ABR TRAILS ADDS 13 KM OF TRAILS

Snow Photos
Click Here For ABR Trail Map

ABR Trails has just completed 13 km of new trails and refinement of some of the existing. This winter you can enjoy 55 kilometers (34+ miles) of groomed trails spread over 1,000 acres, complemented by an expanded ski shop, an expanded warming cabin with additional seating and restrooms, a sun deck to the south of the cabin with benches and 2 new ski-in cabins for lodging on the trails.

The new land was a combination of purchasing land and leasing neighboring lands to the south along the Montreal River. Hautanen Highlands, Coyote Canyon, Bear Bait and Wolf Tracks are the four new trails to the south.The new trails to the south include some classic only trails and some Pisten Bully wider combination trails. The terrain is intermediate with some beautiful bluffs overlooking the Montreal River Valley. The new trails are quite spread out on the land so when you are out there you have a chance to see some wildlife and not as many skiers.

The Sunrise Trail is an extension of the Sunset Trail with beginner terrain and follows the Montreal River before returning to the highlands of the Sunset Trail.

The Peltonen Pass and Popple Plunge received a complete facelift and were re-designed into a 5.5 km trail that climbs the famous Birdhouse Hill Ridge 3 times and goes up and down and around some beautiful bluffs and large Oak Trees. The trail does not have any flats except for a bit of run out on the hills. The downhills are banked and curvy, the uphills do not have any off cambers. The trail has only 2 trail crossings where the Hemlock trail crosses. This Trail should provide excellent training for technique and conditioning. It was designed by Eric Anderson, Ken Hazel and Kevin Balduc and is named “Peltonen Pass-Out” and is a true Black Diamond Trail.

The flat sections of the Popple Plunge and Peltonen Pass were combined into a easy loop called Popple Flats.

XC Headquarters — Giant Air Conditioned Labor Day Weekend Sale, Cat Ski World Cup Qualifier Race & Free Demos — Aug 30 through Labor Day Sept 3, 2007

Thursday, Aug 30 through Labor Day Sept 3, 2007. Cross Country Ski Headquarters closes out all of last years discontinued skis, boots, poles, jackets, shells, fleece sweaters, insulated parkas and much much more. Clothing Brand names include Hot Chillys, North Face, Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, Sporthill, Louis Garneau, Pearl Izumi, Woolrich, Red Ledge, Under Armour, Gordini, Smartwool, Polarmax, Brooks, Swix, Ice Wear, Mental, Turtle Fur, AuClair, Kombi and much more!

Classic, Skating and Backcountry Skis by Madshus, Fischer, Karhu, Salomon, Alpina and Atomic. Classic Boots by Salomon and Alpina. Skating boots by Salomon, Fischer and Alpina. Backcountry boots by Alpina, Classic and Skating poles by Swix Exel, Masters and One Way.

Here are some examples:

50% off most Columbia, Trespass and Red Ledge Kids and Adult Parkas! Super Sale Prices on North Face, Under Armour & Hot Chillys too! Sale prices on Snowshoes, Skis, Ski Boots & much more. 20% off Sporthill pants, tops & jackets - great for Nordic Ski Walking, Hiking, Biking, Running, Walking and CAT Skiing. Super low prices on all X-C Ski packages!

All last years top End Fischer and Madshus Racing Classic Skis are on sale at 50% of list. At least 40% Off on last years Fischer, Salomon, Atomic and Madshus Skating Skis!

Demo Snowshoes by Red Feather 1/2 OFF. Whitewoods snowshoe kits that include snowshoes, adjustable poles and bag for only $86.66!

Great deals on New 07-08 stock also!

Big News! On Sunday Sept 1 at noon The C.A.T (Classic All Terrain) Ski Company will sponsor the Michigan Cat Ski World Cup Qualifier Race!

There will be plenty of CAT Skis all weekend available for demo and the president of CAT Skis, Dale Nigman, will be here to give you a free lesson!

Call 800 832 2663!

Visit Cross Country Ski Headquarters Website

Cross Country Headquarters Ski Team Brings the Michigan Cup Back Home


Cross Country Headquarters Ski Team Brings the Michigan Cup Back Home

By Linda Thielfoldt and Bob Frye

Well it was a long road this shortened season but the Cross Country Ski Headquarters Ski Team brought the Michigan Cup back home on Saturday at the Michigan Cup Series Relay Race held at XCSH in Roscommon MI.

There were 50 teams for the relay races made up of skiers from all over Michigan and Ohio and each team had a Classic Skier (diagonal stride) and two Skate (or Freestyle) skiers. The race started with the Classic skier and then they tagged off to the next skier on their individual relay team.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters (Roscommon, MI) had 19 Relay teams and it was the efforts of all the relay teams that brought home the cup. The youngest skier on the CCSH team was Kyle Roberts 7, from Lake City, MI, and the oldest was Jack Caldwell, 72, from Ann Arbor.

The Michigan Cup is won by the “team” that amasses the most points during the season and it was a very close finish. To quote XCSH Team Captain Frank Rynalski 52, Bay City; “The best thing about winning the cup was that we did it as a team.”

