snowmaster2112

FYI.......the Gouvereur in Shawinigan does NOT have gated and locked parking anymore. The back lot is completely plowed till the end with GIANT snow banks and your truck would be out in the open with every other vehicle out back.. Other than that.......it"s the same old place. Trail, River crossing and sidewalks were all deep snow cover and easy in/out.

Stayed at the Gouverneur in Shawinigan this past wednesday and friday nights but traveled there by sleds. Wednesday night there were NO other sledders there at all and had the entire courtyard to ourselves. Friday night, only two other sledders in the yard. I have stayed there many times over the years and have nothing but good to say about the place. I did notice that there is no chained in area to park trucks anymore. They just plow right to the end of the parking lot and have 15' tall snow banks there. So basically your in the back lot with all the other vehicles out in the open. I must say it does suck that they charged you that much but a little patronage does go a LONG way in Quebec. I have never had trouble with trails in or out of there. In fact they were pristine while we were there. Paid 65.00 for a killer room and you sure cant beat the amenities or the room there !!

Watch out for this guy if your near Waswanipi....LOL....LOL On a serious note.....I remember the single gas pump in that little town was the scariest thing I had ever seen (as far as gas pumps go). The cover and sides were missing and all the innards were rusted up and barely working. I thought for sure the sled was going to "blow" on the way to Chapais !!!

And 3 died this weekend on Tug Hill here in New York. Pray for them and their families !

I just did sorta the same 3.5 day trip on many of the same trails. Thurs: 1/12/12 Real Masse to Repos (short day) Fri: 1/13/12 Repos to Gouin Reservoir via Kanawata Sat: 1/14 Gouin to Meekos Sun: 1/15/12 Meekos back to Real Masse All trails were mint albeit a few thin spots around Masse and LeCabanon with the typical rocks here and there underneath. Did not have more than 20 sleds coming head on the entire trip and saw no more than 50 the entire trip, including intersections and lodging places. Snow is no issue from St Zenon north. My buddy and I both agreed the trails were mint and for a first ride of this shitty season it couldn't get any better. Colder than hell a few mornings though.

Waking up today at Meekos. What an awesome place!!! The food here is 5 star for sure!!! Left the Goiun reservoir yesterday morning and took the 83 to Parent for lunch. Perfect ride. lots of snow, very little traffic and beautiful but cold day. We took the 13 trail down and stopped at 100 lacs for a quick break and over to Meekos for the night. All riding up here is fantastic right now. Very low traffic and Plenty of snow and groomed trails. Today we make our way back to Real Masse in St Zenon to end our little 3 day ride. Not doing the whole 83/93 loop but I have done it several times in the past. I would imagine if you wanted to do it now (aprox. 1100 mi) around that it would be more than fine And you probably wouldn't run into 50 sleds the entire trip. COLD here again this a.m..........-27c..........brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Rt The Gouin is not staked yet. Next week most likely.

No Mosquitos but a wolf came trucking thru the parking lot of the compound here last night while we were eating dinner. Maybe heading over to Parent/Clova area today. Man it's cold up here this a.m. Chris

We are at the dam reservoir Gouin now (Friday night).....only sledders here tonight. Rode 200 INSANE miles today starting from Repos, then Chateauvert (no gas there today)' Kanawata, Casey. trails were 9.5 and we only saw 1 group of riders near Kanawata, no one else at all.

Glad you had a successful and enjoyable first ride Andy !!!! Glen and I are going to Real Masse in St Zenon thursday morning for our first ride as well. Will report when I get back. Chris

I too cant stand that trail. My arms hurt when I get to the other end from turning so much. Plus it's so enjoyable criss-crossing that road 20 times as well. I'm sure the guy at the "22" is not to thrilled about this at all.

Great feedback on this post !!!! A couple friends and I are going up saturday to ride the Gaspe area for a week. This will be my 5th or 6th time there over the years. I have been wondering why the infomotoneigistegaspesie.com website has only been reporting trails as good (blue in color) and not a one of them has been listed as excellent (green in color). Past experience with their information has always been that they are very reserved and never exaggerate the condition of the trails. Usually they are better than stated on the website. People couldnt be more correct in saying that "timing" is everything in the Gaspe. I just hope our "timing" is correct for March 5th-10th !!!! P.S. I live in NY too !

