It reads like a eulogy, but for snowmobile nuts like Shawn Flindall, the snow disappearing comes with a lot of grief.
"It is with a sad, heavy heart that we announce that all North Bay Snowmobile Club trails have closed for the season," said Flindall, who is the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the North Bay Snowmobile Club.
Flindall says with the forecast appearing to bring rain and not snow this week, he says they elected to shut the season down.
"We got good snowfall on Saturday but then Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were all +6 and things have fallen apart rather quickly," said Flindall.
He emphasized that closed means closed as it is illegal to ride on close trails.
The conditions on area lakes are deteriorating quickly which also led to the closure.
"Ice conditions on all area lakes, swamps and waterways are deteriorating quickly – people need to use extreme caution," said Flindall in a release.
Despite a late start to the season, Flindall says they are happy that sledders could enjoy area trails well into March.
"We had a fantastic 10 week season – average in length and not bad given the late start to winter – but it was a heck of a great season," he said.
"Keep in mind that snowmobiling is a $3.3 billion industry in Ontario, and it is a significant economic driver in North Bay and all northern communities."
Flindall says trails continue to be open in Bonfield, Mattawa and north of Temagami, but that will be short lived in these spring conditions as well.
