Any advice on the resorts up there? My yearly trip out to CO just isn’t going to happen this year. Too much driving for the amount of days I can take off. So, instead of driving 16 hrs to Colorado, I’m thinking I’ll drive 6 to the UP. I know nothing is going to compare to the Rockies, but I’m prepared to compromise. It’s either ski the UP or none at all.
I’ve heard good things about Porcupine Mountain. What I’d really like to know is whether or not the Sno-Cats will be running up to the Everest section in 2013 and if that costs extra.
I found Mount Bohemia, but it seems like it’s just a snow covered woods with little else. Definitely a experts only hill, but I don’t know if it’s worth the extra drive or if I want to dodge trees all day.
Ski Brule is a popular one, but I don’t want to fight crowds all day and don’t know if it’s any better than the others.
Indian head? PowderHorn? Any experiences?
Anyone been to any of these resorts and can compare them to Rib Mountain? I have been there.
I’m looking at skiing for two days. So, I would consider two different resorts – especially if they are fairly close together.
You don’t necessarily have to go to the UP. There are resorts around Traverse City, which has lots of restaurants and kitschy shopping. Or are you wanting to ski NOW and need to go to the UP to find enough snow?
Sorry. I guess I should’ve been more elaborative on my plans.
We’ll be leaving from SW Wisconsin. Michigan mainland (traverse city) is right out. I think Colorado would almost be closer! I’m not ruling out Canada - especially if it’s worth the extra miles.
And, this is for Feb of 2013. So - plenty of time to plan and barring a solar flare, there should be plenty of snow!
Also, not that it matters terribly, most of us will be snowboarding as opposed to skiing.
Extreme Backbountry section of Mt. Bohemia out in the middle of Lake Superior at the end of the Kewenah Penninsula. On a snow day, all else in the mid-west pales. Averages 273 inches of snow each winter. Ungroomed tree skiing bounded by a couple of ungroomed runs. Squirt out at the bottom and hop on a shuttle bus back to the lifts. Season’s pass $100 on the first Saturday of December, or a dual Bohemia/Porkies pass for $125. Yurts, cabins, or sleep in your vehicle or in the snow. http://youtu.be/-ynIyXzKRhw
For Canada, Loch Lomond in Thunder Bay. Giant: best GS run in the midwest. Some other nice runs if there is snow: Jolly Giant (mild bumps and a really nice pitch), Devil’s Dive (steep final pitch), and a bit of marginalia. You’ll need a pasport to get back into the USA.
I lived in Colorado and the UP. Whereas you can downhill ski in the UP, it’s a far, far cry from Colorado.
The hills are miniscule compared to Colorado, and the snow is different. As you mentioned, Bohemia has the reputation of the best snow, but it’s really out in the middle of nowhere. If you’re interested in after-ski, most towns in the UP don’t offer too much as far as nightlife or anything like that.
That said, for Midwest skiing, the UP is probably the best of the lot. We do get a lot of snow most years, and it’s hilly enough that you can get some good runs in. But be prepared to spend a lot more time on the lifts than you do on the slope. That’s what always gets me when I ski here - in Colorado, the runs are MILES long. In the UP, they’re really, really short.
I’ll ask around and find the best Snowboarding places and report back.
I learned to ski at the Porcupine Mountains, and it’s still my favorite place to ski in Michigan. It’s been a few years since I was there, and I haven’t been to that new Everest Area.
One of the great things about the Porkies compared to the rest of the hills nearby is that it was all natural snow. They never use snow makers machines there.
Marquette Mountain is a great hill too, but the views of Superior you get skiing the porkies can’t be beat.
Oh, I know that nothing in the midwest is going to compare to Colorado. But, I’d rather take a ski weekend in the UP than non at all. I grew up in the Midwest skiing and snowboarding on the “mountains of the Mississippi”, but have been out to Colorado slopes about 10 times. Aside from the Italian Alps, nothing else really compares!
Muffin, thanks for those links! I’ll have to wait til after work - or maybe lunch - to have a look at them. I’ve previewed a couple, but don’t want my boss walking by while I’m surfing Youtube!
So, have you been to Mt. Bohemia? My original fear was that some of the guys I’m going with are exactly seasoned experts and I thought it might be too much for them. But, that video shows that there are some places without trees and deadly cliffs. Maybe we’ll check that one out.
I think my passport is up to date, but I’ll have to check with the other guys on that as well. I’d hate to have to leave them in Canada!
Marquette Mountain looks promising as well. It’s a bit more driving - we are looking at a second stop in northern WI during this trip. But, I’ll see what else I can dig up on that.
Thanks for all of the suggestions so far!
That’s great news. I really want to try the porkys but yours is the first - first hand experience I’ve heard. The real issue is that the group I’m going with is very diverse. Some like to ski moguls, some are going to be snowboarding and are very good at it and would be easily bored without some technical terrain while others are brand new to snowboarding and would likely kill themselves at a place like Bohemia.
Plus, the Porcupine mountains are much closer to Drummond WI - which I’m hoping to include in this trip.
Have you thought about Lutsen? Yeah, it’s in MN, but it’s only threeish-fourish hours from Marquette (due west on 8), closer if you come across Wisconsin some other way. I’ve skiied there, and it’s pretty good skiing (for midwestern skiing). Runs are longer, and there’s a surprising amount of terrain - they’ve a good amount of space and lots of runs.
As for skiing in da UP, I’ve only skiied in Houghton on Mount Ripley. Which is pretty small, but great for students at MTU (of which my then-boyfriend/now-husband was one).
To the east, Searchmont in the Canadian Sault Ste Marie, is wonderful. You can stay right over the border at the Water Tower Inn. The ski resort is about 30 min away. The scenery is spectacular-downhill runs a mile or so, varied terrain, and it’s never crowded because few people have heard of it. We go every year.
Yes, I have skied there, but that vid is not mine (the Loch Lomond and Lutsen ones are). Bohemia is not for beginners, but there are a couple non-tree skiing runs. Most of the tree skiing runs have gentle slopes that would be enjoyable for intermediate skiers / borders. There are cliffs – some skiable / boardable, and some not – in the Extreme Backcountry area, so take care the first time through.
Those of us in the upper midwest states have no need to use the word peninsula when refers to Upper Michigan. U.P. says it all, and it is widely understood!!
Plus, it serves as a secret code to keep the people not-in-the-know out. If you don’t know what UP means, just stay away. We don’t need the riff-raff moving in.
