Fuse6

So we spent the last two and a half days riding the Chaudiere Applaches for the first time. Been hoping to ride this area after Snowfarmer posted couple of his trips here last year. This opportunity came up after we aborted our Cote Nord trip due to the storm first of the week. Wow, what a enjoyable area to ride.Arrived in Princeville(just east of Victoriaville) Wednesday night, having left Sacre Couer mid afternoon. Thursday rode from the hotel DuPre heading for LacEtchemin via Thetford Mines and St. George's. 320 km by the time we arrived at the Manor du Lac Etchemin RoadRunner mentioned above. Of rhe 320 km we rode there was only about 20 that wasn't groomed in the previous 36 hours. Pristine would describe the trails. Friday another 300 km back to Princville making a loop further to the south. Great variety of trails throughout the region. Rolling farm fields then through the sugar bushes. They take their Maple Syrup business serious here. Very impressive pipeline systems and Suger Shacks .Amazed how much fun riding the rolling farm land was. Traffic really picked up mid afternoon Friday. By Friday evening trails were just starting to get bit choppy in spots. Team meeting Friday night to decide if we departed for home Saturday morning or ride one more day. 3 guys decided to head home first thing Saturday morning and 4 of us decided to ride a part day before heading for home. Hit the trails at 7:30 and rode 200 km. Every trail we rode was groomed last night They must have an incredible fleet of groomers in this area to cover the miles they have to maintain. Beautiful sunny weather all 3 days we rode. Two other friends got stranded in Murdochville on Sunday. Took a $350.00 cab ride back to Matane to retrieve their trucks. Was Wednesday morning before they were able to depart by truck. They were heading back to Ontario until we suggested they join us for our CA ride. Worked out well for them to salvage some of their week. I had spent hours researching the Cote Nord, read every post related here on QR posted in the last 5 years.Had hotels booked for the first three nights. This ended up being one of our best Quebec trips after changing all plans 8 hours before departing home after studying the weather forecast. Rest of the week was on the fly. Think we will operate this way more in the future. Picture below is some poor sole truck drifted in at Hotel Coronet Wednesday morning . Just by luck ours were parks on the opposite side of the lot and the wind blew around them. Had to climb in from passenger side, some minor shovelling and had them out. The hotel staff yard man was very helpful to assist us.

Wednesday morning Feb 27th Departed the ski hill at Mont Valin this morning heading to Sacre Couer via the 93. Have arrived in Sacre Couer, had a great ride down all the way. Some minor drifting first 10 km north of Sacre Couer, after that great from SC to Auberge 31. Mont Valin to Auberge 31 was groomed last night. Beautiful conditions Wind has stopped blowing and most of the snow has firmed up. Would say most of Mont Valin and all the areas that are treed will be groomed up and great conditions by tonight or tomorrow morning. The flat clear areas Saguenay had severe drifting. We had to avoid the past two days. Only speculating it will take a couple more days to get things back to normal there. To bad Bill wouldn't report. Lot of good QR people would benefit from a boots on the ground report right now. Anyone that had Cote Nord or Gaspe plans hope this helps give you some options Nous somme une gang de VTT et de motos-neiges qui descendent une fois par année pour un week-end au Complexe Du Pré. On se sent comme chez nous. Rendu à l’hôtel, on relaxe, on prend un excellent souper, une bonne nuit de sommeil et avant de partir on prend un très bon déjeuner. Pour pas de frais supplémentaire, nos VTT et motos-neiges sont dans le garage au chaud.

Jack, we just rode down to Sacre Couer from Mont Valin today. 93 is good to great all the way up to Mont Valin. Minor drifting first 10 km north from Sacre, after that good going if you are looking for alternate plans

Anyone know what the conditions are like or would be like this coming Thursday and Friday. We have been riding Mont Valin the last 3 days. Good riding as long as you stay above the tree line. We have ridden most of the area now. Aborting our Cote Nord run due to the excessive drifting for the region. Thinking about stopping on our way home and ride Chaudiere Applaches area Thursday and Friday if we are confident trails may be in good shape by then. Any input ? Thanks

