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Day 4, Left Pabos, took 5 West and trails are still pretty nice. Not great snow depth but the clubs have done a great job with what they have. Trails were all in pretty good shape until New Richmond. Really thin there and some bare corners but not terrible. Same for Carleton, mostly smooth but thin. The thinnest sections and most bare spots were around Nouvelle. Definitely spring conditions there. The snow started getting better and less bare spots and snirt as we headed West. In PALC tonight.

What's one to do when you desire Quebec pub grub? Jump on the sled and get it. Thirty-eight miles bump-free from camp on the local Pittsburg USA trail system to the Chartieville QC Customs house. Three of us produced documents & after exchanging pleasantries with a very courteous and joyful customs officer, we traveled an additional twenty-eight miles to La Patrie via 65 & 525. We passed the local groomer inbound & outbound, laying the flat trails with the small amount of snow he had to work with. Upon arrival, we had a great lunch in the very crowded Resto-Bar La Patrie. Surprisingly, the bar & dining room were packed for a Thursday afternoon with tradespeople & snowmobilers. The Canadian trails were mint; however, sections in the fields, thankfully short in length, were ugly as they had no snow or were snirt & slush. On our return in Chartieveille, we encountered a sick groundhog that refused to vacate the trail. Minimal snow is forecasted locally for the next 24 hours. Failure to get a few inches of new snow and those short stretches of no snow & or muddy slush I described will only be lengthier, deeper, and muddier as the sun was high, bright & warm today. Stay safe. http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_ 2024_02/5BE825AB-C159-4B78-BB0D-706991706481_1_105_c.thumb.jpeg.cd3061fdf6fdb3d584b1f408b0019900.jpeg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/0421365F-7BF5-4D89-8EB3-6B483DDEB544_1_105_c.thumb.jpeg.13b4c9b9b583773e53f1786f533ff867.jpeg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/3666EF67-AE76-41E2-B4D1-FC2A273A2C86_1_105_c.thumb.jpeg.f4b8ad0927ba3d221f2c1e81fac398f8.jpeg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/F4E4A43B-6401-4A96-8D6B-EA393354FFDF_1_105_c.thumb.jpeg.9eab277864329782377757629137d1ac.jpeg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/IMG_5319.jpg.03b620b05d31cd827bfc7ad704969f34.jpg

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Started from Mattawin with a fresh 1" .. maybe on top of a flat hard trail heading west on 360 . As we gained elevation new cream cheese topping now 3-5" . Kanawata for lunch.. got to use the pay at the pump set-up .. kinda cool . We did some of our typical adventure riding ducking in a off 345 n 83 on the way to the Gouin We did stop off at Camp de Casey to use there wifi real quick . http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/Screenshot_20240222_204515_Messages.thumb.jpg.163d502e011ce5d03d5874168f10fe97.jpg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/Screenshot_20240222_190226_Gallery.thumb.jpg.8b7dbe74bcbd48709b36fac65f120384.jpg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/Screenshot_20240222_184741_Gallery.thumb.jpg.89da974af3d4cd45546b882e1135dad6.jpg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/Screenshot_20240222_184714_Gallery.thumb.jpg.7945f8cd068781dddff96e4d6d4c6c91.jpg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/Screenshot_20240222_183314_Maps.thumb.jpg.b7ff88ce3f8f1dda88997f14bd070bb4.jpg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/Screenshot_20240222_181336_Gallery.thumb.jpg.df71c16ceee13b8870c9da09f8653c15.jpg http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_02/Screenshot_20240222_184656_Gallery.thumb.jpg.b75a43ca4f8f0e4cfc91a96c2a9a9131.jpg

Awesomeness here at Pouvoirie La Dore. Stephane taking me in the morning to show me route back to La Dore using the Branche West orange trail. plus a tour of the property here. Great people.

Mmmm

Day 2: just did some loop trails around in Amos and ventured to new areas, I haven’t been then headed out towards La Sarre trails overall are great what a nice area for riding. This morning there was a nasty freezing mist, but after lunch, the skies cleared up and made for some true Quebec beauty! 280 miles today good day!

