Midwest Upper Midwest 2019-2020

[Ski4Ever]

Vid of the 1st annual Whitecap GNAR contest, enjoy! Definitely highlights some of whitecap's unique qualities (lol)

great video. Too bad WC will never do anything fun like that. You caught the essence of the hill. Great snow. Great runs. Sucky run down lodge.

 

[Beach Bum]

To quote Queen, "Another One (Storm) Bites the Dust."

Potential for 10" - 14" is down to 0-2" in just 48 hours' time. Weather watches are being taken down quicker than the NWS browser can update. Story of 2019/2020 winter here locally.

 

[wallyk]

I feel like this has been an average winter overall. Maybe a little milder than normal. I've gotten 15 days in thus far and I should get to 25 with the trip out west we have planned and several local days coming up.

Pow days in the midwest are pretty rare IMO. Unless you live in the UP it's pretty hard to get more than 2-3 of them a year.

After last year had to disagree with the temps, at least in the Twin Cities , being somewhat "normal." Last year was horrible for skiing........Have 15 days here and the snow at Welch has been fantastic. Hats off the grooming this year.......We got 1 "powder day" and that was pretty sweet (easy to imagine the PugSkiers in the big mountain states just laughing at the MN)

 

[wallyk]

FYI stay away from Welch this weekend.........race finals on Sat and Sunday.

 

[focker]

FYI stay away from Welch this weekend.........race finals on Sat and Sunday.

What times? We were planning on skiing there Saturday night...

 

[Mister Tea]

 

[Dwight]

March 7-8th tentatively heading to the Bessemer, Hurley area for the weekend if anyone might be up there. Hopefully snow will be decent.

 

[Beach Bum]

The evolution of an era continues, the era of Midwest skiing that largely began in late 70s / early 80s. Owners are moving on, times aren't great.

Big Powderhorn in the UP and Christie Mountain in north-central WI are both up for sale.

 

[Dwight]

I haven't heard anything on Big Powderhorn, is there a public link? Not surprising in the Mid-West since most hills are privately owned by families who are aging.

 

[Beach Bum]

Can't get to it right now but check liftblog.com and a few blog posts ago has a link to it. $2.4M

 

[Dwight]

Thanks @Beach Bum for the info. Actually, 2.4M isn't too bad, depending on what the current financials are.

 

[Dwight]

Curious if a resort in Ironwood area had a high speed lift, do you think it would attract more customers and by how much?

 

[Beach Bum]

Curious if a resort in Ironwood area had a high speed lift, do you think it would attract more customers and by how much?

I love the terrain, the snow, scenery, and just being up there. I despise the lift situation but not as much the lack of HSQs but more the no bars and old Riblet pole in middle lifts.

It scares me when kids are 50'+ in air. We all did it as kids, but still, many states mandate bars by law, not MI.

BP has two mini peaks with two doubles each shooting up to top. Would love to see the four lifts taken down and replaced with HSQ or even attached quads. It's a lot more than 2.5M to do that.

Whitecap has such low vert the lifts work okay, but could still be upgraded. Indianhead 100% should get high speeds there with the highest vertical in area. Maybe one day.

I do think for some reason, a hunch, that skier visits to the UP will go up in coming years.

 

[Dwight]

Maybe if the casino comes to Indianhead a HSQ might come. I know there has been some research done on HSQs but now sure how much.

 

[focker]

Maybe if the casino comes to Indianhead a HSQ might come. I know there has been some research done on HSQs but now sure how much.

I do think the extremely clunky lifts there can keep people away somewhat. But the cost of installing modern lifts is likely more than they can financially handle.

 

[Dwight]

Warming happening this month for sure. At lest the U.P. is still suppose to get some snow this week though.

If nights stay below freezing at night, hills will be ok. If not, then all bets are off.

 

[focker]

It's going to be 55 Saturday and 58 Sunday in the Twin Cities. Get your skiing in now. We're going to be done quickly at these temps.

 

[ADDvanced]

great video. Too bad WC will never do anything fun like that. You caught the essence of the hill. Great snow. Great runs. Sucky run down lodge.

Thanks man. I love it up there. Best terrain in the midwest; way more fun than Indianhead of Powderhorn. The lodge is awful but kind of endearing that way. Would not be surprised if it accidentally lit on fire this year to solve the mold problems they're having in the hot tub area.

Also, March 14th, next saturday, is the water skip/pond skimming contest at little switz. It's going to be rad, can't wait.

 

[Dwight]

Looks like 3-4" of new snow last night in the Bessemer area. Heading up tonight. Ski destination, yet to be determined.

 

[Dwight]

Blackjack it will be, in patrol geary.