Andyman

Happy Birthday guys another year has come and gone! Hope we all get to do some great riding this winter covid or not! Andy

Approx 250 km or 155miles.

Snowmobile: the closure of the TQ3 trail in Pessamit will still hurt this winter By Charlotte Paquet 6:00 AM - December 02, 2021 Reading time: 4 minutes Manicouagan snowmobilers hope that there will be plenty of snow this winter, just as they can't wait for the TQ3 trail near Pessamit to be accessible again, which could be the case in 2022-2023. IStock Photo Snowmobile The Manicouagan Snowmobile Association inc. (AMMI) remains hopeful of a snowier winter in 2021-2022, after a little snowy season last year. On the other hand, it shows less optimism to see snowmobile tourists flocking to us because of the closure of the TQ3 federated trail near Pessamit for a second year. It will be remembered that winter sports enthusiasts suffered from the lack of snow during the winter of 2020-2021. The rain on December 24 and 25 and the little precipitation in January and February hurt. In March, many lawns had become uncovered before a good storm covered them with their white mantle. “We didn't have a lot of snow. We did less snowmobiling. The conditions were not optimal. This year, of course, we hope for more snow ”, underlines AMMI President Romain Tremblay. However, he is sorry to see snowmobilers deprived of a fluid link further west since the decision of the Innu Council of Pessamit to prohibit the passage of snowmobilers on its territory due to complaints from its members. Mr. Tremblay is saddened as much for snowmobilers from the North Shore who wish to travel west without having to embark their machine on a trailer as for those from outside who would like to visit the region on their racing car. "It's a bad… problem in Pessamit." It is very disastrous for snowmobile enthusiasts and also for tourists. We are stranded on that side and we are stranded for the ferry, ”underlines Mr. Tremblay, referring to the lack of reliability of the maritime link. Huge losses The president of AMMI says the situation will continue to greatly affect restaurants and accommodation. “He's going to lose millions (of dollars). The expense of snowmobilers for the Côte-Nord region is enormous. It's not the same as with camping and caravanning, ”he says. Anyone who claims to have seen 25 to 30 snowmobiles parked in the backyard of a hotel recalls that snowmobile tourists do not have the choice of breakfast, lunch and dinner in restaurants. In addition to the gasoline to buy, they also often have to call taxis when it comes time to get food. “Last year it was the same. The shops have tasted it. " A project to bypass the territory of Pessamit is on the table and the work should be completed in time for the 2022-2023 season. Some good news On the other hand, the Association des motoneigistes Manicouagan is delighted for its 1,000 members of the opening of the Auberge Franquelin during the coming winter. The same goes for the Captain's Market restaurant in Godbout, formerly the Passant restaurant, whose opening hours will be extended. According to Mr. Tremblay, this is good news for snowmobilers who will be able to make stops to eat a little something and warm up during their hikes in the Manicouagan. The Federation of Snowmobile Clubs wants to reestablish the link The Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ) believes it can reestablish a passage north of the Pessamit territory for the 2022-2023 season, but for this year, it must be forgotten. “It's not funny, but we don't have much choice. They (the Innu Council) do not want to go all out, ”underlines Yanick Claveau, federation liaison officer for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean-Côte-Nord region. Since the last season, Pessamit has put an end to the right of way for snowmobilers following complaints from members of the community. A project to relocate a 20 km portion of the TQ3 federated trail is on the table. "There is a four kilometer road that we will have to build to connect two other already existing paths", explains Mr. Claveau, who adds that he is in discussion with the people of Pessamit on this subject. The FCMQ is also in talks with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources with a view to obtaining its approval for the new route chosen. “Normally, if all goes well, the project should be done next summer,” said the president. According to him, the future link will not force snowmobilers to cover a greater distance, which will be similar to that which existed until winter 2019-2020. Snowmobilers will not see the difference, assures Mr. Claveau. Share this article FacebookTwitterE-mail

Thanks iceman.

INTERRUPTION OF GAS SERVICE FOR MOTONEIGRANTS AT SIERIE 54 BETWEEN DORÉ AND CHIBOUGAMAU Dear Bikers, We would like to inform you that there will be no gas service at the sawmill 54 for motorists between La Doré and Chibougamau during the 2019 winter season. This gas service is located on trail #93. Source Tourism Bay-James · ·

Enjoy!!!!

Mont Valin today!

We did it in Feb 2020 just before covid hit. Like GSX800 said the first part was ok then not so good. I am not going to bother with it again I am going to stick to thttp://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2021_11/Clipboard01.thumb.jpg.8ee0a901aabe708eaca757f44dd02884.jpghe TQ trails. Here is a screen shot of our track. Andy

Iceman looking forward to hearing if there will be fuel available at the Sciere 54!

