The Official Michigan Winter Thread

[david_z]

Originally Posted by sabatoa

If you have a passport you can get to Killington in 11 hours going through Ontario. They have 3000 vert.

Depends how much vert you're looking for... Lutsen is like 14 hours away you've got better options than that

• Seven Springs in PA has 760ft vert and you can make it there in 6 hours tops I think.
  
• I think you can get to Whiteface NY in 6 or 7 hours, they have over 3,400' vert which is the longest vertical in the East coast.
  
• Snowshoe WV is about a 7-8 hour drive IIRC and they have 1500' vertical. They may be opening as early as this weekend thanks to Sandie.
  
• Otherwise you are stuck going the distance to VT (~3,000) which like Sabatoa says is easily 11 hours through Canada if the borders are clear.
  
• Mont Tremblant/Mont Saint Anne/etc., (~2,000+) up around Montreal are also within the 11hr range.

[chomps1211]

Originally Posted by sabatoa

If you have a passport you can get to Killington in 11 hours going through Ontario. They have 3000 vert.

Oh Hey, Thanks!! Took a quick look at the link, At a glance, that actually looks really promising! I'll check it out in more detail. Have you actually been there?

BTW, I drive a big rig & have my "Fast Card" so I wouldn't even need a passport! (...They background check, interrogate & vette you pretty good before giving you one of those!)

[sabatoa]

haha, I really have no idea what's at Brighton either. I've only been on one area of the hill. Once I got better I just never went back.

Chomps, did you buy a pass anywhere? You ride so much, you seem like a candidate for one.

I meant to chime in on the big air thing earlier. Last season I got into jumps for the first time. I can tell you that when you do it right, the landing feels like warm apple pie. So smooth, so perfect. I've been dreaming of my next chance to hit some.

Most of my jumping was a little kicker at Caberfae but I later graduated to bigger ones at the Boynes. Haven't stuck them there yet but it was so late in the season that I started that I didn't have a whole lot of time.

I need Leo or someone willing to just to do jump laps with me. I mention Leo because he specifically said he wants to work on jumps this season.

[david_z]

Originally Posted by chomps1211

Oh Hey, Thanks!! Took a quick look at the link, At a glance, that actually looks really promising! I'll check it out in more detail. Have you actually been there?

BTW, I drive a big rig & have my "Fast Card" so I wouldn't even need a passport! (...They background check, interrogate & vette you pretty good before giving you one of those!)

I rode Killy for 2 days over Christmas break back in like 1997. My dad & I spent all day on Friday driving there, and all day on Monday driving home. Saturday was good, Saturday night it snowed 11 inches, Sunday was pretty epic. My dad lasted all of about 3 runs before he headed to the lodge to sip coffee until 4pm when I was done.

But it was so long ago I don't really remember much about it, and didn't really spend enough time to familiarize with the mountain. It was fun, but it was also I think the first time I had ever boarded outside of Michigan.

[chomps1211]

Originally Posted by sabatoa

...Chomps, did you buy a pass anywhere? You ride so much, you seem like a candidate for one.

Yeah, I really need to, I just haven't settled on a place yet. Boyne is too far to go to make enough trips for a pass pay off, and like I said, I've only "really" checked out PK and 3 or 4 trips to Holly! I like 'em both,.. (for what they are!)
...but they are both over an hours drive from home (...add 30 min. more from work) & with the price of gas, they are both a lot of $$$ to visit often! MT. Brighton's only 20 min., not sure about Alpine yet!

Originally Posted by sabatoa

...I need Leo or someone willing to just to do jump laps with me. I mention Leo because he specifically said he wants to work on jumps this season.

Oh,.. good, so you have been in touch with Leo? I was a little concerned cuz he used to post here so frequently!!! Didn't his wife just have a baby recently?

[MikeIn248]

Originally Posted by david_z

• Seven Springs in PA has 760ft vert and you can make it there in 6 hours tops I think.
  
• I think you can get to Whiteface NY in 6 or 7 hours, they have over 3,400' vert which is the longest vertical in the East coast.

That's realistic for Seven Springs in good weather. One thing about it though -- the front of the mountain is something in the 400-500 vertical range. It's the back side that's got the 750. Just be aware if the back isn't open yet, you're not getting the full vertical. Supposedly they've got amazing parks, but I'm not much for the park so I can't comment. (Last time I was at Seven Springs was about 5 years ago or so. Will probably be heading there for 3-4 days later this season.)

