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The Official Michigan Winter Thread

490K views 8K replies 153 participants last post by  sabatoa 
#1 ·
Alright everyone since Summer is over, fall has just begun and we've already had our first rail jam of the year, it's time to start a new thread for the 10/11 winter.

Last year we had the "Southeast" michigan thread, but I think we should do all of Michigan. Sure, most of population lives in S/E michigan but we all ride the same resorts in the LP and even the UP if we get a chance, so we should have one thread to bring everyone together.

Cheers everyone we're probably only like 70 days from open resorts!
 
#6,583 ·
Z is famous now!!!!

I would buy a pass (love Caberfae's South Peak and the "Backcountry Terrain" - dropping in off the Smiling Irishman) if I knew I could get out there several times this season. Since I am no longer coaching baseball (I would have Winter indoor practices on the weekends) it frees up my time but my riding buddy coaches youth basketball and his weekends are hosed. We used to get the Michigan White Gold Card and take a couple of Friday-Sunday weekends each season. Friday - Nubs Nob, Saturday - Boyne Highlands, Sunday - Boyne Mountain. The 2nd weekend would be Friday - Caberfae, Saturday - Shanty/Schuss, Sunday - Crystal (my least favorite...).

Anyone planning a trip to Mt. Bohemia? Still have never been there. A guy from Sierra/Trusnow plans a trip up there every winter, calls it PowPowPalooza.


 
#6,585 ·
Z is famous now!!!!

I would buy a pass (love Caberfae's South Peak and the "Backcountry Terrain" - dropping in off the Smiling Irishman) if I knew I could get out there several times this season.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr_4yppLSt8
Cabbie is by far the best value for the money, while the park is lacking, the terrain is good, plenty of bonks & side hits, and they're lax about letting you duck ropes & ride the trees, the "backcountry" is tits on a powder day, too. I usually make it up there 5 or 6 days a year so that's enough to justify the weekend pass, this year we're relocating to Rockford so Cab will be a lot closer (1.5 h instead of 3 h) so I will probably end up with the full season pass there as well as Cannonsburg.


Anyone planning a trip to Mt. Bohemia? Still have never been there. A guy from Sierra/Trusnow plans a trip up there every winter, calls it PowPowPalooza.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr_4yppLSt8
I'm always interested in Boho but the drive is killer and it's very hit-or-miss depending on the weather.

There's a few other guys on the forum who try to go each year, I think @slyder coordinates a trip from WI.

Travel plans for this winter include hopefully getting to Searchmont Ontario, and back to Seven Springs PA. If I'm real lucky I always want to try and get out West, too, but with 2 kids and new house I don't know if I'll be able to swing it.
 
#6,586 ·
I only get to Cab once or twice a year, they're cheap enough for day tickets that there's no point for me to get the season pass.

It's not much longer for me to get up to the bigger hills, so...

I'm warming up to the idea of Boho, I may end up joining @Deacon and @slyder when they go because it seems like the only place suitable for a meetup with Wisconsin people.

I don't know your skill level, but Boho is pretty gnarly for low-intermediates. It's ungroomed steeps with drops and trees- all at the same time. I'm probably at the point where I could have a lot of fun there now, but in previous years it wouldn't have been as much fun for me.
 
#6,587 ·
I don't know your skill level, but Boho is pretty gnarly for low-intermediates. It's ungroomed steeps with drops and trees- all at the same time. I'm probably at the point where I could have a lot of fun there now, but in previous years it wouldn't have been as much fun for me.
I think I'm up for it.

We were booked for 4 days at MoBo back at the end of January, 2013, but cancelled since they still were not open due to lack of snow. We replaced it with a tour of B-Highlands, B-Mountain, Nubs, Cab. That was the last year I had the White Gold Card. Since then my buddy has been screwing up his winters by coaching basketball...
 
#6,588 ·
Hmnn,.. Did the math. Of the 5 places I ride regular,.. There's little or no savings over their reg ticket prices for a one day visit.

However,.. If I make one side trip to Cab next season, bite the bullet and ride a day @ Brighton? (...I hate mt. Brighton. :(). Try Alpine Valley when they've actually had sum snow, and,.. consider a trip to the UP? :blink:

Then that cards definitely a bargain!!
 
