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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!
 
#3,949 ·
Right on. Just be careful. My problem when it comes to things like this (and your mileage may vary) is that I am a recovering jock; high school football & track, rec league b-ball, collegiate rugby, so even though I'm horribly out of shape compared to when I was 21 and could bench press like 330 pounds (god I sound like a jock just saying that!!!), there is still a lot of latent strength underneath my beer-chiseled abs. It is super easy for me to "overdo" it when the adrenaline kicks in. I haven't been to a gym in over 18 months but I bet I could still put up 225 a few times on the bench. I'd be sore for a fuckin' week afterwards, but I still *can*, and that's what gets me in trouble when I try any of that high-intensity stuff. I don't know when to quit, or I do know when I just refuse to.
 
#3,955 ·
Well, Boyne Mt. and Boyne Highlands look like they are getting some snow! It's mixed with rain but in Boyne falls the forecast is calling for a few inches of accumulation over the next few days! Night time temps are staying around snowmaking cold too.

IT'S a COMING!!!! I really hope that this year I can start riding by or before the end of November!! I'll even try driving up into the UP and trying a new resort if that gets me on a board early! I freakin' can't wait!!! :thumbsup:


...with my new ride getting 34-40 mpg, I should be able to afford to do a LOT more trips north this season!!!! Gas in the truck was about $165-$180 round trip, Renting small car and gas was around $120-40 for a three, four day weekend! NOW, $50-$60 bucks for gas round trip!!!! :yahoo:

Might be the year for checking out Mt. Bohemia too!
 
#3,956 ·
Hear that.

I'm keeping my eye on Wisconsin to see if any of those places might be able to open earlier than MI, but probably not, and even if so not sure a 7-hr drive (one way!) would be worth it. The UP I think is too far for me to stretch an early/pre-season day, you're looking at a minimum 10hrs each way for anywhere beyond Marquette Mountain and even that place is an easy 7+ from Detroit.

The weather is a fickle bitch. Looks promising now, but who knows what the next month will bring.

I can pretty much assure you that nobody north of Apple Mountain will be open prior to Thanksgiving. Caberfae might do it, but I don't think any of the full-service resorts would open early, they just need so much snow and can't really operate on a limited basis; they'd rather preserve the snowfall and open with more base, more trails, more coverage, than tease us with a white ribbon of death on 2 or 3 trails.

That said, the local hills have been known to open prior to Thanksgiving, if there's enough snowfall or cold enough temps to fire up the guns. I'll keep mentioning it but back in 2008 or 2009 I was at Alpine on November 17 with about half the trails open.
 
#3,957 ·
I was up north bow hunting last weekend, staying at my mom's place near Manistee. I woke up at 3am Sunday morning for whatever reason, looked outside and yes, I actually saw some light snow coming down. I smiled a bit and went back to bed.

I know it's a ways off yet, but it will be here soon enough. Groin's not 100% yet but it's getting close, doing light squats and deadlifts again and some light jogging. Can't wait motherfuckers!
 
#3,958 ·
Yeah! I will be pretty much happy as a pig in sh*t if anyplace within a days driving gets open early. It would definitely b great if the locals got open before TG.

As for the UP, Minn, WI, etc. now that I'm over 10 yrs with the Co. This year I have 4 weeks vacation and this is the first time I can split one of those weeks to use for long 3-4 day weekends. I've bid a week in Jan. and Feb. and plan to use the rest of my personal and extra vacation days to hit Highlands for extended weekends a lot this season. Especially since with the pass deal I got near the end of 2012/13, I will be riding all this season for $50-$60 dollars!!!!! :yahoo:

Just got a big $1k plus order for my photo accessory too, so even with the new veh. Payment, pretty sure I will b getting a PK/Holly pass as well. Back to starting work after 4pm again also, so first chair @ PK 2-3 times durring the week, ride 3-4 hours, home, nap, work,... Do it all over again! :D

Less fuel costs, better work shift, season passes? 60+ days this season? Shit yeah!!!! I just might do it!!! ;)
 
#3,966 ·
:thumbsup: If I ever get around to buying my PK pass, I was pretty sure I was going to add the $150 Holly option. Dunno for sure if I should tho. I'd have to get out there, what? 6-7 times before it paid for itself?

