SkippyDoo

While enjoying the ride on trail 33 about 20 0r 30 miles west of Manawan. I come up on these critters. Mom was on the trail with one of the little one's. Then to my surprise another one came out. I was totally blown away that they sat there and let me watch them for awhile. It appeared to be mom with 2 little ones hunting rabbits. But there may have been a fourth cat that went in the woods right as I got there, but not sure. They seemed to not be bothered by us at all. Needless to say I slammed on the brakes and tried my best to not disturb them. We watched them for about 15 minutes or so. And they slowly wandered into the woods. I'm fairly confident they were Canadian lynx. The mom was a big cat for sure. And the "little" ones were much larger than any of then bobcats I have seen to date. Very large feet and long legs. Beautiful animals. The pictures don't really do them justice. I did my best. Thank god the camera had some battery left. This is something I never imagined I would ever see. Oh by the way, with the exception of 33 south of Repos the trails were incredibile. (It was Sat afternoon so that's a given) Some of the best riding I have had in a couple of years.

Yeah, we booked about a month in advance and pushed our trip to this week instead of mid Feb because we couldn't find much available. And then had to change some destinations around to pull it off. Seemed like everything in this area was booked solid from around 3 weeks out or so. I hope the trails aren't too crowded.

I have come up on 2 coyotes, one bobcat, untold numbers of rabbits and deer. Saw a few bald eagles, a moose in the St Felician zoo, several pet dogs. The only thing I have ever feared from wildlife while riding is hitting a deer.

Gugie6767, Your saying you shot a moose ?

I think the rider was in the wrong here to. I hope that the law at least's looks into this. Apparently he had a heart condition ? Also have heard there may be a mad cow type disease or Mad Moose disease ? lol going around out west. I don't know. Didn't appear that way to me. Shooting the moose was the wrong way to go. There are other video's on youtube that show moose getting aggressive with snowmobilers or vehicles, but Moose will do that when they are cornered or feel threatened. They are a big animal and they are aware of that. And who the heck carry's a gun while riding anyway's? With the exception of Labrador., I have never heard of that. Unfotunately another huge black eye for snowmobilers and more fodder for the tree huggers.

Everything here has already been said I think. Theft is alway's a concern, but so far nothing bad has happened to me. The border crossing can suck. It's not so much going into Canada that's the issue though, more when you come back. That's becoming more of an issue with me. Seems like more and more hassle with the 20 questions game and "random" searches everytime I go up there. It's starting to piss me off actually. That attitude probably shows. I'm not a criminal and don't appreciate being made to feel that way. The closing of the parks bothers me a bit, but wouldn't stop me from going. But it's mostly just the money. I only go up there now for a 3 day trip now once a year. Best I can do these day's. Every year I think it may be my last. When you start adding all that up, and compare it to say Maine, honestly US riding is starting to look like a better snowmobiling vacation option unfortunately. But we will never have the trail system down here that they have up there. Nobody does groomed trail snowmobiling better than Quebec.

I draw the line at -40. I'm a fair weather rider lol. Supposedly 2 stroke oil quits pumping below that. Not taking a chance in those temps walking home. But all my SDI's and E-Tecs have alway's started right up in those temps. That is why I have been leery to switch to 4 stroke, due to the hard starting if at all in those temps. Glad to hear the 4 stroke Doos will fire up.

Thanks, that's what I thought. They must have closed the trails that go "nowhere". Had a lot of fun riding those trails a couple years ago. I'd like to say what I really think about tree huggers but probably best I don't. They might take down my screen name and hunt me down later when profiling non left wing voters becomes the politically correct thing to do here in the USA.

What trails did they close in Moose River Plains ?

I hope it was worth the wait. Interesting concept though. This could turn out good for AC in the long run. Probably the beginning of the end for Yamaha. I will be keeping my Doo.

Speaking from experience, the Air Force's C5 Galaxy is pretty unreliable lol

Had a helmet stolen there last year. We don't go there anymore. Splash of gas if we have to but that's it.

We have a 2013 F800 LXR 800 2 stroke. So I can't really comment on the 4 stroke motor but as far as the sled is concerned, comparing it to a Doo, it's not there yet. It is vastly improved from the twin spar chassis, but they still have some fine tuning to do on it. The rear suspension isn't as good as our TNT shortie. I don't like the hood and side panel arrangement but I could live with it if you didn't have to remove it everytime we rode. Adding oil for the 2 strokes is a pain. Wouldn't be an issue on the 4 strokes though. And getting the hood removed, if you want to call it that, is a bit of a project the first couple times you do it. I wouldn't want to do it trailside, that's for sure. But that's how it's been so for for us. Sled has 1100 miles on it now and the belt is just about shot. But from what I hear 1100 miles on a belt is pretty good for these things. Have E start issues as well. The snap ring they use to hold the starter shaft togather isn't up to the task. As of yet no service bulletins or recalls on that. All in all though, being a SkiDoo guy, I'll give AC some credit on this sled. They took a step in the right direction, they just need to fine tune it some more. It's about time for a complete rear skid design from them anyway's, so maybe that's in the near future for them.

