BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – 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 national economy may reduce the number of people visiting Vermont to snowmobile on the state’s 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 out and buy their trail passes.