The Haliburton County Snowmobile Association (HCSA) said it’s been a “mad scramble” to maintain snowmobile trails as temperatures and snow conditions fluctuate.

“Any kind of traffic in these conditions will damage the trail surface and create ruts when the refreeze occurs. While the forecasted snow is encouraging, it will take several hours for the HCSA to assess when trail grooming can resume,” wrote the HCSA in a Feb. 16 press release.

Conditions improved over Family Day weekend, with snow squalls covering the County. Temperatures rose Feb. 21 and on Feb. 22 the County faced freezing rain.

“We are asking (pleading) you not to ride during the second warm-up in as many weeks. If trail surfaces are undisturbed, when the refreeze hits we should stay reasonably level,” said the HCSA in a Feb. 22 Facebook post.

Trail conditions are updated regularly on hcsa.ca. As of Feb. 22, nearly all trails in Haliburton County were closed.