artcat900

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/anderson/story/43898/update-through-midjanuary-1.asp

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,213971.0/topicseen..html

Just got back and yes trails are shot around St michel area. North of the lake it MAY have a chance of surviving if it gets cold as of 4 pm yesterday there was still about 6" left on Tq 33 north to Repo but really soft and decide to turn back as it was starting to rain. South of that there was a lot of bare dirt showing. Trail 318 and 33 out of town yesterday afternoon was about 75% dirt on the trail and still raining. Decided to take the lake back to town from Auberge du Lac Toro. That was pretty much standing water on top of the ice. Summary, the base is shot they have to start all over around town, 33 and 360 MAY have a chance it it turns cold very soon Spot link of trip for Friday ( That was actually a very good ride before it started to rain) and Saturday ( short ride) http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ZL8x0gp106yRrE9ixqdK77r68EbmEvr7

Jeff E mail or call Saugany Bill I would guess Tom

It's about the same distance as it was last year from the 350 intersection. The trail seemed to be a bit more twisty and winding at first, it was freshly groomed and after a while it joined in to the old trail from last year and came out in the same place as last year.

Translation Carl Theriault, Special Le Soleil The Sun (Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage) Une dizaine de producteurs agricoles de la MRC de La Mitis, à l'est de Rimouski, interdiront aux motoneigistes de circuler sur leurs terres dans sept municipalités, soit Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage, Padoue, Saint-Damase, Sainte-Angèle-de-Mérici, Saint-Gabriel, Saint-Octave et La Rédemption. (Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage) Ten farmers in the MRC de La Mitis, east of Rimouski, prohibit snowmobilers to ride on their land in seven municipalities, Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage, Padua Saint-Damase, Sainte-Angèle-de-Merici, Saint-Gabriel, Saint-Octave and redemption. «L'UPA [union des producteurs agricoles] n'a pas respecté ses membres en ne revenant pas nous consulter après leur entente avec le ministre Laurent Lessard. "The UPA [uPA] has not fulfilled its members do not contact us back after their agreement with the Minister Laurent Lessard. Nous faisons circuler une pétition pour avoir une réunion de notre syndicat de base dans La Mitis pour prendre une décision démocratique. We are circulating a petition for a meeting of our union base in La Mitis to take a democratic decision. Là, il va y avoir le retour du balancier», lance Jocelyn Fournier, producteur agricole à Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage, qui soutient que des producteurs de deux autres régions sont aussi en colère après l'entente intervenue entre Québec et l'UPA au sujet de l'assurance stabilisation (ASRA). There he will be the return of the pendulum, "says Jocelyn Fournier, farmer at Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage, who contends that producers of two other regions are also angry after the agreement between Quebec and UPA about stabilization insurance (FISI). «Je ne suis pas prêt à laisser aller ma ferme. "I'm not ready to let go of my farm. J'ai eu une coupure de 20 % au printemps et il y en aura une autre de 25 % l'année prochaine. I had a 20% cut in the spring and there will be another 25% next year. Comment veux-tu survivre? How do you survive? Cette entente va être la mort de petites fermes dans la région. This agreement will be the death of small farms in the region. On a l'impression qu'on a été trahi par notre union. One has the impression that we were betrayed by our union. On se mobilise. We mobilize. Je pense que ce soir [mercredi soir], on va être facilement 70 producteurs. I think tonight [Wednesday], we will easily be 70 producers. Il nous faut, pour convoquer une réunion, 10 producteurs de boeuf, 10 producteurs d'ovins et 10 producteurs de céréales. We need to convene a meeting, 10 beef producers, 10 producers of sheep and 10 grain. Nous allons déposer la pétition à l'UPA et dans les médias.» We will file the petition with the UPA and the media. " La Fédération de l'UPA du Bas-Saint-Laurent - qui compte 2500 membres - n'a pas voulu émettre des commentaires sur cette dissidence. The Federation of the UPA in the Lower St. Lawrence - which has 2500 members - would not comment on this division. L'une des grandes voies de passage des motoneigistes dans l'Est sur la rivière Rimouski aurait été fermée, selon M. Fournier, ainsi que celles de Trinité-des-Monts et à Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc. One of the major pathways for snowmobilers in the East River was closed Rimouski, says Fournier, as well as those of Trinidad-des-Monts and Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc. «On se crêperait pas le chignon si on avait été consultés par notre fédération. "We will not tease the bun if it had been reviewed by our federation. Le prochain qui me dit qu'on est trop subventionnés, je vais lui dire qu'il est trop gâté.» The neighbor told me that is too subsidized, I'll tell him he is too spoiled. " Assurance stabilisation Stabilization Insurance L'accord intervenu entre Québec et l'UPA prévoit que les surplus du régime d'assurance-stabilisation seront redistribués automatiquement aux producteurs visés par la nouvelle méthode de calcul des coûts de production. The agreement between Québec and the UPA provides that excess insurance stabilization will automatically redistributed to producers under the new method of calculating production costs. Les agriculteurs avaient initialement demandé à Québec de retirer les nouvelles règles de l'ASRA de la Financière agricole du Québec qui faisaient en sorte que 25 % des fermes les moins productives auraient été éliminées du calcul de la moyenne visant à établir le montant des compensations financières auquel les agriculteurs auraient droit à compter de 2011. Farmers were initially asked Quebec to withdraw the new rules of the ASRA Financière agricole du Québec which meant that 25% of the least productive farms have been eliminated from the averaging to determine the amount of financial compensation which farmers would be eligible in 2011. Des pertes alors estimées à 80 millions $ pour les producteurs. Then losses estimated at $ 80 million for producers.

