By Albert Lea Tribune

The Albert Lea Visitors & Convention Bureau reports that the Albert Lea/Freeborn County Trail System is open.

&8220;Area is reporting fair riding condition. Use caution when riding, only 60 percent of the trail is marked,&8221; reports the Web site for the Albert Lea CVB this week.

It also reports that 250 miles of the 300 trail system has been groomed.

The Web site states:

&8220;The Freeborn County Snowmobile Trail System is groomed seven days a week on a rotating basis, so that each section of the trail is groomed two to three times each week. Two groomers run the trails daily. All trails are 10-feet wide with the exception of hills, which are doublewide for safety. The trail system is extremely well marked with orange diamonds approximately every 300 feet.

&8220;There is trail access to most motels and restaurants in Albert Lea as well as restaurants throughout the county.

&8220;Receive up to the minute trail conditions or a free snowmobile map by stopping at the Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau or calling 800-345-8414.

A few weeks ago the ground was mostly bare, but recent heavy snowfall has officials with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encouraging snowmobilers to slow down and put safety first as their belated snowmobiling season shifts into high gear, according to a DNR news release.

&8220;Less than a month ago it seemed more like spring, but the past few weeks has provided ideal snow conditions across the state for snowmobiling,&8221; said Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR Enforcement Education Program coordinator. &8220;Snowmobilers parked for most of the season may be in a big hurry to put some miles on their machine. That&8217;s where they may be likely to get into trouble.&8221;

There have been 12 snowmobile fatalities this winter in Minnesota. To prevent another fatality from happening, the DNR is urging snowmobilers to think about safety even before fueling up.

Tops on the safe rider list should be a pledge to leave the alcohol alone until riding is done for the day, along with a resolve to ride defensively not aggressively especially at night, Hammer said.

Speed is also a common problem for snowmobilers. The maximum speed limit in Minnesota is 50 mph. If a person on snowmobile is traveling at 50 mph, the reaction time is three seconds. That means they will have traveled 220 feet before being able to apply the brakes; which is equal to two-thirds of a football field.