This has been a disappointing winter for Minnesota snowmobilers so far, but Governor Dayton has set Sunday as the start of Snowmobile Safety Awareness Week in Minnesota. The DNR’s Captain Mike Hammer says there’s a lot of “pent up riding excitement” during low-snow seasons like this. Only northeastern Minnesota has significant snow cover so far, and even there many trails are in poor condition. Hammer says he’s concerned for what happens when anxious snowmobilers suddenly hit the trails all at once when good snow finally arrives. Some basic snowmobile safety reminders from the DNR include: don’t drink and drive, slow down, avoid ice of uncertain thickness on lakes and ponds, be prepared, watch the weather and never travel alone. More safety information is available online on the DNR Snowmobiling page.