Great Escapes Fall 2023 | Page 19

37 FALL 2023 VOL . 05 / ISSUE 01 SNOWGOER . COM
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CIRCUIT WOODRUNNER © TOURISME LAURENTIDES

What You Need & Need To Know To Go

Documents Required To Ride You will need a valid driver ’ s license , a current snowmobile registration and a current FCMQ trail pass on your sled ( with the pink paper proof of purchase in your pocket ) to ride Québec trails . Trail passes include the required Québec insurance coverage and are available for various time periods ranging from a single day to a full snowmobile season . They can be obtained from snowmobile clubs , dealers and other businesses serving the sport , and should be purchased in advance to get the best deal . See snowmobileinquebec . com for trail pass pricing in Canadian dollars .
The trail pass requirement is waived for the annual Québec Trails Open House weekend , which is often heled in January each winter . For more trail pass information , contact Le Fédération des Clubs de Motoneigistes du Québec ( Federation of Snowmobile Clubs of Québec ) at www . fcmq . qc . ca .
La Cote-node
Border Crossing Requirements Visitors need a valid U . S . passport to enter Canada , and again to return to the United States . Some border states ( including Vermont , New York , Minnesota , Michigan and Washington ) issue an Enhanced Driver ’ s License ( E . D . L .) that serves as a low-cost , easy-carry alternative to a passport . Consult the Canadian Border Services Agency at www . cbsa-asfc . gc . ca for more information on entering Canada , U . S . Customs and Border Protection in your area about re-entry to the U . S ., and your state Department of Motor Vehicles to inquire about an E . D . L . Passports are available through any U . S . Post Office and sometimes other government agencies , but they can take four to six weeks to arrive , so plan ahead .
Gaspesie-lles-de-la-madeleine
Bas-saint-laurent
Language Don ’ t worry about it . Québec is a primarily French-speaking province , but most Québec residents involved with snowmobile tourism speak English , particularly in the areas we are recommending for beginning Québec riders .
If you pay attention and try a little bit , it ’ s easy to pick up some basic French . For example , when you see an octagonal red sign at a road or trail intersection that says “ Arret ,” it is obviously a stop sign with “ arret ” meaning stop . And locals will be very pleased to hear you greet them with “ bonjour ” ( good day ) and say “ merci ” ( thank you ) even if that ’ s all the French you know .
Abitibi-temiscamingue
Outaouais
Laurentides
Quebec Chaudiere-appalaches
Money Canadian money is denominated the same as American money but has a value that is independent of the U . S . dollar . As of this writing , a U . S . dollar will get you $ 1.33 in Canadian dollars , making American money go farther in Canada .
The most striking difference is that there is no Canadian paper money in general circulation smaller than a $ 5 bill . The Canadian $ 1 coin resembles an old Spanish gold doubloon and features a common loon on the back , so it is referred to as a “ loonie ,” and the two-dollar coin is commonly called a “ toonie .”
Have Canadian cash in your pocket while north of the border , and it is generally best to change money prior to entering Canada . The exchange can be done at banks or at businesses located on or near the border . They all charge for the service , so shop around in advance for the best deal . And try to avoid changing much Canadian currency back to American currency after your trip as you will probably find this a rather negative experience . Since you had a great time and plan on returning , just retain your left-over Canadian money until you need it again .
CIRCUIT WOODRUNNING @ TOURISME LAURENTIDES