I like Holly, but just not sure I'll get there anywhere near as often as I do PK. What do you think? (...just thinking out loud and looking for some rationalizations from the peanut gallery for spending the extra coin!) :laugh: ;)

On a side note: Sab, have you heard from Leo? Think he'll be making it out to the hills much this season?
 
#3,972 ·
Hey Leo! Sorry to hear about the school thing. (...never liked it much myself either.) Glad to hear you'll be making it out more this year. With my new schedule at work, I plan on doing a lot of morning sessions during the week. I like the idea of avoiding the shit show on the weekends. (although, I will likely go on the weekends as well.) ;)

Sab, I hear ya. PK is just the *best* closest option for me. It's not much of a hill unless you like their park.

I do plan on going north to Highlands a lot this season, so if you find yourself planning a trip that way, LMK. Maybe we can hook up on a better hill & you can get a laugh out of all my chairlift blunders! :giggle:

Honestly,... I'm getting seriously antsy to get out!! Can't wait! :thumbsup:
 
#3,977 ·
I hope they have really improved Brighton. Otherwise it really sucks! It's only 20 min. from me and I won't go there. Too bad I'm not a park rider!

Any idea if they've replaced those 50+yo antiques they called chairlifts? What about any improvements to the regular runs? Any chance they lengthened something to more than .2 mi.?
 
#3,978 ·
They definitely put in some new lifts might have replaced all of them I don't remember for sure what they said, also replaced some of those surface lifts or removed them altogether I think, regraded a few of the runs, probably added some dirt, refurb'd the entire lodge facility, brand new equipment for the rental gear, etc., tons of new terrain park features shipped out from Keystone and North Star's factories, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/mtbrightonski
 
#3,979 ·
I grew up at Alpine. I went every day for 6 years or so, averaged about 100 days / year. I have not been there since '87. Looking forward to taking my kids there at least once this year. Mostly nostalgic for me. If I could jut get them to bast Kiss - Heavens on Fire, while I'm there.
 
#3,982 ·
Well money is tight for us this year since we just recently closed on a purchase of some property up near Manistee, so I'll be spending the vast majority of my weekends at Crystal since I already have the season pass. I will probably hit Caberfae once or twice and Boyne for a weekend or two but that will be it. I am with Leo, I have zero interest in doing any park stuff so I doubt I will spend any considerable time at Hawk Island this year.

Sab I told you I'd lift with you but the only hell of it is that I use my lunch hour for it. My office MAY be moving downtown at some point so I might wind up using the YMCA there if you ever want to meet up. No big deal, offer on the table.
 
#3,989 ·
Davidz is correct. I buy the unlimited epic pass every year for 639.00. 5days in the snow out west and the pass is paid for and the savings begin.

Now with Brighton in the Midwest, its a no brainer.

It's a 5hour drive for me, but weekend trips with no pass fess will be worth it.
 
#3,997 ·
Was this the pic you were trying to use? I couldn't see it in your post.

Awesome!! Hope it sticks around. I'd be great if they got enough to open super early. I've only been to Caberfe once, late season in spring 2011. I was still kind of sketchy linking turns, and as crowded as it was, with all the little intersecting side trails. I wasn't all that impressed. Of course I had to stick to the easiest trails at that time, so that first impression is skewed a bit. But if they open first, I will definitely get up there!

I'd love to be able to get some turns in in early Nov. That'd give me a real leg up on my 50+ goal for this season.
 
#3,996 ·
Sugar Loaf news...I just don't see this working. Not the right setting/community for this to actually work. The website was updated.. Home below is a brief report from the inspection.....

