scorpionbowl

I'm thinking of staying at the Roquemont Friday night and get an early start at the red roof on saturday. if you can ride out of a motel around stoneham that would also work. I'd ride out of the Roquemont but I doubt the river is frozen.

There are also a couple motels in stoneham, but i don't recall the name. In L'Etape, it's Auberge Le Relais.

Can you park overnight at the red roof? I may want to do a quick run from there to the HI and back this weekend.

Great pics, riding out there must have been fun. Here are a few of my favorites from the last couple of years...

I've also had a hard time reaching them this year. I was there last weekend and it looks like the office is under construction.

Thanks for the info. I've also heard from a rep at a sled show that the Auberge would be replaced next year. Let's just hope it has higher then 6' ceilings and more than 18" square public showers....

On the drive to Monts Valin last weekend, I couldn't see where TQ23 crosses Highway 175 in L'Etape. After the road construction for 4-lanes they installed a guardrail between the North and South bound lanes, so I can't see where TQ23 could cross the highway near Auberge Le Relais. Anyone know where it is now?

I don't have many hotel pics, forgive me for the summer pic... Mont St. Pierre Perce [Good in the winter also]

Great info...I always carry the shock-tool in my front pocket and adjust for the conditions. Hard-pack is always as light as possible, still not light enough with 6" carbides [not recommended for the Gade]. On powder, with a preload at 3 or 4, the control is amazing. I'm trying a 15"x1.5"x136" ripsaw this year, hopefuly not a mistake.

Interesting. Do you also tweek the ski pressure in the powder?

How many miles/kms of trail/roads will be rideable?

South of Quebec city...http://www.massifdusud.net/route.asp Not sure how that's related to snow at Mt. Valin.

Those who like pilot's have never tried Simmons, and I'm sure that there are others that are fine also. The biggest difference is in the "loose" stuff or powder, thats where the pilot's struggle, not much difference on groomed trails. I put Simmons on my 06' Renegade at 0 miles and did a comparison with my friends 06 gade with pilots, in Nov 2005, exact same setup, the difference in powder was amazing. That being said, I have my pilots, that I should sell, if you're interested.

I rebuild the top-end every year [~6k miles/year, 06-SDI renegade], and the usual maintainence mentioned above. I've also lost the rear shock at 7k miles, and a jackshaft bearing over 8k miles is a gamble. At 12k miles, I also went with a cudney clutch, 1.5" ripsaw track, replaced a broken hand warmer, and replaced a gear on the e-start.

Just noticed the new 07/08 Chalevoix trail map shows a [major?] change to 383 that isn't shown on other maps. 383 used to go from Baie-Sainte-Catherine to Petit-Saguenay, now it doesn't exist [on the Charevoix map]. Anyone know if this section of trail will be open this year and/or what happened?

Yes it shows rain, but at 900 feet, Mt Valin riding is 2000+ feet. So normal weather indicates a normal year, which means thanksgiving riding...hopefully.

Thats not the best forecast, that is from the airport which is near sea level. Falardeau is at the base of Mont Valin, and is a little more accurate [and favorable]. http://www.theweathernetwork.com/fourteenday/CAQC1198

The Ice Hotel is in the backyard of this place... I've never stayed, but I believe this is the link http://www.sepaq.com/ct/duc/en/

It may be the only casino in the world where you can't drink while gambling. Drinks are only allowed in the bar [and aren't free].

The problem with February is there is so much traffic [a lot due to rental/tourist business] that TQ5 gets really beat up. The secondary [green/orange trails] are always great. I will try to plan future rides for March or early season if conditions are good.

Your sled needs to be registered in one location, somewhere, usually where you live, or maybe where it's cheap. Where ever you aren't registered, you need a trail pass. I think the previous discussions are for US residents, that don't ride in the US. I live in NH, and pay ~$70 for registration and club membership, but put on close to 0 miles a year in NH. In that case, it may be better to register in Quebec since you are giving more financial support to the areas you actually ride in.

It's been a long time...hope to see you on the trails this year...

I've had to show proof of registration [for the sled] at the border crossing once, but they [border officials] don't care if you have a trail pass or not.

I guess they would be one-way if you got lost...Maybe they meant dead-end, no loops?

So are they able to buy a season's pass to ride in the Zec? Or more likely, they tell the wife they're going riding, but drink bieres all day at the relais.