viper2

Sounds like yo had an excelllent trip! Kanawata does book up often, they get alot of tour groups. Chateauvert has really been upgraded the last couple years since thw new owners took over. I think the womans name is Diane and she came from Ontario. She worked at Repos for a couple years before taking ownership of Chateauvert.

Check out the general discussion page under the topic trail 83. Mikerider and 182 Ray are currently on a trip in that area and have some good reports.

Shane, first off let me say I definitely do owe you an apology as you really were not in on the whole conversation between Tilepro and myself. We also communicated on another website and eventually he PM'd me. We actually had a nice and friendly conversation and I do see his point very clearly about misinformation. However the thing that raised my comments is that I know the people at LeCabanon very well and the things that were said just did not add up. I would liken my reaction to something said about one of your relatives that you know would not respond to a question that way. As we all know there are 2 sides to every story and the truth usually lies somewhere in between. Right now I only know 1 side but in 2 weeks I will hear the other and maybe this will become clearer to me. My real problem with the nature of this post as I have said is the people at LeCabanon are good people who do alot for the sport and they have always given me good honest reports. They have told me in the past not to come if the conditions were poor and I trust them. This is what people need to know if they are going to this area. They can be trusted for trail conditions. One thing I can't understand is that Tilepro told me he was good friends with the owner of Galop so I don't know why he didn't call him first? As far as the screen name goes many people on this forum know me as well, I really don't use a computer much outside of snowmobile season so when I was checking out these different sites for trail conditions I noticed most people had a screen name or "handle"so that is how I set mine up too. If you check my profile page you will see I have much more info about myself than even you do. I guess you have never seen a post that I ended with Rick but my last name is Getz and if you would like you can PM me and I will give you my cell #. I have no problem posting this info because while I have said some things that have ruffled feathers in the past I have never said anything that was not true. I can only speak for myself and a few good friends when I say that I/we come on here mainly to check trail conditions. I don't mind some idle chat but that is not the primary reason for this forum. The only post Tilepro posted on his trip was about a disagreement he had with another business. Unfortunately this is not the first time a business has been slandered on this site and for some reason people's personal rights are held in higher esteem than that of a reputable business owner. Possibly you hit the nail on the head when you said these business'need to work together. This is purely conjecture and in no way an accusation but it is possible the owner of Galop is not contributing anything to the trails but is using them for advetising and his benefit.? On a side note Shane please give us some good trail reports! 5000-6000 mi. a year is awesome, and we would all enjoy hearing trail reports and stories of your trips. Again please accept my apology for "jumping" on you and maybe we will meet ön the trail"

Ironic how you had constuctive in large print and yet it was anything but. Just a little advice if you don't know the whole story keep your pie hole shut. And I mean that in a nice way.

Not sure what your waiting for, but there is plenty of snow to ride up there now. Winter's on the downhill side now longer days and the sun is higher in the sky, you better get off your butt and go before it's too late. Although if the dancing girls are the main highlight of your trip maybe you could find a place closer to home?

X2 on the trail 73 north out of LaTuque. They could groom that thing every 2 hours and it would never be better than a 5.

I heard of the legend of "yellow boots" how about a pic of that.

Wow I guess that was pretty good estimating then on my part I came up with 270 part by memory and part by notes. Also 600IQHO I just found a map that would help you it is for the wood runner trails and is the same as on the back of the menus at Repos. The website is www.coureurdesbois.ca or www.woodrunnertrail.caIt is a nice little map of exactly the area you are going to run. The map I got is the true map and has the clubs,restaurants, and lodgeing . One thing I notice on the map is in the mileage calculator they claim 257KM from Mont Laurier to Parent, but I think that may be by breaking off of 13 for a shortcut near JB Scott. Check it out.

Now first of all I am assuming you realize that after checking out the view from Devil's Mt. you will have to travel approx. 30 miles to get back to Mont Laurier to the Comfort Inn. From Mont Laurier it should be approx. 180 miles to Parent then from there on 83 it is about 60 miles to Casey then about 30 miles to Kanawata. Just be careful coming down from Casey you have to make a pretty hard right to go to Kanawata don't follow 369 to the left or you will end up at Chateauvert, maybe you are familiar with that I don't know when you have been up there last but I know my wife doesn't like backtracking at the end of the day. Just a note also I remeber on one of your posts I think you said you are leaving from LeCabanon to go to Devil's Mt. I was looking at some of my notes and from St. Zenon proper it is 152 miles to Mont Laurier that is going the shortest way and to Le Cabanon would be another 8 miles. Then tack on 60 miles round trip from ML to Devil's mt. and you have around 220 for the day that should be a pretty good day. If you leave LeCabanon and go through St. Michel it will be a little longer. As far as gas I don't know how far you can go but it is about 95 miles from LeCabanon to the RR bed (L'Annonciation) and gas is just after you turn onto RR bed. There is also gas about 10 miles before that at Macaza and you have to drive right by that pump. Maybe more info than you need or maybe not enough? Let me know, have a good trip and maybe I will see you up there.My dad is arriving at LeCabanon on the 17th and will spend a few days sightseeing with friends (Ice hotel and Quebec City) then probably the 21st or 22nd a few of them will head out for a 5 or 6 day saddlebag trip and I will probably arrive the 27th or 28th with my wife and another guy and a couple of the guys will head home in the vehicle we came up in and 4 or 5 of us will go on a 5 or 6 day saddle bag trip.

