2013 Midwest Chatter Thread

[AK47bp]

I hear ya, Chicago is awesome, Seattle leaves a lot to be desired in comparison.

However most mtn folk in Seattle don't get SAD because when its raining all winter in the city and everyone is jumping off bridges and blowing their heads off its snowing in the mountains. we're jumping off cliffs and smoking nugs in snow caves, getting drunk in parking lots, happy as clams and home by dinner time. I love it.

[uglymoney]

I hear ya, Chicago is awesome, Seattle leaves a lot to be desired in comparison.

However most mtn folk in Seattle don't get SAD because when its raining all winter in the city and everyone is jumping off bridges and blowing their heads off its snowing in the mountains. we're jumping off cliffs and smoking nugs in snow caves, getting drunk in parking lots, happy as clams and home by dinner time. I love it.

Sounds like you need to stay in Seattle. Chicago is flat as a pancake and everybody walks around wearing North Face clothing to look outdoorsy while protecting themselves against the urban winds but other than visiting the awesome lakeshore area or plying the waters offshore there isn't any true wild experience. My stepsons dad who rarely leave Cheekago has visited his son here in Iowa a couple three times and he is amazed at how hilly it is by comparison. Dinner starts at 9:00 pm and any serious boozing sometime later than that. Unless you like hiking flat canal trails there is nothing decent to hike for hundreds of miles. Serious skiers with jobs go to the airport every other weekend to fly to Oootah or Denver. Driving anywhere sucks unless it is Sunday morning but the trains are killer and go everywhere.

I'm sure you'd adapt though. I never get tired of going in there but I like my dinners late.

[waltonhockey05]

Just moved to the Grand Rapids area in June. Anyone have some recs for local hills in the area? Also, are there any mags around GR?

[bushman]

Local hill upgraded. New high speed quad, new lodge at the bottom and Odell's IPA and Surly Furious IPA on tap in the tavern. Woot woot.

[Blizzard7763]

From Chicago, you're better off flying somewhere. $200 round trip to Denver or SLC is pretty normal. There are a few tiny hills near Chicago, but no terrain worth hiking that I know of.

From GR, you can hit bitter sweet, cannonsburg, or timber ridge, but they are all pretty tiny. I live in traverse city and hit crystal and schuss. Think 500ft vert instead of 300 near GR.

[flatNshallow]

Chicago is about 6 hours from Bohemia... A bit of a haul but...


Grand Rapids... Welcome to Michigan where your options are a) ski local fetureless, vertless pimples (Cannonsberg in your case) or b) drive several hours to ski slightly more vert with a few more features.
I would recommend Caberfae if you like to hike for fresh (just go - you'll figure it out.). The vibe is very laid back. Camping allowed (free) and the day brown bag lunch area is twice the size of the cafeteria and has plugs between every table. Crock pot anyone?

Nubs is the furthest from you (in the lower) but has arguably the best terrain in the lower. Similar vibe as Cab, and the best in bounds hike to terrain.

If you're a Vail type guy Boyne Mtn will suit you fine. Actually not a bad option, just steer clear of the pompus Bognered-out arogant assholes that spend 2/3 of their day at the warming hut on Victor... THE place to see and be seen for sure!

Lastly, look at a topo of the west coast... There are lots of options if you're willing to earn your turns. Some even allow for car laps.

[Baja216]

Chestnut is a three hour drive and pretty decent once the get the Apache lift open, and can be real good when warpath is skiing good. I'm over there at least once a week from the other direction on my 99 mm telebombers... Good views, good beer, great snowmaking, decent vertical and pitch. Well run area.

Chicago is one amazing city. Lots to do.

Cascade Mountain is another very similar option like Chestnut. It's also approximately a three hour drive from Chicago. I also think there is a ski bus that leaves from downtown on Saturday mornings that heads to Chestnut, Cascade, Devils Head, and some times Granite Peak.