Sent PM

You could stay at any one of those places. Me personally I like LaCabanon the best. They have secure parking for trucks and sleds, good food, nice bar, decent rooms and gas. Trail 23 and 63 go right through the place. English is not a problem there either. Most everybody that works there speaks english. There were lot's of Canadiens from Ontario there as well. Apparently there isn't much for snow there either these day's. Real Masse is ok too. They tend to close up the restaurant early though. They have everything you need there and trail 23 goes through it. LaGlacier is the easiest to get in to as it is right off of 131 on the left side as your headed north. Not sure if they have gas. I have never stayed there there. Real Masse and LaCabanon are in the woods a bit but with a 4WD truck it is no problem. I was up there last week and it was all good. After the melt down and refreeze the trails were very hard and fast, some were thin especially around St Michele. But they got around 8 inches of new snow Sunday to freshen things up. Tremblant and Mastigouche are very good. Lots of snow. The M20 trail north of Mastigouche Park was incredible. You should have no issues with the snow, and the riding will be good no matter what place you choose and you can go anywhere you want from any of those places. From Joliette north was all rideable when we came through there Sunday.

For what it's worth, there is a short section of trail 345 that was closed and rerouted that is not shown on the maps and I haven't seen it talked about here as of yet. The section that was closed is the short section off of 23 East through Mastigouche. It's a short section that drops straight South before it turns in a southeast direction. If you wanted to go through Koubecs from LaCabanon you would take 23 South towards Real Masse, out the back side of LaCabanon. The intersection to 345 is a couple of miles or so down on the left. It will take you straight to Koubecs or points south on 349.

Just got back from LaCabanon. 33 is not being groomed right now from the 360 intersection to Repos, but some people were getting through. This made the 345 to Repos a mess on Saturday the 19th. Dennis at Lacabanon said another week or so and it should be opened back up. There was around 8 inches of new snow that fell Saturday night into Sunday morning. Also 63 is closed through Tremblant. Dennis did not know when that would be open again. Something about a beaver dam and flooding. It was taped off and no signs of a groomer or sled tracks down that trail when we passed the intersection of 33 and 63 in Mt Tremblant Park, on the way to St Donat.

The guy I'm talking about was Jim Jameson. He told me about you though Bill, and said if I was up in Valin to look for you at the HI/Delta and you could give me any info I needed, and you knew the area well. But I saw you won't be up there until the 10th or so. I will be up there tomorrow night, hopefully, if I can make it. Booked this trip when it was looking like no snow in the states. Pretty good storm rolled through NY last night and today. Looking like the southern part of Quebec is going to get it today and tomorrow. Another foot or so. The ADK's got all of a foot and then some. I don't care much for tug hill/old forge on the weekends, but they should have around 3ft on the ground on the hill now. It will be very busy in NY this weekend. With no frost in the ground and all the rain the trails will be beat right in to the dirt by Saturday evening. So I'm not missing anything by going to Quebec. I'm bringing my girlfriend up, she thinks we are crazy for doing this, but she has never been to Mt Valin either, we will see what she thinks when it is all said and done next week. She liked the St Zenon area. She should really like this area. And hopefully the traffic will be low on Valin with all the snow in the south. We will see. Looking forward to it, that's for sure

I may have ridden with you then. I didn't want to name names though. I rode a saddlebag tour with Jim in 06 I believe from Les Escoumins, over trail 93 to Amos and back 83. Jims sled blew up on 83 just after relais 22. Towed it to Roberval. Big snowstorm that night, picked up a couple feet of snow in Alma. The group went on the next day, but I heard they didn't make it over Valin and flat bedded their sleds back to Escoumins. I stayed back with Jim the extra day, they brought his other sled down from Escoumins and we rode back to Escoumins. The pelchat trail had not been broke open yet, but we started down it anyway. I thought he was absolutly out of his mind even attemptinbg that but off we went breaking trail in some 2 to 3 ft of fresh snow on top of the ridiculous amount they already had. We got stuck several times, I had a shorty and he had a renegade, but somehow we made are way through there. We met some French riders who spoke no English, coming the other way on wide track Yamaha's and a GPS breaking the trail open, I'm assuming, for the groomer to follow. When they got to us we were stuck big time. They helped us out, turned around and we followed them back towards Escoumins. I will never forget that 40 or 50 miles though of breaking trail in all that snow. I think back on that now and wonder if we would have even made it through if not for those wide track sleds helping us out. It certainly an experience I will never forget. I tell that story to riders who have never been to Quebec and I'm not sure if they believe me or not. But that whole trip was incredible. Big mile day's, -40 degree temps up in Matagami, that railroad bed trail was cold that day, lol. I believe he is still riding Quebec, not sure though. I talked to him last year for advice, as I was going up to St Zenon to ride, and he told me he would be riding up there too, but I think it was in the St Anne du Lac area, and he was going north towards Clova. That was the only tour I did with him but rode late March rides to, just me and him for a couple of years. But that tour I did was an unforgetable experience.

