Took an early morning drive to checkout Ariens nordic Center. Arrived at 8am to perfectly groomed trails - skate deck was awesome! Perfect winter like conditions! Still I'd say a foot of base still on the entire trail system. Skied 5 laps about 5 km each. Trails weave around and goes thru some woods, has a few birkie type hills and nice rolling terrain and options for novice and advanced skiers. My first time here, highly recommend it. They groom nightly so get there early for perfect trails.

(Dan Dudley)

This was my and my wife's first time skiing at ANC (we usually ski Lapham Peak, Greenbush or Iola). First the snow report. There is a deep manmade base, which has held up well. It was well groomed today for skate skiing. Hard and fast, especially when the wind (gusting to 40mph today) was at your back. I saw quite a few classic skiers out there, and the classic tracks looked well formed (but frozen hard). Sean Becker did a fabulous job grooming the trails, and also introducing folks to the biathlon range. I'd never shot a biathlon rifle before, but found it very much fun. ( No separate fee/charge to get to use the range/rifles.) Shooting from a prone position, five hits in a row for me! Booyah! Extremely satisfying feeling to hit the target. As to the course and trails, the course is longer than I expected it to be. Well designed trails. Compact. Well-signed. Easy to stay oriented on. Lots of hills, but nothing too long, and nothing too steep (nothing like LP or GB). You can get a real work out though, and work on technique. Very different from LB, GB or Iola. Not as natural feeling as those places, as it has got a more more designed feel to it, more like you are driving around Road America, or playing a round on a well-designed golf course. Know that much of the course is not sheltered from the wind, so take that into account when deciding your kit (the face buff I had was really nice to have today). ( Note, ignore Google Maps and approach ANC from the West, and not the East, as from the East there is some flooding and significant ice daming on the road.) Beautiful warming/changing house for skiers, lots of good rental equipment, nice restrooms, friendly staff. Today there was a St. Patrick's Day special, with everyone getting a free ticket for a green beer post ski. So you ski, then walk over to the new big Ariens hospitality/event center, get your free beer, and then you can buy lunch there (we each ordered the chili, just $6 per bowl, and good, with all the fixings). Nice big fireplace and fire that you can enjoy your beer and chili in front of. Seemed like you were in a swanky, downhill ski lodge apres ski. Again, friendly, welcoming local staff there. This is a "luxury xc ski experience" at a non-luxury price (and certainly miles away from a downhill ski price). The place is unlike any other xc ski facility I've experienced anywhere else in Wisconsin. If you have not tried ANC yet, we highly recommend it. Carpe skiem.

(Sandie Pendleton)

Strided the ANC trails in 35 degrees, under a cloudy sky with 15-20 mph winds out of the east. 100% of the skate deck is covered, level and ice free. 98% of the tracks are well formed and 3/4 depth with the remaining 2% being icey. Very good spring skiing. The only watch-out area are the classic tracks at the crest of the last hill before the finish where it is thin. Carpe Skiem!

Photos:

(Bob Warpinski)

Both classic and skate lanes set and groomed after the recent snowfall. Everything is fast and in excellent condition.

(Jeanne Fricke)

Terrific skiing at The ANC this morning in 33 degrees under a light overcast sky. For the most part the tracks were full depth. Skaters could easily grab a edge and manage the downhills. If you like to ski fast, this is the place. Super fun! Carpe Skiem!

Photos:

(Bob Warpinski)

Arrived at opening again to freshly groomed trails and decent conditions. Things have held up well thus far, even with heavy use and warmer temps this weekend- the massive base really helps! Looks like they are prepping the beginner/practice loop near the start, but it's coned off for now. The uphills and some other sections were getting soft just an hour in, and conditions were noticeably slowing down by then throughout. Fingers crossed for some wonderful cooler temps this week! Super thanks to the Ariens crew for the great work, as always.

(Pieter DeHart)

Arrived to perfect grooming right when they opened this morning. Started with Classic, where tracks range from icy, fast, and deep, to blown over and slow. Was a bit frustrating, so switched to skate. Was so glad we did! Snow was in great shape, with natural blended in with machine made. Later in the morning, as folks really started to roll in, some of the uphills were sugary and deep, but all was still really nice and skiable. Well worth the drive, as this system is the best in range in the state right now!

(Pieter DeHart)

The ANC doesn't disappoint! Full, firm and fast tracks and a level corduroy for skaters. Terrific ski in 22 degrees under a blue sky on a freshly groomed 3" of natural snow atop an 18+" atomic base. Carpe Skiem!

Photos:

(Bob Warpinski)

Awesome ski today! I started at about 8:30 and skied to about 11:30! The trails held up really well as the temperatures warmed! Firm and fast! Wow!

(Tom Brown)

Launched from the Nordic Center at 9:30 under a sunny sky, a northwesterly wind, in 35 degrees. I was greeted with a fresh grooming and full depth tracks. Beautiful. The tracks and the deck held up well through the next 2 hours as the thermometer reached 40. Excellent spring skiing. Carpe Skiem!

Photos:

(Bob Warpinski)