revct1

The Federation map shows a yellow trail from Amqui thru Canton-Jette to the NB border. It measures 50 miles. I have never been on that but if the trail is open, that would be your shortest route to NB. From the NB border it looks like 35 miles to Moose Valley. Maybe check with the club that takes care of that trail. It looks pretty remote but isn't that what we do. Jack & Sandi 🙂

I sent an e-mail to info@zecmartinvalin.com yesterday. To Whom It May Concern, I have a few questions about the "ZEC" trail pass. Do I need a pass for each ZEC? How long is the pass good for? If I ride thru a ZEC and then return the same day, do I need another pass? If I stay on the trail, do I need a pass? If I need the pass for on the trail, why doesn't the FCMQ pass cover the trail? Are the trails posted that a ZEC pass is required? What are the fees? Do the ZEC "agents" have identification to show? Please respond as soon as possible because I was planning a trip to Quebec. Thank you, Jack Kearns I received a response from Nancy as follows. Bonjour M.Kearns, Vous avez besoin d’un droit de circulation pour la ZEC Martin-Valin. Pour ce qui concerne les autres ZEC, je ne sais pas si elles sont en opération pendant l’hiver. Votre droit d’accès est valide pour la durée de votre séjour en autant que vous dormez sur la ZEC. Donc, si vous revenez le jour même , vous n’aurez pas besoin d’un autre droit d’accès. Et oui, même si vous restez dans les sentiers, vous avez quand même besoin d’un droit de circulation de la ZEC. La FCMQ et la ZEC sont deux organismes distinctes. Nous avons des panneaux d’affichages aux entrées de la ZEC qui indiquent qu’un droit de circulation est obligatoire. Le tarif est de 11.70$ pour le droit de circulation. Les patrouilleurs de la ZEC, sont très bien identifiés. Je vous souhaite une belle journée Nancy Translated. Hello Mr. Kearns, You need a traffic right for the ZEC Martin-Valin. As for the other ZECs, I don't know if they are in operation during the winter. Your right of access is valid for the duration of your stay as long as you sleep in the ZEC. So, if you come back the same day, you will not need another access right. And yes, even if you stay on the trails, you still need a ZEC traffic right. The FCMQ and the ZEC are two separate organizations. We have billboards at the entrances to the ZEC indicating that a right of circulation is compulsory. The rate is $11.70 for the right of circulation. ZEC patrollers are very well identified. I wish you a nice day Nancy My response back to Nancy. Hi Nancy, Thank you for your quick response. With this information, we will not be traveling thru the Zec Martin-Valin. If we were riding off trail thru the deep snow of the Zec making our own path, I would understand the additional charge. Riding on the trails that are groomed and maintained by the FCMQ, I feel there shouldn't be an extra fee. With what you have said, the FCMQ must be required to pay a fee every time a groomer or trail maintenance person travels thru the Zec. I understand if we were off the trail system that is maintained by the FCMQ, we would be required to pay an additional fee as in Zec Onatchiway. Zec Onatchiway has its own trail system and it is maintained by that Zec organization. Although, we do not have to pay a fee to stop at Relais Onatchiway. We have been snowmobiling in Quebec for many years and love the trail system and people. I am disappointed that I am being discouraged to use the trail system that I have had access to for so many years. The businesses around Zec Martin-Valin will also feel the pain due to fewer snowmobilers. We, as snowmobilers, should have been advised about this change at the beginning of the season. I only found out about this thru another snowmobiler that was stopped on the trail. I will pass this information to other riders to inform them so they can also make a choice as to where they wish to ride. Again thank you for your quick response. It is appreciated. Sincerely, Jack Kearns I'm passing along the information that I have received from Nancy to inform you what her viewpoint is. I think this will evolve as time goes on. Hopefully the FCMQ will have some input and recommendations for us that have paid for the FCMQ pass. For now, Sandi and I will stay off of Mt Valin. We usually avoid this area due to so much traffic anyways. Jack & Sandi

How about listing a few of the e-mails for the businesses that will be affected like La Chappel, Auberge 31 the gas station at Vilanuet. I'm willing to send a few e-mails to tell them they won't have my business this season due to the ZEC pass. Maybe they can push against this too. Thanks, Jack & Sandi

I just clicked on the above link and got the frozen screen and the message of a security breech. I'm to call for support. I rebooted and it is gone. Just a heads up. You may want to delete the link or at least check it out. Jack

