mccaffrey

Rode from the Delta to La Tuque, trails were very good getting a bit thin close to La Tuque definitely need more snow. Lac Edouard north is all good though. Great trip! 

We went from Tadoussac to the Delta in Jonquiere, damn cold in the am, all trails to there were excellent in the Monts Valin again then close to the Delta a little skimpy but nothing to discourage me from doing it again. Best of all our buddy Bill is here so we were able to enjoy some time with him. 

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Stunning ride today! We were told the Baie Comeau was not open so we went about 59 miles up the 3 turned around and did the local loop and up the canyon. All trails a 10! Saw 3 sleds all day. Yours truly photobombing, see the smile on my face? 
 
 
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Domaine Du Canyon closed for winter, lots of snow up that way. We were the only tracks

ICE agreed as it relates to commitment. The Peribonka bridge crossing, as seen here last week, January 30, 2025, on trail 373, is truly proof of a financial dedication to outdoor recreational activities. Many thanks to the people responsible for obtaining the financial funds and overseeing the project to completion. 

Today 30 January 
 

Today
 

I do believe this region (Lac St Jean) along with Saguenay and Cote Nord are positioning themselves for the future of Quebec riding. 

Eventually more trails in the south will be lost to development and simply no way to reroute. Sadly. 
 
Up north they are putting infrastructure in place and have been for years. Think how many more people now go to mont valin than years past They have built it nicely over the years.
The north will be ready. 
 

Hopefully can change this out, and start with something new. Don't think there is much anyone can do.
The people on this site have help me make good, and safe decisions on our saddle bag trips. 
I would hate to loose QuebecRider.com

Started our week trip in Matawin today around 3:30 pm. Not many trucks there. Parking lot less than half full. Still only about 6-8 inches in Matawin but literally amazing how good the trail was considering. Once across the bridge and into the 360 east just kept getting better and better. By the time the M20 junction came it was damn near perfect. Met groomer heading towards Matawin about 5 miles into the M20 which was in great shape already. Hooked right on M21 and blasted a 9/10 trail 12 miles into camp. Just as sweet as I’ve ever run it. 
very low traffic for a Saturday since leaving Matawin. About 8-10 expletive on 360, two guys on M20 and no one on M21 
we are cooking awesome dinner at camp and catching up on good times. Mon ami Andre #2 left his house on Gouin this a.m. with three other guys. They did 265 back country kilometers in the bush to Chibougamau and he just called me from the Nordic. Successful and awesome. They are heading back to his house tomorrow over same tracks. 
We are riding up on Monday to his house and Tuesday the 4 of us are going to do the same run. Might stay at Marina Chibougamau. 

hope everyone is finally getting out and enjoying the trails wherever you are.
 

Day 2
2/3 sleds started this morning at -28C. Got the other sled boosted after warming up the pack. 
Carcajou to Baie Comeau. 770 kms total for two days. 
mt Valin trails were awesome! Forestville was thinner but still good. Baie Comeau hit and miss.
stopped at La chapelle for a break - lots of sleds out, once on trail 3 est no one to be seen - great views though, some were in the dark.
to get to forstville we ended up taking the portneif river short cut to the 951 - well travelled.
stayed at the grand hotel - bit of adventure to get there through the town but well marked; kind of surprised the le manor was fully booked. The grand - quite the architecture marvel, food was great!

Then on to Mt Apica for fuel…or so we thought. They had some pump issue where the flow was reduced so 10l at a time and it was slow. But thankful as the group before waited 45 mins for some pump maintenance (which did not fix the issue) before they got any fuel. the 10 litres got us to herbertville for fuel. 
 
then on to Alma in the dark and across the river to Valin. We stayed at Auberge Carcajou. Nice place and great host. We had the foundue - steak. Breakfast sucks but we are up at em. 
 
a quick electrical fix in the garage on the 900 turbo and we are back up to everything working. 
 
-29C this morning let’s see if the sleds start!

Was cold enough so we stoped to warm up.

Drove to St Ray Friday to start the annual trip at the Roquemont. Live music with a fiddle and a good time! 
 
Anyway on the trail late Saturday morning, by 930 heading towards Mt Valin. As we got on the trail we saw the groomer - that’s why we come to QC. 
 
trails were good but a fair share of moguls I assume due to traffic on the 23 N - lots of snow especially as we went north . 

Ended up taking the 43>63>83>93 through Kipawa up past Ville Marie to Rouyan instead. Took the shortcut down Kipawa lake to Migizy gas and lunch. Lake seemed a little sketchy slushy right in the middle, surprised, considering the temps. Flat light didn't help...Tomorrow morning we will do a loop up the 93 to la Sarre then Amos down to Louvicourt or Pavilion depending on trails. Back to swisha and home Tuesday, so we are committed to checking out the 386 from Louvicourt>Pavilion>Swisha. Visibility today was flat but we probably ran 100 miles and didn't see a single sled. 277 miles, a bit of a late start, hopefully we can get 320 miles on tomorrow. 