Day 3 & 4 Wednesday-Thursday Out of St Felicien 8:30. Up 373 still good here still cold this morning. We catch group in front of us and they are using open mesh so i can hear them. The last guy in line calling up to lead guy saying stop stop and let these guys pass. Finally he listens and off we go past these three. The only three we have had to pass all week. Nice. We take it long up 373 to TQ93 then up top where I like it through Lac Jim around and down to Gas in Girardville. Back out and i take a right down a few KM and then left onto ice, locals bush trail to TQ 93 again back North of Girardville. To the 373. First timers with us so time to show off the bridges. Not terrible this trail but showing signs of heavy use. Its the new Mont Valin this trail. Surely everyone is thinking exactly the same way the further up the better and are using the hell out of this trail. Not far past Chalet warming hut we pass groomer headed opposite way. It’s a small one with smaller drag probably due to weight restrictions on bridges. No wonder it doesn’t hold up like the others trails we been on. Definitely more traffic on here and better towards the truck stop in St Ludger but after that just so so to last bridge and down local trail to Lamarche and then up to Otis Nature. Great stay at Otis with Melanie serving dinner and Ann on breakfast. Woke to 4-5” new snow still snowing at departure. Otis Nature to 367 then 367 it is. 4-5” new snow. Snowing and sticky on face shield. But love to see snow stick all you want. Blowing open trail. Furtber down and further west less new snow, but still flurries and new lube 1-2” into TQ93 at St Monique 367 has been stellar. 93 is so so but this new snow albeit not alot is sweet. 93 mostly great. Can tell it’s getting the use its blue. TQ93 to 367 through Peribonka . Thinner but good to go here. Ripping fast. Back to a nice TQ93 through Dolbeau, then left turn local Orange the St Felicien express. Some so so but mostly good here across and still nice on orange trail down and across ice back to 373 through relais Buttes. Too earky for us is 12:30 loop it we come back. Down 373 showing some areas of concern but nothing defcon 4. Then through St Felicien to local orange. Up to powerlines and through back to La Dore. Very nice holding up well. Then through gas to TQ93 and back to 373 to Relais Buttes. Lunch stop here. Feed bag disconnected. Then back up 373 to TQ93 to Local orange to Resto Chef. Sweet trails up here. Gas and necessities at du Chef then bonzai. Orange out the back beautiful ride to TQ93 which is holding up beautifully, left turn and 8 miles to our private oasis at Pouvoirie La Dore. We love it here. Super folks. 8 miles in fresh groomed for our arrival. Warmer today no doubt. We will manage it is what it is.

Just under 400k of carpet yesterday with the exception of a few k of logging road between Sennetterre and lac fillion and plowed road near the b blizzard (sp) outfitter place that is closed.

See you in a few days boys. enjoy

“Feed bag disconnected “ 😅. Glad you’re getting it!

Just freaking awesome for what is going on this year. Dragon & crew you guys got the BEST of the BEST for what the Abitibi had to offer this year. You guys picked the right week. No regrets driving all the way from Pa. Who the fu&K woulda ever thunk you couldn’t squeak out a first week of March trip in the Abitibi ever ??? i gambled and waited too long to get another trip in. Going to throw the towel in with recent forecast (and we were going to drive north into Abitibi) as a “red wave” is going to engulf the motherland late next week. (On already sparse conditions in most areas) Saddest fucken season I have ever seen in my years God speed to all who are rounding out their trip and those who will still venture on………..

I was thinking about Lac Moreau, I had forgotten about Trout lake. They were kinda ball busters too, but it was a sweet place. Funny story. About ten years ago we stopped and ate there not knowing they mostly cater to reservations with full package only, so it wasn’t cheap and the food was pretty bad. As we left I asked about gas. It was waaaaayyyyy over priced, and I mentioned it, but needed it so we paid….So off we go back to the trucks. Long story short we went the wrong way for about an hour before realizing the mistake we had made. So we ended up back at his gas pump for another round a couple hours latter. The guy laughed a little when he said that I liked his gas so much I came back for more…lesson learned, never run your lips to the guy with the gas, no matter how bad he gouges you.

