Pont de glace st-andre d'argenteuil / Pointe-fortune Ice Bridge.

Ice bridges have found their origins in this sector around the 1900's when early Pointe-Fortune settlers went to church in St-Andre d'Argenteuil (Carillon). M. Jean-Paul Pilon of Pointe-Fortune would say that his grandfather would cross every Sunday with his sleigh. In those times the bride was only cleaned with branches and only few would use it.

Later at the introduction of vehicles a few have lost their vehicles using the “try and go method”, try if it doesn't sink it's thick enough. Some would sink some would get stuck. This was a very bad method and some still seem to stupidly risk doing this to this day all over the country ( see press reports ) . Ice must be checked for proper thickness and after 24 hours of over 0c it looses all it's strength. Check here for references on ice thickness.

The crossing from Pointe-Fortune to St-Andre d'Argenteuil was abandoned and forgotten at the coming of the Hydro Dam.

The idea of crossing the ice came back around 1985 when Herbert Von Falkenhausen decided to open a small ice bridge to allow him and a few friends quick access to get to Rigaud by Pointe-Fortune to practice his favorite sport at the time ice racing. Passing by Hawkesbury was a very long detour specially with a trailer. Of course this time the ice was checked for thickness with professional ice gauging tools. Making it a secure ice road although you must realize your still driving on slippery ice. To test your traction try momentarily braking on clear ice.

As time passed more and more friends and others wanted to use the ice road for quick access. As it grew popular so did the idea of monetizing and developing it. The ice road is better maintained and property is rented at the municipality for commercial transactions helping the community with a large portion of the profits. Today more and more users realize the benefits of using the ice road and at the same time they are reducing green house gases.