 St-Zenon/Mauricie loop via Mastigouche Reserve and Mattawin (#360trail) 23/1/10, photo ride report |
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| St-Zenon/Mauricie loop via Mastigouche Reserve and Mattawin (#360trail) 23/1/10, photo ride report |
  Jan 24 2010, 08:14 PM
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#1
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 Advanced Member  Group: Members Posts: 90 Joined: 29-May 05 Member No.: 19,081 Current Sled(s): RsVenture 2007 Previous or Other Sleds You Own: RsVenture 2005, 39500kms Location: Quebec, Canada Favorite Riding Area: lanaudière 09-10 Mileage: 4000kms 08-09 Mileage: 8000 kms 07-08 Mileage: 11 000km Your Age: 42 Riding Since: 86  |
Knowing the conditions we seen last week-end, we decided to drop directly near Mastigouche reserve to start our ride in top conditions. We were wondering if we had made a good decision because the trails more south we look at from the road during the trip from home had just been grommed and seems pretty good...
With our friend Snowcruiser, we droped down the sleds near Pourvoirie Mastigouche (Koubec) where Benoit, an other friend that rode with us had his chalet. (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07308Large.jpg) Weather conditions this time were top. Last night was freaking cold and -19C at start with sunny blue clear sky. Few miles of twisties and road side and we were at Koubec... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07310Large.jpg) The plan was to go lunching at Riviere Mattawin via #318 trail and#349 on St-Maurice river So we took the #350 trail to reach the #318. The trail was freshly groomed... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07318Large.jpg) We took the #318est in Mastigouche reserve . Trail perfect 10/10... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07320Large.jpg) We realized that we had in the past near always ride those trails in the other direction. So we were really pleased to find a different surroundings in a knew of us place. (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07322Large.jpg) (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07327Large.jpg) Outside of the Mastigouche reserve, the conditions were more lean but still good with just few brown spot in woods twisties sometimes. (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07331Large.jpg) We got on the #347 trail on St-Maurice river. At least, no chance to get sand here !!! As we had heard, the trail was a little ruff but good enought to open the throttle and get pretty fast on some strechs. The scenery is as always very beautiful there... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07338Large.jpg) We had to be really careful because the slush had froze with deep ruts on some spot. But the worst is that there were many spots where the slush was not frozen... a little scary. Crossed those spots at full throttle with water splashing... would not recommend to stopped in the middle... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07346Large.jpg) Farther, the ice cover had frozen really uneven and we had to go slowly (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07349Large.jpg) After the river, the trail was freshly groomed. (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07355Large.jpg) The snow cover was thin but the trails condition were good except for the last miles near Marineau ( Riviere Mattawin) where the ground is really uneven and there are few big pot hole over the trail just had to go carefully and it was fine. And we took a lunch at Marineau... After fuel up, we took the #360 in St-Zenon direction. The first 7 miles in the woods was ok even the cover was thin. We saw here the Mattawin river that flow at huge rate... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07372modLarge.jpg) We next entered in the Chapeau de Paille ZEC. This trail is on the "park" road that follow the river on many places, so we had a superb wide and fast trail (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07378Large.jpg) (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07379Large.jpg) otherwise than the dazzle sun, it was paradise... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07381Large.jpg) Did I told you that this trail is my favorite one... fast, good vision, undulating and a little twisty... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07387Large.jpg) We went to snow to Benoit the scenik view on the river. The trees had grown pretty much and begin to block the view but it was still nice... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07391Large.jpg) And we followed again the Mattawin river (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07397Large.jpg) (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07399Large.jpg) (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07400Large.jpg) to be continued... This post has been edited by towing: Jan 24 2010, 08:46 PM |
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Jan 24 2010, 08:22 PM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 90 Joined: 29-May 05 Member No.: 19,081 Current Sled(s): RsVenture 2007 Previous or Other Sleds You Own: RsVenture 2005, 39500kms Location: Quebec, Canada Favorite Riding Area: lanaudière 09-10 Mileage: 4000kms 08-09 Mileage: 8000 kms 07-08 Mileage: 11 000km Your Age: 42 Riding Since: 86 |
We took the time to stopped at an other scenik view on the river but nearer...
(IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07404yLarge.jpg) (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07406Large.jpg) The river was so calm that we had a mirror effect with the mountains. This pic taken at high speed is not so good but give an idea how it was looking... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07410Large.jpg) We were already at the end of afternoon. Few curves begin to wash out a little but the rest of the trail was so nice... and the scenery was so beautiful.... ok, I admit that i'm sold to this trail !!! (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07413Large.jpg) (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07418Large.jpg) a pic break... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07426Large.jpg) After crossing of the #345 trail to repos/Manawan, the trail became pretty ruff. For sure, alot of traffic passed there to go there plus the mattawin traffic. (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07439Large.jpg) But guess what we found 1 miles farther.... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07440Large.jpg) And back on good trail again... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07441Large.jpg) Pee break at the dam... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07449Large.jpg) We were surprised to see how the reservoir level had lowered from the last time we saw it 2 weeks ago.. (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC07447Large.jpg) It was already too late for more pics. We continued on the #345 trail to Cabanon. The trail was in very good condition, we crossed the groomer and wonder why he was there so good the trail was before. The trail few miles before arriving to the Cabanon that had sand contamination last weekend was near perfect ??? I don't know how they had do that, the groomers here do miracles i think... We stopped at Cabanon to fuel up and also lunch there. For those who wonder, the bar was opened. Back on the trail, we continued on the #345 that was freshly groomed and very very low sand contamination just first miles from the Cabanon. The only thing was that we felt the runners grinding the trail base from times to times. We finished the ride with the #350 trail down Koubec that was not grommed back yet and pretty bumpy. Finished the ride with 202 miles on the dreammeter To conclude, we had choose our route to try to get the best conditions possible but we were nicely surprised how good it was. Mauricie side had pretty similar snow cover as what we see in Lanaudiere, maybe a little less in the part we saw. In St-Zenon, trails were surprisely good, better than what I was expected. We still know that the base is thin because the runners grind the base sometimes but the groomers did a wonderfull job there. Let's hope that weather forecast are wrong and that we will get white stuff in place of liquid stuff.... I keep you inform for the next... Bye Alain |
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Jan 24 2010, 08:37 PM
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#3
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 You're a mean one Mr Grinch Group: Members Posts: 626 Joined: 17-November 03 From: Orange County, NY Member No.: 6,581 Current Sled(s): 03 ZR900 Late Release Previous or Other Sleds You Own: '06 570 Z ESR Location: Orange County, NY Favorite Riding Area: St. Donat, Quebec, Canada 09-10 Mileage: none yet 08-09 Mileage: 1200 07-08 Mileage: 1700+ Your Age: 47 Riding Since: 1975 |
Alain, That was one of the best trail reports that I have ever seen! Much of the scenery that your pictures depict I am familiar with but not seen in recent years due to economic reasons. I have pictures of myself and friends at the foot of the damn where you took your pee break! Thanl you for the reminder of how beautiful it is up there. I hope that I may ride there again in the near future!
-------------------- [size="7"][/size]THINK SNOW!
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Jan 25 2010, 08:37 AM
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#4
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 48 Joined: 7-February 07 From: PA Member No.: 41,152 Current Sled(s): polaris 600ho cfi lx Previous or Other Sleds You Own: lots, 95% polaris Location: Pa Favorite Riding Area: Quebec/Gaspe 08-09 Mileage: -0 07-08 Mileage: -0 Your Age: 57 Riding Since: 1973 |
You give "Top shelf" reports Alain,,,
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Jan 25 2010, 09:24 AM
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#5
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 Super Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 329 Joined: 11-January 03 Member No.: 2,286 Current Sled(s): 2005 Yamaha Vector Previous or Other Sleds You Own: 2002 Ski-doo Legend 600 Location: Vermont Favorite Riding Area: Quebec 09-10 Mileage: 125 08-09 Mileage: 358 07-08 Mileage: 1231 Your Age: 40 Riding Since: 1975 |
Excellent photos and report. Thank you for your posts.
So no police on Maurice River that day, have seen them handing out many a ticket in past years. This post has been edited by Xeena: Jan 25 2010, 09:24 AM |
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Jan 25 2010, 07:37 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 90 Joined: 29-May 05 Member No.: 19,081 Current Sled(s): RsVenture 2007 Previous or Other Sleds You Own: RsVenture 2005, 39500kms Location: Quebec, Canada Favorite Riding Area: lanaudière 09-10 Mileage: 4000kms 08-09 Mileage: 8000 kms 07-08 Mileage: 11 000km Your Age: 42 Riding Since: 86 |
Thank you very much guys (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ylsuper.gif)
NythornZR, if you liked this report, you can scrolldown a little bit over the last weeks post and you will find other photo- reports I made since the beginning of the season. You will for sure find other pics familiar to you... enjoy !! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popc1.gif) QUOTE(Xeena @ Jan 25 2010, 10:24 AM)  So no police on Maurice River that day, have seen them handing out many a ticket in past years. No Xeena, don't saw them this time and from what I read on french forum they don't seems to be as presents as they were in the last two years.... (IMG:http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac225/38953/DSC02908Medium.jpg) 2 years ago on the river, no ticket just a paper check... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sweat.gif) Alain |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 29th July 2010 - 10:12 AM |
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