I was in such a hurry to get to ABR today I forgot my ski boots. Thanks to Eric I was able to get another pair and had the best skiing I have had at ABR before Thanksgiving. Except for a few icy spots in low sections of the trail the conditions, snow and temps(27 F) were close to perfect. It seemed more like early March then late November.

Photos:

(Gene Karwoski)

Mid winter conditions. Race skis suitable for 95 percent of the open trails. The only thin areas are where there was recent open water.

Photos:

(Luke Wyzlic)

I cannot say how fun it was to see all our skier friends on the trail and in the ski cabin. I got an earlier start this morning with the larger Pisten Bully and groomed up a few k before 6 AM when the crew came in. The cold temps last night (single digits) froze up many of the wet spots. I was able to widen and blade in snow in the low areas. I groomed basically all of old ABR combo trails with the PB again today. The rest of the grooming crew focused on the classics and tracked most of them. After coffee break we went back out as a team of four and packed the Highlands, which are closed. Lots of great comments on the new White Pine Classic loop and the new Popple Flats mods and Popple Climb and the revised Peltonen Pass out to Peltonen Pass - much more friendly except the last head wall which can remind you of the old Peltonen Pass out. Tomorow we are working on grooming the dog trails which are virgin two feet of snow.

Photos:

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

Great skiing at ABR again today. Skate deck remarkably firm considering the amount of snow that has fallen in the last few days. Tracks deep and firm. Some rough, icy spots in low lying areas. Mostly picture perfect skiing.

Photos:

(Sue Schroeder)

Classic trails were awesome. Hemlock, Tamarack, Jack pine and white pine were all tracked and in good condition. Skating deck was a little soft. Everything was super pretty. You will not be disappointed!

Photos:

(Eric Koch)

Eric and the crew did an amazing job getting 30k+ of trails ready after over 2' of fresh snow Thursday. My daughter and I enjoyed classic skiing on the single track trails including Tamarack, Hemlock, White, and Jack pine. We also skated the River, Memory Lane, Meadow Ridge, Blueberry, Popple. Classic tracks and pole plants were firm with great kick. Skate lanes were nice in some areas and soft in others. Occasional wet spots which should freeze up tonight. Some sun and then more lake effect snow kicked in during afternoon. Great opener thanks to many hours of grooming!

Photos:

(Kevin Ousdigian)

Leave your B skis at home to best enjoy these January-like 30-plus k. Trails soft and wet in places, but should be firming and drying up day by day. Snowing again.

(Will Andresen)

What an exciting day of grooming! We spent most of the day grooming for our opener tomorrow. I just came in with the Pisten Bully and the trails are looking good. They are freezing down well. Grooming plans: We have a crew to finish the grooming in the early morning hours. We plan to have River, Popple flats, Popple Climb, Memory, part of blueberry, meadow, cherry groomed for skating and classic tracks. We plan to have the hemlock, jack pine, white pine, Deer trail and Jack's flats tracked and the front part of tamarack.... maybe more. That is about 30 km. There are a few slushy spots that should freeze tonight, but the trail is well covered and I am expecting good early season conditions.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We have been out grooming the 2 ft of new snow using the larger Pisten Bully and three snowmobiles. We are opening Saturday at 9 AM. I expect good early season conditions on 30 k or so of trails.

Photos:

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

Plenty of snow at ABR - looks like 22 inches to me.

Photos:

(Will Andresen)