Each year in January, the International Snowmobiling Council (ISC) encourages the different snowmobile federations to hold a safety week. During that week which was held from January 21st to January 29th 2017, the Federation des Clubs de Motoneigistes du Quebec (FCMQ) organized a 3-day safety ride to meet snowmobilers on the trails, in snowmobile relays, in restaurants with the goal to promote safety. This year, the region of the Upper Laurentians was selected for the ride and I had the opportunity to join the FCMQ administrators and some permanents managers from the head office during those three days.
Following a press conference held on Friday afternoon and a one day ride in the region with local members of Parliament on Saturday, the safety ride got under way on Sunday morning, January 22nd, from the hotel Comfort Inn & Suites Mont-Tremblant. We had lunch at the restaurant Pub Resto Bar Motel in Rivière-Rouge. Then, we headed for the Mekoos Outfitters located east of Sainte-Anne-du-Lac. About half of the group elected to make a small detour in order to see the beautiful falls of lake Curières located near L’Ascension, while the other half preferred to arrive sooner at destination.
The second day started on freshly groomed trails maintained by the snowmobile club l’Aiglon. The first stop was planned at the Resto-Bar Relais du Touriste in Sainte-Anne-du-Lac. The trails heading for the Rabaska Lodge in Ferme-Neuve, still showed signs of the very successful Open doors on snowmobile trails from the previous weekend. After a delicious lunch served by this outfitter’s located on the shores of the Baskatong reservoir, part of our group went directly to the Windigo Village resort while the other part decided to explore the famous Montagne du Diable.
For the third and last day of this ride in the Upper Laurentians region, our group headed for Ferme-Neuve. After a short detour to see the famous Windigo falls, a nicely groomed and scenic trail towards Val-Viger, there we were, seated for lunch at the Restaurant des Lacs. A small detour again on the dam of the Kiamika reservoir and we’re heading for the Club et Hôtel du Golf Nominingue where a press conference is planned in the evening with representatives of regional clubs, municipal councillors and some owners of inns and businesses in the region.
After welcoming all of us at the press conference, Mrs Denise Grenier, president of the FCMQ board of administrators, thanked all the volunteers who make snowmobiling possible in the Province of Quebec. Then, Mr Mario Gagnon, 1st vice-president, presented a detailed document describing the financial impacts of the snowmobiling industry in Quebec. Finally, Mr Gaston Fortin, administrator in charge of safety, told us about all the efforts made by the different FCMQ representatives involved in safety issue.
Safety facts. In collaboration with all the police forces in the province, the 1 200 provincial and local clubs safety officers take care on a voluntary basis, of the safety of the snowmobilers on all the FCMQ trail network. They see to the application of the regulation in respect to off-road vehicles. Their actions are mainly aimed at prevention, awareness, check and reports to local clubs on lack of signs or non-compliant installation of signs. Finally, they can also take repressive measures if required, by issuing tickets to snowmobilers.
The international snowmobile safety week is also a good opportunity to remind snowmobilers of some safety advices in order to avoid becoming part of the statistics. Here are some of the advices that have already been published during past years by different organizations all working for snowmobilers safety. Knowing that excessive speed and impaired driving are the main causes of fatal snowmobile accidents, respecting signs and regulations is definitely a good start. Among other advices, it is strongly recommended to avoid riding alone and to always give your itinerary to a close person before leaving on a ride. Try riding during day time instead of night time if possible, ride more slowly when visibility is reduced, stay on marked trails and avoid non-marked lakes or rivers. Carrying a basic emergency kit is also a good idea. One can easily bring some water, chocolate bars or food with high calories and a headlamp. Spare socks and some small plastic bags could be useful if your boots get wet during long-distance rides in deep snow. Of course, a spare belt, some basic tools and a nylon rope for towing purposes are always useful in case of breakdown.
Finally, I would like to leave you with this thought. Despite all the safety advices or recommendations, one must remember that the person at the control of a snowmobile is, in the end, responsible for his or her future. That person can chooses to have fun and fully enjoy snowmobiling or act in an irresponsible manner and eventually pay the price for it…
