A combination of plus temperatures and rain swiftly put an end to the snowmobile season in the North Bay area.
Shawn Flindall, director of marketing and public relations with the North Bay Snowmobile Club is sad to see the snow go, but he admits all the local trails are closed now.
"Cochrane, Kapuskasing and Hearst will likely try to get a couple of weeks out of it and I wish them luck but everything in our area is closed," said Flindall.
The seven-week season in 2025 is a vast improvement from the nine-day season in the winter of 2024.
"The average season is 8 to 10 weeks, so we are a little shorter than a normal year, but after last year's two-week season, we are pretty excited about that," he admitted.
"It is really a great year. There was some great cold weather and consistent snowfall meant we had great trails for the whole seven weeks not just here but around the whole province. Trails were open and groomed in great condition from one corner to the other of the province as far south as Sarnia and east to Cornwall, all the way west over to Sault Ste. Marie through North Bay up into Cochrane-Hearst. It was a terrific season province-wide."
Flindall also sends thanks to those volunteers who helped clear trails, build bridges, and sign and groom trails.
He also praises land owners who allow sledders to use the trails. Now it's time to reflect on what was a great season.
"At this point, trails in our area are closed and it is considered trespassing to be on the trails so we ask you to please stay off the trails in addition to that it is springtime obviously so ice conditions are deteriorating quickly," he noted.
"Swamps, creeks, and other waterways are already opening up so it is just time to put the sled in the shed and throw a coat of wax on it and put it to sleep for the summer."