Chicago area skiers???

#121

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11/21/06 at 8:02am

Trekchick
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Location: Michigan, oop nort in da land of trolls
Post Count: 23,615

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukon

Is anything going to be open this Friday? If so, where, and for what price. I want to get turns on snow!

Look what's happening in Michigan

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
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#122

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11/21/06 at 9:53am

HotChocolate
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Joined: October 2006
Location: Largo, MD
Post Count: 92

Hey I just interviewed for a job at Genworth Financial and if I get it then I will surely need some ski buds in Chi-town!!!

#123

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11/29/06 at 7:04pm

StacySkiSoul
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Joined: October 2004
Location: Batavia, Illinois
Post Count: 27

Wilmot vs Alpine Valley

Quote:

Originally Posted by onyxjl

My question for this season is to get a season pass to Wilmot, which I have never skied but does have gate training and holds the CMSC races which I will probably be doing... or get an Alpine Valley pass.

I'm not sure if the extra half-hour each way to AV is worth it over Wilmot. The gate training alone might tip the scales in favor of Wilmot since I'd basically just be faking it at AV. I'd really like to get out and carve on two nights a week.

Anyone got some input on this?

I teach and ski Wilmot and get to spend 2 to 3 nights a week in the gates.
There is a whole bunch of great racers who are very good and will help you to become better.
It's Steep and sweet on chair 5, 15 to 20 second courses.

#124

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11/30/06 at 2:08pm

Coyote27
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Joined: November 2006
Location: Illinois
Post Count: 26

Yukon - Devil's Head was supposed to open today along with a couple of the smaller hills in upper Illinois.

Mainly ski DH and Cascade. Going up to Crystal Mtn for the first time Feb 9th-11th (any personal opinions on the mtn would be appreciated). Nothing else planned so far

Let's hope for a ton of snow tonight!!!

#125

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11/30/06 at 4:36pm

onyxjl
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Post Count: 1,080

I'll be back out at Sunburst this Sunday. Anyone else headed that way?

#126

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11/30/06 at 6:32pm

IL_Skier
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Joined: January 2003
Location: Shorewood IL
Post Count: 199

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coyote27

Yukon - Devil's Head was supposed to open today along with a couple of the smaller hills in upper Illinois.

Mainly ski DH and Cascade. Going up to Crystal Mtn for the first time Feb 9th-11th (any personal opinions on the mtn would be appreciated). Nothing else planned so far

Let's hope for a ton of snow tonight!!!

It looks like Devils Head has pushed their opening back a week to next Friday 12/8. Cascade is still advertising this Saturday. I just hit Alpine Valley's website and they're tentatively opening Saturday morning @ 10AM.

I might give Alpine a try. I've got a season pass at Cascade but I'm not sure I'm up for the 200 mile ride yet. AV is only 100 miles for me!

Lets hope this storms gives us the jump start we desperately need.

#127

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12/1/06 at 4:39am

rockfordskiman
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Location: Midwest
Post Count: 150

Just finished blowing about 9" off my drive, it's about time! Chestnut is also planning on a saturday opening. With the track of the storm it looks like Alpine Valley might be the answer for this weekend.

#128

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12/1/06 at 5:55am

onyxjl
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Joined: October 2004
Post Count: 1,080

Actually, given that AV will be open, I will probably be headed there on Sunday. Throw up a post if you will be there too.

#129

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12/1/06 at 5:58am

sittingduck99
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Joined: September 2006
Post Count: 52

will AV open sat?? we just got dumped on!

#130

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12/1/06 at 8:19am

MWskier
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Joined: July 2003
Location: Illinois
Post Count: 260

Chestnut says that they will be open and lift tickets are $2.00 on Saturday and $3.00 on Sunday. You pay the date until Dec. 15.

I'll be At AV later on Saturday and early on Sunday. I get to try my new Dynastar Omeglass 64.

#131

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12/1/06 at 10:58am

SHREDHEAD
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Joined: January 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Post Count: 1,789

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfordskiman

Just finished blowing about 9" off my drive, it's about time! Chestnut is also planning on a saturday opening. With the track of the storm it looks like Alpine Valley might be the answer for this weekend.

I just spoke with a guy in the quad cities and they also had about 9". Chestnut might be ok, any idea how much they will have open? Where is the best place to park?

#132

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12/1/06 at 12:12pm

IL_Skier
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Joined: January 2003
Location: Shorewood IL
Post Count: 199

Alpine Valley's website still hasn't been updated but I'm most likely heading up that way tomorrow morning. I'm not sure if I'll head back on Sunday or not. That will depend on my 10 year old daughter. I think she's staying home tomorrow to play outside in the snow!

