zeusand

well ,keep in mind we still mid april ...normally i start riding in the last days of april...a good shot of rain will help ....14c today ...i rode all the roads from logging rd....at least another 2-3 weeks before being ok 
 
jean-guy

bonjour !!!
 
pics from thursday and yesterday rides....still lots of snow....
1 moose thursday and 1 yesterday ...
 
jean-guy

To replace one swept away by floods a few years ago.
in St.Georges Beauce Region
 
Phase 2 underway
A new bridge in preparation for off-road vehicles in Saint-Georges
The Club de motoneige Beauce-Sud, the Club de motoneige Beauceville and the Club VTT Jaro Beauce have joined forces to rebuild a bridge over the Famine River in Saint-Georges.
There was once one for 25 years, but it was swept away by trees during the historic flood of November 1, 2019. It was from that point on that the off-road vehicle (ORV) clubs began the process of rebuilding the bridge.
The project was established in two phases, according to explanations given to EnBeauce.com by Ghislain Bolduc, the president of the Beauce-Sud Snowmobile Club, which is leading the file.
Phase 1: Environmental Study and Plans
The first phase of the bridge reconstruction consisted of an environmental study, the development of plans and cost estimates.
The Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) offers financial assistance to contribute to the development of new infrastructures of this type. Phase 1, estimated at $52,000, received financial support of approximately $39,000, or 75% of this total amount. The three clubs involved funded the rest.
This phase was carried out during the summer of 2020, by the company L'équipe St-Georges, which participated in the construction of two other similar bridges in Beauce.
"The study was done to build the bridge at the same location, but given the environment, it was necessary to make a bridge 600 feet long! It would have cost more than two million, it didn't look good," said Ghislain Bolduc. However, the maximum amount that can be granted by the MTQ for the construction of the bridge is $500,000. It would have been impossible for the clubs to find the remaining $1.5 million.
So in December 2020, it was decided not to rebuild because the amount was too high. The idea finally came back when in the winter of 2021, users found a new location, one kilometer away, above the Leclerc Falls. "There's rock on both sides of the river, 100 feet high. So there, we did some more tests with the engineer and everything turned out to be positive. He then gave us a much lower estimate, given that it will be 200 feet long instead of 600 and that it will be supported on the rock, which requires less work," explained the president.
Phase 2: Financing and Construction
Phase 2 of the project is now underway and the clubs have reapplied to MTQ for funding.
The bids will be opened on May 4 and the MTQ's answer should arrive at the end of May. By then, it will be possible to know whether or not this new bridge will be built and for how much.
"We are very, very optimistic! Since the MTQ participated in phase 1, they should follow the same logic for phase 2," says Ghislain.
To complete the financing, the clubs will call upon sponsors.
If all goes according to plan, the work should begin on September 1 and be completed by April 1, 2024.

good morning !!!
 
yaaa...it was about time....im the one who endure the mosquito bites !!!
full sunshine right now....-3c at 7 am...
 
jean-guy

I am glad to see you watermarking all your pictures.  I have been out with you many times when your taking pictures and understand how hard you work to get the few pictures you feel are good enough to share with your friends.  You deserve all the credit for these.  Thank you again for sharing them.  

bonsoir jeff and sandy !!!
 
great thx...not a bad day at all...
snow melting since the last 2 days...raining tonight...
merci 
 
jean-guy

bonsoir eddie !!!
 
many thx....very appreciated !!!
 
jean-guy

Released last September 15,2022 for MY22, March 17, 2023 MY21 added.  VIN specific, easy fix, (tighten and/or replace screw.)
 
 
 

Haven't been to Quebec since before the Plandemonium.  Been hoping to organize some long weekend hops 2up with the ladies jumping off from Jackman but it hasn't materialized yet.  This video has a weird section where the skidooers seemingly terrorize the townsfolk but it is quite entertaining.  Gotta be playing in a Skidoo museum somewhere.

Decisions made at the conference of the ZEC’s earlier this week. Beginning in 2025 only electric snowmobiles will be allowed to pass through any ZEC. 
 
