markusvt Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) February 7-8-9 La-Tuque-Clova-Chibougamau. Day 1, February 7, 301 miles. We left La-Tuque by 8:15am, (this is a good start for us). The plan was to go up the 73 to the Windigo shortcut and across the reservoir. The trails were awesome to the cutoff. We got to the access at Duplessis and the gate was closed! Yikes, never really saw the gate before as it was open and buried in snow. We tried a few side trails to bypass and no luck. We asked at the cabin and the owner said open it, it's not locked, (please close it when you are done). Funny. We let ourselves in and closed it behind us and went on our way. The ice was snow covered and really smooth. None of this is marked, you need it on your GPS for sure. We stopped and visited our friends Martine, Stephenie and Danielle at Windigo, and then we headed off to Wemotaci. We like this trail as it bypasses Relay 22. The trails were very nice, lots of snow and smooth as heck. We arrived at Wemotaci with 131 miles on the tank, (no gas or food at Vermillion, it is for sale for $200K). We got gas out of the tanks at the restaurant. We arrived in Parent with 204 miles on and 1:30PM. We ate at Hotel Central. Food was nice but that town has some really odd characters floating in and out! When we got gas there were 2 guys from PA wanting to get to La-Tuque for the night via Relay 22! Say what? You dudes got 250 miles to go at 2:30PM, doable yeah, but why? We gave them a few options. We gassed up and headed for Clova. The trail was screaming fast and so nice..... We gassed up and headed out towards http://www.pourvoirie-martin.ca/ on the edge of the Gouin. The side trail is only 30 miles, but nicely maintain by them with their JD and 5 foot drag. About 5 miles in we came on a really stuck utility sled and their tow sled full of supplies. The snow here is deep, like 3-4+feet deep. We dug, pulled and worked for 1/2 hour to get him on his way. We arrived at 5:15PM, ready for showers and food. Line , (Lynn) does a really nice job here. The cabins are excellent, and the food awesome. She works really hard to make sure you have a great experience. Nice day, very little traffic and mighty fine conditions. Off to bed after dinner, no lullaby needed. Edited December 6, 2015 by markusvt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) February 7-8-9 La-Tuque-Clova-Chibougamau. Day 2, February 8, 215 miles. Ok. Today's plan was all day with no miles on any federation trails. We headed off on the Gouin towards Obedjiwan. This is clearly marked with red stakes all the way, 30 miles on the ice with some land crossings. This is a bit adventurous as there are some drifts and such here and there, but clearly marked. We got gas and headed for the second part of the adventure. This was ambitious from the start. We planned to got to Chibougamau for lunch, and back to Obedjiwan. This would have been 240 miles round trip. We had a few GPS tracks to work with, and chose the eastern route. It starts with 20 miles across the Gouin, nothing marked at all. Midway we had to navigate a monstrous drift, pressure ridge deal that had us stumped for a bit but we got by. Next was taking summer logging roads in the bush straight up. We followed the GPS but were shocked by the snow. Like un-tracked snow up to your armpits! We decided to go 50 miles up into the bush and make a call. At 50 miles we were working way harder than planned due to the large amount of snow we were breaking. We decided to go more and see if we could do it. the next 10 miles were great as sleds had been on it and the going got really good. Then the next 5 miles the snow was deep and un-tracked again, and the drifts were massive! At 65 miles up, we still had 55 to go. We did some calculations and the data said not enough gas, and not enough daylight to go up and back in the same day for these conditions. Bummer, but this was still quite an adventure for us. Lots of folks play 10 miles off the power lines, but we had gone 65 miles 1 way so far. We spun it around, (better to live to try another day) and headed back. The wind had kicked up making the 20 miles back across the ice a tad scary. In the last 5 miles we saw a few folks riding sleds, walking and ice fishing on the ice. We got back to the gas station with all of our spare gas gone, and the sleds bone dry. We filled them up again and headed off to http://www.barragegouin.com/ via the ice. It is staked, but not very well, and I would say without a GPS and good tracks, you won't make it. It used to be close to 70 miles, going on and off land when it could. Now the trail is 55 miles and 99% on the ice. There is a 2-3+ mile section where the stakes were missing, this could be life threatening for some. We pulled in just before dark, 215 miles and not a stitch of it on official trails. Pretty cool, very fun. We gassed them up, and when in for awesome beer, wings and a supper meal! After dinner we chatted with the owner. As it turns out they did make it to Chibougamau a few days earlier, all in the bush like us. But the difference is they made it. They used the western trail. He shared their GPS tracks, (I had 90% of it already), they did 5 hours of run time and 5 hours of stopped time for 10 hours total. 1 creek crossing cost them 2 hours due to the steepness of the banks. A few differences for them. They allowed 1 full day for just getting there. There were 5 of them, all sleds were Summits or 24 in track utility sleds. They had rope, saws, shovels, bungees, SPOT, satellite phone, and GPS's of course and 5 extra gallons of gas each. Nice chatting so we can be better equipped next time. Fun day, we saw areas most sledders will never ever see, and we lived to tell about it. Edited February 9, 2015 by markusvt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) February 7-8-9 La-Tuque-Clova-Chibougamau. Day 3, February 9, 200 miles. Woke up to -25F! Are you kidding me, we can't catch a break with riding in the cold! Only a few folks at Barrage Gouin for the night. We headed out at 8:45am. It did warm up a bit for us. Into Wemotaci in record time. The guy in the restaurant called the gas guy, we hung out 20 minutes or so waiting for him but it beats walking. We filled them and headed back the 83. The trails on either side of Windigo were crazy nice! So smooth and fast. We took the shortcut across the ice again. We stopped at http://www.clubodanak.com/ to have lunch, but after a quick look around we did a mission abort and headed back to the truck. Back by 2:30pm, plenty of time to eat at http://www.chezmarineau.com/en/establishment/motel_des_9/ where you have lots of choices and the food is awesome. Another great ride in the books for us. Those waiting get going, the conditions are really, really nice! Edited February 9, 2015 by markusvt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyman Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Great report Mark I was very curious how things went. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
