Despite snow on the ground and low fuel prices, the weak economy is casting a shadow on Tuesday’s opening of Vermont’s snowmobile trail network.
Bryant Watson of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers is calling the sale of trail passes so far a "mixed bag."
He says the weak economy may reduce the number of people visiting Vermont to snowmobile on the 4,600-mile network of trails.
Job layoffs across the state could also keep Vermonters off the trails.
VAST estimates snowmobiling contributes $555 million in revenues for businesses across the state.
But on a positive note, Watson says the recent snowfall could prompt snowmobilers to get and buy their trail passes.