viper2

Hi Timberman, I think with the snow coming through cover will be good whichever route you take. One of the things I was getting at is traffic, especially in a yearlike this when there is no good snow and hasn't been in NY or PA even most of the big three new england states VT,NH,and ME. If you pay attention on this site a very high % of bag trips start from St. Ray or Shawinigan and the trails take the abuse. By starting in St. Zenon (Le Cabanon) or Mont Laurier you can avoid some of that plus this time of year if a rain event pops up you are at a better spot to get back to the truck. Without knowing what you ride I will say gas should not be a problem I have done these trps with sleds that only got 90 miles to a tank. Don't fear the regional (green) or local (orange) trails these are usually important trails in their own right and well maintained but alot less travelled. 83 from Parent to Wemotaci this year is alot better than ever as they went onto the summer road in the area of the outfitter Halteparche. If you come up 13 and east on 83 to St. Hedgewich you may have a hard time not ulling the trigger to backtack that on the way back. Also if you don't have a set easterly destination there is a new trail for a couple years now that makes a loop up around the top of the Gouin reservoir going through Obijiwan then down to Clova. As if you didn't have enough to think about (this trail would actually bypass Parent kinda making a big loop from Clova north then east then south coming out near Halteparche. No matter what you decide I am sure you guys will have blast.

Nice report Schooter, if you were looking to go to Johan Beetz this was probably the year to do it. Unfortunately there usually is not enough snow to go all the way out. I had seen earlier in the season that there was good snow out there and thought this would be the year to do it if someone wanted to. We tried on 2 separate trips to do the end but conditions never allowed. I would take the firstchance you get. Fair warning though once you do a trip like that you will not want to go up to Jonquiere and grind in and out every day. Baie St. Paul would be an excellent place to start that trip from.

Never really rode Maine but a couple days before. I was at the Lakeview though. This place is pretty close to Van Buren that we are staying at, will be something different

Dave I have been through 386 before and it is a pretty nice trail. Be forewarned however once you get to 63 it is usually terrible at least until Le Domaine. It is a shame and I don't know the explanation because it is not a bd trail just not maintained. From Domaine to Le Classic is usually better but by no means great. I avoid this trail whenever possible. As far as the old trail to the Baskatong I that think that may have been changed when they started using the Lepine road. That is the trail that you see when you leave Clova heading east on 83 it goes straight where 83 makes the left to Parent. Hope this helps.

Where in Maine yu leaving from? We are going up for a week in Maine getting tere Sun. have a cabin on Long lake forthe week.

That sounds like a nice trip I have been on all those trails in the past. You may want to consider rerouting your trip a little considering the recent warm up. My dad is at LeCabanon right now and the further north you go the better the trails are. Maybe leave Mt Laurier go north to 83 head east and do you Lac St. Jean thing then return down through Lac Eduoard to Matawin then 360 to St. Zenon then back over to Macaza and up the petit train du nord to Mont Laurier. Or you could backtrack 83 from Roberval and down through Casey on 369 to SMDS and over to Macaza OR on the way north the first day take 83 west to Senneterre then up to Chibougamau down to lac St. Jean then 83 back to Casey,SMDS,Macaza up to Mont Laurier or catch 33 on the way down 369 at Repos and go over to 13 and go south. Just thinking softer snow makes more bumps

Hey Crazysnow I saw the title in the margin on the side but thought I missed it. I think this should havebeen posted under the Lanaudiere section. Oh well thanks for the report.

I think you may be thinking of JB scott sometimes called club scott

Nice report Andy, sounds like you had a trip like we did a month ago. Sometimes to get through these trips it takes a little luck alot of experience and some help from the good Quebecois. Also some times helps to recall some old McGyver episodes

Hey Greg I thought it was when in doubt "pinky" out.....

Looks good Alain, hopefully the weather holds up a few more weeks. My mom,dad and another couple are at LeCabanon right now and I am planning a Maine trip next week. If the weather doesn't hold for Maine I may be looking to go to northern Quebec.

I guess pretty wierd huh 600 miles away in a different country but really not any different than Jersey

I spoke to Yannick for awile at Kanawata and from what I got out of him the guy at Casey now is his stepfather. Evidently he is filling in till it is sold.

Nice report Alain once again. Last time I rode through the Cabin on the Hill it was closed, good to see they are open again.

