Signfan

The below link will take you to a map that shows the locations of the ZEC's.  There is 63 in total of them in the province.  If you have snowmobiled in Quebec it's almost a certainty that you have ridden through at least one.  On a days ride in Saguenay you could conceivably ride through 3 in a couple hours time  (Zec Lac-de-la-Boiteuse, Zec Onatchiway, Zec Martin-Valin).
 
https://reseauzec.com/carte-interactive/

Response below from the Zec to my e-mail. I alluded that FCMQ permits were justified as they provide value. The FCMQ has an uphill battle to fight here based on her response. Everyone flood these guys with e-mails.  
info@zecmartinvalin.com
$12 isn't the point here. Look at how many Zecs you cross in a days ride. Then add it up over the course of the winter and you start to see the issue.
Hello, First of all the fees that you pay to the FCMQ, do not touch the zec, neither near nor far. We are two separate organizations. The FCMQ trails pass over our ZEC, so we are entitled to demand a right of circulation! the principle of user pays! It is very easy to do it online, if you have any difficulty, call us and we will be happy to help you. We are in the first year of operation of our ZEC in winter, and we have a lot of plans for the years to come 😊 We are sorry that this sum ($11.70) could make you change your mind about your destination… Have a great day ! Nancy
 

It is odd that he left the stop without a written citation with court details listed on it if he wanted to dispute the fine. Even a parking ticket you get given the citation on the spot with the fine listed and details on how to plead or dispute it. Also not questioning that he was stopped.  Just finding the details odd.
 

Yes it's still crown land. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.
 
 
 

Anyone have a map of the zec? Just curious where the boundaries are.  If this continues could get pretty expensive on those bug saddlebag trips when you travel through 2 or 3 of these zec areas in a day.  Bad bad idea.
 
 
 

Nothing wring with off trail riding in the right place. Farm country isn't it.  Key is doing your homework which so few do which is the issue.  I prefer the groomed trail myself though.
 
 

Next day headed towards Parent. I'd give the trails a 6 out of 10. Due for grooming. It was Sunday though so you get whawhat you get and don't get upset.  Trails on both sides pf Parent for a good distance are not great as others here have reported.  Once we got south on TQ13 they got much much better.  Had lunch at Fer a Cheval.  Then bee lined it due south for Sainte Anne du Lac.  More of the same with Sunday afternoon trails.  Some good.  Some getting rough.  We were back in the truck for 6 pm and hone just after midnight.  I'd say the entire are is rideable and mid week would be 8 out of 10.  It will take some more snow and a few more passes to get mid season.  Especially around Parent.  All in we had a great weekend.  
 
 

Got our first 600 km in this past weekend. Left Sainte Anne du lac Saturday morning. Lots around town were packed with trucks with Ontario license plates. We barely got a spot. Headed for Mekos and then north to TQ 33. A little lumpy at first, but not bad. First half of TQ 33 was awesome. We met a big group at the big corner where the two clubs groomers meet. From there wasn't looking so good, but a mule up the trail we meet the groomer coming at us. It helped some. We did come to find that that large group had tore up pretty much all of the last 8 hours work that groomer had done att the way to Repo's. Regardless it was better. Headed for Manawin where we got fuel. Overall loose Conditions, but decent running. From Manawin we headed over to Repos. I'm sure lots on here will be disappointed to know we never hit the brake running through their lot. I'd just filled in Manawin at $1.70 and didn't feel like getting ripped off. Found a few washouts on 345 just north of Repos. Ended up running g the road to bypass them. Then 345 got good. Had really good running all the way to Casey. It was getting dark and a little cold, but all good. Things got rough at the alliance du nord border, but we managed. It was a laye start hitting the trails at 11, but we were parked and unloaded prior to 7 pm. Definitely worth going.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

That is probably just paying for the two police officers.  Nice to see a solution.

I'm in.  We need all riders to wake up and commit to this.

Alain said a few years ago this was a slippery slope they started down with the trail north of Saint Donat. I'll boycott the area if this is how it's gonna play out. Lots of other places to go ride. I can see the off trail crowd being a target. On trail group has already paid their dues imo.
 
  
 
 

Alain said a few years ago this was a slippery slope they started down with the trail north of Saint Donat. I'll boycott the area if this is how it's gonna play out. Lots of other places to go ride. I can see the off trail crowd being a target. On trail group has already paid their dues imo.
 