#133

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12/1/06 at 7:59pm

IL_Skier
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Joined: January 2003
Location: Shorewood IL
Post Count: 199

Quote:

Originally Posted by IL_Skier

Alpine Valley's website still hasn't been updated but I'm most likely heading up that way tomorrow morning. I'm not sure if I'll head back on Sunday or not. That will depend on my 10 year old daughter. I think she's staying home tomorrow to play outside in the snow!

It looks like Alpine Valley is a go tomorrow morning 10:00. I'll be there!

Alpine Valley Resort
Saturday 12-2-06
OPEN 10am

#134

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12/3/06 at 6:52am

rockfordskiman
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Joined: July 2002
Location: Midwest
Post Count: 150

Chestnut Dec 6th

I will be skiing at Chestnut wed the 6th. Lift tickets are only $6. I anybody whants to meet me there drop a line. If your on the hill I will have black Kryptons and Rossi z9's.

#135

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12/4/06 at 4:24am

SilverFocusZX3
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Joined: December 2006
Post Count: 2

Does anyone know of any trains that go to any of the local mountains like Chestnut, Alpine Valley, Cascade, Granite Peak or even way up north to Mt. Bohemia? Reason I ask is doing the drive alone can be very tiring roundtrip when going for one day and enjoying a full day in the snow.

Just looking for new options this season basically on travel.

#136

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12/4/06 at 6:34am

sittingduck99
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Joined: September 2006
Post Count: 52

car pool!

#137

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12/4/06 at 6:57am

GuyWhoWantsToSkiMore
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Joined: January 2005
Location: Rockford, IL
Post Count: 31

Does anyone have any reports from the local ski hills? I may head out to Chesnut, Tyrol, or Alpine this week but Chestnut hasn't updated their website to reflect trails open. Did anyone ski there this weekend?

#138

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12/4/06 at 7:03am

Trekchick
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Joined: November 2005
Location: Michigan, oop nort in da land of trolls
Post Count: 23,615

I noticed this meet on the hill planning thread.
Some of you may benefit from using the meet on the hill planning area to create car pool options

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=48137

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy

#139

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12/4/06 at 8:09am

kid4lyf
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Joined: November 2006
Location: NW Indiana (Hell)
Post Count: 104

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coyote27

Going up to Crystal Mtn for the first time Feb 9th-11th (any personal opinions on the mtn would be appreciated).

It's been a few years but I actually prefer Crystal to anything else within 5hrs of Chicago.
That may be damning with faint praise.

They have (had?) a fun little bowl on the far left side of the resort.

My favorate MW place would have to be Bohemia.
9 hrs away and no intermediate runs make for a tough sell to my wife, though.

I've been hearing some good things about Whitecap.
Any experiences?

#140

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12/4/06 at 9:58am

IL_Skier
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Joined: January 2003
Location: Shorewood IL
Post Count: 199

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyWhoWantsToSkiMore

Does anyone have any reports from the local ski hills? I may head out to Chesnut, Tyrol, or Alpine this week but Chestnut hasn't updated their website to reflect trails open. Did anyone ski there this weekend?

I was at Alpine Valley Saturday. They had one run open off of the high speed quad.

Wasn't too bad for an opening day!

#141

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12/4/06 at 10:40am

Coyote27
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Joined: November 2006
Location: Illinois
Post Count: 26

Thanks kid4lyf, expectations are up now. I'll check out the bowl and post back if they still have it. Never been to Bohemia, kind of a haul and to tell you the truth, the pics on the site look a bit out of my league. I can handle blacks, but those look ridiculous. Never been to Whitecap. Just booked my second outing of the season at Big Powderhron, Jan. 19th-21st.

#142

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12/4/06 at 12:05pm

kid4lyf
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Joined: November 2006
Location: NW Indiana (Hell)
Post Count: 104

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coyote27

those look ridiculous.

Nothing exceeds like excess.

#143

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12/4/06 at 5:47pm

onyxjl
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Post Count: 1,080

Alpine Valley was open with typical Alpine Valley conditions on Sunday. Granular man-made windblown and scraped down. Nice and challenging to your carving skills. Lodge Express and Broadway had big piles of blown snow that wasn't spread yet but probably will be by next week. Didn't stop a bunch of people from skiing through the sticks and grass though.

