JUST BACK FROM 5 DAY RIDE TO END THE SEASON

[JimP]

Arrived at my friends house across from Cabanon at 8pm on Sun.Feb28. Went to Cabanon for dinner and drinks and a visit with the lovely barmaid, Nancy! We decided to ride our first day locally before a 4 day saddlebag trip. The trails that were groomed on Sunday night held up very well all day since there was no traffic. We only passed a few sleds all day. It was very warm. We headed over the mountain trail toward St.Zenon which wasn't bad. Once in the village the trail was freshly groomed past the Bistro up the hill to 63 out to the T. We decided to go toward the park ( somewhat a mistake ).The first couple miles weren't bad but the further we went the worse it got. It hadn't been groomed since the weekend traffic and the warm temps weren't helping matters either. The park hadn't been groomed either and was very rough down to Coin Laveine. We could not believe our eyes when we got there. All roads and trails completely bare with 4-6"of water right in front of the place. (Maybe we should have brought the Waverunners). It just shows how bad it can get with very heavy weekend traffic, warm temps, too many Quads running the same trails and roads as snowmobiles, a very wet 2' of snow leads to disaster in some areas. I have been riding in this area for 22 years and have never seen these conditions on March 1st, usually April 15 condition. Anyway had lunch and after riding through the water and bare road for a 100 yds or so took the trail up the hill through the woods to the 63. This trail was excellent 11/10 all the way to Glaciere. ( what a difference a mile makes ). We made a stop at L'Auberge Du Vieux Moulin to check it out and to see the Elk. Looks to be a very nice place to stay with the wives along. Took some pictures of the very nice 6/6 elk and on to Glaciere for a visit and back to Cabanon where we caught the groomer and had perfect trails back on the 345. A very easy relaxing 100 mile day before starting our loop. Day 2 - Left Cabanon on 345 to dam and on to Repo for lunch - trails perfect 10/10 freshly groomed - no sleds, had the trails to ourselves. A couple of tour groups at Repo. Took the 33 past Manawan to the first T when things get really interesting with the changes to the trails this year in that area. The trail was closed to go south toward Beaurgard (which is also closed this winter) so we just continued to see where it was going to take us. After about what seemed to be 35 miles out of the way, we passed within a half mile of Beaurgard and continued on to Meekoos to spend the 1st night. All trails from Cabanon-Meekoos were 10/10 with no traffic ( 300k-180m). Only 9 sleds, we were the only Americans. Day 3 - Some guy came in just as we were leaving with a Bobcat in the back of his truck that he had just killed (maybe trapped). A few pictures then 319 to 13S to Devil's Mtn. for lunch at LaMontagne du Diable. Passed through St.Anne-du-lac with thin conditions - groomer just coming in but just out of town perfect freshly groomed conditions all the way to Devil's Mtn.- trails to ourselves, passed one sled - we were the only ones at the relay for lunch at the overlook. 2 quads came in as we were leaving. Rode down for a few pictures at Windingo Falls - local trail back to 13N St.Anne-du-lac. The thin trails in town had now turned to mud and dirt for a short distance to the lake. We decided to take the long way to Notawissi for a drink. We spent some time with a beautiful barmaid named Annie and then continued to JBScott to spend 2nd night. All trails this day were perfect 10/10 with the exception of st.annedulac. ( 300k-180m ). Only 8 sleds, we were the only Americans. Day 4 - Continued on 13N to 100 Lacs to top off gas, had a soda and some info on a moose hunt, on to Parent for gas and lunch at Hotel Central. Very bad in town - bare road from lake to gas station to hotel to up the hill out of town. Trails were 8/10 from JBScott to 83. This is when the trails go from excellent to Supreme!!! 12/10 all the way to Kanawata. We stopped at the relay in Casey for a beer before going on down to Kanawata. 369 was very very good. It might be one of the best kept secrets in all of Quebec. ( 340k-204m ). Day 5 - Continued on perfectly groomed 369 to relay Chateauvert. Stopped in to see Diane and to retrieve my son's hat that he had left there back in January. It was no doubt in my mind about it being there and sure enough it was. You got to love these people like this. Trail 369 was good all the way to 345. From there to the dam became 8/10. The dam back to Cabanon 6/10 but it was very warm on Friday and much more weekend traffic coming in so they got chewed up pretty quick. We got back in time to have a few drinks with Lynn and Nancy at Cabanon before loading up and pulling out early Sat. morning. ( 210k-125m ). A very nice relaxing short day to end a great week in paradise with a final ride of the season of a little over 1300k-800m in 5 days. Ended up with near 3000K - 1800m in 2 trips this year and feel very fortunate with having to cancel 2 other trips due to bad snow conditions. The 5 day forecast was calling for colder temps (26-28F) for daytime highs and colder nights all week. If the trails can survive the weekend crowd, they will still be good for at least another week or so in the St.Zenon area. I am sure they will keep grooming until the very end. My advice would be check on grooming areas with Dennis, get out as early as possible to ride, go as far north above the dam as possible and there is still alot of riding left out there this season.

[Greasemonkey]

That is a very good report. I always liked the March riding the best. Sounds like with a little savvy planning, you can still get some riding in.

[viper2]

Nice report JimP. It is amazing what they can do with the groomers out of LeCabanon. We came home from there last monday and some of the corners and trails esp. near St. Michel were pretty bad but Denis never gives up. I think he would go out and groom even he knew only one sled was going to ride.

[Kel]

We came down from relay 22 to 369 to La Cabaonon on Sat. the trails were defintly getting more worn down. More bare spots but still able to get around. Not much time left

Kel