There is another guy out of Pennsylvania that does this sort of thing as well. He is getting up there in years but I believe he is still touring. He does something different every year, day trips and 7 day saddlebag trips. Occasionly he will do trips in Ontario and Labrador. He told me all that goes into these trips. The planning, working with the different clubs, etc that goes into it. It is an immense amount of work, both in the summer and winter. And of course backup plans need to be made as well for all the obvious reasons. But I learned alot about riding in Quebec from him. He knew NE Bob as I asked about him. But didn't have much to say good or bad about the guy. But the experience these guy's bring to the table for inexperienced riders and the prices they charge are well worth it for American riders who want to go to the next level of snowmobiling or just go snowmobiling at all for that matter these day's.

Thanks Bill. Any loop/ride suggestions ? Also is la chapelle open this year ? And can I get trail passes at the Delta ?

Hi, coming up to Saguenay area New Years weekend ! Looking for info on the Mt Valin area. It has been about 7 years since I rode this area. Anyway's staying at the Delta. I see here that the city trails should be open by then so I shouldn't have to trailer. But if I did trailer up where is a good place to unload ? Also how many gas options are available up in the Mt Valin area. The only one I know of is la chapelle. I'm sure there are more. Bringing the girl with me so looking for sight seeing stuff. Figure I would do the peaks. I hear there is a cave. Is that easily accessible ? And whereabout might that be ? And zec onatchiway, are those private trails ? Need additional permit for them ? Same goes with the pelchat trail that starts behind la chapelle towards Escoumins. Don't believe I would ride that one but is that private as well ? Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

Well I ride an 08 XP 600 SDI black and grey and she has a 2011 AC SnoPro 600 Green and white. There was another couple that came in a bit later all in Yamaha gear. They sat behind us. There was only a couple free tables at Repos. I think it was around 12:30 or so. We got back to LaCananon at about 3:30. Hung out there for an hour in the bar area. We were staying at Real Masse this time. The rooms with the King beds were booked at Cabanon. I like Real Masse but prefer Cabanon to day trip out of. We won't be leaving our helmet's in the racks ever again. I also have a BV2S. I sure would hate to lose it. Repos was loaded with CanadaVenture people. I know they wouldn't take it as they were wearing rental gear. I would hate to think an employee there would do it, but I guess you never know. Luckily she brought a spare helmet. So she could at least wear her's when we got back to Real Masse. I guess I will start bringing an extra helmet on these trips now.

So am I reading this right ? There is a trail to Obedjiwan staked on the reservoir ? So if that was the case is there a trail from Obedjiwan to Chibougamou ? I alway's wondered if that could be done somehow, and was told the indians do it, but there was no groomed trail ever going to go through there. Too dangerous.

Just returned from another 3 day trip to St. Zenon. Day 2 we take 33 North to Repos. Stop for lunch. It looked kinda like Flat Rock on a Sat afternoon. Place was slammed. This was a Friday by the way. Got gas. 9 liters from St Michele ?? All it would take. Anyway's we put our helmet's in the rack's and go sit down. Of course we can't see the racks at this point. So we come out and talk about how we want to head back, and my girlfriend notices a couple things wrong with her helmet. Upon further inspection she realizes it's not her helmet. She goes back in and discover's that she did not pick up the wrong helmet, but that somebody swapped it out with hers. Brand new ArticCat helmet gone, swapped out with an older beat up version that somebody obviously crashed hard with. It was the same size, with a new shield but c'mon !! So now she's pissed. Off we go south on 33. I'm not joking we passed every southbound sled on that trail checkin out helmets. Mostly CanadaVenture people on Rentals. Somebody needs to explain to them how to keep right. No luck. Not gonna say how fast we were going but we made LaCabanon in about 2 hours, and that was going over the 360 trail and back over the dam,then down 345. And she kept up !! Stayed at LaCabanon for awhile but her helmet never walked in the door :( It was worth a shot anyway's. Other than that, Friday was one of the best riding day's I have had in several years. Not much else new to report but the 360 trail with the new bridge on it that would bypass the dam is closed. I guess it is flooded. That caused a big cluster @#$% Sat with all the people trying to get across. with all the ice builup at that little jog on the North end is a bit tricky getting across there. And also the 360 trail to Mattawin rocks. Never rode that before. Did the loop through Mastigouche on 23, then up the river in Shawinigan, and back 360 to dam, 345 to LaCabanon and then 23 to Real Masse. 23 out passed the Mastigouche gate to the river in Shawinigan wasn't great, but traffic was high and seemed like less snow over that way. But all in all another good trip !!