viper2

Well you were the fourth then 2 Vectors one on truck one on trailer and the other was I think a pretty new ?800 e-tec what happened to your sled?

Arrived at LeCabanon Sun. 1/22 for a saddlebag trip to western Quebec. We planned on leaving from there because of the secure area for the truck/trailer and also because we figured if need be we could easily modify our plans. Little did we know Sun. night but this was going to be one crazy trip. I guess I should have taken my first clue Sun. night when I realized I forgot my camera charger so this will not be a photo ride report. The first day we head down toward SMDS and onto Lac Toro across to Auberge Taureau then 33 to the road and out past Canadaventure to pick up 33 north. We couldn't get gas at Repos as they were out so we went to Manwan. so far the trails were not great but not terrible maybe a typical Monday morning. We took 33 to 13 up to 100 Lacs for a late lunch. While inside it started raining and they were calling for it to continue most of the night so we stayed there 170 miles. Tues. morning and it was still rain but mixed with snow so after breakfast off we go. 2 miles out and the spring broke on the secondary cluch on my wife's Vector (sound familiar Alain?) We decide to try to continue until we can get to a dealer. Meanwhile the trails are improving and the rain really had little affect on them. At the 83/13 intersection we decide to continue to Clova rather than go into Parent for fuel and this actually was an alright choice. About 35 miles before Clova my wife stops with a bad vibration. We determine the chain is severely loose in the case and adjust it, at this point there still is gear oil in there. Just a few miles down the trail we have another sled break the shaft on the drive axle, now we have a major problem. We tow the sled into Clova and start making arrangements to get it out of there. We only have about 122 miles on at this point but are def. staying the night. We got rooms at the schoolhouse and the owner Domenic said he would get the sled to Mont Laurier the next day. When we go to drive up to the schoolhouse my wife's sled won't move the track is locked so we check the chaincase and there is no oil now we have 2 sleds going to Mont Laurier. Wed. morning we load the sleds up and make sure they are good to go then the remaining five of us start back toward the truck. We take 83 to Parent and the trails are pretty good just a couple ruts because of the soft conditions tues. then the hard freeze up. From Parent east the trail has been groomed the night before and is as smooth and as hard as glass. Anywhere that wasn't run in was very slick (If you didn't have studs) the trail was very good and from Halteparche to the 369 the trail is on what used to be the road. Oh and the break off to go to Barrage Gouin is very well marked as of now and can't really be missed. The 369 to Casey is now also by road and is very good as always. Gassed at Casey then onto Kanawata for the night. Thurs. morning we head out of Kanawata by road because the loggers are not in that area this year at least not yet. The first 25 miles goes smooth and fast until we stop at the turn in the road for Reposwhen we discover the last guy in our group forgot to strap his saddlebags completely and has been dragging them all the way from Kanawata. You could literally look through them and there was not a thing inside. All the way back to Kanawata's driveway picking up pieces of clothing on the way, meanwhile one guy in our group thinks he sees something and stops. In the process of backing up he gets the sled sideways and rolls over breaking the side of the windshield and bending the aluminum handlebar riser. I'm not kidding you can't make this stuff up, this is a group of seasoned snowmobilers not a bunch of rookies but man we could not catch a break this week. We continue to Repos for gas then 345 to LeCabanon which was very nice. We load up the sleds and make the 3 1/2 hour drive to Mt. Laurier where we meet up with the women and stay the night at the Comfort Inn. Leave Fri. morning for home in the middle of a snowstorm and put an end to the longest 600 mile Quebec trip of my life. While we didn't have the best of luck we had a great time and really could do nothing but laugh at it all. Like has been said before it's smiles not miles and this will be one of the most memorable trips ever. It helps when you have a good group like we did, everybody came home safe and lots of laughs. Hopefully we got all the bad things out on this trip. Anyone looking to head up snow conditions are good this is the time to go, also want to thank Domenic and everyone at Clova for all the help and by the way it seemed a bad day for others in Clova as there was another guy with a pretty new sled that wouldn't start and had to get hauled to Mt. Laurier that same morning.

Just came through there last thurs. we took the road from Kanawata to Repos and it was well covered, but that was not the trail, the trail runs as always up past Chateauvert.