#6,590 ·
The price has increased over the years. The firs year we did it (2011?) I think it was $179. From what I remember the next 2 years were $199.

It includes a free tune-up and 3 hot waxes (board, not Brazilian). A lift ticket at the Boynes costs about $55-60, so going to each Boyne and 1 day at Nubs paid for the card (back when I used to get it). Then the tune-up and hot waxes are free. One day at a local hill (Brighton, Alpine, Holly) and you're ahead of the game.

At $249 you would have to visit ~5 different places to break even.

It is good for people looking for strange... hills to ride.
 
#6,594 ·
Yep those are pipe gloves. And a cotton/hemp hoodie. I don't think it was very cold that day. At least, I didn't think it was.

I HATE jackets with a passion and only wear them when it's like zero degrees or hella windy.

My hands tend to overheat so I usually just do pipe/spring gloves unless I'm lapping tow rope, then I have to go with the Kincos which are also my colder weather gloves.
 
#6,596 ·
I wish Boyne would post up their college pass prices for this season. Something, anything, to make me feel like winter is on the way.

I need some new boots for this coming season, my DC Judges were always a bit too small and it's been a few seasons now so it's time to move on. I think I'm going to stick with my board and see how she rides and my new playing weight. It might have more pop than I'm used to.

My daughter is six now, too old to ride free, so I need to pick up a pass for her this season. Kinda cray.
 
#6,597 ·
I wish Boyne would post up their college pass prices for this season. Something, anything, to make me feel like winter is on the way.

I need some new boots for this coming season, my DC Judges were always a bit too small and it's been a few seasons now so it's time to move on. I think I'm going to stick with my board and see how she rnides and my new playing weight. It might have more pop than I'm used to.

My daughter is six now, too old to ride free, so I need to pick up a pass for her this season. Kinda cray.
Cabbie sounding better every day eh? :)
 
#6,600 ·
Early or late in the season when all the runs aren't open,..? Cab is -meh- If it's crowded also,..? It goes from -meh- to DAFUQ?? :dunno: Full open,… Cab is actually pretty good! But it does get CRAZY crowded!!

Do the math,… Shorter drive +Decent terrain +cheapest lift prices around = higher mid week crowds with Weekends/Holidays SUPER ShitShow squared!!! :blink:

That said,… it is worth a visit!! :grin:
 
#6,602 ·
This is showing a cold and snowy winter for us:



In the end weather predictions are just that, predictions. No one really knows what's going to happen, just do your daily snow-dance for the snow-gods.

Holy hell, can you size images before posting them on a thread?
 
#6,603 ·
Speaking of that new lift, I see Cab updated their trail map to show where it's unloading. This is a pretty major improvement.

With two lifts servicing the top of the hill, it's really going to cut down on the quad line. From the looks of it, the new lift will better service Canyon so that you don't have to skate for 50 yards after unloading.

Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf Resort | TRAIL MAP

This may be a game changer for the experience at Cab.
 
#6,606 ·
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the Fourth Phase. I'm planning on getting a little watch party the day I get it with my nephew and do an Art of Flight/Fourth Phase marathon to get us stoked.

We have our annual Boyne Thanksgiving trip booked- hopefully we won't have to cancel again this season. Two years ago it was perfect, last season we canceled and I don't think I rode until the last week of December.

Where do you ride ctoma? North west lower peninsula (Cadillac and north towards Petoskey) get lots of snow during a normal winter.
 
#6,607 ·
A viewing party for The Fourth Phase? My invitation must have been lost in the mail...

We went to Boyne Highlands last year 12/28 - 12/30. Snow conditions were poor, just a few lifts and runs were open.

I haven't been riding much locally due to coaching youth baseball (indoor practices throughout the winter on weekends really interferes with getting up north). Since my son decided to retire from travel baseball I am no longer coaching so my winter weekends have been freed up.

I used to get the MSIA White Gold Card and my buddy and I would use it at Nubs, B-Highlands, B-Mountain, Caberfae and then the SE MI hills - Holly, Alpine, Brighton, Pine Knob.

We take an annual trip west and will be returning to Park City in February.
 
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