Liko Smith Completes Inspection Of Sugar Loaf Resort
Snowboarders Mecca Planned for Thanksgiving 2014
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TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- After a Physical assessment of the long shuttered Sugar Loaf resort, new owner and extreme entrepreneur Liko Smith and consultants feel confident of a Thanksgiving 2014 opening of his new Snowboarders Mecca, The RoK at Sugar Loaf. The team has completed their initial assessment and are now organizing costs and work schedules.
The 560 acre resort has been closed since 2000. The property consists of a full Ski Resort with 6 Lifts, some of the steepest runs in the Midwest, a warming hut, 2 hotels, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, conference space as well as ski/snowboard rental, retail outlets, and indoor and outdoor tennis courts as well as indoor and outdoor pools. The property also consists of various snowmobile and horse trails. In 2000, the Sugar Loaf Resort was the largest employer in Leelanau County, Michigan. The Sugar Loaf Resort is located at 4500 Sugar Loaf Mountain Road, near Traverse City, Michigan.
On October 3, 2014, Liko Smith hired Blue Water Consulting and Grobbel Environmental to begin a resort, mountain and environmental review respectively. The team along with a member of SMI (Snow Makers International) have completed an initial assessment of The Sugar Loaf Resort. After an initial review of the environmental issues and the Resort and Mountain, the team has concluded that the property is able to be renovated and re-opened along with participation from the municipal and environmental agencies in Michigan.
"The renovation and re-birth of the Sugar Loaf Resort requires vision and determination. There will be many hurdles and challenges faced by the development team over the course of this project. The resort was once a gem stone of the region; it can be again, and the opportunity to be a part of this transformation is priceless." – says Dave Drew, Blue Water Consulting & Development
In a "colorful" update titled "Building Blocks" sent to members of his website, Smith states the following: "...preliminarily, we saw very little that would present any problem to a November 27, 2014 Opening"...he also states "Overall, the walk through of the Resort was a sigh of relief".
Smith plans to open The RoK at Sugar Loaf- "The Worlds' First Snowboarders Mecca" on November 27, 2014. Copies of his update and information on The RoK at Sugar Loaf can be seen at Home.
SOURCE Sugar Loaf Resort
 
#3,998 ·
Sugar Loaf news...
I got his 10-page update yesterday afternoon... Le sigh. Too much to really try to repeat it all here. He talks all the right talk. It's difficult to read it without feeling like he might actually know what he's doing. If you can get past the narcissism and poorly written release. The press releases are equally bad; they're obviously distributed from his camp, probably written by his own hand but designed to read like they are some independent source. Who the fuck describes himself as "extreme entrepreneur" for starters?? What does that even mean? Shit's so 1997.

I just don't see this working. Not the right setting/community for this to actually work.
Neither do I. And not just because I think he's a douchebag of epic proportions. And not just because I think there's some shady shit going on with the property; most likely some or all of the previous owners, who've proven to be basically fuckwads over the last 20 years, are still involved somehow. There is no other reason why public records would not indicate the ownership was transferred, unless they're deliberately trying to hide something. It's perfectly legal to withhold recording a deed, but there are few legitimate reasons to do so.

Where it's situated is great for commuting but shitty for an all-season/full-service resort.

Every big resort already has killer parks. The best he could do is match the parks they have, but then there's the whole "only 500 vertical feet" issue. Why would you ride a miniature version of Park City, if you could actually ride Park City?

The economics are totally fucked.

90% of all visitors will be from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Nobody is getting on an airplane in Seattle and flying to Grand Rapids and driving 3 hours to Sugar Loaf with 500 vertical feet.

There's 40 other ski areas in the state that he's competing with. Nub's Nob has one of the best parks. So does Cannonsburg. So will Mt. Brighton. All other resorts will serve FAMILIES better. This is where they make money. Families don't throw ragers. Families don't trash your rooms. Families stay at the resort, rack up $100s at the restaurant, bar, rental gear, etc.


ugggggh I feel like I could keep going but I will stop now.
 
#4,000 ·
I agree with you guys on Sugarloaf, but at least someone's trying to do something with it. Unless it's all talk of course. It's a shame to see that hill sit empty.

Unrelated note, anybody have any experience with Bonfire gear? I ordered a clearance pair of their pants, the Radiants or something like that and was wondering if they were legit. Supposed to be 15k/10k rating with fully taped seams so I figure for 54 bucks new they were a steal. Any opinions on the brand?
 
#4,003 · (Edited)
I can see that... but at this point I don't care - I have a foursquare coat now and it's brutally cold, made a mistake not getting something with more insulation.

Warmth is important to me now since I went last year constantly battling to have enough layers on. It's not abnormal to be out when it's -20C (-4F), and some of their coats had a great insulation rating for the price.
 
#4,004 ·
I can see that... but at this point I don't care - I have a foursquare coat now and it's brutally cold, made a mistake not getting something with more insulation.

Warmth is important to me now since it's not abnormal to be out when it's -20C (-4F), and some of their coats had a great insulation rating for the price.
Yeah, that is not really a point that I would weigh to heavily. While there are certain brands that I might *like* more, or prefer based on their history, etc., that is really only much of a factor if I'm looking at two or more items that are very similar and similarly priced.
 
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