Hi Dave, glad to hear you guys are gonna get a trip in this year and that you found some sleds you liked. Did you do a demo? That is def. a big ride from Jonquiere to St Zenon in one day. Maybe do it backwards then stay at Kanawata the last night instead of Le Cabanon short trip to the truck the next day over familiar trails and back home that night. Just a thought. We are leaving Sun. morning early for a saddlebag trip from St. Zenon to western Quebec. Probably Ville-Marie is our goal but that may change depending on conditions and timing. Have a good trip

Hi Dave, Relay 22 is doable from St. Zenon and depending which way you go the mileage will vary. If you leave from LeCabanon and you jump on the lake at St. Michel and take it to Canadaventure then 33 to Repos road to Kanawata trail to 83 east to Relay 22 it is 245 miles. If you take 33 all the way from SMDS and trail 369 all the way to 83 it will be a little farther. The shortest we have done it is about 232 miles but that was pretty much road all the way from Wemotaci to Casey then into Kanawata and right out their driveway to road down to Repos then 33 down to 360 road to Canadventure lake to Motel Gite then back by trail to LeCabanon. Have fun

The famous million dollar bridge.

Looking good Mid Range, thanks for the report!

If you go to the top of the page and click the portal tab it's there problem is it hasn't been updated

The Hotel Du Jardin in St. Felicien is your place, very nice I think they just may have massages there.

Hey dooright, when you leave Repos and head up 369 you go out the road and come to a tee and make a left. Then you go up the road a short distance and the trail to Chateauvert turns right but the main road goes straight, what did the road that goes straight look like? Was it plowed and/or sanded? Thanks for the info

That could be a sign that Chateauvert is going to open. That is the way they get gas and supplies in there in the winter.

Hey Groomer the trails are starting to look good, with a little more practice you should be able to get them rideable just kidding it's a shame to put tracks on them they are too nice

Hey Ditchbanger what trails did you end up riding? Coming up next week and trying to decide if we should do the 83/93 loop from Clova or pick one and go down to Ville Marie and up 309. Thanks for the report.

Thanks, what's the long term forecast up there one place shows snow another chance of rain/freezing rain this Sunday

A few weeks ago Alain told me the trail leaving Repos toward Kanawata looked to be on the road instead of the ditch at least to the Tee. Many times we will take the road all the wat to Kanawata's driveway but a word of caution: I have already taken the road and committed to doing that all the way to Kanawata only to go 15 miles up and find it plowed and sanded for logging.....FYI If Chateauvert is not open full time as they say then that is why 369 starts at Repos and not off of 345 20 miles sooner because of the gas situation.

Thanks Alain, I think I will have to stop and talk to the guy at the Petite Gare in Casey and get some info on that trail. He had told us last year of a new "road"going to Parent that they were building and we saw the equipment even the year before, could make for a short trip. I had asked him once how far Parent was by rail and it was close something like 50km, crazy.

Nice video Hopefully they groom it a little wider the next pass though.

Thanks for the info iceman, Matagami is a possibility but we have done that on the last 2 Abitibi trips. What kind of trail is 309, I don't know if I was ever on it but if I was it was a long time ago.

Thanks for the report Alain! We are heading up next Sunday and will be staying at LeCabanon that night. Then we will be heading for a tour 5 or 6 days to Western Quebec, hopefully the weather will stay cold.

Planning a trip for next week for Western Quebec. Will be leaving from St. Zenon heading to 83 first night either Parent or Clova 2nd night Sennetere or Amos then continuing on 93 toward LaSarre and south toward Ville Marie. Want some input on places to stay within 50 miles of Ville Marie. It's been a long time since I was in that area also we are planning on taking 309 back up toward Val d' OR any suggestions and trail conditions are appreciated. The only thing I know I don't want to do is end up on 63 going through Joncas to Domaine we want to stay away from the mogul fest. As always our stops and route are not set in stone.

There is no reason you can't make the trip by dark just like 600 HO said. I would highly reccommend fueling at Repos no matter what you are riding. You never know if yu miss a turn or have another problem thatis unforseen. 600 HO's mileage is pretty close depending on the route you take. And def. call more than a day ahead for Kanawata you will love it there beautiful lodge in the middle of nowhere. Enjoy

Find schedule here http://www.traversiers.gouv.qc.ca/ferries/matanebaie-comeaugodbout_19.php#Schedules

Where are you crossing? I think there is still a trailer service from Quebec City that takes you and sleds across river

Are you doing the loop up around the Gouin or gonna just stay on 83? Thinking of heading up that way and never did that loop around the top.

Did you try to call? I purchased an SD card a few weeks ago and I talked to them on the phone and through e-mail.