I have had two pairs of Reima Holeshot bibs and absolutely LOVE them. I'm on my second pair now and they should be retired by the end of this season. The nice thing is that you can get them in XL short size. I think they used to make an XXL short but dont know if they still do. Durable, warm, nice zippers and they fit me like a glove. As with anything though....I question the qulaity of the exact same item that I purchased 5 years ago. Will it be the same??? Many times companies keep the same name of an item and find a way to cheepen the shit out of it and what we get as consumers is an inferior product. FYI ...the XL short in Reima fits a 5' 10" 250 lb fat ass with short legs and a "beer belly" like it was customed tailored by an old Italian guy.

Have a Happy Andy!!!! Chris

X-3 Quebec and it's people ROCK!!!

It took me a LONG time to finally see one too. First one was up near St Honore near Mt Valins on an early November trip. The second time was a couple years ago north of La Cache one night on the Gaspe (it was a nightmare with deep snow and probably 15 or more of them) that held us up for hours. And this one two fridays ago inbetween Cabano and St Pamphile somewhere. Not the greatest photo, but still a moose.

And "Midrange"....I forgot to add my congrats on another successful "trip" !!! It appears you had a great overall journey!!! Conditions sounded about like my Gaspe trip of recent. You take take the "good with the bad" in my book. After living in Upstate NY all my life.....there is nothing the Quebec trail system can throw me that would be any worse........LOL........

Somebody correct me if I am wrong here. In Clova (Dominic the owner??) used to work for whomever owned the place years before. I remember a LONG time ago there was a gas tank nowhere near the size of the current one and the only place in town to stay was the Tamarac Hotel and the "bunkhouse" down at the end of town. I stayed at the new "school house" auberge about 3-4 yrs ago and I think Dominic purchased the school house from the government/town and converted it. I think I remember him telling me the population was once 3-4 hundred (maybe more) and that now (awhile ago) it was down to 38 or some ridiculously low number. Anyways, I couldnt help but think of class "going on" while I was lying in my bunk bed and what it must have been like for the kids of the 70's-80's in Clova, Quebec . In any event....it is certainly an "out of the way" spot for your average snowmobiler and I feel lucky to have traveled there often over the years. When I meet fellow 'bilers who travel (or live in) Quebec, the first words that usually come out of our mouths are Clova, Chibagamau, Perce, Godbout, Matagami, St Pamphile , etc.....LOL........ If I lived another hundred years (and never rode again) I will always cherish the memories I have had in some of these remote places with the utmost fondness as they were the most ABSOLUTE BLAST just getting there and the people and their stories (and mine) were the most compelling and real. Happy trails, Chris

Thanks Greasemonkey & Groomer!!!! Nice to hear good news!! Groomer, Andyman is joing our gang for the Gaspe run so hopefully this trip I will get to meet Quebec's most famous photographer in person!!!! Chris

The FCMQ has not updated their website in a week and currently have the following posted on the website: "Considering the rain and warm weather that prevails now in many regions, trail conditions will be updated Friday the 13th." I am hoping that whore (mother nature) didn't ruin everything in lower QC too like it did here in New York. After what looked like one of the best snowmobiling seasons in over a decade here, the whore took it ALL away in the first week of Februaury!!!! The only region that will survive is Tug Hill and it wont recover to how nice it has been. How about hearing from Bill and others how the upper regions like Abitibi, Lac St jean & Gaspe held up. Heading up saturday to do the Gaspe and it's not like I'm worried, but some good news wouldnt hurt either !!!

The 83 & 93 is approx. 1125 miles all the way around. It appears others here have already given you info. If you need more contact me.

Ditto what he said. I just checked my paperwork and my NY plate number is in there. Also the column that says Canadian resident is checked as "No". My New York reg is valid with sticker on the sled for 09 year. This CANT be right!!! It's like saying you need a Quebec liscense plate to drive your car up there too??? I would have used that scenario with a cop who is obviously not even up on his own laws!! 13 yrs and many check points and never had this be an issue before.

Groomer- on a little different subject........ What are you hearing from riders that are touring the peninsula right now regarding conditions?? Heading up there Saturday with some friends and have not seen any posts from anyone. Also have you noticed a decline in riders this season so far? If so what percentage would you say it is?? Regards, Chris

I have the Quebec maps on my Zumo and have used them all last season and so far this year. They are the 'tits" for sure. They show up green and magenta for primary and secondaries and have the trail numbers overlayed on them. I had a hell of a time getting the file and getting it loaded. Not sure how much help I could provide as a friend walked me through most of it way back when. I could see if I have the file somewhere. PM me your email and If I can find I will send. Chris

It was indeed in Quebec. Anyone know where.......????????????