So it looks like I won't be making my yearly trip to Colorado this year. What do you guys recommend as far as places to ski in the UMW? I used to go to wilmot as a kid, thought it was cool, and went back last winter and found out it is extremely lame. Wilmot is to Colorado as an on-ramp is to the dragon - ie not worth my time even if it's all we got. As a kid, I remember Tyrol basin and Alpine Valley being good. Are they actually good, or is it like Wilmot where I'm remembering it being way better than it actually is? I hear good things about devil's head. Any good places in Michigan? I don't expect to find Colorado type runs, but something to keep me entertained.

 

i prefer cascade, but devil's head is ok, too. i try to stay away from alpine, but if you want a shorter drive and a quick fix it's a good alternative.

 

From what I hear, there are quite a few good places in Northern Michigan (lower peninsula) I'm not certain on the actual places, but I have played golf there in the summer and they have ski lifts and such.

I'll see if I can remember the name...

 

Boyne mountain, Boyne highlands and Treetops

Ski Michigan

Boyne mountain is actually a mountain (not the Rockies) with proper skiing activities, it's not Vale or Aspen, but isn't as expensive either.

 

went to Boyne last year and it was decent. i can't say if it's one of the better ones on the UMW since i havn't been to all the slopes the area has to offer but it was def better then alpine. 5-7 hour drive if i can remember.

we are doing a ski trip on dec. 7 for me and my brother's b-days that weekend. we might do cascade since i never been there.
let me know pat. we might be able to plan something together. especially since you got a hardtop now we can put my ski rack on there.

and even if you manage to make it to denver this season, let me know too. my brother and sisters live there (i have my own room in their house even though i live here) and my sister boards like every other weekend.

 

Yeah, I'm totally up for wherever. We can throw my hardtop on your car as long as I can do some donuts in a snow covered parking lot

Probably won't make it out to Denver this year as my regular ski-buddies have been affected by the economy and I decided car payments should rule my life for the next few years

Keep the list coming guys. Anyone here try Granite peak?

 

gonna go alpine valley on weekend of dec 6.
i'll give you a call a few days prior to it with details pat.

 

Drove by Granite Peaks on the way back down from my cabin yesterday and they were blowing snow like crazy. It looked like the hill was on fire. Commented to the wife that we should give it a try this year and she quickly replied we would get bored fast.
If you don't mind driving another three hours I think you can make to here. Not that I have been there but I have heard good things
http://www.lutsen.com/winter/index.cfm

 

Phong - I'm in if there's enough snow.

Phil - what makes you say you would get bored? Too easy? Not enough trails? Really I'm looking for something that is good enough so that I don't feel it's a waste of time, but I don't expect to find anything that will really excite me.

 

We started skiing in the Mid-West at Alpine and then started making trips to the UP. The next stop was out West to Steamboat on a bus. Since that trip some 25 years ago the Mid-West has just never lived up to that trip. We have been spoiled. The wait time in a lift line relative to the time it takes to get down the hill is a big factor. The lack of varying terrain and the crud we call snow. There is nothing quite like the snow in Park City or Alta.