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ATV, Dual Sport riding in the MooseBack (D-Ville/Wawa area)


RMRDubreuilville

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Just wanted to let everyone know about the trail network we are building.  The general area is being re-branded as the MooseBack where you will find ATV, Snowmobile and Dual Sport Motorcycle trails.  The area spans over the Magpie Forest management area, other areas surrounding the communities of Wawa, Hawk Junction, Hornepayne, Hearst and White River. We are basically attempting to create a destination area for Power Sports Enthusiasts such as yourselves. We plan on developing a web site that will enable you to visualize the trails, download the GPS coordinates and also post different images of your rides etc... The identified map system will also advertise the HWY519 access road into Dubreuilville as one of the MooseBack roads since it can be riden by touring motorcyclists and other enthusiasts.  The idea is for the power sport people to think MooseBack when they want to go play with their toys.  let me know what you think?

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I think it is a good idea. I think it will even create demand for rental Atv's too. Hopefully someone will fill that void, since lots of people don't own them.

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Good idea !  Can't say for the rental ATV aspect, but the rest works for me !  If you market the area properly you could conceivably create a new niche for the North for summer off-road riding.  There's potential for success there.  Lots of work to be done, trails to map out and ride, get GPS tracks plotted, etc.  

 

I'll be watching !!! 

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You know Pat, the wife and I were talking tonight, how Hearst area is dismal for ATV trails, mostly swamp, so swampy trails.  Unless you're on a gravel road it's basically mud.

 

 

But ..... 

 

1/2 hour South of Hearst on Hwy 583 at Mead, the asphalt ends, and becomes a privately owned piece of land, with limited access and locked gates.  It's mostly used by local loggers to haul wood out, but there is access for hunting moose, bears & grouse.  From the North gate you could ride to the rail town of Oba to the South, and to Hornepayne to the South-then-West.  You could ride on gravel roads right to the Esso in Hornepayne (except maybe the last 1/2 mile in).  If you take a look on Google Earth you can clearly see the roads down past the highway, and they're in pretty decent shape too.  We've driven my 2wd Ford down a lot of side roads while hunting the area.  That was a few years ago, but since the roads have little traffic they don't wear down.

 

I know the custodian of the property (we bought our quad from him), and I will find time to approach him with the idea of allowing recreational ATV, UTV and dual sport bikes access to the property.  I believe this might be within the scope of what you're trying to develop for the North, and if so I'd be game to look into it.

 

I do know of some other beautiful bush roads where we hunt moose and birds, just North of Nagagamisis Prov. Park, really nice roads and clear spring-fed stocked lakes.  Reminds me of riding around the Nursery Loop in Moonbeam, replanted jackpine forest.  There are several crown land camping areas commonly used by locals to hunt and fish from, nice area with mostly sand base.  RavineRat would set up a 2nd home in there I think !!!

 

 

Let me know ! 

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This would be awesome. I have been talking with Ghislain Jacques of the Hearst Villa, he is a forester and he knows all the roads. He is also an ADV rider like me. We want to build the links between the towns and establish corridors first then we can branch out a little. There is a problem with the MNRF as they are putting up signs on the old logging roads banning all motorized vehicles. They already started and we are trying to fight them. We lost the first round with the district manager in Wawa and last Monday we met with the Regional Manager Corinne Nelson. It would appear that their mind is already made up will not consider anything outside of what the remote tourist outfitters will accept. It is a losing battle. We will have to appeal even higher than her. I have been trying to make this a priority with the MPPs but it is low priority because the general public is not aware of what is going on and are not complaining yet. By the time the signs will be up we will have lost. We are already losing since 2 or 4 signs are up and they plan on putting 36 for now. It will only get worse and then they will roll out CLUAH on the Magpie Forest and then do the same to other Forest management units. That's when the public will wake up. Right now they are implementing in a low demographic area, people don't know what's going on. The Magpie Forest is the only management unit that has these rules.  

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Stupid government.  Totally useless to do what they're doing, it solves nothing and serves only the interests of outfitters while excluding Joe Public access to crown land.  I hope it gets settled.

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I applaud your efforts, gentlemen. Let me throw my two cents worth at ya...