I just got back at midnight. long drive to get home about 450 miles. We did 800 miles on the sleds. First day we went to River Mattiwin the groomer was just starting to to open the trail 360 passed him about 1/2 way out on the way back we took m20 and m21 to trail 345 then to the dam, the groomer was just starting that section as well (m20,M21) Conditions were fantastic except for m21 busting open the trail with the sleds was a little slower but still good. Second day we headed out to Macaza on TQ 63 First half was FANTASTIC!! perfect conditions. Second half was not groomed on the way out, opening up the trail was good snow just slower going having to open the trail in the fresh powder slowed us down some but still not bad except for the last 10 miles or so where it got rougher and bumpier in the woods opening the trail and finding the trail was harder to do also having to go around downed trees on the trail. The way back to St Michel was a lot better having packed the trail on the way out. Took us about 3 1/2 hrs to get back to St. Michel Day 3 we took tq 33 to 360 to 345 to Repo. Trail 360 was about a 9 out 0f 10 above the lake. We had a few rocks here and there to watch out for but not bad at all to the dam. (By the way they detoured 33 a little further to the east from last year we saw on the way out) After the dam 360 to 345 was great good grooming and good going. Going up 345 was nicely groomed and smooth with very good snow. Got to the M21 intersection and noticed m21 was now groomed. From there to Repo it was groomed all the way. Some sections after what we call Brouchep intersection ( that's a shortcut between 345 and 360 we found years ago its not on the maps) that area was groomed but was getting somewhat choppy ( about 10 miles east of repo it started). On the way back we took our shortcut down to 360 from 345 That was fantastic very smooth and fast. We got about half way down to 360 on our short cut and noticed the detoured trail 33 was using the bottom half of our shortcut and split off to the west. ( We will have to check that out next trip. Have never tried that section.) You can see our shortcut on page 2 of our Spot link http://share.findmes...qdK77r68EbmEvr7 That was a quick ride back using the shortcut so after that we decided to do a quick spin down to Real Masse just to put on a few more miles before calling it quits for the night and also get something to eat at the Cabanon Last day we started out a little earlier for a quick ride before heading home. We went to Black Mountain.at St Donat,. The park was great just some corners were getting icy with the snow wearing off but it still had a good base. After getting out of the park all the way to the mountain was good riding all the way just had to watch out for a few rocks here and there but not bad at all. Very nice ride all the way. Actually the worst section was 33 between rouge mattiwin and St Michel what was starting to show a little wear on the trail from all the traffic but even that was still quite nice, nothing that a good grooming and a few additional inches of fresh snow would not take care of in a hurry. Well that's about it. Great riding 95% of it even the not groomed sections were fun and good going. Hope to head back up in a few weeks

