Skiing Wisconsin. - Page 2

Skip Granite Peak. It's slow, flat and not very much fun. If you want to hit up powder put Mt. Bohemia on the top of your list. I have a cabin in Hurley (Like ten minutes from BJ, IH, and PH about 15 to White Cap) and Between Black Jack, Powder Horn and Indian Head I ski at Powder Horn 75% of the time. I stay away from Whitecap till February as often there isn't much snow on my favorite runs until then. I would look into maybe skiing Ski Bruel. I went to thanksgiving race camp there and the hill is fun. I have only been to marquette once If you take the chair to the top, you have a long run with decent terrain down the whole thing.

Oh and Alpine. Don't get me started about alpine. I HATE that place with a passion. It sucks. You couldn't pay me to ski there. There are about 3 good runs to ski. They all have large flat sections in the middle. I race and my home hill is sunburst ski area, about an hour north, so I naturally ski a few HS Races at Alpine every year. What do the races come down to? A 3 to 5 Gate steep then flats. Sure the runs are longer, but you aren't really skiing on the last half, you are just going straight so you don't have to hike to the chair. At sunburst I can pay 200$ for a season pass. Then I can ski as run that I use gravity to go down for 30 seconds, jump on the two minute double chair and just do laps.

So If I were you I would cross off Alpine Valley and Bruel. I like cascade over devils head, Mt. Lax has Damnition :), Marquette is a race haven, Can't go wrong with Whitecap, Black Jack, Powderhorn or Indian head; Bruels a blast; Bohemia doesn't groom :):). And I still haven't been to Porkies, but wanna go up there sometime.

A side note. I have one experience at Lutsen. I went there for a weekend when I was like 12 with my family. Can't remember exactly how it went but I remember freezing rain and my dad pushing my sister back onto a chair and he slid off because the chair was slippery and him doing a faceplant and me LMAO before it was cool. Oh yeah and I ran into some fun beenetting up there. Lutsen is fun, but its a ways from Chicago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMT00FIERCE 

 

Oh and Alpine. Don't get me started about alpine. I HATE that place with a passion. It sucks. You couldn't pay me to ski there. There are about 3 good runs to ski. They all have large flat sections in the middle. I race and my home hill is sunburst ski area, about an hour north, so I naturally ski a few HS Races at Alpine every year. What do the races come down to? A 3 to 5 Gate steep then flats. Sure the runs are longer, but you aren't really skiing on the last half, you are just going straight so you don't have to hike to the chair. At sunburst I can pay 200$ for a season pass. Then I can ski as run that I use gravity to go down for 30 seconds, jump on the two minute double chair and just do laps.

Wow, I feel the exact opposite about Sunburst vs. Alpine Valley.  AV has almost double the vertical and 3 high speed quads that take ~ 1 minute to get to the top.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kewlguy53403 

Devils Head: Nicer 'runs' (more scenic, less straight down), slower / older lifts

Cascade: Newer Quad lift, larger park area. Vertical and Steepness of runs similar to Devils's head.

Granite Peak: Never been there.

I don't know, this lift at Devil's Head seemed to be moving really fast (even though it was in the wrong direction):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r78g9mG2ugg

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogophers 

 

I don't know, this lift at Devil's Head seemed to be moving really fast (even though it was in the wrong direction):

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r78g9mG2ugg

 

 

I had the unlucky pleasure of being on that lift while it was going backwards!!
 

For anyone planning a ski excursion in Wisconsin keep in mind Cascade Mtn. is celebrating their 50th year and is offering a 3 day lift pass for only $88.  That is buy a two day ticket and get your third consecutive day free.  Pretty sweet deal.

I haven't been to Cascade in a number of years, but It is a nice place, just a fairly solid drive for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosshole 

, just a fairly solid drive for me.

Three hours for me but my daughter and I ski there every weekend!

I have a season Pass at Welch Village in SE Minnesota not too far from The Wisconsin border.   Nice little hill there if you havn't been check it out.

     As someone who skis Granite Peak 3 days per week, I think it's the best skiing in the Midwest, handsdown.  There are many factors that make Granite a great destination as compared to the other hills in Wisconsin. 

      First and foremost, Granite is NOT flat on the expert runs.  You just need to know which runs are worth skiing, and the route to take in order to make the most of the hill.  For instance, I routinely take the high speed quad to top and then take either the run directly under the lift or the ones on either side.  The key is to stay in the terrain park on the top and then bottom.  If your an aggressive skier you can really have fun hitting everything the parks have to offer.  Yes, the bottom will flatten out but if you have the correct wax and you keep your speed up, you are still hauling ass right up to the lift line. 

     The next area I like to ski is what used to be called Big Rib.  What's nice about Big Rib is the fact that you can catch the chair halfway down the hill and avoid the flat part of the hill.  Once again, ski Big Rib and the run directly to the left of the chair.  You can get a lot of laps in, and there never is a line.  If you are someone who likes to ski moguls, The bump run on Big Rib will kick your ass.  For starters, they are man made, very close together and icy!  When they do soften up they are awesome.  When I ski bumps out west I often think to myself "so this is what bumps are supposed to be like".  Honestly, the bumps at Rib make me a better bump skier out west.  To ski the bumps at Granite you have to be very technical and use the zipper line approach.  I am not one to shy away from them just because they are too close together and icy.  Just pull out your short sticks and give er' hell. 