Don't wear out all of the snow. Sandi and I are coming back up Sunday the 29th. Jack & Sandi

Well, we made it home. No problems. Vermont did get some snow while we were gone. It was a sticky snow by the looks of the trees. The Powerball hasn't been hit. It is up to $500 million. I got my ticket. Maybe I'll take a limo to RDL next Sunday. 😁 Take care of the trails while we are gone and be safe everyone. Jack & Sandi

Sandi and I take the pledge and also ride alcohol free during the ride. We thank all of the landowners that have giving us permission to ride on their property. Jack & Sandi

It was good meeting you also BigLake. Always nice to put a face with a name. Yesterday was our last day of riding. We are heading to CT this morning. Yesterday we did a loop thru Pohenegamook via 5, 526 and 35 to the Realis Pohenegamook, twin arches. Then it was off to Cabano for pizza for lunch. The pizza place was busy and there was only one waitress waiting on the lunch people and the customers on the bar side. Needless to say it was over an hour there but the pizza is very good. After lunch it was 85 north and then 565, 544, 44 and 85 back to the Universal. No need to go into detail because all of the trails are turning out to be in fine shape. The only area still thin is the lowland getting back to the Universal. Other than that, you can ride most anywhere on fantastic trails. The groomers are out every night and the traffic has picked up. Yesterday being Saturday, we saw the most traffic that we have all week. The forecast is for good temps and snow this Thursday. If all goes well, Sandi and I will return to RDL the week of Jan 29th. Hope to see some of you there. Be safe and stay on the trail. Jack & Sandi

Hi Mike, Non-snowmobilers I don't know. There were only three trailers in the lock up yesterday morning, a few in the lot behind the car dealership and a half a dozen scattered around the hotel. We are seeing a few sleds on the trails but that is compared to only two sleds the first two days that Sandi and I rode. I'm sure there will be more snowmobilers as word gets out and people start believing the groomer map. The conditions are very good. There are thin spots near the river but up in elevation there is plenty of snow. The ride yesterday thu Squatec to Degelis was fine. Like I said, 85 had a ripple to it in the afternoon but a couple of miles before Relais Aventuriers the groomer was heading out. Jack & Sandi

So today there are three of us. JAK joined Sandi and I for the ride. The map is showing a lot of grooming. We run 85, 44, 544 and then 571 into Squatec. All of it is very nice. Most of groomed last night and a few tracks ahead of us. Just enough to give the trail a little texture for the skis. Gas and lunch in Squatec where we ate the other day. Then back on 571 south. This didn't show being groomed earlier in the week so I wanted to ride it today. It is a nice trail running the woods on the east side of Lac Temiscouata. All but 2 miles in the middle was perfect. The groomers didn't quite meet. Other than that, it was a really nice ride thru the sugar farms. In Degelis we picked up 85 north. This had a little ripple to it from the traffic. Still a fine ride. We stayed on 85 until north of the road construction above St Louis du Ha Ha. There we took 544 and 44 back to 85. A nice little bypass off of 85. Back at the Universal early enough to relax with a beverage or two. This coming week is forecast to stay below freezing but not bitter cold. A little snow coming Wed / Thu. Jack & Sandi

After the rescue and lunch, we ran back up 85 to 35 west. 35 is fine and goes around the top of Lac Pohenegamook. I didn't see any stakes or tracks on the lake. There was a red banner across the trail opening on the east side of the lake. 35 to 526 to 5 and back to Universal. The best news is Relais Pohenegamook (two arches), Relais Explorateurs and even the little relais on trial 5 in St Antonin was open. The season is upon us. Jack & Sandi

A quick update tonight. JAK drove up today. Sandi and I met him and went out to restaurant Estaminet tonight hence the late post. Like everyone says, the food is good there. Today's ride, the trails are fine. We took 44, 544, 565 and 35 to Cabano. The pizza place is in business but is closed Mon and Tue. Opens at 4 pm Wed - Fri. Opens at 11 am Sat & Sun. So today we ate at Mike's in Cabano. While we were in Cabano, we rescued a rider from the dreaded ditch along side of the trail.