  
 
 

Lol
 
Thank you for the offer.  I ended up leaving from the truck stop in arnprior last winter.  It was a decent  days ride.  The bridges make crossing borders easy.

Alain said a few years ago this was a slippery slope they started down with the trail north of Saint Donat. I'll boycott the area if this is how it's gonna play out. Lots of other places to go ride. I can see the off trail crowd being a target. On trail group has already paid their dues imo.
 
  
 
 

So you have to be able to cook for yourself?   Lol.  

So you have to be able to cook for yourself?   Lol.  

We had chicken there Sunday.  No issues and the food was great.  

I'd say that's a rental tour. They all have a similar sticker on the windshield. It's true though 
in most parking lots the brp sleds seem to outnumber everyone else 2 or 3 to 1.

Well we made the trip this weekend. Thanks to everyone that replied to my inquiries. Here's what we learned about this stop.
- It's remote and as such you should adjust your expectations
- there is no plowed road into it.  They are bringing everything in and out on a sleigh to Casey about 8km away
- power is from solar and wind.  As such they do work to conserve power.  The place has low voltage lights and you're asked to shut them off if not needed.  Don't think it's closed if it's dim showing up at night.  They are just in power conservation mode.
- heat is from a wood furnace.  It was warm, but could be warmer.  We slept with sweaters and wool socks on.  They told me they have plans for more insulation in the room we were in, so we might have just got the cold one.  It wasn't terrible.  A room at 15 degrees celcius vs 20.
- toilets are composting toilets.  At first it creates some apprehension, but once you use them you realise they work just fine.  They are vented properly and don't smell.  Bathrooms are shared for the entire facility.  There was two of them.  Hand sanitizer is pushed to clean your hands vs soap and water.
- There is one shower and one sink with running water in the bathroom area.  We chose not to shower.  Not sure if it would have been allowed or not.  I didn't get into the details on their water situation with them.  I suspect it's somewhat limited as well.  I was able to brush my teeth.
- they have good wifi.  I had a video call with the kids at home
- they wouldn't allow us to charge our electronics.  Back to the power conservation discussion.  Not a big deal, but something to plan for if it matters to you
- food choices were limited.  No issues with quality, but don't expect a meal like you get at 100 lacs de Suds.  Supper was burger and fries or a small plate of spaghetti.  Breakfast was a good portioned eggs and toast.  They were running short on food, but I think this is just an experience thing that they will get better at.  I left supper a little hungry.  Breakfast was as good as anywhere else I've ate in Quebec.
- the place isn't large.  There is two main rooms for accommodation and a third room acts as overflow for the dining room which is converted to a bedroom.  This was our room.
- beds I thought were fine.  My wife complained to me some the next day, but I really didn't think they were bad at all.  They are cots, but are new and I thought there was plenty of material in the mattress.
- the young man running the place is awesome.  Very nice and welcoming.  I can't remember his name, but they have the right person running it.  Very hospitable.  He even asked us if we wanted to go out and look for the northern lights.  They weren't out, but the thought was there.
- price was $130 per person per night taxes and fees included.  Included supper and breakfast.
- cash only for payments.  Plan for this.  I did send them an e-transfer which they accepted, but that was an exception vs a normal thing.  No credit or debit
- there was 7 of use (a group of 5 plus my wife and I there for the night).   I would say we were pushing their capacity for winter stays.  With larger groups sharing rooms a few more may have fit.
- they have beer and wine on site
- the place still has that new feeling to it.  Some of the construction you can tell wasn't completed by skilled trades though.  Just rough on the finishes
- no tvs or anything of that sort. I taught my wife monopoly using the resorts french version of the game which was fun.  Translating it while teaching her made it interesting for us two English folk.  Much to my luck she beat me terribly.  I knew I was done when she bought all 4 railroads and started building houses everywhere.
My wife left joking that I took her glamping.  I think it was better than that.  I probably won't get her back there.  I'd stay again myself though.  At the end of the day it was a budget friendly option, we left fed and didn't freeze.  Definitely a good lunch stop for burgers and fries.  If you go in with clear expectations it's a good night stop to sleep as well.  Fills a gap in a remote part of the province.  I wish them well in their future operations.  I do think it will get better as they learn how to operate the place and make improvements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Well we made the trip this weekend. Thanks to everyone that replied to my inquiries. Here's what we learned about this stop.