 

As we are in the north claybelt (read: swamp) here around Kapuskasing, an organized ATV trail system has yet to materialize. That doesn't stop people from riding when and where they like. Including private property (and/or snowmobile trails that many hard-working volunteers have built and signed Land Use Permission agreements for).  It's always easy to see the evidence of ATV traffic because of the damage they can do to some areas. Hence, some of the difficulties ATV riders have in getting private landowner permission.

 

Let's not also forget the issue of liability, for all concerned: clubs or organizations, riders and landowners. The OFSC has 40+ years of combined efforts and millions of dollars spent to develop the Liability Avoidance Action Plan that we have in place now. And every year some poor club and/or volunteer finds themselves facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit because a snowmobile rider makes a poor decision and gets themselves hurt, finds themselves off work and claiming short-term (or even long-term) disability. Now the insurance companies are involved.......remember, after 9/11 it's a whole new litigious world. Yes, even almost 15 years later. The MNR is not immune to these challenges, I'm sure. It's not just all about saving the caribou.

 

But.....having said that, when Mr. Eiffel decided to build his tower he was met with nothing but scorn and ridicule, but he persevered. So good luck and remember: fail to plan, plan to fail.

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I'd sure like to see something other than hunting, camping and sledding available for the North.  I had an old XL185 Honda, my first wheels at 16.  Humping down gravel roads and snowmobile trails in summer (crown land ones) were my favorite fun.  I wish I still had one, will pick something up someday.  It'd be fun to ride some of the same trails we sled on (just not around Hearst, you'd need an Argo or a float plane ...)  

 

I think it's feasible to have some crown land trails basically just laid out on a map for folks to use as reference, then they could go riding where they please, set up a tent or whatever, just ride and enjoy the North.  Not every project involving motorized vehicles needs to be as complicated as the OFSC to set up, certainly not way up here.  There's enough bush for folks to share without piling up on top of each other.  I believe we just need to have something where people can set up near a town and kind of build their own plan of attack, ride areas they want with their own destinations in mind.  If we knew what roads / trails are rideable in summer, draw them out on a map and just have that available, along with some places to set up camp on crown land near a lake or whatever, it would make a starting point for someone to ride from.  I know people who have done it, slept in their enclosed trailer on a blow up mattress with sleeping bags and brought a coleman stove to cook on.   Real basic camping and riding, totally unorganized, but would still draw people in to buy our gas & groceries, maybe use our motels or campgrounds.

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I'd sure like to see something other than hunting, camping and sledding available for the North.  I had an old XL185 Honda, my first wheels at 16.  Humping down gravel roads and snowmobile trails in summer (crown land ones) were my favorite fun.  I wish I still had one, will pick something up someday.  It'd be fun to ride some of the same trails we sled on (just not around Hearst, you'd need an Argo or a float plane ...)  

 

I think it's feasible to have some crown land trails basically just laid out on a map for folks to use as reference, then they could go riding where they please, set up a tent or whatever, just ride and enjoy the North.  Not every project involving motorized vehicles needs to be as complicated as the OFSC to set up, certainly not way up here.  There's enough bush for folks to share without piling up on top of each other.  I believe we just need to have something where people can set up near a town and kind of build their own plan of attack, ride areas they want with their own destinations in mind.  If we knew what roads / trails are rideable in summer, draw them out on a map and just have that available, along with some places to set up camp on crown land near a lake or whatever, it would make a starting point for someone to ride from.  I know people who have done it, slept in their enclosed trailer on a blow up mattress with sleeping bags and brought a coleman stove to cook on.   Real basic camping and riding, totally unorganized, but would still draw people in to buy our gas & groceries, maybe use our motels or campgrounds.

As a kid, I would often camp /fish / hunt with my parents.  We would either tent, or later, haul a small camper into the woods, park beside a lake and stay there for a few days.  Never experienced a 'serviced' campsite until I was an adult and moved south.  Usually fished back of Ranger Lake and hunted south of Montreal River around MIle 67.

Good memories.

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I agree with Denis007.....would be nice if we could just uncomplicated things and go exploring.

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Blame the lawyers 

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