We are just back from Montebello.  This was the easiest advance scouting trip yet and most likely the shortest message about the conditions there - they are perfect!

First of all, the runway area is safe.  We measured 16 inches of solid ice at the entrance of the marina! Another hole inside the marina saw no water after 10 inches of drilling into the ice.
Not only is the surface safe, it is smooth. There are only 2 inches of snow on top of the ice.
There is no slush! We don’t expect the conditions will change from now until Sunday.

The only “fly in the ice" is a pressure ridge 12 inches high which is about 750 feet to the west of the marina entrance.  It is about 120 feet long, extending straight out from the shore towards the middle of the river.  The pressure ridge is clearly marked for snowmobile traffic but the markings would be difficult to spot from the air. Caution is in order for all aerial operations.

We strongly recommend that all arrivals and departures restrict themselves to the area east of the marina entrance. Imagine an east-west runway with the west end at the marina entrance and extending to the east end as far as you like. This will leave a good 750 feet of buffer space between the “west end of the runway” and the pressure ridge.

If the wind is from the east, on landing aim to touch down past the marina entrance and take off from the marina entrance. If the wind is from the west, plan to touch down far enough to the east of the entrance that you will be stopped well before the entrance and for takeoff back taxi east far enough that you are assured of being airborne by the marina entrance.

You will notice a snowmobile trail running east/west parallel to the shore and about 100-120 feet out from the north shore. Landings and takeoffs should be on the south side of this main skidoo trail (ie on the river side rather than the chateau side). To avoid conflicts taxiing aircraft should be on the north side of the skidoo trail (ie on the chateau side rather than the river side).

Weather conditions are also perfect, at least according to the Environment Canada forecast:

Thanks to the advance team for their efforts and report! Thanks to Andre Girard for the pics!