Finding Adventure in the Upper Laurentians

Running a 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor through rugged wilderness made for a hardcore solo trip in Quebec’s Notre-Dame-de-Pontmain region.

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Words and photos by Mathieu Godin @math_godin

A common question among new 4x4 enthusiasts is ‘where can I go off-roading to try out my new rig?’ More often than not, they are advised to join a local off-road club as going out with experienced wheelers is a great way to learn about trail running without damaging the vehicle or the environment. After gaining some experience and confidence, it’s only natural to branch out for new experiences. 

Even though I have been overlanding for quite some time, I joined the Quebec Federation of 4x4 Clubs this year through Jeep Trailhawk Quebec as I currently own a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk (although all 4WD models are accepted). The Federation can only be joined through an affiliated club and once a member, there’s access to its vast trail network with any 4WD vehicle. Residents and non-residents of Quebec are also permitted to join the club.

Exploring Crown land and finding trails is all part of off-roading, but it is time-consuming. I can pick a region of Quebec, look up its trail network, download the trail maps on my Gaia GPS, and off I go. The trails are rated by level of difficulty, so they can be chosen based on skillset and the capability of the rig. The Federation’s trail network is always expanding and since I’m located in the western region of the province, I was happy to learn it had a few new trails just an hour and a half from my home. 

After scouting one of the sectors last May, I decided to return in early July. This time, I’d be at the wheel of a 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat with the Tremor package, and I’d be travelling solo. I first tested a 2020 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 last fall when exploring the Gaspé Peninsula and it was a great mid-size pickup for overlanding. Since the Tremor edition is even more off-road ready, I was looking forward to seeing how much of an improvement it was over the FX4. 

I don’t commonly go on trips solo (or recommend inexperienced wheelers to go out on their own), but after a lot of experience, realizing the importance of preparation, and understanding how to assess risks, why not go for it? Having self-recovery equipment and a reliable way of communicating is just as critical should things go sideways. Plus, for those times when I have gone solo, I never hesitated to turn around when the terrain became a little too technical or muddy. I always ask myself ‘what if’ when I see potential hazards. 

The plan was to explore the Babiche sector near the rural municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Pontmain and find an off-grid camping spot for the night. However, the Upper Laurentians region was hit by significant rainfall the previous day. So, before leaving, I did some quick research online for any road closures or damage in the area. Fortunately, there weren’t any in the area where I was going. But one thing was for sure, the trails were going to be a little wet and muddy.

I made a first attempt in this area in the spring with a friend, but the conditions were just too soft so we turned around. It’s not a particularly difficult trail, but a high clearance vehicle is required since the first part is rocky and there’s a challenging hill at the end. So, my goal was to get back within the sector to see if I could make it to the end. 

Since I scouted out the area before, I was familiar with the muddy areas and I could quickly assess the conditions to see if it was safe to proceed. it turned out that conditions were not so bad after all. I expected the Tremor package to be a step above the FX4 package, and it is, but it comes with hoop steps that were getting caught on the rocky parts of the trail. That was frustrating as the Tremor package would be so much more of an improvement off-road without these. Some optional rock sliders would be the way to go.

When I reached the bottom of the aforementioned hill near the end of the trail, I realized that I wouldn’t achieve my goal that day. The washout from the rainfall had made ascending the hill too hazardous. Just two months ago, my friend’s rig almost slid into a ditch at the top as the ground was just too soft, and he couldn’t gain any more traction to proceed forward. He also got stuck reversing into the mud pit as there’s no room to turn around when committing to reach the top. 

In my predicament, however, I needed to reverse in my tracks. Keeping my fingers crossed, I used a little momentum with the rear locker engaged. As there was tall grass all around, it was impossible to access the harder ground as I reversed. I carried a set of recovery ramps, but doing a self-recovery in the mud wasn’t part of my afternoon plan. Luckily, I made it out on my first attempt without getting stuck.

After this excitement, I was expecting some difficulty finding an off-grid campsite by the lake being a Friday afternoon  – especially the spot I had in mind. As most of the local campgrounds were fully booked, I was hoping not too many people would pick the same area I did. I arrived at approximately 5 pm and to my surprise, my chosen spot was empty. There was a fire pit on top of a cliff by the lake, a flat spot to put up my two-person ground tent and most importantly, solitude. 

I wasn’t surprised, however, that a couple arrived about an hour later in a Toyota Tacoma equipped with an RTT. Since my ground tent wasn’t set up at the time, they asked if I was planning to stay. I told them I was and since the site had technically enough room for two trucks, I offered to share the site. However, they decided to look for another location. While it was one of the rare occasions when I decided to go wheeling alone, I can’t say I was disappointed to have the whole site to myself. 

It’s unusual for me to go on a solo trip so close to home as I usually try to coordinate trips with friends, or I just don’t go. But I don’t get out to this location as much as I would like, so perhaps I will take on some of these quick solo wheeling trips more frequently. 

For the complete review of the Ford Ranger Tremor edition refer to 4WD volume 22 Number 8 https://suncruisermedia.com/4WDrive/trucks/ford-rangers-toughest-off-road-truck/

Quebec Federation of 4x4 Clubs

https://fc4x4q.com

Jeep Trailhawk Quebec

https://jeeptrailhawkquebec.ca