viper2 Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Just returned yesterday from a 6 day ride.Left last Sun Feb. 22nd got back to truck Fri. 27th. Day 1 left St. Zenon at 7:30 and went up to St. Michel and across lake Toro.We picked up 33 just past Canadaventure up to Repos.Gassed at Repos then up 369 to Casey where we gassed up and had lunch.From there we continued on to 83 and took it east to Wemotaci where we gassed and went on to Relay 22 miles.It was a total of 245 miles and we got to relay 22 at 4:30.The trails were mostly 9/10 especially 369. Day 2 took 83 east from relay 22 toward Roberval.trail was good for 1st 30 miles or so until we crossed the narrow bridge and got into the trails of the Lake St. Jean club.This trail was bad and just no excuse.This trail has the potential to be excellent but i don't think it had been groomed for over a week.when we got to St. Hedgewich we took the local trail to St. Felician and then the local trail to La Dore where we gassed up. The trail up to the lumber mill (Scicerie 54)could also have used a good grooming but not as bad as 83.From the mill up to Chibougamau was really nice,smooth and mostly flat.Got into chibougamau about 5:30 after 290 miles.There we bumped into Gizz and friends who also had a good ride. Day 3 Cold this morning made for a frigid run down piston alley.Gassed at Miquelon and then topped off at Lebel sur Quevillion before heading up 396 to Matagami.396 was smooth enough but very twisty and narrow.the road was looking very attractive was snow covered and unsanded but we stuck to the trail and hit Matagami around 4:00 p.m. 252 miles for the day. Day 4 planned on staying on 396 all the way toward the western border at Villebois,but our leader missed the trail on the powerline and the second man followed.There were 4 of us and me and the last guy stopped but after 10 minutes we figured they were too far now to turn back and we pressed on.That may have been a stroke of luck because these trails ended up being the best of the week. When we hit the gas station we took another local trail west and south and met the 93 west toward LaSarre.We went all the wat to Lasarre then south to 83 then east to Val'd Or these trails were all excellent,wide smooth,flat and groomed to perfection.The clubs in this area of Quebec can take great pride in what they do and the groomer operators are some of the best.Many of the corners are even intentionally banked and have divided lanes.......Awesome Abitibi!We rolled into the Forestel around 5:30 with 360 miles for the day. Day 5 Took 83 east to Louvicourt then south on the local trail that runs through the indian reservation.This trail was good and actually the part in the reservation was excellent 10/10.When we hit the 63 things took a turn for the worst.This is probably the worst section of national trail in Quebec.As far as i am concerned it is the laughing stock of Canada.this trail has the potential to be a 10 but whoever is responsible for grooming it just doesn't do it.It hadn't been groomed for weeks and i would guess just once this year.This strech of trail has a bad reputation and i have been on it a few times in the last 15 years and i have never seen it good.Personally i think it should be closed and removed from the maps so people don't even plan on using it,it is a disgrace.Once we got to Le Domaine the groomer had been at work from there to Lytton at Le Classic.That part of the trail was really windy but at least it was smooth.We went from the Classic over to Grand Remous and then on to Mont Laurier.275 tough miles not to mention that it got really warm that afternoon.We didn't know it then but we would soon wish we made a run to the truck. Day 6 woke up at 6:30 to RAIN.One thing we try not to do is ride in the rain.We sat in the motel room all morning and into the afternoon.We decided we would wait till about 3 or 4 p.m. and then we would have to go.Luck was on our side as it got very windy and then turned to snow at 2:00 p.m.By 2:30 we were strapping the bags on and leaving for St. Zenon.We took the railbed south and gassed at A'nnunction then took 63 through parc Mont Tremblant toward St. Zenon.Got back to the house about 6:30 after only 150 miles for the day. All in all we had a great trip with about 1570 miles for 5 1/2 days and all 4 Yammies worked flawlessly.Once again the Quebecois were very friendly and we met some great people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizz Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Just returned yesterday from a 6 day ride.Left last Sun Feb. 22nd got back to truck Fri. 27th.Day 1 left St. Zenon at 7:30 and went up to St. Michel and across lake Toro.We picked up 33 just past Canadaventure up to Repos.Gassed at Repos then up 369 to Casey where we gassed up and had lunch.From there we continued on to 83 and took it east to Wemotaci where we gassed and went on to Relay 22 miles.It was a total of 245 miles and we got to relay 22 at 4:30.The trails