      The next area you want to ski is the entire left side of the hill.  Nobody skis over there because the lift is very slow.  The terrain is the steepest on the hill and is protected from the wind because of all the trees.  There is also another nice bump run on that side too.  Last but not least head over the far right side of the hill during the day.  Once again, slow lifts but it's a nice change of pace.  There is a run under the lift that had a bump run down the headwall, which then turned into something like 15 woopdees in a row. 

As for lodging, eating out, cost of drinks etc. it is very inexpensive.  You can stay close to the hill if you would like, but there is no such thing as "traffic" in Wausau.  I personally would find a place away from the freeway and take in some of the local "charm" that Wausau has to offer.

Last, but not least KEEP YOUR SKIS WAXED AND TUNED!!!  If you have midfats or powder skis, leave them home.  I ski on World Cup Slalom and GS skis exclusively at Granite.  Best choice by far.  Go back and forth between the areas I described and you will have a great time.

If you are a Snowboarder and love the parks, Granite Peak absolutely rocks.  Enjoy your trip! 

^ I've never skiied at cascade or Devils head, but granite is the best I've skiied in wisconsin.  Then again, I'm somewhat of a n00b, but oh well.  I think its best to do everything th above poster said, but on the right side of the hill is one of the most fun runs I've skiied.  Start out skiing the steep trail right under the lift or maybe go in the trees there if you're good enough, then continue on the run to the flatter section where a run with 7 jumps in a row starts.  They are all fairly small (like 15 ft or so) and easy jumps, but are really fun.  After the jumps are done go in the trees to the right or the left for some tight tree skiing, even though its not very steep you can go pretty fast by following the paths that are in there already.

As a big Midwest skier, I thought I'd comment.  You won’t go wrong with skiing cascade or granite but depending on how long you are willing to drive, you have other options.  In my opinion, there are 3 types of Midwest ski areas:

1. areas that are close to a major metro area

2. areas that are much better than metro areas but not the best

3. areas that are the best in the Midwest

I don't know where you live but so I won't comment on metro ski areas but here are some to consider in the other categories.  I have included Michigan areas that are may be close to

Category 2: (Good)

Cascade, WI

Granite Peak, WI

Devils Head, WI

Crystal, MI

Caberfae, MI

Category 3: (Best)

Whitecap, WI

Big Powderhorn Mt, MI UP

Black Jack, MI UP

Indian Head, MI UP

Mt Bohemia, MI UP

Mt Marquette, MI UP

Porkies, MI UP

Boyne Mt, MI

Boyne Highlands, MI

Nubs Knob, MI

Shanty Creek, MI

I have skied at all but two of the above and would be happy to comment in more detail on any of these.

^ how exactly is indianhead?  Could compare it to marquette or granite?  I'm going there sometime this winter with my school's ski club and want to know if its worth going.  I like skiing glades, and really steep stuff (at least by midwest standards).

Nathanvg - I'm definately interested in your take on the U.P. ski hills such as Indianhead, Powderhorn etc.  I spent a lot of time skiing those hills growing up but haven't been back in years.  Is it the snow quality, terrain?  What I loved about Powderhorn and Indianhead was the atmosphere.  Family friends had a place on the hill at Powderhorn and I have many fond memories of that place.  Granite is super convienient for me, but I should take a trip up there this season. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenonabun 

^ how exactly is indianhead?  Could compare it to marquette or granite?  I'm going there sometime this winter with my school's ski club and want to know if its worth going.  I like skiing glades, and really steep stuff (at least by midwest standards).

Indianhead's strength is long cruising runs.  There are two runs listed as double black that are steep but pretty short.  Indianhead does not allow skiing in the trees.  Granite’s runs are long like Indianhead’s but Indianhead’s are better because they have a constant pitch with very little run out.  If you also enjoy skiing cruisers, Indianhead has probably the best selection of long cruisers in the Midwest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheese Head 

Nathanvg - I'm definately interested in your take on the U.P. ski hills such as Indianhead, Powderhorn etc.  I spent a lot of time skiing those hills growing up but haven't been back in years.  Is it the snow quality, terrain?  What I loved about Powderhorn and Indianhead was the atmosphere.  Family friends had a place on the hill at Powderhorn and I have many fond memories of that place.  Granite is super convienient for me, but I should take a trip up there this season. 

The snow quality is generally a lot better in the UP due to lake effect snow.  The runs are about the same length as Granite but with a lot more variety and less run out.  The result is a lot of runs that feel much longer and have interesting twists and turns.  Both Indianhead and Powderhorn have lots of good groomed runs and a few mogul runs.  Powderhorn's main lodge burned down last year but they are building a new one which should be nice.  (not sure when it opens)  I think the runs at Granite are really pretty boring in comparison to the UP. 

You might also want to checkout Whitecap which is near Indianhead and Powderhorn but with a very different feel.  Whitecap's runs are shorter but they are a lot of them spread across 3 peaks.  The runs weave through the trees and vary from mellow to very steep.