Many snowmobile enthusiasts are planning to head out for one last ride this weekend and RCMP are pleading with them to keep safety top of mind. Sergeant Paul Manaigre says there have been too many tragedies in recent weeks.

"Winter started out very well and then all of a sudden, starting January 20th, we've lost six lives in the province with accidents that should have been preventable."

Manaigre says there have been some common threads in these incidents.

"Two of the threads that come out are speed and unfamiliarity with the terrain."

There were two snowmobile fatalities last weekend; one north of Lac du Bonnet where a sled hit a tree and another near Rivers, north of Brandon, where a rider went over an embankment and plunged sixty feet to a riverbed below.

Manaigre has a message to all snowmobilers.

"Know your limits on these machines because the speeds they can reach are incredible. It just takes one sudden move or something to throw the machine off. We're asking people to use caution, be alert when on these trails. Some of these areas are pretty narrow and depending on your speed, you may not know what your coming up to for obstacles so, depending on your speed, your avoidance time could be sharply reduced."

And Manaigre adds, while the ice on rivers and lakes has been pretty thick this winter, spring thaw is underway and there could be spots where it is no longer safe.