- It's remote and as such you should adjust your expectations
- there is no plowed road into it.  They are bringing everything in and out on a sleigh to Casey about 8km away
- power is from solar and wind.  As such they do work to conserve power.  The place has low voltage lights and you're asked to shut them off if not needed.  Don't think it's closed if it's dim showing up at night.  They are just in power conservation mode.
- heat is from a wood furnace.  It was warm, but could be warmer.  We slept with sweaters and wool socks on.  They told me they have plans for more insulation in the room we were in, so we might have just got the cold one.  It wasn't terrible.  A room at 15 degrees celcius vs 20.
- toilets are composting toilets.  At first it creates some apprehension, but once you use them you realise they work just fine.  They are vented properly and don't smell.  Bathrooms are shared for the entire facility.  There was two of them.  Hand sanitizer is pushed to clean your hands vs soap and water.
- There is one shower and one sink with running water in the bathroom area.  We chose not to shower.  Not sure if it would have been allowed or not.  I didn't get into the details on their water situation with them.  I suspect it's somewhat limited as well.  I was able to brush my teeth.
- they have good wifi.  I had a video call with the kids at home
- they wouldn't allow us to charge our electronics.  Back to the power conservation discussion.  Not a big deal, but something to plan for if it matters to you
- food choices were limited.  No issues with quality, but don't expect a meal like you get at 100 lacs de Suds.  Supper was burger and fries or a small plate of spaghetti.  Breakfast was a good portioned eggs and toast.  They were running short on food, but I think this is just an experience thing that they will get better at.  I left supper a little hungry.  Breakfast was as good as anywhere else I've ate in Quebec.
- the place isn't large.  There is two main rooms for accommodation and a third room acts as overflow for the dining room which is converted to a bedroom.  This was our room.
- beds I thought were fine.  My wife complained to me some the next day, but I really didn't think they were bad at all.  They are cots, but are new and I thought there was plenty of material in the mattress.
- the young man running the place is awesome.  Very nice and welcoming.  I can't remember his name, but they have the right person running it.  Very hospitable.  He even asked us if we wanted to go out and look for the northern lights.  They weren't out, but the thought was there.
- price was $130 per person per night taxes and fees included.  Included supper and breakfast.
- cash only for payments.  Plan for this.  I did send them an e-transfer which they accepted, but that was an exception vs a normal thing.  No credit or debit
- there was 7 of use (a group of 5 plus my wife and I there for the night).   I would say we were pushing their capacity for winter stays.  With larger groups sharing rooms a few more may have fit.
- they have beer and wine on site
- the place still has that new feeling to it.  Some of the construction you can tell wasn't completed by skilled trades though.  Just rough on the finishes
- no tvs or anything of that sort. I taught my wife monopoly using the resorts french version of the game which was fun.  Translating it while teaching her made it interesting for us two English folk.  Much to my luck she beat me terribly.  I knew I was done when she bought all 4 railroads and started building houses everywhere.
My wife left joking that I took her glamping.  I think it was better than that.  I probably won't get her back there.  I'd stay again myself though.  At the end of the day it was a budget friendly option, we left fed and didn't freeze.  Definitely a good lunch stop for burgers and fries.  If you go in with clear expectations it's a good night stop to sleep as well.  Fills a gap in a remote part of the province.  I wish them well in their future operations.  I do think it will get better as they learn how to operate the place and make improvements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Next day headed towards Parent. I'd give the trails a 6 out of 10. Due for grooming. It was Sunday though so you get whawhat you get and don't get upset.  Trails on both sides pf Parent for a good distance are not great as others here have reported.  Once we got south on TQ13 they got much much better.  Had lunch at Fer a Cheval.  Then bee lined it due south for Sainte Anne du Lac.  More of the same with Sunday afternoon trails.  Some good.  Some getting rough.  We were back in the truck for 6 pm and hone just after midnight.  I'd say the entire are is rideable and mid week would be 8 out of 10.  It will take some more snow and a few more passes to get mid season.  Especially around Parent.  All in we had a great weekend.