Spring riding with the Dubreuilville ATV Club

by Karina Hunter

Luc Levesque is all smiles as we head out down the trail.

Driving Northwestern Ontario’s Hwy 17 I have often wished for extra time to follow the billboards promoting Dubreuilville’s ATV Club into the French-Canadian community best known for its success with snowmobile tourism and see what all the ATV hype was about. When
club member Luc Levesque called me in February 2010 to participate in their first ride of the season I couldn’t have been more excited!

As I arrived March 11^th in Dubreuilville at 10am, I went straight to the Quickee Mart where the club was preparing to leave; local shop Mon Oncle Do’s had a quad waiting for me which I loaded my camera and rain gear onto and we were off.  Early morning rain had scared off nearly half of the expected riders leaving us with a convoy of 10 ATVs and 12 riders.

Temperatures were incredibly mild, a balmy -15^oC, unheard of during February in Northern Ontario making for plenty of challenges along the way.  We traveled the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club’s ‘D’ Trail, with permission from the Dubreuilville Alouettes Snowmobile Club, East to the Magpie Reservoir. 

 Valliere’s ice fishing hut.  

Sylvia Valleries (wife of club President Danny Vallieres) started serving up her steami ng hot soup the minute we arrived.

Taking a break on the side of the trail I was told of how the community of Dubreuilville had once been located here under the name of Magpie.  Where a hydroelectric dam and reservoir now stand, 49 years prior, entire houses had been uprooted to re-locate the town nearer the Trans Canada highway, making room for construction of the dam.  Back on the bikes we continued to ride, in single file, up the snow and slush covered trail to Club President, Danny

Valliere’s wife had been preparing for our arrival and offered steaming hot, homemade soup which disappeared almost as fast as she served it up!  After soup, hot chocolate and plans regarding how we would better maneuver the challenging slippery trails on our return trip, we were once again loading up. 

In spite of our well laid plans regarding how to best face the steep slippery hills, the ride back was just as entertaining as had been the original entry.  One hill in particular became the great equalizer, regardless of make, model or manpower one after the next each quad tried weaving it’s way up the trail, just end up sliding backwards, tires spinning of course some spent more time than others unwillingly traveling in reverse on the slushy incline.     

After 3 hrs and 50kms of trail we were back at the Quickee Mart  a little soggy but no worse for wear overall after an exhilarating and fun day with new friends and plenty of stories to bring home.

What’s next for the Dubreuilville ATV Club? Their first ever Geocashing
event is scheduled for April 25^th and, like with all their events, there are some great prizes up for grabs.  The Dubreuilville ATV Club Annual
Father’s Day Fish Derby is also just around the corner;  anglers from all over North America come to cast their lines in this catch and release derby offering more than $12, 000 in cash and prizes!  Participants registering prior to the May 1^st Early Bird Deadline are entered into a draw for a 4 night Accommodation Package for two at Loch Island Lodge, the incredible package is valued at $1,335 and includes a boat, motor and unlimited gas! For details on these and other events visit www.DubreuilvilleAtvClub.com, the Dubreuilville ATV Club welcomes new and long-distance members to their club and invite you to come tear it up on their Northern Ontario trails. 

Submitted to the Outdoor’s Guide, 04.11.10