1 Cross Country Ski Headquarters
2 NordicSkiRacer
3 Strait Striders
4 Grand Rapid Nordic Ski Team
5 Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop
6 Traverse Nordic Ski Club
7 Ohio Nordic

Says Mr. XCSH, Bob Frye, “Thanks to all 50 teams who turned out for one of the largest Michigan Cup Relays ever. Thanks also to all the volunteers who helped make the day a great memory. Thanks to Frank Rynalski and his fellow team members for their endless work, organizing, recruiting and leading the Cross Country Ski Headquarters Team not only to a victory at the Relays but also to the 2007 Michigan Cup Championship ! Way to go team! You won it in 2004 and now you have bought the Michigan Cup back home!”

The Relays - always a festive race - were made more festive by the bright tents and banners set up by Fischer and Salomon featuring demo skis. The awards lunch was held under bright skies and featured Kogel Viennas, subs, veggies, chips, cookies and green lemonade

Fifty teams competed under sunny skies and very fast skiing conditions at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Higgins Lake. Temperatures were in the mid-20s and conditions were power-tilled icy powder over hard pack and ice.

Relay teams were composed of three skiers. The first leg raced two laps around the Rolling Hills Trail using classic technique. Legs 2 and 3 skied freestyle and raced three laps each.

Visit XC Headquarters Website

Women’s Weekend at ABR Trails- March 10th-11th, 2007

Ski Clinics, Yoga, Snowshoe, Healthy Cooking, Pelatis, 

March 10th

8 AM Power Pilatis, with Cathy Clark

9:30 “Healthy Cooking” with Zona Wick

10:00 Breakfast

11:00 Classic Ski Clinic with Ken Hazel (on snow)

1:00 Lunch

1:30 Skate Ski Effeciently with Ken Hazel DVD

2:00 On snow Ski Effeciently with Ken Hazel

4:00 Open skiing or break

5:00 Sunset Snowshoe Hike with Angela Santini

6:00 Wood Fired Finnish Sauna

7:30 Dinner on your own at Petrushas? Or Tacconelis

With a keynote speaker TBD?

March 11th

8 AM Yoga with Felicia Santini

9:30 Healthy Cooking with Zona Wick

10:00 Breakfast

11:00 Opening Skiing

Lodging is Available

Hilltop Lodging available for 8 women. $80 for 2 nights

River House and Rustic Cabin Lodging is available at discounted rates

Events will be at the Hilltop House, above the ABR Trail Head

Weekend Cost is $59/woman, Please Pre-Register. Price includes trail passes, instruction, ski rentals and snowshoe rentals, 2 breakfasts one lunch.

Taste of the Trails at ABR Trails - March 24th, 2007

Ski along the ABR Ski Trails and sample our local cuisine and specialties of our local restaurants. 

Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM

Restaurants will have tables set up from the trailhead along a designated 5 km route.

Restaurants confirmed as of Feb 27th :

Manny’s - Cheese Raviolis - Fatto e manno (homemade)

Taconellis – Taconellis to go

The Pastry Kitchen – the famous UP Pasties

The Kimball Inn - Mikes special

Don & GG’s-

Breakwater Café-

There is no specail cost for the event, just buy a trail pass and pay the food costs at each booth. Please email a response so the restaurants can schedule food.

February Cross Country Conditions are Fantastic at ABR Trails!

ABR Trails - February 17, 2007

Lisa and Cathy from Appleton enjoying fresh snow Saturday morning.

Photo Courtesy of ABR Trails

ABR Trails - February 15, 2007

Lanny from Missouri getting first tracks on the fresh snow.

Photo Courtesy of ABR Trails

ABR Trails - February 10, 2007

Ski Report - February 12 - It is now time to ski! I have never seen the digital at -0.0 before! With the warmer temps… teens….we had some real nice skiing today, It was up to 17 above today but with the Sunshine and no wind it felt good. …it is time to ski for the recreational skier!

Photo Courtesy of ABR Trails

Hanson Hills Classic - Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 10:00 AM - Hanson Hills Recreation Area

Start and Finish at Hanson Hills Recreation Area (3) miles west of Grayling. Hilly Terrain; Classical Race with interval starts.

Prices: 12K Classic: $25.00
6K Junior Classic: $20.00
Online Reg. Closes: February 21, 2007 09:00 PM Pacific Time

Awards for first Overall Male and Female finishers. Medals to top three Male and Female finishers in each age group.

Visit Hanson Hills Website

Michigan Cup Marathon - Saturday, February 24, 2007 -10:00 AM - Hanson Hills Recreation Area

Start and Finish at Hanson Hills Recreation Area (3) miles west of Grayling. Hilly Terrain; Freestyle Race.

Prices: 30K Men: $30.00
15K Women: $20.00
7K Junior: $20.00

Online Reg. Closes: February 21, 2007 10:00 PM Pacific Time

Awards for first overall Male and Female Finishers. Medals to top three male and female finishers in each age group.

Awards Lunch after 30K Race. All registered racers eat FREE. NON-Racers $5

Visit Hanson Hills Website

Cross Country Ski Headquarters Trails are Open

XC Headquarters - January 14, 2007

SNOW REPORT FOR JANUARY 18 — Skiing was very good yesterday and we had a lot of skiers. Will groom all trails (we will even Pack the Adventure trail) again this morning. Looks like more snow coming! The Chili is on and the kitchen is open and there is a fire in the fireplace. Time to ski!

Visit XC Headquarters Website



VASA Pathway in Traverse City

Traverse City - January 15, 2007

VASA Pathway