The Official Michigan Winter Thread

[Leo]

Originally Posted by david_z

No way to know for sure without checking out the other places for comparison AVHC is a privately held company so there's no public financials on them and really no way to tell what they're doing with the money.

Secretive Llama turds...

They need to eat a bowl of dicks.

[turbospartan]

You guys need to start a petition to bring back Riverview Highlands. I was too young (27 now) when it closed to even remember it, but it was only 15 minutes from where my parents live. Now it is only a golf course but still has a "hill".

Found a link in which people are talking about closed resorts in MI: Liftlines Skiing & Snowboarding Forums • View topic - Lost Michigan Ski Areas

[david_z]

That's a pretty cool list of a bunch of closed down spots. Interesting history.

[Leo]

Originally Posted by david_z

That's a pretty cool list of a bunch of closed down spots. Interesting history.

*sniff sniff* Smells like *sniff* a blog.

[david_z]

Originally Posted by Leo

*sniff sniff* Smells like *sniff* a blog.

Hahaha I don't have the time or energy to do what the LSAP people are doing. Actually, I don't even think it's an "organized" thing there is this site for MI, a similar one in New England that I read about ~5years ago called NELSAP (New England Lost Ski Areas Project) and a few others scattered across the country. That's hardcore dedication. Also, I think the people that run these sites tend to be old enough to have lived through the culling in the early 1970s as a result of changes in resort liability, so they actually skied at some of these places and have a personal, nostalgic attachment to preserving the record of those places.

Anyways, I have no desire to do what they're doing. But I'm glad they're doing it. But...

I'm googling some of those spots and if we ever get any snow I'm going hiking. There are a few that look like they have not been turned in to strip malls or subdivisions yet and it would be neat to try and ride one of them.

Fuck. I just wrote a blog.

[boardaddicktd]

Originally Posted by david_z

Alpine Valley Holding Co. owns the following:

• Alpine Valley Michigan
• Alpine Valley Wisconsin
• Bittersweet Michigan
• Devil's Head Wisconsin
• Mt. Holly Michigan
• Pine Knob Michigan

I am not sure it is that much of a conspiracy theory, although it's possible. I think it is probably simpler than that: there are 4 ski hills in metro-Detroit, 3 of them are owned by the same company and the other one (Brighton) leaves a lot to be desired, so AVHCo can act like a de facto monopoly since there's not any substantial competition. This means they charge whatever they can get away with, and have no real incentive to improve their offerings because where else are you going to ride? Nowhere.

well thanks for the info. at least now i know whining won't do me any good. sounds like we might as well get used to being raped.

[boardaddicktd]

Originally Posted by david_z

Fuck. I just wrote a blog.

haha!!!!!!

[david_z]

Originally Posted by boardaddicktd

haha!!!!!!

LOL yeah I actually did start with that paragraph from this thread but turned it in to a standalone post. It is probably about as close to a 6-o'clock-news-heartwarming-human-interest-story as I'll ever write, complete with fancy words and stuff.

[Leo]

I'd blog more, but I don't want to risk getting any more "LEO, EAT A BOWL OF DICKS".

I plan to be a healthy contributor to aGNARchy lol.

[turbospartan]

Originally Posted by david_z

Hahaha I don't have the time or energy to do what the LSAP people are doing. Actually, I don't even think it's an "organized" thing there is this site for MI, a similar one in New England that I read about ~5years ago called NELSAP (New England Lost Ski Areas Project) and a few others scattered across the country. That's hardcore dedication. Also, I think the people that run these sites tend to be old enough to have lived through the culling in the early 1970s as a result of changes in resort liability, so they actually skied at some of these places and have a personal, nostalgic attachment to preserving the record of those places.

Anyways, I have no desire to do what they're doing. But I'm glad they're doing it. But...

I'm googling some of those spots and if we ever get any snow I'm going hiking. There are a few that look like they have not been turned in to strip malls or subdivisions yet and it would be neat to try and ride one of them.

Fuck. I just wrote a blog.

I know the Riverview Highlands one is still a hill. It is a golf course now and not used in the winter. Don't know how strict they are in that area though, if they were to find you poaching runs. Don't see why it would matter other than trespassing.

I can't remember where I was reading it, but there are some spots that look pretty cool in the Upper Penninsula that actually have some decent terrain. The one area though, was a mountain range that is on the private property of some very elite sportsman club. You'd have to do some googling to find out what it was, but it is a very conspicuous situation. This sportsman's club only has room for x-amount of members, and only those people are allowed to use the land. Henry Ford had to throw a ton of money and basically build the road up there to even get a chance to be a member.

From what I remember, a couple of the "peaks" were over 1000' tall. It would be pretty cool to do a man vs. nature trip out there on a splitboard setup... You'd have to camp overnight and what not, as the peaks are deep into the private property.

Sorry for the long rant. Now get a split and start a "tour" of Michigan. Take pics and blog about it.