Alpine Valley has the worst lift management anywhere. The Quads might as well be triple or double lifts. All of the fixed grip chairs require gymnastics to load on to because the lifties rarely bump them properly or you are standing in a big hole. Exiting the lift ramp usually involves skiing over exposed wood into an icy rut. It's nothing an experienced skier can't handle but it was carnage for kids and less skilled skiers. On the fixed grip chairs it was stopping every 3 or 4 chairs because someone either got run over, had their skis pulled off, or exploded on the exit.

#144

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12/5/06 at 6:33pm

MWskier
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Joined: July 2003
Location: Illinois
Post Count: 260

Quote:

Originally Posted by IL_Skier

It looks like Alpine Valley is a go tomorrow morning 10:00. I'll be there!

IL_Skier, Who are you? I ski AV 4+ days a week. I am the skier making all those silly fast little turns. Dynastar skis, bright red Nordica boots (don't look directly at the boots without goggles), black and white "cow pattern" ski poles, gray/blue jacket, black pants. Let me know and we can meet for a few runs or a beer.

#145

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12/5/06 at 6:42pm

MWskier
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Joined: July 2003
Location: Illinois
Post Count: 260

Quote:

Originally Posted by onyxjl

Alpine Valley was open with typical Alpine Valley conditions on Sunday. Granular man-made windblown and scraped down. Nice and challenging to your carving skills. Lodge Express and Broadway had big piles of blown snow that wasn't spread yet but probably will be by next week. Didn't stop a bunch of people from skiing through the sticks and grass though.

Alpine Valley has the worst lift management anywhere. The Quads might as well be triple or double lifts. All of the fixed grip chairs require gymnastics to load on to because the lifties rarely bump them properly or you are standing in a big hole. Exiting the lift ramp usually involves skiing over exposed wood into an icy rut. It's nothing an experienced skier can't handle but it was carnage for kids and less skilled skiers. On the fixed grip chairs it was stopping every 3 or 4 chairs because someone either got run over, had their skis pulled off, or exploded on the exit.

LOL Had to laugh. You know AV very well -- but you also have to love it. I usually only ski the first few hours (season pass) - usually no crowds, good corduroy, high speed lifts, and 388 feet of vert. Ten o'clock on weekdays are great!!! On weekends the first two hours are usually fine then we meet in the parking lot for a few beers. If you see a bunch of old men (50+) in the lot drinking beer -- say hi.

They were not prepared for such a crowd on the the first day of the season, (Sat., Dec, 3). I only did a few runs. Monday was great!! Good snow. High speed lift running. No crowds. A light snow shower. Winter is back.

#146

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12/5/06 at 6:47pm

MWskier
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Joined: July 2003
Location: Illinois
Post Count: 260

Chestnut on Friday, Dec. 8

I am planning on going to Chestnut, alone, on Friday Dec. 8 for the $8 lift ticket. According to their website they should be 100% open.

Anyone else going? Send me an e-mail -- mhealy@harpercollege.edu - and we can take a few runs.

#147

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12/5/06 at 6:59pm

MWskier
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Joined: July 2003
Location: Illinois
Post Count: 260

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverFocusZX3

Does anyone know of any trains that go to any of the local mountains like Chestnut, Alpine Valley, Cascade, Granite Peak

No trains - we're luck to have paved roads.

#148

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12/6/06 at 4:52am

rockfordskiman
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Joined: July 2002
Location: Midwest
Post Count: 150

Amtrack is studing reopening the Chicago to Dubuque route. I used this a couple times years and years ago to Galena and Dubuque.

#149

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12/6/06 at 10:30am

IL_Skier
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Joined: January 2003
Location: Shorewood IL
Post Count: 199

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWskier

IL_Skier, Who are you? I ski AV 4+ days a week. I am the skier making all those silly fast little turns. Dynastar skis, bright red Nordica boots (don't look directly at the boots without goggles), black and white "cow pattern" ski poles, gray/blue jacket, black pants. Let me know and we can meet for a few runs or a beer.

My daughter and I usually go there when we don't head to Cascade. I was there alone on Saturday. I'm headed to Cascade on Friday and then I'm hitting Devils Head for their $50 room rates for opening weekend. I've got a season pass at Cascade. I live in Shorewood so its either 200 miles and three plus hours to Cascade or 100 miles and two hours to AV.

I am planning on going up there on the 16th for demo day.

Here's a picture of my daughter and I.

#150

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12/7/06 at 7:21am

SilverFocusZX3
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Joined: December 2006
Post Count: 2

Heading out to Chestnut for Friday and Saturday. Now looking for recommendations on anything.

First time heading out to Chestnut and was wondering if you guys could recommend a nice hotel or motel?

Lifts or runs to check out at certain parts of the day?

Food?

Also, anything else you guys can just let me know about Chestnut on what to do when we head up there.

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