Snowmobilers don't have the green light quite yet in northeastern Ontario

Winter officially kicks off today. But those wishing to take part in certain winter activities will still have to wait a bit longer—or at least choose their settings wisely—before they can feel completely safe in doing so.

One such example is snowmobiling. Despite some sizable early snowfalls, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs is informing the public that only a few trails in the region are actually open at this point.

In many cases, this is because the lakes, rivers, and waterways that support these trails are not yet thick enough to provide snowmobile support, according to OPP constable Marvin Miller. He also encouraged snowmobile riders to be aware of other high-speed vehicles and to form a concrete safety plan in advance.

"The skidoos nowadays they run quick down the trails. All skidoos will do over 100-miles an hour. So it's hard to get them slowed down," Miller said. "The biggest thing I'm finding that people aren't doing is having a safety plan in effect. Telling people where you're going and what time you should arrive."

While there are many precautions to take in order to snowmobile successfully, it is a pastime that is very much worth the hassle. According to a soon-to-be-published study from the University of Guelph, recreational snowmobiling is an excellent method of helping to maintain both mental and physical conditioning.

When the time is right, that is.