ABR reporting: The trails are closed for skiing. The surfaces are not “groomable” or “skiable”. We will have the ski shop open from 9-2 today. The trails will open for skiing when winter returns.

(Bruce Adelsman)

This will be one of the hardest trail reports that I have to write this winter...and maybe the longest.
WHAT WE HAD TODAY: We had a morning of early season skiing from 9-12 with a few more thin spots but coverage on the main trails for skiing. It was a bit soft but very skiable. Skiers respected the noon closing to preserve the snow from the 43 degrees.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY: It started raining pretty steady at noon and it continues to rain at 5 PM. Upon "trail inspection" the water is running from the hills overflowing the drainage ditches, flooding the River and creeks in areas creating small pieces of trail that are skiable separated by bare stretches and flooded portions that may  or may not recede and freeze. The base is diminished to 1 inch of saturated snow.
WHAT WE WILL DO: Since the rain is forecast to stop in the next hour or so and temps are forecast to drop below freezing in the early morning hours, I will again assess the trail at 6 AM and see if it is "groomable" and "skiable". We will make every effort to make 5-10 km of skiable trail for the 9 AM hr and we will report in at 7 AM with an updated report of what we find.
WHAT I THINK: I am not optimistic that we will be able to create safe and enjoyable skiing for Saturday and Sunday without more snow and cold temps. We scared many skiers away on what would be our busiest weekend of the season with honest and predictive reporting over the last several days to help people plan their weekends and not drive long distances to be disappointed.  
IF YOU ARE IN TOWN: We will have the Ski shop open with some good sale prices and many of the stores in town have some good shopping. The falls would make a nice hike at Black River, the 5 waterfalls are raging I am told and would be pretty awesome to see.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We skied on 37 km of trails today, conditions were thin with a few uphills showing wear on the climbs and the normal thin areas facing south. We ended the day at 4:30 with the trails still skiable and snow covered. We will be open for skiing Friday from 9-12 CST and then close due to the warm temps and possible rain. We will reopen for Saturday at 9 AM. We will groom accordingly on Friday and Saturday and sunday and most likely close again for Monday due to the forecast.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We groomed after the snow stopped this morning. We had about 30 km groomed and 10 km have classic tracks for skiing today. We plan to groom another 7 km tonight so we have about 1/2 the 75 km of trails open for Thursday. The base is thin but very skiable, skiers were happy today. We had to use Ginzu knives today to reset the classic track which showed the base is about 2-3 inches. Most areas are frozen down well except the back stretch of Sulos and Highlands entrance.
Friday looks to be warming up at noon and a chance of rain, with temps cooling back down for Saturday. We most likely will close for Friday afternoon based on that forecast and reopen for Saturday.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We picked up another 2 inches of snow and most importantly the temps got cold. We will be re-opening Wednesday at 10 AM. I am not sure how many k or exact conditions until we groom again in the morning but I am guessing about 30 km with some classic tracks. We will be open on the Thanksgiving Holiday as well 9-4:30 and hopefully for the remainder of the season weather permitting.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We groomed the 30 + km and set about 12-15 km of tracks. The snow was coating the trail fine but the temps overnight did not drop as fast as predicted. I was out tonight with the groomer and see that is not only snowing from the west but the base froze solid so we can regroom in the morning. Looks like Sunday will be a great day of skiing.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We will be re-opening the ski trails and the SKI SHOP at 10 AM Saturday.  We picked up about 1-2 inches of dense snow so far today. We plan to let this snow dry out as temps drop tonight and groom early in the AM.  I don't know exactly what we will groom and track but I will forecast : Groomed for skating River and side loops, Blueberry return Meadow Ridge, Cherry, Rascals Spanky's ,Tamarack or about 22 km. Classic only groomed with or without track, Hemlock. Jack Pine White Pine, Sunset 12 km, combo trails groomed with classic Track 15 km. I expect the trails to be covered similar to last weekend but with a few more wet spots from the warm temps. Sunday I expect the trails to be firmer, flatter and better skiing than Saturday.  Monday is forecast warm , most likely we would close again until the Thanksgiving.  Please note that we will be opening at 10 AM Saturday, 9 AM Sunday; closing time will be 4:30 PM both days. It is Deer Hunting Season on Michigan and Wisconsin, however all of the trails we are skiing are on private land where hunting is forbidden.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We received about 2 inches of snow last night. We had 3 of the groomers out today in the AM. "Pig Heart" groomed up about 19 km of skating that would be mostly skiable with a good freeze on rock skis or B skis, "Honey Badger" followed setting tracks on about 10 km, she had thin tracks under the hemlocks and icy tracks in the lowalnds, "Wide Track" was on the famous Single Tracks, he groomed 11 km with the Ginzu but no tracks he reported skiable with cold temps and a bit more snow on the narrow trails. The trails need to freeze again after the warm temps. We would like to re-open Saturday for some early season skiing but it is weather dependent. We will keep the websites up to date. We will keep the Preseason ski shop sale discounts going for Saturday. Ski Shop Sale is 10-3.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

The trails closed this afternoon due to the warm temps. We hope to reopen again soon after the temps cool down.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

Trails are holding up well. Occasional ice patches, few thin spots but amazing early skiing. Tracks vary in depth and condition. Some rerouting of trails. New maps coming out soon (website is up-to-date). Was great to visit Winter in the UP!

(Carrie Kostroski)