This is the part that really sold me on the idea. http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=104

This sounds like it may get nasty

BTW Here is a link to the spot site.. .http://www.findmespot.com/en/. The main reason I bought it was for the sos and check in ok features that it has. They are explained on the website

I just picked up a spot emergency locator / tracker . So far is seems pretty neat and accurate . Does any one here also have one/ and what have your experiences been with it. riding in Quebec. In theory this seems to be a great tool in the event of an emergency or just for general tracking purposes. I'm just not sure yet as to how well it works in the remote areas that we often ride in. Here is a link to the tracking page that I set up. I have only done a little driving around in the truck with it but it sure seems spot on so far. http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ZL8x0gp106yRrE9ixqdK77r68EbmEvr7 I'm planning on heading up this weekend and will be trying it out for sure. You can if you wish check back on that link for updates as the where I am in near real time hopefully..

Alain, thank you for the information

AWWW geeeeeeeeeee thanks guys

Listened to it too, just wish I spoke French, didn't understand a word of it. Wonder if there is a translation of the speech to English some where . I would be curious to find out what stance the Government people had to say about the situation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VThQr8fDiLA&feature=player_embedded#!

http://www.sledmagazine.com/actions/page?docId=3673&ctx=snowmobile

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/anderson/story/40476/a-snowy-winter-coming-for-much-of-southern-canada.asp

Same as last year I should have 3-4 extra Quebec trail passes for sale. If anyone from the Danbury Connecticut area needs one before December 9th at the $240.00 price I could meet up with you and sell you one. I make nothing off these passes. Proceeds will go to Club Manawan a small snowmobile club located to the North of St. Michel des Saints.. They are responsible for grooming trail 345 Repo section, parts of TQ33, Casey area, I believe also parts of TQ 83 and most likely other areas as well. Their membership is small as compared to other areas of the province but they are responsible for grooming quite a large area I just had contact with Celine from Kanawata and should be receiving a book of 5 passes. in about a week from today. 1 and possibly 2 are already spoken for If you are interested and are somewhat local to my area PM me here and I will contact you to make arrangements Tom

So far I'm up to 11 names on the petition

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/anderson/story/38813/snow-potential-for-central-ontario-next-week-1.asp

translation of petition text French to English translation WHEREAS a bill to prohibit the movement of snowmobiles and quads on the trails between 22 pm and 6 am would be disastrous for tourism and businesses such as gas stations, restaurants, garages, etc.;. WHEREAS this law would have a negative impact on the sale of access rights for snowmobile and ATV clubs and on the ability of clubs to provide quality trail users through the sale of such rights of access; WHEREAS this law would have a direct impact on traders of the sport; WHEREAS snowmobilers and ATV riders have a loss of enjoyment of their sport; WHEREAS this law, prohibiting night driving, promote the development of parallel trails and off trails; We, the undersigned, demand the abandonment of the National Assembly bill to prohibit the movement of snowmobiles and quads between 22 pm and 6 am as proposed by the Committee on Transportation and the Environment of Quebec.

Found this on HCS you might want to consider adding your name to the list Again more rules and regulations for snowmobilers in Quebec . They want to pass a law that bands snowmobiles from 10pm at night to 6 am in the morning. This could hurt the sport and businesses accross Quebec. Too many laws and fewer rights these days. Please help us fight this by filling out this petition ! The more the better ! Heres the english forum(the text is in french) but where you have to fill out your info its english. https://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/exprimez-votre-...-915/index.html

I just joined .. FYI the Pay Pal option was easy to do even tho it started off in French...lol

Looks like Real Masse in St. Zenon

It's the Nuvi 550 and yes you can load the trail map into it. I also have in addition to the street maps that come with it the Topo map that shows elevation detail and a lot of the forest roads.