Snowmobile enthusiasts in this area will continue to have to be patient before they and tourists can use the North Bay area snowmobile trails.
The North Bay Snowmobile Club feels the cold spell is just what they needed.
"This is perfect for local snowmobile clubs," stated Shawn Flindall, director of marketing and public relations for the North Bay Snowmobile Club.
"It does mean that things will start to firm up and allow us to really start packing things down and getting swamps, ponds, and waterways ready to go. This cold weather is just in time."
However, Flindall says they need more snow now.
"Most clubs in the area have been out packing but 12 to 14 inches of snow that is in the bush is packing down to 2 or 3 inches which is not very much snow to make a trail so we are getting there," he said.
"The cold weather is a really good help but we really need about one foot of snow now. All the initial work is almost done but we don't have enough snow to actually groom in this area. There are some trails starting to open up around West Nipissing and Kirkland Lake and ironically a lot of trails open in southern Ontario.
"There are so many rocks and stumps that are still exposed, holes in the trails, and divots in the trails but we don't have enough snow to push into them to fill that stuff in. Our trails are still closed because of this so we want people to stay off the trails because it's trespassing and they are just not safe. There is a lot of work still to do and we need the snow to make things happen and that is what we are waiting for."
While the area trails need more snow, Flindall warns sledders that the waterways have become more dangerous thanks to this recent cold snap.
"The cold weather does impact the lakes from a pressure crack perspective and there are already some pressure cracks on Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake from the last bit of extreme cold we had so probably the same thing is going to happen in the next couple of days again on Nipissing and Trout Lake. So if people are running the lakes be extra cautious because these pressure cracks can form overnight and when they are not there one day they are the next day. We really need people to be super cautious at this time and stay off the trails and wait for the green light. Safety is super key right now," he said.
