Perfect midwinter conditions. Firm, fast skate deck and tracks were crisp. It’s always hard to find more superlatives for great skiing at ABR. Today I was working hills on the skate skis and both ups and downs were in great shape.

(Sue Schroeder)

Pig Heart and Crasher groomed all the combination trails with both Pisten Bullies, except the dog trails this morning. Conditions looked great. Widetrack groomed the single tracks except Puumala. All 95 km are skiing well. Kaartunen House just had a cancelation and is open Jan 23-26 (4 nights). Jackson Farm House is open Jan 18-24th and then again Feb 1-6th. The SISU SKI FEST was a great event yesterday. We worked well with the SISU Ski Fest Team, including Coleman Engineering on the road crossings and the Routsala Construction on stock piling clean snow, Gogebic Community College Ski Area Management director took care of the last 1/2 km rough groomed in (huge snowbanks to a ski trail), and a big thank you to the Miners Park Trail for the prepacking early season. The course turned out very good. But please remember it is not me all the work, or ABR Trails, it is several groups and businesses that contribute to the course preparation. It was fun to sweep the trail at 2 PM and see the course after 700+ skiers skied it, see the road crossing teams and see the Finnish Line. It was sad to close up the 5 gates (for now) that link ABR to Ironwood and on to Ramsey. Check out the Non profit Foundation for our future. We have a crew regrooming in the early morning as you would expect. The Bullies are heading out on combination trails and Wide track taking care of single tracks.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

Skied out to the Highlands to help out at the SISU aid station. Tracks were great on Sunset. Racers had big smiles and said conditions for race were great. Eric always at the ready.

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(Deborah Leonard)

Skied the Sisu race 15km. Outstanding grooming on all sections of the race course including the ABR part and the section going into the city of Ironwood. Classic tracks were firm and nearly perfect. I did not skate, but the skate deck appeared firm and level. Ideal race conditions especially when you factor in the 14+ inches of snow that fell a few days earlier. Great job by groomers!

(Ron Fabrizius)

We are just getting ready to head back out for the final groom of the first 20 km of the SISU 30 k course. We groomed the entire 30 k course again with two passes with the Pisten Bullys today. The course seems to be firm. There are no bare spots or rocks showing. Good luck SISU Racers.

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(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We groomed all of ABR this morning and headed into town to groom SISU Ski Fest Race course. The SISU Race course is looking great. Day skier trails for Saturday are looking good also. Remember the race course is open for day skiers about 12 noon. Classic only trails except Jack Pine are open at 9 AM. - about 35 km. Skating will be limited to Deer Trail, Pelty, and Dog trails will be open for skating/striding at 9 AM.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

Trails groomed up well this morning, Pig Heart and Crasher were out on both Cats (Bearcats) Wully Bully in the 10,000 miles on the odometer Gator with tracks and original drive belt! SISU K markers installed and a few branches trimmed, We did “beef up” a few hills like the Highlands exit hill and bypass with our manual snowmaking (rakes and shovels) to give us confidence in a good base for the SISU next Saturday. I chatted with a few skiers from the south tonight coming in and they were really enjoying the conditions. Skating and classic are skiing well. Grooming plans: Six groomers coming in at 6 am, and we plan to groom until noon or maybe later.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We headed out with the bigger Pisten Bully into town on the SISU Trail into town. A few thin areas under the pines but 98 % of the trail looked great. The new snow should help make it perfect. Tuesday we plan to groom the skate lanes on the SISU racecourse on ABR Trails and install signs and KM markers. Classic tracks are skiing well. Wednesday we are scheduling a full crew to groom any new snowfall. Saturday the race course will be closed to non-racers until noon when the last wave goes off. All of the classic only trails except Jack Pine will open at 9 AM for day skiers, For skaters or classic, the combination trails Dog trails, Deer Trail and Pelty will be open at 9 AM Saturday for day skiers.

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(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

We had a great Holiday turnout, visitors were happy and weather cooperated. Thank you. Chilly today, Pig Heart Groomed the first 20 km of the SISU 30 km this morning on ABR Trails and a few other loops. The trail is looking in very good shape for the SISU next Saturday. Grooming plans: Pig Heart and Darla are heading into town Monday again with the bigger Pisten Bully to till and blade as needed for the SISU course prep. Wide Track is on board for packing pole plants and trimming face slappers on the classic side.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

With the new 2 inches of dense snow the trails really improved, classic tracks reset, were great. All 95 km of trails open and skiing well.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)