This may be a good year to plan some Midwest ski trips. Improvements
(some major) have been made at many ski resorts throughout the upper Midwest, and all are offering a variety of attractive package prices.
The Midwest ski areas have experienced a couple of so-so years in a row, and are offering some good deals to atrract the local market. They also recognize that economic conditions may encourage skiers to stay closer to home.
The biggest of Midwestern areas may not have the verticals of East or West ski areas, but they do offer some challenging terrain and fine facilities. The list that follows ranges in vertical drops from around 400 feet to more than 600 in a couple of instances. Drive times range from a little more than two hours up to seven-manageable distances for a weekend or quick mid-week getaway.
The biggest lift technology news in the industry is coming out of the Harbor Springs area in Michigan at Boyne Mountain where management recently installed a $2 million high-speed six-seat chair-only the second of its kind in the world. The new six-seater alone will carry 3,600 skiers an hour up Boyne`s 500-foot vertical rise. Each of the Boynes-Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands-has an uphill capacity of more than 20,000 an hour-tops in the Midwest.
Two seasons ago a high-speed quad was installed at Boyne Highlands, which is expanding again this season. They`re opening more beginner, intermediate terrain in an area called North Peak. This season four runs will debut, including a mile-long trail. It`ll be serviced by a triple chairlift.
By the way, unless stated otherwise, rates in this story are per person, double occupancy.
Double-dip tickets
Near the resort communities of Petosky and Harbor Springs the two resorts-30 miles apart-honor each others` ski lift tickets. This is some of the finest skiing in the Midwest. The mountain`s steep chutes and mogul fields are legendary among flatlanders, and the Highlands is a Midwest classic, with wide, sweeping bowls and New England style trails that slice through the woods. Both are full service resorts with all the amenities you could want, plus some fine restaurants.
Weekend packages start at $235 a person. They typically include two nights lodging, dinner, breakfasts, lift tickets and a group lesson both days. Midweek rates start at $60, which includes lodging and lift only. The daily rate this season will be $35 on Saturday and $32 Sunday for both areas. For more information, call 800-GOBOYNE.
If you`re in the area for more than a couple of days, plan a day at Nubs Nob, just across the valley from the Highlands. This day-tripper area sports the best trio of advanced slopes in the Lower Peninsula. It`s the locals`
choice. Weekend tickets will be in the $30 range.
Near Cadillac, Caberfae makes a major move this season with the opening of its new North Peak. Coupled with South Peak, which opened four seasons ago, Caberfae`s 485-foot vertical drop arguably offers some of the best advanced/
intermediate cruising runs in the area. Legitimately, the addition of North Peak now makes Caberfae one of Michigan`s major areas. North Peak will be serviced by a new fixed-grip quad.
Introductory offer
To help introduce the new ski area, they`re offering one of the best weekend deals in the Lower Peninsula-$69 a person buys two nights of lodging and skiing. Call 616-862-3333 for package details. Daily weekend rates will be around $25.
Other good bets in Lower Michigan are Sugar Loaf and Crystal Mountain near Traverse City, and Shanty Creek/Schuss Mountain near Mancelona.
Sugar Loaf offers some of the most stunning views in the area with Lake Michigan`s blue-gray waters and Manitou Islands as a backdrop. In addition to some long cruising runs, its 500-foot vertical drop boasts two of the best steep slopes in the Midwest-Awful-Awful and Manitou Extreme, which doubles as an FIS (Federation of International Skiers) sanctioned racing hill.
New this year will be an expanded kids program for the 3- to 5-year-old age group and a renovated dining room. This is a full service resort with hotel and condominium accommodations plus amenities such as a pool and health facilities. Weekend packages start at $155, which includes two night`s lodging, skiing and meal. Midweek lift and lodging rates start at $52. Daily weekend rates will be $32. Call 800-748-0117 for more information.
Crystal is the ”Little Big Man” of Michigan skiing. It seems much bigger than its 385-foot vertical drop. It`s a great family area that offers some good advanced/intermediate slopes and lots of novice to low/intermediate trails. As testament to its appeal, Crystal ranks annually among the top 10 resorts nationally for NASTAR participants. A variety of lodging, a new indoor pool and a fitness center are available. Weekend packages start at $169 a person. Midweek packages start at $54, and kids sleep and ski free if mom and dad are on a package plan. Daily rates will be $32 on Saturday and $28 on Sunday. Call 800-968-7686 for more information.
