doonali

Mid February is a beautiful time to do that trip,  you have several options of course but you can leave from Valdor and head north on the 93 towards Chibougamau and on to Lac St Jean area where I would take a day and ride in that area if you never have before. Then continue on the 93 towards Sacre Coeur or Forestville, from there. Also If you want you can take the PelChat trail across to Sacre Coeur instead of staying on the 93 the whole way. Once you pass La Chapelle it is on the left after a few miles, they will help you at La Chapell  if you are concerned exactly where it is but as long as you’re paying attention you can’t really miss it. Just make sure you fill up with gas at La Chapelle before heading across.  Then you can take the ferry at either Baie Comeau or Godbout across to Matane in the Gaspé were you could continue heading north east and circle it clockwise . Then continue on down through the Baie Saint Laurent area and the Chaudiere Appalaches region and take the shuttle  across ( which will be a van pulling an enclosed trailer that will shuttle you across to the other side at a little restaurant called Colibri). That takes place at the old Bernier‘s restaurant in Levi’s. Then head towards Shawinigan and  on up to Relais 22 or Windego and work your way across the 83 and back to Valdor.  I would also recommend starting from Temiscaming  on the Quebec side it will save your drive time and the trail up to Rouyn Noranda is a nice run.  You can fill in the blanks where you would want to stay but that is the general trip you were interested in. I hope you have a good group it is a long run but easily doable in your time frame just allow a day for incidentals you didn’t plan on happening . 😁

A few more pics from yesterday😁
Today we have 12 of us and we are heading to Forestville for lunch

good morning !!!
few pics...mostly at the '' forks '' ....6-7 '' of fresh snow....but at -1c...snow has the quality of nutella..........slippery !!!
 
jean-guy

That's it, our first ride of the new season done yesterday in Lanaudiere! I would have liked before but  winter has taken us by surprise: A season starting with groomed trails in mid-November is a new record here and I was not ready at all. To summarize, we catch up well yesterday with extraordinary conditions for a first December.
Due to the early opening, there is still active wood work/transport that forces the clubs to adjust the trail network and the current map versions do not represent what is groomed. To show you our trip track, I use a gps map on which I have drawn in pink-purple our trip trace and an approximate of where #23 trail join on  the #345 (between the Cabanon and the Dam). For those who know well the area, it is the #31 road of the reserve which is several miles further north than what the sled interactive map currently indicates.



Our friend Snowcruiser joined us and we chose the Lac Blanc Outfitter near St-Alexis des Monts as a starting point which minimized the car travel of each. It turned out to be an excellent choice in all aspect



We then took the # 350 trail north, also called the Gaston's trail for regulars in the area



From the start the amount of snow to the ground left by the last week storm was impressive ...



But very quickly that's what was still hanging in the trees that amazed us






The snowmobille club has clearly worked a good shot because despite it is an incredible beauty, the trails were completely blocked before the dozer passes. Good job guys!







We forked on the M10 trail in north direction to get the #23trail. On a short strech there were some small branches reminding us that it is the beginning of the season.



Otherwise,  next very nice.



A little further we took the #23 trail westbound. A little layer of new snow over the last grooming as well a couple trees fallen in the trail on the first miles (easily bypassed, just be careful)




 
Then back on freshly groomed trail. The sky has cleared and the sun was present, the snowy scenery has become even more beautiful





Trail conditions are at their best on the #23.





At the beginning of the ride on the #350 although the scenery was amazing, it was after storm conditions with a rather soft trail and not much grip on the skis. Here on the #23 a little less new snow on a good solid trail base allows us to ride at a good pace in full control with very little effort.





We then took the #345/#23 trail (between the Taureau Dam and the Cabanon) in a south direction



The amount of snow on the ground was  clearly less than when we start more east. The trail base is very good but thinner and traffic helping, some curves are a little swept. On the last miles before the Cabanon while the trail path leaves the reserve road to enter in the wood (on about 4 miles) it lacks some snow but not really bad.



We got at the Cabanon at around 11:30, pit stop for us and the sleds



Many snowmobilers in the place and always as well received



After a good meal break, we leave to make the same track in the opposite direction.





The sun has accompanied us a good moment





We took a break at the intersection of the M10 trail that we then took in south direction



Another brief break at the other end of the M10 where the signage was a little deficient. We guided a couple sledders in the right direction and also briefly met 2 CMIQ forum's guys for the first time: Greetings guys !!!



The Gaston's trail was really the most spectacular end in terms of scenery





too bad that the sun had quit, in these tunnels it would have gave incredible scenery






Here a last break in front of the Lac Blanc outfitter



All this big snow on the lakes before the big frosts has a worrying side however ... caution, it is still early in the season.




We returned to the trailer with a total of 120miles in relax mode.

 
In summary a fantastic first ride for us, surprising snow conditions especially more to the east. The trail network is still very small and not interconnected so check the areas you want to go before you go there. I know that the logging will delay a bit the early opening of some sections but the playground will be able to expand anyway in the coming weeks
Check out the details here: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
Wish you an happy and safe new sledding season to all of you !!!
Alain

Watch out, Fozzy's intel says trails are closed. 😍

bonjour !!!
 
just for fun ...i was cleaning...and found those 2 old pics....hauling logs with twin tracks !!!
pics taken with a 7.95 $$ camera back then !!!....ahahha
 
 
jean-guy

bonsoir !!!
 
today ...back road pics !!!
 
 
jean-guy

Today’s Trip 1 was a  Labrieville destination. But we did not get to Labrieville, we underestimated the amount of fuel we were going to need with the current conditions, so an early turn, got us back to km 31 mid afternoon.  Way to early to quit, so 603 Backcountry and I said, let’s go try those 900 turbos that we have in the yard. So off we went with a trail run down the 93 towards Sacre Coure. 
 
