The snowmobile season is slowly taking off in Abitibi-Témiscamingue

The snow and cold weather of the last few days have allowed snowmobile clubs in Abitibi-Témiscamingue to begin opening certain trails whose conditions vary from fair to good. Snowmobilers are, however, invited to adapt their driving for their safety.

According to the interactive map of the Fédération des clubs motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ), early season trails are already open in Témiscamingue and in the Amos region. Some trails are even posted in good condition in Abitibi-Ouest.

The opening is also imminent for the Club Motoneigiste MRC Rouyn-Noranda, which checked the trails on Saturday and worked on surfacing the city tour and the trails towards Évain, Duparquet and Mont-Brun.

With the snow, there isn’t enough yet to say that we have quality trails, but it will be passable after the groomers come through.

The club’s team of operators is particularly benefiting from the effects of the work carried out on the trails before last week’s mild spell and rain.

It’s not lost because the bottom remains hard in all the places where there was no water, which is great. The places where the water has cut the path, you have to put snow back on them. But these places still remain precarious, because there is not enough snow to cover them properly. But by paying attention to these waterways, we are still able to snowmobile to a large extent almost everywhere on our circuit.explains president Daniel Audy.

Sections around Amos

The trails that make the Amos – La Motte – La Corne – Amos loop are open, but they are in fair condition according to the interactive map of the FCMQ. Surfacers were busy on Sunday on the trail which connects the Amos sector to that of Taschereau, in Abitibi-Ouest.

The big problem we had was that we weren’t able to surface because the trails weren’t frozen. Now that it’s settled, it feels good. The base is hard. There’s a little lack of snow, but the conditions on some trails are acceptable, that’s why we opened a few sectionsexplains Aubert Guillemette, safety director at the Amos Snowmobile Club

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The latter also invites snowmobilers to exercise caution, especially in areas where there are waterways. He reminds that the crossing of the Harricana River in Amos is closed as a safety measure.

What I recommend to snowmobilers if they are about to cross a watercourse, we have put up signage that says whether the crossing is open or not. You must refer to it before making the crossing. This is the second year we have used signs, which are more visible than ribbonsspecifies Mr. Guillemette.

Finally, he insists on the importance of adapting your driving to the conditions of the trails.

There are many parts that are still beautiful, but it is certain that there is still a little snow missing. These are early season conditions. You must pay attention, remain vigilant and respect the speed limit. You should slow down if you see obstacles. If there are ribbons hung in the trees on either side of the trail, it is to indicate dangers. Slow down, pay attention and enjoy the start of the season as carefully as possiblesays Aubert Guillemette.

Things are progressing in Val-d’Or

On the Val-d’Or side, surfacing in the western sector towards Rapide-7, Lake Mourier and Pourvoirie du Nord is well advanced. With the cold of the last few days, the Club Motoneige Val-d’Or is preparing to tackle the eastern sector as well as the city tour this week.

In the eastern sector, we have a lot of “swamps” and wetlands. Both around town and towards Louvicourt, we went to see by snowmobile and we gave ourselves the weekend to let it freeze. Monday, we’re going to try to take a city tourexplains Claude Arsenault, president of the Club Motoneige Val-d’Or.

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The latter is hopeful of being able to complete several trails in the next week.

We still have to go to Louvicourt, where we couldn’t go because it’s too soft. Then, from Louvicourt we go towards Lake Tiblemont which leads towards Senneterre, then the Chimo mine which leads towards the 83 which goes towards Clova. We have this section left, then Kitcisakik and La Vérendrye Park to Joncas Lake. We have quite a few kilometers left to openrecognizes Mr. Arsenault.

He estimates it took about seven days total last year to break and scrape all the trails.