At least you get to wear knit slippers that thousands of others wore. At least the last time I was there.

Here the a music video of this ride. I made a test on this one and film/process the whole video in 2k 30fps in place of 1080p 60fps, seems to improve the quality a bit on the net. So crank up the sound and the quality to 2k and enjoy the ride 🍿🍿🍿

Lac Truite ?

Left for Maine late morning. No percipiitation all the way home but warm everywhere.. Can only guess it will really be tough getting out of RDL. Still forecasting rain at RDL tonight and 2 cm of snow. Good trails may flash freeze and be icy, just not sure. Best to those that make the trip. mike

We arrived at 11:30 to meet you for lunch, but you were gone.

Man that burger pic and poutine with hot dogs looks fabulous glad you guys are burning 🔥 it up

No warm up for this area today. It was flurries and dropping temps with crazy wind.

Amen Amen,

Getting across the border is not a heavy lift, and it is always an enjoyable visit. The mileage is usually half what I reported, but we must run the outside due to many temporary closures in the local system due to active logging. A few inches of snow fell here in Pittsburg, NH, overnight. Someone venturing across the border today would have far better tracks than yesterday. In my first post, I should have noted that the FCMQ grooming pattern incorrectly reflected the area trails hadn't been groomed in days. This morning, despite us witnessing the groomer in action, it still reflects gray. Before our initial departure, a Facebook posting by Club de motoneigistes des Monts Appalaches advertised the the trails were recently groomed to & from the customs house, so we chose to see who was correct. FB was the winner.

Used to be a frequent trek circa 80s / early 90s when our group spent ‘vacation week’ at Tall Timber. Is the picture of the moose and the horse mating still up behind the bar? Haha

Love it. Have fond memories of a wild night several years ago in the shit hole bar (Hotel La Patrie - across the street) in La Patrie after dinner at the Resto-Bar.

I’ll throw another little update in here…..Wednesday went east to syndicat took 328 out and 93 back with a late lunch at chapelle. Mostly good especially coming back had almost fresh groomed the whole way. some bad starting to show the warm weather is starting to take its toll. Thursday we did a loop around lake Saint Jean north of the lake was awesome flat fast and couple inches of fresh snow in some areas. Got gas in Saint methode and lunch at relais des butte. From lunch on it started out good but progressively got worse with the worst section being from just after the lake crossing in dresbians and up 383 back to Alma lots of dirt patches and pavement showing on the I assume bike path the trail runs on just generally thin conditions. it was passable but not enjoyable. Tons of sleds showed up here Wednesday the place was near empty the beginning of the week now there has to be 75 sleds parked here. Last day riding today think we’re going to head north of the lake and do some loops over there that seems to have had good snow, flat trails and less traffic. It looks like the torch is coming out next week for up here I’d expect to see some red trails show up unfortunately. Get out while ya can.

Yes that could be considered thin in spots

Screen just too small and not bright enough for me.

Rocking time on the way !

Been running the new Garmin 700i for about a month now in Nova Scotia. I really like the bigger screen, however I soon saw where in some lighting visibility wasn't ideal. I set the lighting on Night Mode and found it much better, run it day and night.

The good ole ball buster… Le Balbuzzard Sauvage. Only the second place I know of that makes you take your boots off to come inside. Funny now that I think of it, the other place is also a log cabin. How is the snow depth between Faillon and Clova? Think it can survive another warm spell?

Day 3, left Grand Vallee and backtracked on 5 to 597 down to Murdochville. Trails in really nice shape! This part of the Gaspe wins for the most snow award. Lunch in Murdochville then continue down 597 and Piston Alley, all groomed up nicely to 5 again.