Trip one and trip 2 ended us up with 240 fun miles.  603 and I will give out some feed back here soon on our pleasing experiences with both the Backcountry 850s and the 900 Turbos, (that we managed to run 80 miles this afternoon).Both sleds have a commanding presence for their place on the trail ,  900 turbo, or off the trail, 850bc.
 
Both 603 and I  have made the BC 850 our favorite choice for our riding style, but not taking anything away from the 900 Turbos. BRP has found a home run with this 4 stroker .  Oh, if I could just get that motor in the BC LOL.. it never ends on the wish list!
Today’s riding was miles of powder riding and also the Caribou conscripts had been out sprucing up the trail network today, as well, and oh what a job they do!
 
More riding tomorrow!
 
Happy Trails
 

Well we landed this afternoon at Auberge km 31 to a nice seasoned snow base ..considering it is , yes, only Nov 29! 
We quickly unloaded our gear for our 10 day stay, and than went for quick late afternoon run. Conditions are nice with a firm, solid base of one to three feet, depending on where you are, and than 6” to 8” of powder on top.  Some of the best conditions you could ask for.  Now the main trails are chewed and will need grooming tomorrow, which I suspect will happen, but once you get off those main trails it is nirvana.
 
A little mechanic error caused an issue with a bolt coming out of a shock 5 miles into our ride this evening, but some quick trailside repairs and we were off for a nice 60 mile run!
 
A run east to Labrieville tomorrow is in store.  We will have a much better feel for overall conditions than.
Think snow!
 

 
 

Markusvt and I went north to the Zenon area for the day to shake down our Backcountry's . Conditions were decent for November ! 

Krikri and I did our season opener between the Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc and Cabanon in St-Zénon, 127 miles of smiles in outstanding conditions for the date
Here a little teaser, the report will follow soon...
Alain

hi pats fan !!!
great to hear from you ..many thx...everything is ok !!!.....still mild temps here....few flakes last night...-3c right now !!!
the last pic...coming back from st fidele cb ....tq 5 .....took pic right in town ,1 / 4 before arriving to the bridge over the river....where i get off tq 5 to go on the bridge on main street....just next to auberge and city hall...then back on tq 5 ....
 
you don t see the street on the pics....i pass on this side of the arena ( big white building )...go to main street and back up along brown building ...then tq 5 !!!
pic with sled....groomer is 1 / 4 mile back !!!
 
jean-guy
 
 

calm down '' big '' ....you only made it to fermont !!!
 
😁😁😁😁😁

bonjour !!!
 
a matin !!!
an extra 3-4 '' since yesterday .....-7c 
still cloudy 
 
jean-guy

hi gutz !!!
 
hahah...omg !!!....i guess back then ,rides were nt too many miles...remember going to the lake was an adventure....back in the 70's...now you go there in 10 mins !!!
on the other post ...the nordic 73 ( grand touring of the 70' S )....the owner of the motel '' le fanni '' in carleton was coming in town ....100 miles ride...alone !!!
that was an adventure !!!
im maybe '' old school '' ....my gps still between my 2 ears !!!
 
jean-guy

There is a giant pothole between my house and the trail.

MrGutz,
It took me a while but I just finished my summer repairs. I jacked up my GPS and drove a 900T under it.
Thanks again for the help with the helmet. Now MrsGT has a new seat to go with her helmet.
 

Hi Guys!
Just a message to let you know that the trail system already begin to take form In the north of Lanaudiere! As of friday 16 november, the Royaume and Mastigouche snowmobile clubs had begin to groom some trails that sits on forest road between the Cabanon and Taureau Dam and also toward the Mastigouche reserve. They told about 60 miles+ done yet. 
From all I remember it is the earlier I had ever seen for groomed trails in the area, breaking the earlier mark by near 2 weeks! The reports I seen on facebook talk about 1 foot of snow to the ground and season start conditions of course, but the comments are really positives. I had not the chance the hit the trails myself but it gave me a kick in the butt to finish my sled pre-season maintenance asap!!!
You can follow the trail system opening here https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
If it goes as expected, you should be able to read some of my reports in the next weeks
Have a good safe new sledding season!!!
Alain
 
 

Will be voting for Mark each day.

Will be voting for Mark each day.

One of our QuebecRider members , Mark Berardo aka( Markusvt) is up for North America's top snowmobiler !   Check it out and Vote .   It would be really cool to have a Quebec Rider in the running , we can all vote once a day for the 2 week run in this bracket . 
Check it out !
https://www.supertraxmag.com/nats/matches.asp

Also a useful resource if u r prepared but go off the trail, lol.

Not cote Nord but figured I’d post it up. Blew the dust off today. 

Tariff on what?  What can they charge us on?  Makes no sense.

Coming in from RDL on 85, which is a popular route, there are fuel stations on the right that sell passes and that is like right at the border. 
From Beincourt or Amqui I don’t believe passes are available till Moose Valley.