revct1

It is so great to read about a trip that most of us would love to do but 99.9% of us won't be able to for one reason or another. It is wonderful to share the experience with the pics. If we can't make a trip like that, it is comforting to know that we are riding on the best trails that are out there - QUEBEC.

There is plenty of great riding all over Quebec. This year is one of the better years. The snow came early and so far it is still here. There are not a lot of Americans due to the exchange rate, the fear of passports and there is plenty of snow in the States. This has cut down on snowmobile traffic and has made getting reservations easier. For those of us that still make the trek, we are being rewarded even though it is costing us a few more U.S. dollars. The great volunteers. our hats off to them , that groom day and night are still geared up from the previous years when it was difficult to keep up with the snowmobile traffic. This year with less traffic, the trails have stayed in good / great condition for a longer period of time. Most anywhere in Quebec is great riding. If this is a first time trip, then it would make sense to pick an area that a variety of day trips can be done out of a nice hotel of your choice. You probably wouldn't want to be saddle bagging on a first trip and you don't want to be traveling the same trail day after day. Hence, it should have many interconnecting trails to do day loops. It should also be an area with plenty of gas and pit stops. Most of the hotels have bilingual staff. At the more popular hotels you will find english speaking snowmobilers. They may be Americans but don't forget about the riders from Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. These are also english speaking. With that said; If you are coming up thru VT, there is good riding south of Quebec City (which is south of the river). This area is Chaudiere-Appalaches. Plenty of good places to stay. There are many interconnecting trails that you can do day loops out of your hotel. If you are coming up thru NY State, then the St Gabriel / St Zenon / Esterel area is great. This overlaps the Mauricie / Lanaudiere / Laurentides regions. Like Greasemonkey and Actionjack said, there hasn't been the normal over population of sleds this year, there or anywhere. Again, many interconnecting trails. :D If you want to travel a little further in the truck, the Lac St Jean area is fantastic. You may have to pay a little more attention to gas stops here especially as you get away from the Lac but it isn't really a problem as long as you pay attention. Saguenay Bill (and the infamous Rob ) can give you plenty of pointers. Western Quebec is the Abitibi region. If you are coming from the States, it is a very long haul by truck. It is not a day trip by sled either. There is great riding in the area but I wouldn't recommend it for a first time trip. This is an area that is made for touring. Finally the eastern part of Quebec is the Gaspesie region. This has some beautiful scenery and more ups and downs than most, literally. This area is really set up more for touring than for day trippping. The perimeter trail, trail 5, is a must do but you need 5 days to really enjoy it. Happy trails to you. :D

Capt, Don't wait 10 years to go to Quebec. :sad: You will kick yourself once you do get there. It is worth the trip from whereever you are.

Goose, We went thru Parent this past Saturday and got gas at the Four Seasons. I asked the lady at the depanuer if there was another restaurant? She said that there is one up by Hotel Central. We didn't stop at it but apparently there is still food available. :D Side Note: The first gas station coming in from the west (Clova side) either doesn't have and / or wouldn't let my wife use the restroom. :sad: So we don't use the gas pumps there either. Hence we scooted to the Four Seasons and surprise surprise. The restaurant was closed but the pumps are open.

Our truck is at St Raymond. We rode up trail 23 Sunday Feb 3 and the trail was not groomed. :sad: The grooming schedule at Hotel Roquemont said it was to be groomed north on Fri Feb 1 and then the groomer was to return and groom south on Sat Feb 4. It wasn´t done. Apparently the schedule isn´t always followed. Maybe someone was out sick or the snow scared them away? :wacko: From LéEtape north, it was good. The Hebertville Club does a good job. :D

I just saw your question on rear wheels and belts. I haven't heard anything about rear wheels but the belts will have an overheating problem if you play in the deep snow. The belt guard is so good it keeps the noise level down :D and also keeps the excess heat in :sad: . We haven't had any problems with the belt in 2,800 miles of trail riding.

We have 3 rev's a 2006, 2007 and 2008. All are 800's. The 2008 does feel lighter than the others, which it is. My wife loves the handling and throttle response. When she is good, she can squeeze 20 mpg (Canadian gallons) out of it. She thinks this is the best Rev so far for comfort, ride and response BUT we are disappointed with the number of problems. Problems > 1. The DPM was replaced because originally the fuel mileage was in the 11-12 mpg range 2. The oil consumption was 20:1 gas to oil ratio and had to be adjusted a few times to get it in the 40:1 range (richness is normal from the factory when the sled is new) 3. There was a bad vibration in it and it had to have a bushing for the clutch replaced (this is the third sled my dealer has done so far) 4. We are currently having problems with the service engine light coming on intermittently. The knock sensor was replaced for the service engine light but it didn't fix it. :wacko: My dealer thinks it is in the wiring harness and not a engine problem. I don't want to scare you with the problems because others that I talk don't have these problems but I think it is fair and important to inform. We haven't broke down on the trail and we haven't lost any ride time. I think we just happened to get one of those sleds that was put together late Friday afternoon just before quiting time. We ride with 2 others that also have 2008 800's and their's have been fine. She has 2,800 miles on the sled now. We are riding out of St Raymond Sunday for a week trip to western Quebec. We will see if it is fixed.

Info for trail 368: At the junction of trail 23 and trail 368 there is equipment (logging trucks ?) using the road. The trail is being moved to the side of the road but has not been completed as of today. There is 4 miles of rough going. :wacko: The rest of trail 368 was groomed and perfect this morning. Be careful in this area. Trucks are a lot bigger than us. :sad: Trail 23 north from this junction has had the trail already moved but I don`t know how far. We went towards L`Etape.

Hi Xeena, I don't know if it is too late but, trail 304 thru Lac Beauport is closed this year, the rights of passage thru some of the property was lost. You can still ride south on trail 369 to Mount St Anne and pick up trail 3. This will then bring you back to Quebec City. L'Tape to Mount St Anne is 60 miles and then trail 3 to Quebec City (Lac Beauport area) is 25 miles. We rode trail 369 last weekend and it was good. Trail 3 was also in good shape. Happy riding. :D

I forgot to mention yesterday that the DI does not need a battery to operate (so I`m told). The magneto generates enough power for the DI that a battery is not necessary. If you order an electric start, a battery comes with the sled, of course, for the starter. If you don`t order electric start, you use the old pull rope and it runs off the magneto.

The 600 DI is alive and breathing. I saw one with my own eyes. It is a Rotax short block with an Evinrude head on it with the DI mounted on top. It is a little quieter than the 600 SDI. Supposedly it is in the 25 mpg range :D (US gallon or Imp gallon?) and 500 km (300 miles) on a liter of "DI" oil. It is made to run on 87 octane. 118 hp is what I'm told. There is at least one of these out there on the trails. It is yellow (of course) but has 600 SDI stickers on it. Has anyone else seen it yet?