coming it will be all over by end of the weekend

Hah, I'm sure it's great but it's not a weekend trip. Riding out of the garage at home is pretty sweet 🙂 I just read your ride report from last week, should I be worried about booking the 1st week of March? I'd like some extra light and shoot for decent temps and weather.

What will it be like in two weeks?

Answered my own question , indeed they are still open.

My wife is not a big rider.... so I know the 4 Points\Doubletree had a shuttle into Old Quebec.... ( Call to Confirm ) -St Raymond to Letape and down to 4 Points, for Day one -Take the Shuttle into QC for Dinner and Shopping, Day two-ish -I believe you can do a few small looping routes to St Ray on Day 3. Just a thought... GutZ

Thanks for the tips guys, I will google through them all and come back. 🙂 She doesn't need a spa or hot tub but some of that looks awesome as we haven't done it. It's more about having a decent dinner (Think Rainbow Grill in Pittsiburg, NH for those that have been there) and not putting her on single track trails with 100 sleds coming at at us all day. 🙂

Depending on how much you want to spend, in the same area with trail running through the property is this place: https://www.auchaletenboisrond.com/en/ The roquemont is basically a motel - as opposed to having your own chalet/hot tub etc. https://www.auchaletenboisrond.com/en/cottages-for-rent English spoken, cook your own meals or order in. Wife will like it much better. Plenty of trails. Fuel in St. Raymond or bring your own gas cans. With regard to the St. Zenon mention above, snow if more consistent north of the seven falls area. Try this place: https://condoslactaureau.com

bonjour !!! back road pics !!! windy !!! jean-guy

TBK! Glad that (it sounds like) you're safe though!

Yup . First time ever for me ! Heard a bang , thought a it was a belt but looked up in the air about 20 feet to my left at saw about a 6 in piece of something flying through the air and thought , WTF went to hit the brakes and then it hit me , Track!

You can even have issues in the deep!

Out in Montana at Big Sky skiing but rented some sleds yesterday. Had a blast even though no fresh snow.

Great detailed report, thanks for taking the time the post it. 👍

Yes he does ride.

Too bad on the trip. I think last year or the other it got cut short as well. Hoping to be down there this weekend and based on your intel i think we will drive through to Rimouski. Which place in Rimouski would you suggest that's closest to the trails and likely less road running? I knew Alain had a Ford before i saw the pictures. I own one for that reason alone. The door keypad. Leave the key in the console and if stranded anyone can get in and come to our rescue. In the summer go to the beach or whatever and leave the key. I wish the others would have this feature not that Ford is terrible, GM rides nicer though. Glad to hear you're giving it another go later this week. We all look forward to your stories.

it will always be a pleasure :) call me anytime my friend, either for a beer or if you are in trouble :) it was a real pleasure: D i was delighted to have a good time with you and Alain , 2 real good sir, 2 new good friends :)

Well the riding is done around here. Switched back to two wheels , good to be back on this also !

Lady stuff!? You’re hilarious. Cooking and cleaning stuff is not just for ladies 😉

Got to luv "" to be continued ""

And off I go again. Next year we will be 60! Yikes!! I am forever grateful for your friendship and our time together. Very happy that we made it to my favourite mountain (Mont Nicol-Albert) and that you did the 350km trip with once again a skidoo original helmet! I still don’t know how you do that.😎 We had to cook this year ( Covid) and I loved spoiling you with Beef Tenderloin, Roast Turkey dinner, Homemade chilli on the trail and great breakfasts ( even if you were standing behind to make sure I got the yolk cooked). Next year we will figure out how to get the rest of the crew in for a birthday visit! Maybe we will have the border open⛄️ A few of my pictures....you have the mountains handled, but I have pictures of you.

Not happening .when i start worrying about mileage and $$ for gas I will quit riding not sure what you mean deal up? I bleed yamaha blue

Hopefully the border will be open by then

Headed east now TQ5. Very nice here to Cap Chat. Throwing caution to the wind (literally) and trying not to think about the possible repercussions should a tree fall in front of me. YOLO. We stop at intersection for Village of Cap Chat. Have seen no sleds since La Cache. We are moving on. 2km further and now we got a big tree. All the way across trail. No going around. There is barely room to get under way on the left. Someone has already broke branches off to squeeze under. i pull down on my tall windshield and squeeze under. My Alain gets close but he cannot get under. I was just about to tell him, let me do it, we can make it. When another group arrived from the east. As it turns out it was them who broke the branches to get under this tree. They tell us forget going east right now cause just a bit further is a bigger tree down and they could not get under, around or over it. That was all Alain needed to hear, we would not be going further east and not eating that Tomahawk steak at Hotel Cie. Well we need to arrange things now and my friend his wheels are doing à burnout. He is very worried about being able to get to the truck, with the possibility of more trees blocking trail west and then the news of trail all gone near RDL. We need gas either way so down to Cap Chat. Now those who have been to Petro Canada there know it’s literally right next to the River and the wind is crazy strong here with nothing to block it. Huge whitecaps and waves breaking across the street. We get the gas and go hide behind building from wind and start making calls. Quality Inn Matane has 2 rooms for us in back by pool, first floor. Perfect. Now we cancel St Anne. They are super understanding as usual very awesome place. So now we need to get to Matane. No issues getting to Matane but noticeably lots of snow gone from just a day ago. Lots of bald spots and the uphills and corners some wiped right out to mud. Big difference. I am thinking to myself if it’s like that up here in the hills I am gonna be abusing my sled bad to reach gas and hotel in Matane. Oh well it’s all part of the game. Sure enough just out of the woods through industrial park there toward Quality Inn is down to earth. A patch of slush here and there, but ain’t nothing to groom here by town even when it refreezes. It is killing me to run in this shit. But is what it is. To put the cherry on top while at the gas station I bust one of the springs on my Rouski wheels, now that is lovely. Nothing a rubber bungee cannot cure but just more work. Bare asphalt mud and more asphalt, cannot believe have not seen temp light yet, waiting to cross road to hotel it comes on. Later than I expected. Grind it across and around back to rooms after checking in. Not how I wanted to end the day. But snowmobiling has a way of thwarting even the best made plans. And I love it. Keeps you sharp and makes you be a problem solver. Well we are in Matane now. Truck in RDL. I have Rimouski booked for Saturday night as that was on original plan, that will change too. Mister Alain is hell bent on being in his truck tomorrow after what he has seen and I am starting to think it’s what needs to happen, The question now is, how do we make it so? To be continued..

The part of your report I find concerning is: St Paulin was closed and looked like it was all winter. I hope they will be open for business next year. I am worried some of these small places may not survive Covid.