Snowmobiles: 

They say the snowmobile known as Skidoo, was invented by Louis Joseph Armand Bombardier a bit before WWII, (World War II). In the beginning, Bombardier imagined a vehicle able to float on the snow. He wanted to create a vehicle for work not for recreation. In the 60’s, the snowmobile had its fully developed, official model. It continued improving to the models seen today. The sport of snowmobiling, if we can call it a sport, really started around 1968. Clubs and snowmobile associations were developed, trails were created and regulations were made because of the increase of snowmobile amateurs. There are many makes and models like, Sno-Jet, Ski-Roule, Moto-Ski, Sno-Cruiser, Dauphin, Boa-Ski, Scorpion, Skidoo, etc. There were more snowmobiles on the trails than cars on the road. Snowmobiles at that time were noisy and pollutant. 

I have to say, back then there was more snow and the winters were a lot different than those we know today. The first snow storm was about mid-November and snowmobile trails were opened around the end of November, beginning December. Winters were long and hard and ended mid-April, and snowmobile trails were opened till the snow melted. We had about 5 feet of snow and sometimes more. Rain was also rare during winter months. 

In the beginning of the 80’s, we started to feel the effects of global warming. Winters started to be milder with less snow and more freezing rain. The snowmobile regulations became more severe and their cost began to rise. So the snowmobiling sport that started in the 80’s became a very expensive recreation and with less snow, the sport started to decline. In the 90’s that was a revival of the sport with machines better built, more solid and performing. In the 2000’s, the models with a 4 cylinder appeared, silent and less pollutant. The St-Lawrence valley, bordering the region of Montreal, it is no longer possible or almost, to practice snowmobiling today, given the milder winters. Therefore the amateurs now have to go up to the mountainous regions where snow remains considerable. 

Manouane Lake has a crossing with the Trans-Quebec trail that connects Parent to the Lake St-Jean. Since Manouane Lake is far from the center, this region remains hard to access during winter, therefore it remains less frequented. I personally believe that the snowmobiles, in spite of the technological progress that these machines went through in the 70’s, still remains, in my opinion, very noisy and pollutant machines. 

 If you visit Manouane Lake during winter, do you use your snowmobile to go from point A to B. Do you bring snowshoes or skies that are activities less damaging for the environment and better for your health and all without gas vapours.