From: Claude Roy

Subject: MONTEBELLO 2018 - ICE REPORT

Date sent: Wed, 24 Jan 2018 00:58


Bonsoir/Good evening all:

Richard Gagné and myself went to the Fairmont Le Château Montebello today Tuesday. Here is the ice and conditions report for Montebello 2018...

The ice is at least 12 inches thick. We did three 12-inch deep holes, the first one at the narrowest part of the entrance to the marina, then one each on both sides of the skidoo tracks on the Ottawa River. Never could we break through to the water, our three holes remaining dry as a result.

That's the good part. The more challenging part is what is situated on top of the ice: you have about two inches of slush, itself covered by about half-an-inch of crusty ice. Look at my boots in the first picture.

Then in the second picture look at my knees on the ice, along with the dark foot prints on the ice. You will understand that the conditions are pretty soggy at the moment.



On the bright side, the temperature is going to get cold over the next three days. Also, I fully expect that the skidoos will crunch the trail to a hard surface, so airplanes on skis will be able to land, if not on the skidoo trails themselves, then at least parallel to the skidoo trails and taxi at slow speed on these very firm trails into the marina.

As the proof is always in the pudding, if you ask me, yes, I fully intend to fly to Montebello on Friday morning, arriving at noon time. My airplane may get stuck there a bit longer than Sunday, due to weather, but I am retired and flexible all during next week.

Before closing, I would like to sincerely thank Richard Gagné for coming with me to Montebello today. We cracked the ice and cleared the snow around 100+ cleats, so people can see them and use them for tying up and securing their plane. It was not the best weather out there, but we did get the job done in reasonable time.

Cheers everyone!

Claude 613-836-7243