While researching lunch destinations from Rivière du Loup, I read this on FB, which is related to the Rest O Rang @ TSP Evasion, the restaurant on the St Pamphile Golf Course. I've included below some social media images to refresh some memories of those who may have previously visited and for accuracy to confirm both the golf course & restaurant have the same address. If this was previously posted, my apologies. Despite researching it, I did not find it herein. Does anyone have anything to add?
Best, 
Paddy O 
__________________________________________________________________________
Google Translate; 
It is with emotion that we inform you today of the closure of Rest'O Rang at TSP Évasion. February 21, 2025 will be our last day of opening. Our rental chalets will remain
available for rent, a new formula will be offered shortly. In the meantime, we invite you to come and eat a good lunch, we will be happy to welcome you. The trigger for this quick decision is of course the partial closure of trail 55 from Beauce, this trail brought 70% of our traffic in winter. The Rest'O Rang team joins us in thanking you for your presence since 2020. It was an honor for us to count you among our valued customers.
Véronique and Simon Gagnon
 
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Day 2- Left Rouyn and took 93 in the direction of LaSarre. Cold this AM, -9F stopped to warm up at the Golf Course in Duparquet, had some soup and headed up the trail. Continued on 93 and took the Orange trail past Gallichan and looped out to the Ontario border and across Lac Abitibi. Connected back to 93 and into LaSarre for lunch at La Brute du Coin, great place and easy access. After lunch made tracks on 93 East to Amos and into the Amosphere for the night. 160 miles for the day. 

Went for a little ride yesterday.  Two areas to be careful in.
First spot:  Heading on 5 west about 20 miles out there is the little yellow connector trail to 526.  Another 5 miles on trail 5 and there is active logging.  The logging trucks were being loaded yesterday on the trail.  I was fortunate and the trailer was just getting finished.  I only had to wait a few minutes and the truck trailer pulled forward and over to the left side to let me by.  There were two more trailers waiting to be loaded.  There isn't enough room to safely pass while they are loading.  I'm guessing they park to block the road so no one can pass in case a log drops.
I continued on 5 west and then took 571 south to the railbed.  There I turned left, east, on to 526 by Relais Explorateurs.  When I got back to the above mentioned little connector, I turned right staying on 526.
Second spot:  I don't remember how many miles in this was, 3 or 4 maybe, there is construction going on.  A lot of equipment and workers.  They are putting in underground, big black plastic / rubber pipe for drainage.  It is going in along side the trail.  The workers let me thru with no wait time.  The trail is plowed but has an ice base.  No problem going thru.  Just pay attention.  The rest of 526 was fine.
Plenty of great riding up here.  A few new inches of snow up in the mountain.
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Trail 526 east of trail 35.
 
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One of my favorite scenic overlooks, RDL St Francois trail 565 overlooking the St Laurent.  That is the trail way down in the woods in the left side of the picture.
Jack & Sandi

Yes the guys at J Morneau are excellent and go over the top...drive your car there from Universal...10 times faster than the trail...and the garage next door has a tow truck...and they are equally excellent and work with the ski doo dealer all day long...you can trust these guys...and they are very talented...this is coming from a guy in the shop 52 years.

Sandi and I are at Universal.  Drove up yesterday.  I was here two weeks ago with the guys.  Looks like a little more snow since then.
Sandi's first ride of the season.  We decided to go to Squatec and back.  We took 85, 44 544 and 571.  Everything is groomed perfectly.  Around RDL it was a little thin two weeks ago.  Most of the little sticks in the trail are gone.  Looks more like it should now.  Only one gas station in Squatec.  It is the one on trail 35 on the south side of town.  Easy to get to and I think he is open 7 days a week.  He said the weekend was very busy with sleds.  Weekends maybe busy but today we only had one sled coming towards us all morning.
We ate at Chez Lelou.  A nice little restaurant that is open 7 days a week.  Many of the relais are closed on Mondays so this is a good option.  It is about 10 miles east of Squatec off of trail 546 on Lac-des-Aigles.  We have been stopping there for a few years now.  The lady speaks very good English and the food is very good.
We headed back to Universal the way we rode down.  It got pretty windy this afternoon and we ran thru a snow squall for the last 30 miles.  
Forecast predicts some snow tomorrow, temps in the 20's.  Wed and Thu no snow and a high in the single numbers.
The trails are great folks.
Jack & Sandi

Did a little exploring today. My wife and another couple inbound on Thursday, have to keep the ride quality high for her. Pain issues won’t stop her from cruising on her Enduro when the environment allows. RDL works so well for her. 
 
544 completely plowed. App shows partly green, it’s wrong. Last 12 or so miles of 35 eastbound to 85 are boney. Otherwise, 85 is a highway, the lake run down Pohenegamook was soft snow and fast. Broke the front spacer in my rear suspension (the one that the limiter strap ties in with on the rails). Thankfully didn’t damage the track or anything else. Jean Morneau is the BRP dealer in town, GREAT people over there. They had the parts I needed. Kinda flew into town with hopes to get to the dealer in time in case they had to order for tomorrow, didn’t want to miss a cutoff time if there was one. I think I passed Jack and Sandi coming into town?
Trails are great otherwise. L’Estaminet put on another great meal last night. If you haven’t ever been into town for a meal, L’Estaminet is our favorite, Symposium is excellent as well. Taxi service is quick and reliable if needed.