Good conditions exist at ABR, but we need more snow. The base is hard, skate lane is good where it has been recently groomed. Classic tracks looked quite icy with debris from the wind. There are a few thin spots here and there, particularly on Memory and Sulo's. If you are careful, you could probably still get by with your good skis.

(Jonathon Rulseh)

Just coming in from grooming tonight the trails are grooming up as cold dry powder. I groomed 20 km of skate lanes. The Trails are still well covered. Closed off the Highlands tonight, we will not be grooming to the south, due to the big hills and remote location, for a few days or until we get new snow. Classic tracks are well formed on the combination trails 20 km, but worn a bit on the classic only, all classic tracks are a bit glazed.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

I spent the weekend at ABR. Conditions were beautiful; midwinter coverage. Excellent tracks, skate lane looked good. Used my best skis. One caveat...the trails in the Southeast corner of ABR - Hautinen Highlands, part of Tamarack, Coyote Canyon, etc have signs posted before entering the area warning of lower snow coverage and possible ski damage as a result. These trails are groomed but I don't know if they are tracked for classic -- they are open, but I stayed away.

(Ralph Schwartz)

Wonderful day classic skiing at ABR. Great coverage and grooming was excellent as usual. A few track wash-outs at the typical places but you won't even notice as you're having such a great time.

Photos:

(Ben Fornear)

Great skiing today, just coming tonight from powertilling and resetting track with the Pisten Bully. Groomers heading back out in the early morning hours.

Photos:

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

Great news on the Trail System! all 75 km of trails are open. The cold overnight temps of -3F really helped freeze down yesterdays 6-8 inches of "localized lake effect snow". Two crews of 4 shovel operators worked on rough areas on the Highlands exit hill and Rudy's Shoot (Dog Trails) today . We have all 75 km of trails open for skiing: The 45 km we have been grooming daily since Nov 9th is in very good - excellent condition. We call this "old ABR". The 26 k of trails south to the Highlands has been groomed about 5-10 times and has some icy rough areas and an exposed dirt area here and there, fairly flat because we are leveling the trail; Not recommended for race skis or beginner skiers. Rated good by skiers that tested it today. The Highland Entrance is very rough in the low lands but gets much better once it hits the Highlands. The 4 km of dog trails are in very good condition with a few dips here and there on Rudy's.
Scheduling: There is a HS time trail on the Dog Trails Saturday so the trails will be closed to dogs and walkers/snowshoers from 11-4 and closed to day skiers from 2:30-4.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

Great tracks today. More moisture in the snow and firmer than a week ago.
Skating lanes looked good and fast.

(Brian Watzke)

Wonderful classic tracks, freshened up overnight as usual. Mostly smooth flow, beautiful trails and day.

(Scott Stalheim)

Just coming in from grooming the dog friendly trails, Rascals, Spanky's and Rudy's 4k. The trail is really leveling out well, a few wet spots on Rudy's that should freeze up this week but with the hills on Rudy's it is to be expected. The 45 km of non-dog friendly trails are skiing well, all 45 km were regroomed again this morning and retracked after the 2 inches of new snow overnight. We are packing and freezing the south trails.

(Eric Anderson, ABR Trails)

Almost all of the trails were open for classic and skate. I didn't see a single bare patch of ground. It was a warm, but really windy day. The classic tracks weren't the best because the wind kept blowing snow into them, but it was really nice to get out. I'd feel comfortable using my best skis here.

(Adam Schwartz-Lowe)