 

To celebrate my ridding buddy Mikes 72nd birthday we decided to got for a short trip this week. Left Vermont Monday morning and headed for our drop point , Pont Rouge. Got there about noon, unloaded and headed for the Delta.  3 trail was flat and fast to junction of 73. 73 fresh groomed to junction of 23 and we followed the groomer north on 23 to about 15 miles before the first warmup shack. Passed him and 23 showed us the weekend traffic for the next 15 miles. This warmup shack must be a big destination on sunday for the locals, from there north was much better. Quick bite to eat and gas at Le Etape and back on the trail. 23 north was choppy from the weekend, but not to bad. Mt Apica was closed when we went by, may be a Monday thing? Hit the 83 east and it was very good to the Delta. Arrived at 7:00, 210 miles, good first day. 
        This morning we decided to head down the 83 to 383 and to Lanse St Jean. The first mile out of town is pretty thin, but still worth the ride. Trail was very good first 20 miles, then we picked up fresh groomed all the way to St Felix. 383 to gas stop at Lanse St Jean then 301, that was fresh groomed Monday night. Got to 83 and they had about 10 inches of fresh snow from Sunday night. Smooth under the fresh powder so nice trail, they have so much snow on the Clairmont Express you could probably ride until May up here. Left turn on to the 383 and fresh groomed all the way to Ferland for gas stop. Headed out to find fresh groomed again all the way to 368. Have not been through here for a few years and some changes have been done. Lots of logging has widened the trail out and its very nice. The old Bouliare Relay is gone. Not a trace of a building left, hate to see the old places go, but time marches on. Hit Bills trail {368} and fresh groomed out to the 23. Warm up shack at the intersection had burned down early in the season, hope they rebuild in the off season. Up the 23 to 83 and a stop at the Green Frog for a quick beverage. Out on the lake and back to the hotel.  83 east is getting thin in the logged out areas so it wont be long till the end here. Back around 5:00 with 260 miles in the meter. GREAT DAY.
         Up early this morning. Breakfast at 6:30 and on the trail and headed back to the truck by 7:30.  Nice surprise this morning, 83 fresh groomed last night all the way to Lake Kanigami. Blue sky and temp about 15f, makes this trail a quick ride to the lake. Lake is smooth and its a quick ride across.  Surprise, fresh groomed last nite to the 23. Headed south to Mt Apica for gas and go, trail good as not much traffic mid week. Fresh groomed to Le Etape.  This is one of my favorite trails, Smooth and straight and only saw one sled all morning. From the Le Etape intersection to the first warm up shack was a little bumpy, but it always seems this way. From there it back to St Ray was very good and was fresh groomed from St Ray to Pont Rouge. Back at the truck at 1:00 with 205 miles. What a great last day and season ender. We talked about staying another day, but at our advanced age we both had to be back Thursday for doctor appointments. Glad we can still do it, but this getting old stuff is sometimes getting in the way of ridding.  Hope you all have a good summer. Steve
 
 

Fer A Cheval was awesome. Clova was PACKED!!! Trails were mostly very good also 😏

We took a look a the map and saw a pretty straight line to Clova a few days ago  🙂
Awesome adventure for sure ! 
Really cool to run into Je me souviens and his team at dinner in Clova ..fun times  ! 

https://fcmq.qc.ca/actualites/zecs-quebec-la-zec-martin-valin-et-la-federation-des-clubs-de-motoneigistes-du-quebec-decident-de-collaborer-1?fbclid=IwAR1BLykGzZ7zPVBV_mqj1X1VfHdPbiItbUn7xaxlekTrsnSv3t4w6rqUZWQ
 
Zecs Québec, Zec Martin-Valin and the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec decide to collaborate
 
                                                                                                   PRESS RELEASE
 
                                                                                             
 
Zecs Québec, Zec Martin-Valin and the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec decide to collaborate
 
 
Quebec City, March 30, 2023 - On Saturday, March 25, during the annual convention of the Zec Network, the Martin-Valin Zec and the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ) decided to collaborate in order to find a solution to the double pricing of snowmobilers who travel on hunting and fishing zecs
 
Under the regulation on controlled harvesting zones for hunting and fishing (chapter C-61.1, r.78), snowmobilers must pay a fee to access controlled harvesting zones, even if they have already paid a fee for access to federated trails.
 
Zecs Québec, Zec Martin-Valin and the FCMQ recognize the importance of finding a solution that is fair to snowmobilers and that respects existing laws and regulations. The three parties are pleased to announce their commitment to a resolution of the current situation. In the spirit of cooperation, a committee will be formed to begin a negotiation process and find a solution that is satisfactory to all.
 