Hi Mike. I was thinking about taking a ride to the pizza place to see if it is still there. It was good pizza. Looking at google I think it is in Cabano and it might be "O P'tit Bar Resto Pizza four a Bois". That is a hike for breakfast. Jack & Sandi

Thank you everyone for all the clicks (likes). We are so glad you are getting a little enjoyment out of the posts and pics. Jack & Sandi

Hi Oilman. The map is showing grooming over by Alma and north of the Lac. South of the Lac around Lac Bouchette is still "Not Reported". It is getting better every day. Enjoy. Jack & Sandi

Hi BigLake. Its been great riding up here this week. Hopefully the snow will stay now. I expect we will start seeing more sleds now that we posted a few pics. It is really taking shape. You should have a great ride to Tourville tomorrow. Jack & Sandi

First picture is the log pile at Squatec. Next is the restaurant in Sqautec and you can see the Esso station in the background. Last picture is Sandi taking in the beautiful sunset today on 85 in RDL just before the 526 split. Jack & Sandi

Now the pictures are loading as pictures and not links. I can't figure it out but here are some pics.

(Sorry guys. I cannot load pictures. On with the story.) We stay on 85 until the junction with 35. Now 35 hasn't had a response from the club as to grooming or condition. The other side of 35 has been groomed coming from Squatec to the halfway point on the top of the ridge. No sled tracks but I can see where at least the tractor has made a pass. Follow me Sandi. We will take our time. I'd say 4"-6" of fluff on top of the trail. The base feels good and I can see the cut for the trail easy enough. We are on our way. It is starting to snow pretty good. It must have been snowing here all night with coverage they have. We keep plowing along heading up the ridge. We get to the auto road where the groomer turns around and yes the Squatec side was groomed. A couple of inches of snow and looking fantastic. A little stretch and we are on the downhill. A lot of this has been opened up since I last remember. Looks like there was logging activity earlier but nothing going on now. Before we know it we are arriving at Sqautec. We go down the street to the restaurant we eat at and it is closed. That's not good. We un along the side of the road because I know there is gas just around the corner. Yep, there is the Esso station. We pull in and fill up. The attendant says that restaurant is closed but the old canteen is open again. Good. Anywhere to take a break and get a little food. After lunch we are back on the trail 571 heading north. This has seen a fair amount of traffic but still no bumps. Thru St Rita and on 544 to St Cyprien. A few changes here and there as typical from year to year. 544 is mint. Groomed and enough traffic to give the trail a little texture for the skis. We turn onto local 44 then 85 and we are back at the Universal. Another wonderful day of riding Quebec trails. The snow is getting better by the day. There are still a few bad spots out there but if you do your homework, there is lots of great riding and no traffic. Jack & Sandi

Ugh!

Well Sandi. A couple of inches of snow again last night. It is getting better each day. Lets go check out Squatec today. We know 44 and 544 were good. On the trail and the flats before Club Aventuriers isn't quite as snirty. We start rolling down the railbed on 85. Just a few miles in and we get to the junction with local 44. There are a dozen sled tracks on 44 and 85 has zero sled tracks and it was groomed last night. Hmm? We have to take 85. I can't pass on this. Sandi is off and running. So nice. Mile after mile is perfect. Sandi's snow dust is in the air. Like riding on a cloud. Big orange signs saying construction ahead. Yep, the trail has some yellow barrels and I can see big equipment running around. It looks like they are widening the auto route thru here. I think we are in the St Honore area. Easy enough to get around. Just pay attention.

We rode by there today and there were a couple of sleds and vehicles. I didn't notice if it was open. The google search says temporarily closed. The club's website doesn't have any hours listed. Jack & Sandi

The hotel restaurant at the Sagueneenne a couple of weeks ago did not impress Sandi and I. We think that the restaurant maybe under new ownership. I think it is a separate entity from the hotel. There were less choices on the menu and what we had was not as good as past years. Here at the Universal, the main restaurant is closed for renovations as we all know but you can eat breakfast in the conference room and at night in the bar. For the price of a meal here and at the Sagueneenne, there maybe better options in town. Sandi and I have always ate at the hotel restaurants but the past few years we have been bringing some food that we can eat in our room for a change or going out once in awhile. Another example is when the Delta at Lac St Jean brought in Boston Pizza to be the restaurant. The Delta gave up a very nice restaurant they had that was nice French cuisine. Oh I hope we don't see a Boston Pizza sign be installed on the Universal! Maybe its a financing thing or staffing? Whatever it is, the hotels are giving up some of their uniqueness. Jack & Sandi