I agree with Mark there are so many awesome outfitters it is not possible to pick just one! God willing this winter 2021-2022 will allow us all to visit them again!

That is one nice looking bridge! What a great addition to the TQ83!

The snowmobile trails that cross the La Vérendrye wildlife reserve will be closed for a second season. This is the T 63 trail to Belleterre and the R 386 to Val-d'Or. The president of the Club motoneige Val-d'Or, Denis Lefebvre, affirms that the practice of snowmobiling is dangerous on these trails where snowmobilers and forestry company trucks rub shoulders. Logging companies get more cutting contracts, and therefore more trucking. So, it becomes dangerous to travel by snowmobile face to face with the trucks and also for the snowboarders, so we will not be able to travel in the La Vérendrye reserve for a second winter in a row , explains the manager. Denis Lefebvre believes that there will be no repercussions on the number of trails in the region since snowmobilers have other options for traveling the region. They can transport their snowmobile by road to the region or take a detour via the Outaouais to reach Témiscamingue or further north using the path that crosses Lac Faillon to reach Senneterre.

This is a post from the Quad club working on a reroute around the Pessamit lands. Pesamite Tour, Phase 1 Installation of five steps and shaping the path (five km). For phase two, the OK of MERN is missing and after the offer call can be launched. Hopefully the submissions will be in the allocated funds budget.

Sounds encouraging!!!

I contacted Sandra at the Marina Chibougamau and unfortunately, she tells me that there will not be fuel available at the mill this winter. Time to take this baby along!!!

Has anyone heard if the sawmill will be open to provide fuel this winter?

Here is another article I just saw this one is about the TQ93 could be more problems! Chronicle of an announced resurrection October 29, 2021 at 10 h 28 min Reading time: 4 min 30 s Denis Lord - Local Journalism Initiative Chronicle of an announced resurrection Vision Eeyou Istchee's technical team, made up of two bridge engineers and two civil engineers, carried out a field visit from September 13 to 17 on the old railway line connecting Grevet to Chapais. (Photo: Vision Eeyou Istchee's technical team, made up of two bridge engineers and two civil engineers, carried out a field visit from September 13 to 17 on the old railway line between Grevet and Chapais. (Courtesy Grand Alliance)) While a Vision Eeyou Istchee team recently checked the infrastructure of the old Grevet-Chapais railway line for a possible return to operation, Barrette-Chapais and the Club-Motoneige Chapais are wondering about the future of their infrastructure in this sector. According to a statement from the Grand Alliance, engineers from Vision Eeyou Istchee visited 160 kilometers of trail between Grevet and Chapais from September 13 to 17, assessing the condition of the bridges, culverts and platform along the trail. The report will be finalized and made public in the fall of 2022 after consultation with tallymen and indigenous users of the territory. Major investments But the forest company Barrette-Chapais is also among the users of the territory and is wondering about any compensation it could receive for its loss of use and its investments. “When the railway was abandoned, we repaired it [the road] for almost 100 kilometers and we repaired four bridges. We use it for our supplies, ”recalls a spokesperson for Barrette-Chapais. It cannot quantify the investments but they would have been made regularly since 2010 and would be major. The government would also have invested money. Barrette-Chapais still needs this sector for a horizon of four or five years and a railroad would block supply areas. “There are other solutions, but they are expensive. Are there going to be compensations? », Asks the employee of the forestry company. “I always expect there will be a public consultation to participate in it and let them know that it is being used. " The spokesman Barrette-Chapais still think the project can be interesting for all of Quebec if connected to QcRail segments along Billy Diamond and toward the river. An unmissable route The Club-motoneige-Chapais also fears the return to service of the railway, which would block the Chibougamau-Abitibi axis and cause it to lose investments. Currently, the snowmobile club uses 30 kilometers of the old railway route between Île aux Goélands and Desmaraisville, with the permission of Barrette-Chapais and various government departments. “There is no way to avoid that, no infrastructure to replace that, insists the president of the club, Martin Blanchet. It is a place where there are a lot of rivers. If we lose that, we close the books. " According to him, the club has spent between $ 300,000 and $ 400,000 on the route since 1998, not to mention volunteering for brush clearing. Part of this sum comes from the Federation of snowmobile clubs of Quebec. "Are they going to reimburse us?" », Asks Mr. Blanchet. For the development The club also uses small abandoned paths along the railway line, with the permission and assistance of Barrette-Chapais. But this company could take them back with the return of the railway. "We are very open to the development of the region," assures Mr. Blanchet. But if you resume this section, you end the Trans-Québec 93 between Chibougamau and Abitibi, if there is no parallel infrastructure to replace it. Without this segment, we forget that snowmobiling in the North. » Mr. Blanchet emphasizes that snowmobile tourism constitutes a good economic contribution for the region. The Chapais Snowmobile Club has not been consulted by the Grande Alliance until now. “We were told it would come later,” recalls the president, “but we don't know when or how. " Subsequent attempts communication with the Grand Alliance, both from the club that the Federation would have proved fruitless. "That's what tires me, deplores Mr. Blanchet, not to be consulted and not to have a return call. " Favorable For its part, the Chibougamau-Chapais Chamber of Commerce takes a positive view of the project. "We are in favor of that", said the President of the Chamber, Sébastien Vandal. The goal of developing this line is to create a Canada-wide corridor with QcRail on the Côte-Nord side. As we are at the junction of all this, we take a positive view. A rail corridor reinforces the possibility of exploiting mines here. " As for the Economic Development Corporation of Chapais, she filed a brief in 2019 on the Grevet-Chapais project, which it considers the conclusions remain valid today. "The repair of the section […] would make it possible to transact and receive material and natural resources from Abitibi and other regions of Canada," we read. Upgrading to standards would allow the development of significant economic opportunities, […] ¬ in particular the development of mining and projects in our industrial park. " Doré Copper has the region's untapped deposits Devlin, Joe Mann, Corner Bay and Opemiska. Its chairman, Ernest Mast, believes that the reactivation of Grevet-Chapais may "be useful for the sale of copper concentrates and perhaps for the supply of materials". Share this article