were mostly 9/10 especially 369. Day 2 took 83 east from relay 22 toward Roberval.trail was good for 1st 30 miles or so until we crossed the narrow bridge and got into the trails of the Lake St. Jean club.This trail was bad and just no excuse.This trail has the potential to be excellent but i don't think it had been groomed for over a week.when we got to St. Hedgewich we took the local trail to St. Felician and then the local trail to La Dore where we gassed up. The trail up to the lumber mill (Scicerie 54)could also have used a good grooming but not as bad as 83.From the mill up to Chibougamau was really nice,smooth and mostly flat.Got into chibougamau about 5:30 after 290 miles.There we bumped into Gizz and friends who also had a good ride. Day 3 Cold this morning made for a frigid run down piston alley.Gassed at Miquelon and then topped off at Lebel sur Quevillion before heading up 396 to Matagami.396 was smooth enough but very twisty and narrow.the road was looking very attractive was snow covered and unsanded but we stuck to the trail and hit Matagami around 4:00 p.m. 252 miles for the day. Day 4 planned on staying on 396 all the way toward the western border at Villebois,but our leader missed the trail on the powerline and the second man followed.There were 4 of us and me and the last guy stopped but after 10 minutes we figured they were too far now to turn back and we pressed on.That may have been a stroke of luck because these trails ended up being the best of the week. When we hit the gas station we took another local trail west and south and met the 93 west toward LaSarre.We went all the wat to Lasarre then south to 83 then east to Val'd Or these trails were all excellent,wide smooth,flat and groomed to perfection.The clubs in this area of Quebec can take great pride in what they do and the groomer operators are some of the best.Many of the corners are even intentionally banked and have divided lanes.......Awesome Abitibi!We rolled into the Forestel around 5:30 with 360 miles for the day. Day 5 Took 83 east to Louvicourt then south on the local trail that runs through the indian reservation.This trail was good and actually the part in the reservation was excellent 10/10.When we hit the 63 things took a turn for the worst.This is probably the worst section of national trail in Quebec.As far as i am concerned it is the laughing stock of Canada.this trail has the potential to be a 10 but whoever is responsible for grooming it just doesn't do it.It hadn't been groomed for weeks and i would guess just once this year.This strech of trail has a bad reputation and i have been on it a few times in the last 15 years and i have never seen it good.Personally i think it should be closed and removed from the maps so people don't even plan on using it,it is a disgrace.Once we got to Le Domaine the groomer had been at work from there to Lytton at Le Classic.That part of the trail was really windy but at least it was smooth.We went from the Classic over to Grand Remous and then on to Mont Laurier.275 tough miles not to mention that it got really warm that afternoon.We didn't know it then but we would soon wish we made a run to the truck. Day 6 woke up at 6:30 to RAIN.One thing we try not to do is ride in the rain.We sat in the motel room all morning and into the afternoon.We decided we would wait till about 3 or 4 p.m. and then we would have to go.Luck was on our side as it got very windy and then turned to snow at 2:00 p.m.By 2:30 we were strapping the bags on and leaving for St. Zenon.We took the railbed south and gassed at A'nnunction then took 63 through parc Mont Tremblant toward St. Zenon.Got back to the house about 6:30 after only 150 miles for the day. All in all we had a great trip with about 1570 miles for 5 1/2 days and all 4 Yammies worked flawlessly.Once again the Quebecois were very friendly and we met some great people. Awesome Rick! Nice to meet your group in chibougamau, kind of strange we all ended up at the gas pump? We ended up Staying at Lac Fallion just beyond Senneterre the next night and then onto to Lac Chateauver for night 4. This place was very rustic but a must experience i think. The people were extremely nice and very accomodating and spoke very good english. After that night we pressed on to Cabanon, getting there early in the day and visiting some friends of the other riders in our group. I had never been in that area before so they took me to some of the places that i've only read about before. This was only my 3rd trip to Quebec so i needed to see some of these places. On friday it was pouring rain so we sucked it up and went back to Shawinigan (Auberge Mekinac). Believe it or not the trails on Friday were PERFECT, even in the rain. We ended up the week at very close to 1300 miles. The last 2 days were very short for us but the warmer temps both days contributed to that. I would call the trails mostly 9/10 except for 355 from Lac Edouard to 83 which was a complete mess. We also found