[Yukonrider]

50 Degrees in Marquette today, all our snow pack (what little we had) is now gone... Will we ever get winter?

[Shredhead]

Chicago is about 6 hours from Bohemia... A bit of a haul but...

More like 9. It's not worth it. I can fly direct into Aspen in <3 or drive it in 16.

Downtown Chicago is a nice city, but I wouldn't move here unless it was a big promotion. Very limited outdoor winter recreational opportunities.
The democratic machine that runs the city and thus the state, can't get a grip on spending or pension reform. This state will be one of the first to default and I hope to be out of here before it does. Anyone that owns property here has already taken a huge hit and it will just get worse.

[kkerley33]

Snow is finally here. Who is going to get at it? And where?

[flatNshallow]

I'm thinking Nubs tomorrow. Green jacket, yellow pants, grey helmet, ridding Bro's (or maestros if the temp drops & it comes down dryer.).

This is gonna be a 3am call - if it fizzles I'm going back to sleep.

[Boom Heir]

Kinda wish I were in Madison to go hit Devils Head. But then again who am I kidding... Have fun with all the snow, and promptly leave the local hill if they groom the shit out of every thing. STUPID MIDWEST

[supermodel159]

Snowday in Waterloo...who is at Sundown?

[Beakjones]

Wife is causing me to stay close to home instead of hitting up the UP this weekend. I am however either hitting Cascade, Devils or TyronesBasement tomorrow. Then Devils again Saturday with a rowdy crew most likely doing our fair share of drinking. Gotta make the midwest fun somehow...

[kkerley33]

If I was closer flat, I'd carpool with you. Nubs appears to be the only place with decent terrain open. Talked with PM today and South peak won't be open until next week at the earliest. :-(

[WhiteHunter]

10k is not worth it. after living in Seahawkville anything you can drive to will feel like skiing a snow bank. flying from Chicago provides a lot of options but the erratic flight conditions out of O'hare will send you into catatonic fits inside of 4 months. Uglymoney will ski on gravel, don't believe anything he says.

P.S. anybody want to ski Revelstoke in February?

[Jag]

Kinda wish I were in Madison to go hit Devils Head. But then again who am I kidding... Have fun with all the snow, and promptly leave the local hill if they groom the shit out of every thing. STUPID MIDWEST

Made the attempt, Hwy 12 at 19 impassable. Took the xc's for a spin & going motor sledding tomorrow, that is, if the world doesn't end..

[flatNshallow]

MichiMag PSA: Today is Boyne's annual 6 for 1 day. They were forecasted to get 12+... get some.

[Baja216]

I left Cascade Wednesday night before the big dump. I'm headed back up there tomorrow morning with my 16 y.o. daughter. From their website it says they got 20 inches!

[Shredhead]

flying from Chicago provides a lot of options but the erratic flight conditions out of O'hare will send you into catatonic fits inside of 4 months.

Flying from ORD is better than thru ORD. If your flights cancelled, you just go home. Last night several thousand slept in the terminal, > 300 flights cancelled.
It really came down hard around 6pm, but fizzled fast and I only got an inch. Blowing 30 with gusts to 51 right now won't make clearing air traffic any easier either.

[Jag]

Gotta love Mad-Town!

[flatNshallow]

Gotta love Mad-Town!

WTF?
Where?
What's the back story?

Snow straved hooligans roll that up in street? Too funny.

[Blizzard7763]

I'd guess he means Madison. college kids. Ha!

[BmillsSkier]

Gotta love Mad-Town!

Brilliant!

[uglymoney]

10k is not worth it. after living in Seahawkville anything you can drive to will feel like skiing a snow bank. flying from Chicago provides a lot of options but the erratic flight conditions out of O'hare will send you into catatonic fits inside of 4 months. Uglymoney will ski on gravel, don't believe anything he says.

P.S. anybody want to ski Revelstoke in February?

Wait what? Lol. We are looking at Revy at the end of February but nothing set in stone yet. Also thinking Red, Kicking Horse, or BIg Sky if we decide to drive. p.s. Chestnut is skiing awesome right now. No gravel.