We’ve set up a race course at ABR for those skiers looking to complete their virtual Noque event. You can find all the details here.
ABR Expansion and Updates, Plus Covid 19 Plan
ABR Trails added another 13 km of ski trails on 290 acres putting them at 90 km of groomed ski trails. 9 km of the trails are remote but very scenic and intermediate to easy. They will be groomed for classic skiing. Another 4 km of flatter close skating /classic trails have been added and are rated easy. The dog trails have been modified and are now skiing the opposite direction with an additional 1 km flat trail called Darla’s Diversion
Snowshoe trail expansion is at 17 km (6 km of it groomed).
An Electric Car charging station has been added in the main parking area.
ABR has been packing the trails for the last several weeks as they get snow and as the snow melts. ABR Trails are planning to open a 10-20 km loop for rock skiing Friday November 27th at 9 AM CST. The base is thin and there are no classic tracks.
The Ski Shop sale is on for Saturday November 28th, which will be the last day for the sale.
COVID Plan Revised
ABR Ski Trails is working on our plan for a safe opening this winter. With many unknowns we are going to error on the conservative side. We are going to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
First, and most importantly we plan to have all 90 km of ski trails open and groomed for skiing as usual. We will also have the 17 km of snowshoe trails open.
We will be selling tickets from a ticket booth in front of the ski cabin during busy days and will have a walk up window on the ski chalet for skiers to buy tickets without entry. There are 6 designated parking places in front by the entrance to park while you walk up to the booth or chalet to purchase a ticket or shop in the store. We are encouraging season passes to be purchased and will continue our reduced price for the passes throughout the season.
We will have the ski shop open with limited capacity, 3 people at a time in the ski shop and 3 people at a time in the rental area. Social distance rules and mandatory mask wearing. Sneeze guards, hand sanitizer stations and other safety precautions will be in place.
We will have the center room / retail ski area open for sale of retail skis and rentals, but no warming area and no change area and no bag storage. Same social distance and mask rules apply with limited capacity.
The back room of the ski chalet with concessions and indoor restroom will not be open at all.
The wax barn will not be open. An outdoor water faucet is available for filling your water containers. Day skiers and campers need to bring their own water containers.
We have the small building to the south configured with 5 spacious men’s and women’s change booths, unheated.
We have 8 porta potties in the unheated shipping barn including 2 larger handicap units. 4 designated for men and 4 designated for women.
The 3 warming cabins on the trail will be open for emergency use.
The Trailside houses and Rustic ski in cabins will be rented as usual. The cancellation policy will be revised for COVID.
The wood-fired sauna use is still under discussion, however if it is open it will be reserved for lodging guests and BYOT (bring your own towel).
Winter Plans
ABR Ski Trails is working on our plan for a safe opening this winter. With many unknowns we are going to error on the conservative side. We are going to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
First, and most importantly we plan to have all 78 km of ski trails open and groomed for skiing as usual. We will also have the 10 km of snowshoe trails open.
We will be selling tickets from a ticket booth on the driveway during busy days and will have a walk up window on the ski chalet for skiers to buy tickets without entry. We are encouraging season passes to be purchased and will continue our reduced price for the passes throughout the season.
We will have the ski shop open with limited capacity (3-4 people at a time for example) and social distance rules and mandatory mask wearing. Sneeze guards, hand sanitizer stations and other safety precautions will be in place.
We will have the center room / retail ski area open for sale of retail skis and rentals, but no warming area and no change area and no bag storage. Same social distance and mask rules apply with limited capacity. The back room of the ski chalet with concessions and indoor restroom will not be open at all.
The wax barn will not be open. An outdoor water faucet is available for filling your water containers. Day skiers and campers need to bring their own water containers.
We will have the small building to the south configured with 2 spacious open men’s and women’s change area, unheated.
We will have 6 porta potties in the unheated shipping barn including 2 larger handicap units. 3 designated for men and 3 designated for women.
The 3 warming cabins on the trail will be open for emergency use.
The Trailside houses and Rustic ski in cabins will be rented as usual. The cancellation policy will be revised for COVID.
The wood-fired sauna use is still under discussion, however if it is open, it will only be for lodging guests and BYOT (bring your own towel).
So in conclusion: When you drive up to ski you will have two options for purchasing tickets outside, indoor/unheated porta potties in the warehouse, an unheated open change area, a ski shop for shopping, a rental shop for renting equipment, and a water spigot for filling your water container. You will not have a warm area to eat lunch or hang out, no concessions, no duffel bag storage and no heated indoor wax area. You will have the entire ski and snowshoe trail system to enjoy and social distance!
This reminds me of our early ABR years focused entirely on skiing …but 6 times the amount of trails to enjoy!
Thank you for your cooperation,
Eric Anderson, Angela Santini
ABR Nominated for Top 10 Cross-Country Ski Resort
USA Today’s 10 Best has nominated ABR Ski Trails as one of the top 10 cross-country skiing destinations in the nation! Show your support of Midwest skiing by casting your vote in their online poll! You can only vote one time per day.
First Responder Upgrades
ABR Ski Trails improved its first responder skills and tools this winter with the help of several local groups.
The SISU Ski Fest helped fund the purchase of an Orion Rescue sled. This rescue sled is fully suspended and designed for rescue. It has a cover to protect the patient from the elements and give them a smooth ride to the ambulance.
Joel Bach a paramedic taught a Heartsaver CPR class to 13 of the ABR Ski Trails team of employees, volunteers and friends. There are plans to have a First Aid and Stop the Bleed program for the team this spring/summer.
A Michigan Rural Health Grant provided several AED units for the local school systems, law enforcement and ABR Trails.
Alicia Zazeski a paramedic and groomer for ABR set up a trauma bag, first responder kit that was mounted and labeled on the wall in the trailhead cabin of ABR.
Eric Anderson and Angela Santini, owners of ABR, purchased a snowmobile dedicated to pull the rescue sled and will be erecting a small dedicated shelter for housing the snowmobile and sled.