"As General Manager for the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec, I would like to commend the openness of Zecs Québec and Zec Martin-Valin to form this committee with a view to finding a lasting solution.  Let's remember that nearly 2,400 km of trails cross the Zec Network throughout Quebec. Considering this, I sincerely believe that by creating an advisory committee with Zecs Québec and Zec Martin-Valin we will be able to find a fair solution for our snowmobilers. - Stéphane Desroches, general manager of the FCMQ.
 
In the meantime, for the end of the current season, a temporary exemption from fees and registration will be granted to FCMQ member snowmobilers who ride on federated trails on the territory of the Martin-Valin Zec. However, snowmobilers who ride off the federated trails, who practice off-trail riding or who ride through the zec's reception area will have to register and pay their fees, otherwise they will be fined.
 
The parties involved are convinced that this negotiation process will make it possible to find a lasting solution for the entire network of zecs on the issue raised by the Martin-Valin zec in collaboration with the federation of snowmobile clubs and all zecs.
 
About the Fédération québécoise des gestionnaires de zecs
 
The Fédération québécoise des gestionnaires de zecs (www.reseauzec.com) is a non-profit organization founded in 1983 that represents the 63 controlled harvesting zones offering services related to hunting, fishing, vacationing and recreational activities for 41,000 members. These organizations are responsible for the management, harvesting and conservation of wildlife.
 
About the Fédération des motoneigistes du Québec
 
The Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (www.fcmq.qc.ca) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of safe snowmobiling throughout Quebec. The FCMQ defends the interests of its members and all those concerned by the activity. More than 4,500 volunteers devote nearly 800,000 hours each year to the maintenance of the provincial snowmobile trail network.

Thanks for reading along!

Now that the 800 kms drive home is over I can finish the trip report. 
 
Woke up to 15 cms or more of fresh wet snow. And it snowed all day so mush so that we had to be plugged in and constantly wiping the visors. But not complaining as I’d rather see snow in the air than rain!
left fer a cheval as the third group out. the backcountry appreciated the extra snow to keep cool and made it more challenging. Eventually at the turn off to 83 west to clova we were just following a single two person group (who we’d follow all day). Made it to clova on epic fresh snowed trails for a lunch (clova poutine!). The debit machine was working today which was nice although it took 3 minutes to go through!

That indeed is mikerider in the stripes. 
Here is a picture from 2016 at the hotel formerly called the Hi. 🙂

We waved good bye to Natalie at Pourvoirie La Vérendrye, we stayed in a cabin and pre made delicious meals were ready in fridge for us (Jazz cooked up a great breakfast). We were the first tracks up 396 to Louvicourt, gas & lunch at Hotel Royal; then across to Rouyn-Noranda for another great stay at Hotel Albert….a big day for us old riders, 420 km!  Thank goodness (and Groomer drivers) that the trails were 10 out of 10. 
 
the Moores had an early morning appointment at the BRP dealer, great service; changed the sock and fuel filter. Warned that the fuel pump was on its way out and to have a Plan B. Spent balance balance of day wondering around town and had a great dinner at Moulin Noir. 
 
Concerned about fuel pump, hoping our stars are aligned and as Austin Power says we also like to live dangerously. Headed north to Restaurant Le Poste for lunch, place was packed and the staff had a hard time keeping up. South to 93, across to Amos and the Atmosphere. Dinner at  joccivano Restaurant. Woke to 10 cm of snow fall over night.
Headed  north on 396 to Matagami and back down to Motel du Lac in Quévillon. Trails are still in excellent shape, light snow all day.
 
If you’re thinking about one last ride, don’t be afraid to come to this area.

I put together this musical ride video from last sunday Joliette/Taureau reservoir loop ride. It was pretty much a copy/paste as for snow levels but had the chance to get a cold winter day that we enjoyed very much.
 
Here a list of relays that have ended their season in St-Zenon/St-Michel area on last monday march 20, 2023
Auberge la Glacière (gaz open)
Pourvoirie la Barriere
Domaine Bazinet
Repos (gaz open)
Kanawata (gaz open)
 
Those other one below are still opened:
 
Auberge le Cabanon
Pourvoirie du lac blanc
Koubec
And all St-Michel village restaurant
 

One more from Mont Apica.

Not much for photo taking, but I'll upload a few.  TQ23 today was mint.  Absolutely perfect.  Had a blast.  Great day to end the season.