The highway goes directly through the Pessamit bands land that would simply not fly. The trail used to cross the river on a highway bridge a very long highway bridge that had a follow me truck to take you across.

I did some digging and found a map that shows the Pessamit Innu lands. The line on the map is the hydro lines and you can see from my GPs screenshot the actual 1.4 million dollar bridge is not on Innu land however the present trail goes through their land after crossing the river and heading east. To avoid their land a trail would have to go west of Nipi Lake mhttp://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2021_10/Bestamites2.thumb.jpg.1e8f38837ca12d806b7af3b24be444e7.jpgoshttp://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2021_10/Bridge.thumb.jpg.d65943201d24f53939feb0ba80fdef55.jpgt likely not an easy task on a tight deadline.

Just saw this online posted 14 hours ago sadly does not look good for the TQ 3 this winter! Les Bolides Ragueneau Good evening to all Several people have asked me if the TQ3 between Ste Thérèse de Columbier and Ragueneau would be open this year. To answer you I would tell you that it is very unlikely that TQ3 will be opened in this area. We had a meeting with the people of Pessamite to open a new path that would bypass the Pessamite Reserve. It doesn't seem like there is see some major issues For now As you know it's not easy to build a new path with all the permits required by all the different ministries. Several kms of very damaged land to deforestation. We are working on this project since we lost the right to pass on the reserve. We are working jointly with the Quade de B,C club who is responsible for the project But it is not a question of going back to the path that is on the reserve. Thank you for your understanding Jean-René Martel

Nice link Gary!

Iceman just posting this to show the amount of money that was put into that new bridge which currently leads to a dead-end trail.

Government of Canada Grants $268,319 to Nord-Neige Forestville Snowmobilers Club February 01, 2011 10:07 ET | Source: Canada Economic Development ... FORESTVILLE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 1, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced $268,319 in non-repayable funding to the Club de motoneigistes Nord-Neige Forestville Inc. through the Community Diversification program for the construction of a bridge connecting the entire Côte-Nord region to the Trans-Québec (TQ-3) trail network. "Snowmobiling is an industry that generates crucial economic benefits for many small communities. Our support for this particular project is sure to attract more tourists to the region, as it will now be linked to the TQ-3 network," explained Minister of State Lebel. The funding will enable the Nord-Neige club to build a suspension bridge over the Betsiamites River as well as access legs leading up to the bridge. Spanning 90 metres and standing 15 metres high, the new footbridge will ensure safe passage over the river. This project is key to ensuring the sustainability, quality and accessibility of the TQ-3 trail. Snowmobilers can enjoy some 4,000 kilometres of trails, crisscrossing the countryside and communities and taking advantage of Côte-Nord's attractions and services. This new overpass will join existing tools contributing to the development of the winter tourism industry, including snowmobiling which, with an annual economic impact estimated at $14 million, is a showcase product. At a total cost of $1,435,910, this project will meet the international safety and quality standards that are the hallmark of the Trans-Québec network, which is now the focus of commercialization efforts vis-à-vis tourist clienteles from outside Quebec. To make this project a reality, the heads of the Nord-Neige club worked closely with community partners to increase winter tourism traffic and maximize the economic benefits.

Not to mention the cost of that bridge. I remember being there on the official opening day!