Next time you are in Matagami, stay at the motel Matagami and go across the street to the Esso gas station, They will let you keep your sleds inside the heated garage for like $10 each. Lots of native indian's there we witnessed one at the hotel restaurant trying to loan money from a waitress and she told us she never met him before. They were playing the video poker machines like they never saw them before. :wacko:

It did burn but supposed to be open this year just not using the main lodge. Also gas is not supposed to be a problem as there is another gas stop opened. As far as the trail, historically that trail is one of the poorest maintained in all of Quebec. I would try to plan a route that avoids that trail if possible. Mogul city :sad:

Favarcat please don't give widespread info. on the honey hole trail (aka 369) from 83 down to Casey, Kanawata, Lac Chatauvert. Just kidding that is def. one of the best rides in Quebec

That's not a bad trail some sections better than others. Clova is a good place to stay the Tamarac is reopened. There are a couple places in Parent then east of there you can stay at Halteparche it is an outfitter then east of there you could stay at Windigo another outfitter or keep going to Relay 22 which is at the intersection of 83 and 73. I would not recommend staying at Wemotaci but do get gas there and then agin at relay 22. From there can make it to Roberval or at least St. Hedgewich.

There was probably something lost in the translation, the Lac St. Louis is closed in St. Zenon.

2006 GSX 500SS Check Engine check the thread aside of this one for a start.

I hope you are not trying to get me riled up because if you are you just gotta pull out the stud thing again, that would be the best way. I don't think I really came across too good in my posts or you would get that I really don't care where Yamaha ranks in sled sales......I ride the best not what everyone else or a TV show says is the best. Hey to each his own. Everyone likes something different I often wonder why guys buy long tracked Mt. sleds to run groomed trails but hey. I will keep my eye out for a phazer, what is a good buy I was looking at them too for my kids. Hey why not get a freestyle? As far as the blinders they really don't come in to play unless I look back I gotta tell you Gizz before I met you I thought maybe you had some kind of chip on your shoulder or something but after meeting you I realize you have a dry sense of humor. Oh and by the way I don't think they say Eh? in Quebec that's Ontario P.S. we will be up in Quebec the end of Feb. as well but I don't know where yet. Have Fun....Rick

Nice pics, 182ray good luck to you and mikerider on your saddlebag trip...........wish I was there right now.

I have a feeling the 17,000 is sticker price, if so no one pays sticker. But yea prices turning this into a rich man's sport.

X2 vt_bluyamaha54 I agree with alot of what is posted by the others, but they are grasping at straws when they try to cite reliability issues with Yamaha. Grumpy, I agree 100% that the prices are getting out of control but we the riders are partly to blame for demanding better performance in all area's with lighter weight to boot and now all this for the same money? Just can't add up. I for one am most concerned with durability/reliability. This is #1 for me it doesn't have to be the fastest or most rear travel and I don't have to lay over the handlebars or want to ride standing up all day. I am aggravated myself that manufacturers feel pressured to keep making everything lighter (junkier) They either save weight by using inferior materals (plastic) making existing materials too thin or using strong but lightweight (expensive) components. I also feel this is why trade in and resell prices are poor. There is a glut on the market because everyone wants a new and improved sled every year. As far as the slides go I have not experienced any of this. I have noticed that a new set will drag and wear quick for the first 1/3 of wear but my experience is it really doesn't even matter if you are in good lubrication or not this occurs. After that the wear was very slow. I was up at St. Zenon the week before the rain and I was on hyfax from last year yet. Gizz, I saw you were making snow last weekend in Haneyville that was pretty cool! Hey I know you don't really like Yammy's and hey normally I try to buy American, but when I only get to ride something maybe 20 days a year I want the best LOL. As far as the sleds go I have said this before a good dealer is the first step. You need an aggressive dealer that keeps their mechanics educated and keeps up with the tech bulletins. A problem has to be fixed before you go out. As far as the relays go I haven't heard of that maybe my dealer took care of it I don't know but I have ove 3500 miles on my Apex with no problems so far. My first day of my first trip last year it was -35F in the morning and 4 Apex's and a vector all with no miles and none would start without a jump. But there were about 50 sleds in the corral that morning all brands were covered and none started. It was so cold you couldn't even pull the ropes on the sleds that had them without taking the plugs out. Nothing is 100% troublefree, but there are few people that would argue that Yamaha is the best in this category. My last sled was a 2002 Viper. I still have it and it has 14,000 miles on it. I have never even had the head off. Back in the early 90's we had the Vmax 4's when we sold them they both had ove 16,000 on them without tearing into the engine. I always make sure and have my sled serviced by my dealer and they know that I am going on a big trip not just a 200mi. weekend to Tug Hill. I am not going to sit here and pick apart other brands because everyone has to ride what they like and to tell you the truth I think it's good for us in a way when the man. have to compete for our business. I have ridden for a long time though and with friend riding all brands and can honestly say I have seen some crazy s@$t fail over the years. Ride safe ..........P.S. Gizz when you heading up to Quebec and where are you guys going?

Sorry for your loss. A friend of mine also lost his life due to an accident on the trail. Alcohol did not play a part but we still must all be safe on the trail. One area I think is a problem is over aggressive riders. I like to ride fast where I feel safe like a nice wide and straight trail or even on a smooth lake, I like to open it up and see what it will do. But the last few years I seem to see more and more guys on my side in the twistys, passing at unsafe places sometimes while they are STANDING UP! Get real. I call these guys the "Rippers" they can turn a perfectly good trail into mogels in no time flat and seem to have no respect for life or limb.

Thanks naruss,I looked online on Dennis Kirk but it either wasn't there or I couldn't find it. Maybe it's just me but their site is not the easiest to navigate unless you the exactly who makes it and what it is called.

Thanks groomer!! You are a wealth of knowledge.

Does anyone know where to get the harness I have seen families in Quebec use. It straps to the kid and I think also the adult and the one I saw had handles for the kid to hold onto.