the trails in the Abitibi region very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted March 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Awesome Rick! Nice to meet your group in chibougamau, kind of strange we all ended up at the gas pump?We ended up Staying at Lac Fallion just beyond Senneterre the next night and then onto to Lac Chateauver for night 4. This place was very rustic but a must experience i think. The people were extremely nice and very accomodating and spoke very good english. After that night we pressed on to Cabanon, getting there early in the day and visiting some friends of the other riders in our group. I had never been in that area before so they took me to some of the places that i've only read about before. This was only my 3rd trip to Quebec so i needed to see some of these places. On friday it was pouring rain so we sucked it up and went back to Shawinigan (Auberge Mekinac). Believe it or not the trails on Friday were PERFECT, even in the rain. We ended up the week at very close to 1300 miles. The last 2 days were very short for us but the warmer temps both days contributed to that. I would call the trails mostly 9/10 except for 355 from Lac Edouard to 83 which was a complete mess. We also found the trails in the Abitibi region very nice. Glad to hear you had a great trip!ours was great and as i said the only crappy trail 63 between Jonca and Domaine.Glad to hear you guys stayed at Chateuvert they really cleaned the place up since the new people took over.The woman and her husband used to work at Repos before and i hope they get enough traffic to make it go.The Lanaudiere is a great place to go if you want to ride out of the same motel for the week.There are endless possibilities and alot of groomed trails that are not even on the map.Now with a little luck maybe you will still get a couple weekends in PA. Hey Bill were you lucky to steal a ride on one of those Apex's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizz Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Glad to hear you had a great trip!ours was great and as i said the only crappy trail 63 between Jonca and Domaine.Glad to hear you guys stayed at Chateuvert they really cleaned the place up since the new people took over.The woman and her husband used to work at Repos before and i hope they get enough traffic to make it go.The Lanaudiere is a great place to go if you want to ride out of the same motel for the week.There are endless possibilities and alot of groomed trails that are not even on the map.Now with a little luck maybe you will still get a couple weekends in PA. Hey Bill were you lucky to steal a ride on one of those Apex's? No, i didn't want to push that issue because Polaris only makes the 4 stroke Switchback in red and then i wouldn't be able to tell which one was mine when we left to saddle up in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid Range Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 thanks for sharing.Looks like you had a great trip.Unfortunatly going thru some rough trails is part of the game.Val d'Or snowmobile club is grooming the 63 west of Le Domaine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 thanks for sharing.Looks like you had a great trip.Unfortunatly going thru some rough trails is part of the game.Val d'Or snowmobile club is grooming the 63 west of Le Domaine. I agree you will always hit some rough spots but when it is always the same stretch it gets old.Val dÓr club may say they are grooming it but they are not.I personally think that is too much for them anyway,too far away and they have enough trails to groom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Day 3 Cold this morning made for a frigid run down piston alley.Gassed at Miquelon and then topped off at Lebel sur Quevillion before heading up 396 to Matagami.396 was smooth enough but very twisty and narrow.the road was looking very attractive was snow covered and unsanded but we stuck to the trail and hit Matagami around 4:00 p.m. 252 miles for the day. Nice trip, can you tell me where you stayed in Matagami? What is the place like. Would you recomend staying there or making the Matagami loop a part of a days ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Nice trip, can you tell me where you stayed in Matagami? What is the place like. Would you recomend staying there or making the Matagami loop a part of a days ride. I will have to look for the exact name i think it was just "Hotel Matagami"or something like that,but when you come into town you cross the road into a gas station parking lot.Go past the gas station and the hotel is on the same side the next place up.It is across the street from another gas station an Esso,and that is where you want to fill up because for $10/sled you can keep your snowmobile inside his garage for the night.The guy that owns the gas station is a real nice guy and a snowmobiler himself.As far as the motel it is really nice with a nice restaurant and bar.Acess to the rooms is either from outside or from an inner hallway.Also i didn't pick anything up but they have some neat souveniers at the hotel that are made by the native people from the James Bay region.I think you are only about 150mi. from the James Bay when in Matagami. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 I will have to look for the exact name i think it was just "Hotel Matagami"or something like that,but when you come into town you cross the road into a gas station parking lot.Go past the gas station and the hotel is on the same side the next place up.It is across the street from another gas station an Esso,and that is where you want to fill up because for $10/sled you can keep your snowmobile inside his garage for the night.The guy that owns the gas station is a real nice guy and a snowmobiler himself.As far as the motel it is really nice with a nice restaurant and bar.Acess to the rooms is either from outside or from an inner hallway.Also i didn't pick anything up but they have some neat souveniers at the hotel that are made by the native people from the James Bay region.I think you are only about 150mi. from the James Bay when in Matagami. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S pump Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Great report, what were you guys riding, Model. Yr , Miles if you don't mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Rider Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hotel Matagami http://www.hotelmatagami.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted March 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Great report, what were you guys riding, Model. Yr , Miles if you don't mind. I was riding an '09 Apex GT there was another the same an '09 Apex LTX and an "09 Vector GT. Just really kind of worked out that way this year.This actually is my first truly new sled.My last ride was an '02 Viper and i decided that 14,000 miles on any 2-stroke was enough so it was either take a chance,get a new one or spend more than it's worth to rebuild it.The other guy with the Apex GT traded an 03 RX1, the guy with the LTX had been on a ?97 700 Vmax triple and the guy on the Vector is a dealer and just rides one and sells it every spring.(thats how i got the Viper) As far as mileage i have around 2850 for the year and that trip was like 1570. With the price of these sleds what they are i plan on riding this for awile,maybe when it's time for that first valve job at 25,000mi. I do really like the sled as it rides nicer than the Viper,but it took me a little while to get used to the higher seat position.Also i think power wise it doesn't feel much different than my Viper although that may be because it is alot smoother power and quieter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Day 3 Cold this morning made for a frigid run down piston alley.Gassed at Miquelon and then topped off at Lebel sur Quevillion before heading up 396 to Matagami.396 was smooth enough but very twisty and narrow.the road was looking very attractive was snow covered and unsanded but we stuck to the trail and hit Matagami around 4:00 p.m. 252 miles for the day.Day 4 planned on staying on 396 all the way toward the western border at Villebois,but our leader missed the trail on the powerline and the second man followed.There were 4 of us and me and the last guy stopped but after 10 minutes we figured they were too far now to turn back and we pressed on.That may have been a stroke of luck because these trails ended up being the best of the week. When we hit the gas station we took another local trail west and south and met the 93 west toward LaSarre.We went all the wat to Lasarre then south to 83 then east to Val'd Or these trails were all excellent,wide smooth,flat and groomed to perfection.The clubs in this area of Quebec can take great pride in what they do and the groomer operators are some of the best.Many of the corners are even intentionally banked and have divided lanes.......Awesome Abitibi!We rolled into the Forestel around 5:30 with 360 miles for the day. Viper2, do you know the distances for fuel between Quevillion and Matagami and Matagami to Villeboise. Do you have GPS waypoints? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid Range Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Viper2, do you know the distances for fuel between Quevillion and Matagami and Matagami to Villeboise. Do you have GPS waypoints?Thanks I have some mileage from a few years back Matagami-Quévillon 85 miles Matagami-Lac Wawagosic(Tembec) 85 miles Lac Wawagosic-Villebois 50 miles gas is available at lac wawagosic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 I have some mileage from a few years backMatagami-Quévillon 85 miles Matagami-Lac Wawagosic(Tembec) 85 miles Lac Wawagosic-Villebois 50 miles gas is available at lac wawagosic Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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