Phil, we are at Passion now for our second night. Left Sacre Couer yesterday morning, took the local trail off 93 over to the Pelchat trail. Had great ride up to Km31. Starting snowing as we left Km31 heading for Onatchiway Relais. By 3:30 really snowing hard as we gained elevation. We stopped and had a team meeting, Older wise man of our group suggested turning around and head for town. Us other 4 wanted to press on. 5 km further north came to a clear cut area and had zero visibility. Turned around and took a tight formation and GPS to get back to Passion. This morning left Passion heading north to Onatchiway in 12-16 fresh powder. Beautiful powder riding all the way up to Onatchiway. Proved few times it takes 5 good men to pull de- trailed 1200 out. Lunch at the relais then headed south down to the Grotte cave. Pretty cool to see. Continued south wanting to extend our loop. Got into the open farm land towards Alma. Brutual blizzard conditions once got into the open areas. Terrible drifting and became zero visibility. Worst conditions we ever been in. Had to get on a road and ride north until got back into the trees. Good 40 km ride back to Passion once into the sheltered trails. Snowed all day here. Tremendous amount of snow here. Just the top 6 inches of orange trail markers visible in many areas. Going to day loop here again tomorrow and then access tomorrow night. Looking like our Cote Nord will get modified. Mr Passion said tonight guys tried to head south on Pelchat today and had to turn around. Friends just texted from the Gaspe. Had to abort in Murdochville . Took taxi to Matane to retrieves trucks, bad drive back to Murdochville, not sure they will be able to drive out tomorrow due to wind.

Playhard, Phil1 Last week the weather looked ideal for the Baie Comeau -Sept iles run. Not so much now with the snow and wind predicted. I think we will head up to Mont Valin area first for couple days, hope by mid week it settles down so we can hopefully still get out to Sept iles.

Need suggestion for 2 nights lodging for 5 men in the Mont Valin area. Log Cabin at Passion or a Chalet at Auberge KM31 has my interest at the moment. Pro or cons for these locations or other suggestions. We will be coming from Forestville or heading to Forestville depending what direction we do our Saguenay- Cote Nord loop in so staying at the Delta or other hotel south of the river won't be ideal for this trip. Thanks, Steve

PLAYHARD we will be breaking trail for you. Going to be one day ahead of you. Departing Sacre Coer Sunday morning. Sunday- Sacre Couer to Baie Comeau Monday -Baie Comeau to Sept-iles Tuesday - Sept-iles to hopefully Forestville Wed. - Pelchat Trail to Mt Valin for couple days Our first time for this region. Is Sept-iles to Forestville relative easy day if weather is good? Map looks like eastern part maybe fast running. Looking forward to the roller coaster section. If you have already registered your grooming request bumping it up 24 HR would be greatly appreciated. I'll watch for Monker.

Had time to look at the NB map, it is Island Lake Lodge I was thinking about. The same place Rodmax just mentioned. We didn't stay there, stopped for gas twice. Newer modern cottages. It's would have different loop options for day trips. We also stopped at Chalet Restigouche, near Kedwick. It was a nice place but it wouldn't have many loop options for a multiple day stay. Moose Valley also has a nice lodge and cottages but same thing limited for multi day loops from the one location. Steven we did stop at the Serpentine Lodge twice for gas and lunch. What a character the owner is there, was worth the trip just to chat and have some laughs with him. I'm not a real dog lover but I would take that big beautiful Husky he has.

What are you thinking now ZRTCAT

How many days do you want to ride out of the same spot? We spent 5 days riding northern NB last year. But we moved around, started in Edmunston, 2 nights Bathurst, 2 nights Riley Brook and another night in Edmunston. There is a lodge we stop for gas at in north central NB, I will have to look at the map to recall the name. NB trails are fast running for the most part. You will cover more miles in a day than most area of Quebec.

Looks great Trailblazer. You would have drove right past my neighbourhood on your way to pick the trailer up. Someday if you have 3 sleds loaded would like to see a picture of how you have them arranged. Enjoy.

This was posted on Hardcoresledder couple days ago. Looks like a phone call is the best bet .

I think l read on QR somebody say they bought BRP oil at Repos. Worth a call to find out.

I would have one gas buddy between the two of you.Likely won't need but it sure takes the pressure off when you have spare gas. Would be fair if you carry your fuel caddy your Sidewinder buddy would mule some oil for you😁. Here's my poor mans oil storage. Plastic ammo box I bought at Canadian Tire. Bolted to the running board . Fits 2 one litre BRP containers perfectly. In there real snug. Not in my way riding at all.