The massive snowstorm many parts of Ontario got hit with on Tuesday probably has snowmobilers itching to hit the trails. But the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs is warning people to hold off. The federation says despite the large snowfall, trails are not ready. That’s because trails don’t yet have a base to protect sledders from obstacles hidden under the snow. And above all, the federation is telling people to stay off lakes because they’re not even close to being solidly frozen.
That second piece of advice is something a Sudbury-area man should have heeded. On Tuesday, a man and his snowmobile broke through the thin ice on Whitewater Lake in Azilda. The man wasn’t hurt and got out of the freezing water before hypothermia set in. He’s charged with careless driving. Sudbury police have a reminder and warning for sledders: make sure the ice is at least 25 centimetres thick before you use it for snowmobiling.