Nice pics Linda looks like you guys had a great trip. I noticed in a couple pics someone in the group had the "cool" low windshield was that a "first" trip to Quebec thing or just an ironman? LOL

Sorry we were not trying to hijack your thread, I guess the iceman, myself and Dave kinda got into a personal conversation there about trails we are real familiar with. I don't want to lead anyone astray and tell them to always take the road from Repos all the way to the entrance to Kanawata. This is plowed at times through the winter as this is the only access for them by truck to get supplies and gas. I have at times seen this road sanded and sometimes have passed log trucks, what's worse is sometimes it is not sanded from Repos until you get halfway there and then you are committed. In past years the trail to Chateauvert has been good just longer. The problem sometimes which you encountered is they use the trail to get in by truck. I have also seen them open it up in the middle of the winter with a backhoe to get the gas truck in. The old trail from chateauvert directly to 345 bypassing Repos is a very nice trail through an old burn. As far as the trakmaps I agree 100% with you I just got it for the first time this year I never had a GPS before and I found it to be off alot as well but I think most of the time you pretty much have to follow the groomed trail as sometimes the trail can be rerouted in the middle of the season. Sounds like you had an excellent trip and some nice pics. How did you resize your pics?

Or you can do it the way we did last trip leave Kanawata 4 1/2 miles out driveway 20 miles to turn then find the last guy was dragging his bags the whole way andhave to go 20 miles back then turn around and go 30 miles to Repos. Still got there and left before all the tour groups from Kanawata

Is thatthe place with the nice stone fireplace? Haven't stayed at Lac Edouard in years......... The first time we stayed there was at a different place at the old TB/insane asylum it was pretty neat all the buildings were connected by underground tunnels because they had steam heat. That was back in like 1990 I don't think they have been open for quite some time, but we did stay at a place on the lake with a nice stone fireplace and pretty cozy there.

Sounds like you had a good trip Dave. You were better off not going down the 13 and back to Manawan that trail usually is not too good and the way it runs this year is pretty long. From Parent down 13 by 100 lacs and back to LeCabanon would be a minimum this year of about 250 of not such great trail. Skippy this has been about the third year for a marked trail to Obedjiwan. If you are heading west on 83 you have 2 choices, watch for the cutoff for Barrage Gouin and pick it up there or take 83 a little past the outfitter Halteparche and the orange trail starts to the right. This will take you up to Barrage Gouin as well then you could follow to Obedjiwan onto outfitter Martin then down to Clova. About the only place I have seen it on a map is on the place mats in the wood runner trail territory which would include Casey,Parent,Clova,100 Lacs etc. I have a feeling a little research on the fcmq website would land you onto their website where you probably could see it. There is no marked trail from Obedjiwan to Chibougamau but there is a way from there if you would get a guide from the indian reservation. I hear it is mostly lake running and portages and you would need a guide. I have only ever talked to one guy that has done it. Keep in mind if you do that though you are skipping the railbed from LSQ to Chapais probably one of the straightest trails in Quebec.

Sounds like an excellent trip, next time you are at Kanawata try going out the real driveway its 4 1/2 miles to the road then about 20 miles down to the right turn to Repos (you will see the trail cross) that is usually mint and fast.

I hate to even stop at Repos anymore if I can't get there early. I know the tour groups bring in alot of money and are taking up some of the slack during this recession but they are really getting to be a hinderance not only in that area but also in and around Mont Laurier. The groups are just too big and they are not experienced enough to even say they have no respect they are just plain ignorant. Too bad about your helmet I agree it probably wasn't a tour group although it could have been a guide. Def. sounds like someone who saw it come in maybe before you even came inside.

How old was this sled. Sounds like air in the system but was the antifreeze drained out prior to going on the trip? Let us know what you find out, Yamaha's are not known to overheat normally and with the snow conditions you had it should not have been a problem.

But how is the riding? are the trails nice and how many road crossings? I would prefer to drive a few more hours and get onto good trails.

Hey iceman, the guy who was running Casey is Yannick and he is working at Kanawata again. Evidently his girlfriend is now his ex so she is still at Casey. Can never really tell when you talk to the french guys I don't know if something is lost in the translation of "girlfriend" or if nobody really is married.

Do you mean 83 or 93? I think you may be referring to Barrier Nord. I have not been through there this year but I think I saw on an earlier post that they are open.