LEAD - Early and regular intervals of snow have put Black Hills snowmobile trails in good condition for riders when the season opens Monday, Dec. 15.

"We have great snow," Donalyn Meek of Lead's Recreational Springs Resort said. She said there already have been many snowmobile rental reservations for the holiday weeks of Christmas and New Year's. The resort's fleet of 22 snowmobiles includes singles and doubles, but she encourages calling in advance if you want to rent one.

Recreational Springs serves as a sledding trailhead where people with snowmobiles can bring them in, gas them up and jump on the trail, which runs right through the resort.

An early-November storm dumped more than 4 feet of snow in the forested areas of the Northern Hills, where the majority of the state's trails run.

State Game, Fish & Parks Department trails manager Shannon Percy said loggers had plowed some areas after the blizzard, but he expects the entire system to be open for riding from day one.

"They're looking real good," he said of the high-country trails. "It looks like it will be a great year."

Because of the early snow, snowmobile riders were anxious to hit the trail.

"We've had a lot of inquiries from people wanting to come out," Percy said. However, the opening date is set by lease agreements with private landowners.

Local rangers started putting up snowmobile trail signs Dec. 1, and grooming starts Monday.

Groomers will work 12-hour shifts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and a double shift of grooming is done Thursdays through Sundays, putting all six of the state's snow-grooming machines out in the field.

Before hitting the trails, snowmobile riders must be licensed. Riders also should know that two state rangers patrol the system to ensure contact with sledders.

For daily state trail condition updates, go to the GF&P's Web site, www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Recreation/Snowmobiling.

For more information about Recreational Springs Resort, go to www.recsprings.com or call 584-1228.