Despite much of New Brunswick getting a white Christmas, hopes are starting to fade for a snowy winter.

Just as the province's winter activities usually get started, the outlook is bleak — for snowmobiling in particular.

As of New Year's Eve, all of the province's 8,000 kilometres of trails are completely shut down.

The mild end of December is not only disappointing, it's record-setting.

McBride, who's been snowmobiling since the 1980s, said he hasn't seen a winter as poor as this one since the 1990s.

With events planned for February and March, and tourism outfitters dependent on snowmobilers, McBride said everyone's in a tough spot.