-
For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.
Midwest Upper Midwest 2019-2020
- Status
Here in Duluth, Mt du Lac opened last weekend, Spirit Mountain opens Friday, and up north Giant’s Ridge is open this coming weekend.
Lutsen will be open this weekend also.
Lutsen will be open this weekend also.
Thread Starter
TS
My local hill is trying to open this weekend. They have the coverage, but 40s and rain all day could put that on hold. All week in the 40s. Extendend forecast for some some snow after Thanksgiving.
Thread Starter
TS
Some good more good news at Whitecap.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2018
- Posts
- 378
Major snowstorm unfolding in the far N/NW Midwest. Wish it was impacting my region as well but just rain and wind here. Lucky for those in the UP, could get a foot or more tomorrow with another foot this weekend. Only a few resorts are open though. Maybe Lutsen is the place to be next week.
Thread Starter
TS
My home is on snow/rain line. I have to move it 10 miles North to get snow. 
Thread Starter
TS
4" of concrete snow on the Southern end of the storm. More to come.
U.P. and upper Wisconsin is getting pounded though.
U.P. and upper Wisconsin is getting pounded though.
I don't see how that's good news. They're spending too much time on ambiance and not enough effort on improving the actual hill. I want to book for new years but I'm not even confident they'll have the lifts running.
Thread Starter
TS
Like most hills, they seem to be working on all aspects. It all takes, time and money. And when your main lodge burns down, you sometimes have to shift priorities around.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2018
- Posts
- 83
Interesting article on declining visits and increasing operational losses at Spirit: http://www.startribune.com/duluth-s-spirit-mountain-bailout-signals-deeper-troubles/565992721/
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2016
- Posts
- 527
Bazaar, how do you lose 67% of your visits in 4 years? Was the weather really bad last year?
Interesting read. As a new Twin Cities local, I had no idea Spirit was struggling so much.
I really enjoyed the terrain during my trip there during the 2018 season, although I will say it was so unbearably cold in February that I could only muster a few hours before calling it a day. I should probably give it another chance.
What I find really bizarre is that Northern Minnesodans would cancel snowmobile races just because of a little blizzard.
Thread Starter
TS
24" in one day. No semis could move to get there.What I find really bizarre is that Northern Minnesodans would cancel snowmobile races just because of a little blizzard.
Thread Starter
TS
hmm, losing that many skiers, says other issues are in play. Don't know what they though.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2018
- Posts
- 378
Yeah..Sounds like earlier numbers were massively inflated, you don't drop off by that much in so little time. Now I'm just speculating, but if so that's a serious matter in itself.
My kids learned to ski at Spirit Mountain, but to be honest, we haven't been back for 7-8 years, maybe more... not really sure why I guess. Partly because we can do a trip out west for a similar per day/per person cost I suppose. And on those terms, most everyone would opt for the mountains over an 800' hill.
With that said, my son is now at UMD, so chances are we'll hit Spirit Mtn at some point this winter. But the $65/day rate for MN skiing is a bit more than I care to spend in general... could be many others feel the same.
Edit to add: Spirit also seems to be one of the last in MN to open for some reason, year in and year out. Many years ago, pre-kids, pre-Internet, me and a buddy drove from the Twin Cities up to Spirit mid-week in mid-December only to find they were not open. Buck Hill, Wild Mountain, Afton and everyone else had already been open for a couple of weeks. We ended up driving back to Wild Mountain and skied there instead.
With that said, my son is now at UMD, so chances are we'll hit Spirit Mtn at some point this winter. But the $65/day rate for MN skiing is a bit more than I care to spend in general... could be many others feel the same.
Edit to add: Spirit also seems to be one of the last in MN to open for some reason, year in and year out. Many years ago, pre-kids, pre-Internet, me and a buddy drove from the Twin Cities up to Spirit mid-week in mid-December only to find they were not open. Buck Hill, Wild Mountain, Afton and everyone else had already been open for a couple of weeks. We ended up driving back to Wild Mountain and skied there instead.
- Status