Wed at Otis Nature trails varied today 373 rough in spots lots of use on it. still much more better than terrible. It’s all riding limited internet here Today’s run 210 miles

Today rode West on 83 to Auberge Presbytere for breakfast. 83 West was awesome. Spent the day just riding 83, 23 and especially 383. Stopped at Relais La Genouille, pretty good sled club. All trials awesome. Unfortunately, when we got back to the Dela it was 35 degrees. Snow getting soft and bare spots worse, Calling for rain on Friday. Not sure I'd rec coming up this weekend. Was 4 days riding worth 2000 miles drive from Pittsburgh? YES. Heading home tomorrow.

Today seemed to stay below the freezing mark making a nice ride today with lots of sunshine. Getting out of town is getting somewhat bad but still doable. Few miles out and things change drastically for the better. I am guessing there are some loops I won't try as those close to the St. Lawrence may or may not be good. And trails around Club Hiboux showed closed. Just sticking to the southerly trails where I know its really nice.

Day 2 Tuesday Woke to beautiful cold morning after awesome night at Pouvoirie La Dore. Great stay had great conversation with Owner Stephane super nice guy. Big chalet with four bedrooms nice fun. Terrain here is big i think their territory stretches 20 miles. 18 chalets and big fishing and hunting for bear, moose and caribou. Lake trout and brook trout. 8 miles out trail to TQ93 trail groomed into pouvoirie with small drag but real good. TQ93 has been groomed north he has not returned south. It’s beautiful all the way to local trail to Resto du Chef. Saw 2 sleds north bound direction Chibougamau. Been very little traffic few here and there but very spread out. Bingo that is the plan. Good old fashioned trail bingo. Here in the honey hole. I got all day to go nowhere. Destination St Felicien tonight and we will be in the vincinty all day. And now please stand by for a Public service announcement. Everyone please continue to circulate only on the Blue federal trails as you are now. We thank you all for you continued cooperation in helping us enjoy the other trails privately without undue, unnecessary, excessive traffic. Thank you for the support. Say it with me or even better sing it out loud. B I N G O……B I N G O Up down over back up down over up back around all that. And is awesome. One after the other Please sir may i have another? Yes you can. Late lunch Resto du Chef then then another 80 miles into hotel the BINGO way. Saw Mother Lynx with kitten. On TQ93 west of Lac a Jim. Leisurely strolling together right off side of trail. We will keep on going. One day at a time. Headed for Otis Nature via 373 and some bonus honey hole action. Well oiled machine here. Great bunch of riders. 206 miles of 8/10 to 10/10 all damn day (r.i.p. Big) Corral full and overflowing here at Du Jardin. Hotel full tonight. Ordered dinner from Restaurant Mikes.

As always, thanks for great report and pictures. It's nice to see that there are some good trail conditions. We wer up in riviere du loup 2/3-2/7/24, trails were very good. Pictures are on 2/4/24 on the sentier haricana (orange 🍊 trail) out of rdl.

Through Tadoussac on thurs and back again on Sunday , stayed at the Chantmartin . No snow from hotel down to ferry but rest was all good . Excellent trails right up to Baie Comeau.

Day 1, word of the day….Thin! Got 2” overnight made it nice leaving RDL. Never seen it so thin here in February. Trails pretty smooth, not enough snow to be rough. Snirt is gone with the fresh snow. Get out of town and take 5 East. Rimouski Club says stay on 5 for best conditions. Hasn’t been our experience but let’s try it. Away from town coverage not bad. Once we get to Trois Pistoles it’s actually pretty nice. Continue on 5 to the 35 outside of Rimouski. Traffic is light all day groomers are doing their thing. Meet back up with 5 East to 587 short cut to 5 at Padoue. Took the 5 all the way to Matane to the Riotel. Very scratchy in town, basically blacktop and dirt.

Qualipieces Trek dual runner carbides collect golfball size rocks like crazy. Probably had 20 rocks stuck in the past 2 days. 15 cleared on their own, others required prying them free. old school Pilot 5.7 skis