im4snow Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Awesome trip and report. Thx for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazer Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Very couragous of you Mark to head north of Obedjiwan and to navigate the Gouin, glad to hear you made the right decision to live and try another day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceman Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 All in All sounds like quite a Run with added adventure, nice one. I would still be in the deep snow awaiting spring to be free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccaffrey Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Mark, you said you going to do that run, cool! One more Gouin run. My season is done this year, hand problem, cast and splint for 3 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Pat, sorry to hear about your hand!. Hope you got a few trips in this year with the GPS. I for sure have sat out with injuries of my own in the past, luckily most of them in the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipeman Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Nice report Mark thanks for sharing,I always wanted to try that but have not yet had the chance to do so. Dominic runs the roads and power lines off trail up to Chib from Clova but like you I have a Gade with a standard 1.25 track that would never make it in the deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Guys have been riding the power-lines this season from Clova to Chapais. You are talking 140 miles 1 way from Martins to gas in Chapais. They say 5-20 hours 1 way to do it. They are hopeful it will become a federation trail at some point. Our inside guy says the federation is hard set on no new trails, unless you give up an old trail. They have no interest in adding miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikerider Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Great report and pics! I just love those far remote places, more so if I was 40 years younger. But your report was just like being there. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revct1 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Thanks for sharing. Great pics. Wise choice to turn around. Maybe next time will be the charm. Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipemaster Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Thanks,nice report. We were out on Gouin with Jean and his son back and forth to Martin last month.That was a wild ride !!We had a bunch of 137"s a Grand Touring and a shorty, it made for an interesting trip.Jean and his son had their work cut out for them but they were on the BALL getting us out of the slush and all the snow !!We had a GREAT time at Barage Gouin for 2 nights. Great food and good people ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooright Posted February 14, 2014 Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 Few more pics from the trip Security team at Pourvoirie Martin Nice gas station in obedjiwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooright Posted February 14, 2014 Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 Security team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 What a great pics report Mark and what an adventure!!! I'm glad it went right for you guys even you had to go back on your off trail north from Obedjiwan. Imagine how just a minor injury or a dead sled would have complicated the ride... just changing plans is part of the adventure! Your trip report make me remember the Gouin dam -Obedjiwan-Pourvoirie Martin ride we did over the Gouin reservoir 2 years ago without gps track... a real chance we had not got into wind blizzard...but I am glad we did it and have just good memories from this area and Pourvoirie Martin and Barrage Guoin peoples Tanks again for sharing Alain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted March 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 We will try again, but for sure more towards the spring when the snow is settled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODog Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Mark, what hotel did you start from in La Tuque? We're starting from there next week and looking for a safe place to leave the truck for a week. Great pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcstar Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Mark, what hotel did you start from in La Tuque? We're starting from there next week and looking for a safe place to leave the truck for a week. Great pics! It says on post # 3.....Motel des 9...http://www.chezmarineau.com/en/establishment/motel_des_9/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooright Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Yup , that's where we start from in La Tuque . Never a problem yet . Randy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODog Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 It says on post # 3.....Motel des 9...http://www.chezmarineau.com/en/establishment/motel_des_9/ TY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowfarmer Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Great trip! Balls of a Steel lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
600IQHO Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Nice report and pics Mark! Was the gas station at Wemotaci not open when you went through? 2 week ago we pulled up to the pumps and gassed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcstar Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Nice report and pics Mark! Was the gas station at Wemotaci not open when you went through? 2 week ago we pulled up to the pumps and gassed up. OK everyone, let's not get excited.............this report is a year old. 600 IQ the pumps are open this year, remember there was a problem last year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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