It might be a bit late in to the season, but snowmobile trails are finally starting to pop up across the region.

Vern Wieler, president of the Border Valley Sno Goers club, says the groomer headed out Monday, January 20, following the dump of snow that fell that weekend.

"We had to do a few minor route changes, some of the fields are a little bare, so we stuck more to ditches (and tree and fence lines)," he explained, adding this is where the bulk of the snow tends to accumulate. While bare fields kept grooming operations to those other areas for the most part, Wieler noted standing crops leftover from the wet fall weren't much of an issue in plotting the route.

"Farmers know where our trails go and if all of a sudden they do have a winter crop of some sort they always let us know," he said. "I think on the eastern half of our club area, there's maybe a little more unharvested crop out there but our routes are planned to go around that if needed."

Wieler notes despite the lack of snow this winter, conditions are near-excellent and the trails are in good shape.

So far, Wieler says the groomer has made two passes on the western half of the trail system and signage is up. Work continues to get the eastern portion fully up and running with one more pass required after proper signage has been erected.

Meantime, Wieler issued this warning to sledders who may be eager to head out regardless of incomplete trails.

"If you see a 'trail closed' sign where the groomer has gone, it's there for a reason," he said. "It's mostly because the trail hasn't been marked yet...so if the trail is closed you're going at your own risk."