Schuss/Shanty also offers a nice weekend retreat. Schuss has the more challenging slopes with its 400-foot drop. Shanty`s slopes appeal more to beginners and low intermediates. Snowcountry Magazine rated the combination as one of the top 10 downhill resorts in the Midwest in 1990, and as one of the top 10 cross-country resorts this year (1992). A new advanced slope will open this season. Weekend packages start at $145, and midweek at $80. The midweek price includes dinner and breakfast. Kids 17 and under ski and sleep free midweek when accompanied by parents. The daily weekend rates will be $32. Call 800-678-4111.
All of the above are within an hour`s drive of each other, and approximately five to six hours drive time from Chicago. They are blessed with an abundance of lake effect snow, and normally have long reliable seasons. Boyne regularly stays open well into April.
Wisconsin
Devil`s Head and Cascade, both around 500-foot verticals, are just north of Madison, Wis. They were voted the top two day-trip destination areas in the Midwest by SKI Magazine in 1991. They`re also two to three hour`s drive time from Chicago.
Devil`s Head, along the beautiful Baraboo Bluffs overlooking the Wisconsin River Valley, is long on intermediate cruising runs, but short on advanced terrain. It may well have the best beginner terrain in the Midwest. There`s a two-mile run from the top of the mountain back to the lodge. The runs are immaculately groomed. This is a full-service resort with a country club-like atmosphere. It caters to singles and families, with weekend packages starting at $115, which includes lodging, lifts and meals. A similar weekday package starts at $90. Daily weekend lift tickets will be $29. Day skiing is $25. Call 800-338-4579.
Just down the road and off Interstate Highway 90/94 is Cascade. They don`t have slope-side lodging, but will help arrange lodging packages with several small motels in the area. The 460-foot vertical offers enough challenges for all ability levels. Weekend crowds can be huge, but they`re helped along by three quads, two triples, a double and a couple of surface tows (12,000 per hour).
This season Cascade is adding another triple for the beginners area and adding more terrain for beginners. The day lodge also was expanded. The area doesn`t permit snowboards. Weekend packages start at $128 and include lodging at a nearby motel, skiing and meals at the Snowstar Chalet at Cascade. Midweek packages start at $57. Daily weekend lift rates will be $26. Call 800-992-2SKI.
Rib Mountain
Farther north, near Wausau, sits Rib Mountain. It has the longest vertical drop in the state at 628 feet and one of the longest in the Midwest. Rib offers no-frills skiing with most of the runs wide and made for cruising. There`s even some open slope skiing reminiscent of high-altitutde Western areas. The narrow chutes off Rib will entice advanced skiers. The weekend lift rate is $23. There are no lodging packages available.
The setting is very European-like with the city of Wausau nestled at the base of the mountain and visible from the ski area.
Contact the Wausau Area Convention and Visitors Council at 800-236-WSAU for more information.
About 3 1/2 hours from Chicago are three areas worth checking out, one each in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.
In Wisconsin, La Crosse is a skiers` mountain with a 516-foot vertical drop and some of the steepest runs in the Midwest. Most of the runs are cut through rocky bluffs with headwalls and chutes. Damnation, the first run you see from the parking lot, is the only true double-black expert run in the Great Lakes area. There are other ways down, including a mile-long
intermediate run that`s cruiser friendly. The area has limited beginner terrain.
La Crosse deal
La Crosse has a midweek package for $35, which includes one
nights` lodging and skiing for two days. Weekend packages start at $110 a person. Lodging is in nearby La Crosse. Call 800-426-3665.
From La Crosse, it`s about a two-hour drive to Sundown near Dubuque, Iowa, and Chestnut near Galena, Ill. The two make a nice weekend package. They`re about 30 miles apart on bluffs above the river. Both have good vertical drops of around 475 feet.
Skiing is just part of the experience in this historic area, which could be dubbed the ”Lake Tahoe of the Midwest” because of the riverboat gambling offered in both river ports. There also are a number of B&Bs in this historic area.
On a river bluff in northeastern Iowa is Sundown, and about 30 miles away is Chestnut. Both areas offer good skiing with lots of intermediate runs. Chestnut has a little more for the advanced skier. Sundown has added a beginners chair and more terrain for beginners. Chestnut, which has an excellent beginners area, has added more snowmaking capacity.
Sundown is a ski area only, but works with the local lodging industry to provide packages. Call 800-397-6676 for details. Chestnut is a full-service resort with a lodge with accommodations and dining facilities. Weekend packages start at $199, which includes lodging for two nights, all meals and skiing. For more information on Chestnut packages, call 800-397-1320. The daily weekend lift ticket at both ski areas will be $25 this season. –