No way you're getting to Whiteface from SE Michigan in 6 or 7 hours. 10-1/2 is more realistic. I had a season pass there a couple years back. The problem with getting to Whiteface from Michigan is where you cross back into New York. I tend to cross at Cornwall, Ontario, then approach the Adirondacks from the north. I've done that drive a couple times with the last hour or so in total blizzard/whiteout conditions. Not fun. I've come from the south only when I've been elsewhere first (Pittsburgh or Cleveland).

I've heard people recommend Tremblant from Michigan for the convenient drive (also 10 hoursish). All expressway until the last few miles. But I haven't been there yet.

The Vermont times mentioned are spot on for good weather. For me it's about 11-1/2 hours to central Vermont/Killington (only been to Killington once, but have been to Pico several times). And about 12-1/2 to Sugarbush, where I go somewhat regularly (didn't go last season due to general lack of snow when I had the vacation time). I've driven to VT a bunch of times in a single day. (Last day riding I start home and grab a room somewhere and drive the rest of the way the next day.)

Two other places within striking distance worth mentioning. Holiday Valley and Bristol in western New York. Bristol's about 6-1/2 hours. It has around 1200 vertical. Couldn't give a direct time for Holiday Valley. It's probably quicker to go south of Lake Erie if that's your destination. I used to have relatives living near SUNY Buffalo and would stay with them and do Bristol or HV from their place. I don't have a place to crash there anymore, but have gone to Bristol for long weekends when I don't have the time to go all the way to VT. I personally prefer Bristol to HV,

[sabatoa]

Originally Posted by chomps1211

Yeah, I really need to, I just haven't settled on a place yet. Boyne is too far to go to make enough trips for a pass pay off, and like I said, I've only "really" checked out PK and 3 or 4 trips to Holly! I like 'em both,.. (for what they are!)
...but they are both over an hours drive from home (...add 30 min. more from work) & with the price of gas, they are both a lot of $$$ to visit often! MT. Brighton's only 20 min., not sure about Alpine yet!



Oh,.. good, so you have been in touch with Leo? I was a little concerned cuz he used to post here so frequently!!! Didn't his wife just have a baby recently?

Yeah I actually talk to Leo all the time. We were out on the town last Friday gettin our drank on. haha (Think we drove by your office Dave)

He's super busy with the kids, work and school. He doesn't even have time to surf the forums now because he's home a lot with the kids while wife works.

The thing that kills me Chomps is that the commuter hills down here charge so damn much for season passes, it's criminal. I suppose they have enough people buying them or else the price would be lower but damn.

[turbospartan]

I don't live in MI anymore, but thought I'd give my opinion on some options for "local" places to go.

I see that some of you have mentioned 6-10 hour drives. Mt Bohemia shows as taking about 10 hours from Detroit, but I bet you could make it in 8 or 9 depending on the weather. My family has a cabin up in the Keweenaw and I used to go up every single summer, so I'm familiar with the drive. Once you get over the bridge... its pretty much all just 2 lane "highway" with long stretches of nothing (stretch from Engadine to Munising, Marquette to Houghton, etc.).

You could do Bohemia (which is actually a pretty bad ass place to ride, especially for the midwest - 790' vertical) as well as a couple of stops in the UP, such as the Porcupines (641' vertical), Mont Ripley (right at Michigan Tech, 440' vertical), Marquette Mountain (604' vertical), Ski Brule (500' vertical), etc.

Obviously a trip to the east could provide more vertical (NH, VT, NY, etc), but there are some options in MI and it would probably be a pretty cool road trip to hit up all of the UP resorts. Also, I would assume that it could be a low budget type trip (besides the fuel).

[david_z]

I almost mentioned the UP specifically Porkies/Boho but they don't blow snow so it's hit or miss.

It is nearly 600 miles to Boho I don't think there's any way you can make that in 8 or 9 hours in the winter, and if you could, chances are there isn't enough snow to be worth your time


FWIW I am planning a trip there in late January. Tried to do it last year but the weather was shit and we ended up not going.

[chomps1211]

Hey guy's,
I'm on the road at work, (...NO, not texting n drivin' my big rig!)
Just a brief responce to the BoHo recmmndtion. I was aware of the place but it sounded a bit beyond my present skills & ability. Lots of cool looking "Off Piste" lookin' stuff. Cliff drops, glades, the works.

Maybe next year if my degree of progression continues at the rate it has. (...especially if I get a full season of "GOOD" riding n snow this year!!!

Got my Fingers crossed and "Snow Dancin'" up a storm!!!

Pun intended!