2019/2020 Midwest Stoke Thread

**uglymoney** · 11-06-2019, 05:57 PM

November 6th. I have been keeping my perennial flowers alive up to now by bringing them in the garage most nights but I think it is hopeless now. Lots of ski areas getting their guns ready to run tonight. Record cold forecast. A few places already open. Seems like more white ribbons should be opening very soon with 24 hour snowmaking weather coming next week even to this area. Hoping to hit one of those this ribbons soon. Have our Chestnut Pass which includes 2 days at Granite and 2 and Lutsen and the Ikon Pass. Ready to roll.

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Full fall post leaf dog walking season. Today was perfect sweatshirt weather.

**shaggy433** · 11-07-2019, 11:35 PM

I was greeted when I got home from work with this story!!

**mcphee** · 11-11-2019, 02:24 PM

When's Chestnut looking to open? And a big LOL to Granite Peak's 1 Day ticket prices

**uglymoney** · 11-11-2019, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by mcphee

When's Chestnut looking to open? And a big LOL to Granite Peak's 1 Day ticket prices

No idea but they started blowing snow last night at about 9 pm.

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**Abol98** · 11-11-2019, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by mcphee

When's Chestnut looking to open? And a big LOL to Granite Peak's 1 Day ticket prices

I thought I was crazy when I saw that. Like $750 to go up there for a weekend from Chicago.

It takes less time to fly to Denver and with our Wilmot epic pa$$ and a cheap hotel in Silverthorne, it's almost a wash.

**uglymoney** · 11-11-2019, 08:58 PM

Yep totally agree on Granite. We were going to spend a weekend up there before they partnered with Chestnut until we saw ticket prices. That being said, we have really enjoyed spending a weekend skiing the place the last 3 years on our passes.

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**Flyoverland Captive** · 11-12-2019, 12:06 AM

(Responding to a post about Wild Mountain that seems to have been deleted... oh well...)

Ah, Wild Mtn. So many memories. I learned to ski there in the mid 70’s; saw the replacement of rope tows with chairs; saw the Wall area opened; new lifts on the bunny hills. Bought 3 cases of Buckhorn beer for $10 across the River in Sconnie then partied in the WM lot until midnite, poaching runs on red sleds (not the Atomic race rockets, the actual shitty plastic red sleds) on the bunny hills. Had my Olin Mark IV’s stolen, then recovered by my lifty buddies in the parking lot, while they gleefully beat the shit out of the thief. Saw a teen girl (patroller’s daughter) get killed by an out-of-control jumper on the lower lip of Wild in the early 80’s. Hung out with a millionaire’s daughter in her limo in the parking lot while she sniffed coke and (unsuccessfully) tried to convince me to bang her in 1984. Left the area shortly after; revisited in 2004, and watched a lifty have a heart attack and drop dead while hiking uphill near the bottom of Ego Alley.

Strange mojo at that hill.

**Millsie1** · 11-12-2019, 11:36 AM

Alpine Valley is open and Wilmot has been blowing snow for awhile. Don't know when Wilmot will open but has to be soon.

**GAPERsauraus REX** · 11-12-2019, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Millsie1

Alpine Valley is open and Wilmot has been blowing snow for awhile. Don't know when Wilmot will open but has to be soon.

Wilmot's FB page mentioned the first week of December. Hopefully they push it forward, but they are a lot less flexible than the old Wilmot that used to open with 5 employees on the hill. I still miss the mulleted lifties playing Kill em All on a random Tuesday night.

**uglymoney** · 11-12-2019, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Flyoverland Captive

(Responding to a post about Wild Mountain that seems to have been deleted... oh well...)

Ah, Wild Mtn. So many memories. I learned to ski there in the mid 70’s; saw the replacement of rope tows with chairs; saw the Wall area opened; new lifts on the bunny hills. Bought 3 cases of Buckhorn beer for $10 across the River in Sconnie then partied in the WM lot until midnite, poaching runs on red sleds (not the Atomic race rockets, the actual shitty plastic red sleds) on the bunny hills. Had my Olin Mark IV’s stolen, then recovered by my lifty buddies in the parking lot, while they gleefully beat the shit out of the thief. Saw a teen girl (patroller’s daughter) get killed by an out-of-control jumper on the lower lip of Wild in the early 80’s. Hung out with a millionaire’s daughter in her limo in the parking lot while she sniffed coke and (unsuccessfully) tried to convince me to bang her in 1984. Left the area shortly after; revisited in 2004, and watched a lifty have a heart attack and drop dead while hiking uphill near the bottom of Ego Alley.

Strange mojo at that hill.

So much happens at these little hills.

I skied Wild in 87/88 or 88/89 early season while a high schooler. We drove up there from Iowa in my Ford Escort, paid cash for a room with my paper route funds. I do remember a strange vibe which we liked about the place but the early season terrain was underwhelming so on a whim and with permission from nobody's parents we drove to Lutsen the next day which was fun. We had to take a tiny one lane tree lined dirt road covered in ice to get to Moose Mountain since you couldn't ski to it yet. Was cruising down the road and ended up running head on into a guy with a little white Nissan Sentra on solid ice. Bounced off with no damage to either car. The guy was cool. First and last time I ran into someone. Hail to the 5 mph bumpers and life before parents tracked their kids on Life360 and the cool guy in the Nissan who laughed it off.

In other news with the help of a solid layer of snow and ice for the arctic air to slide in on we set a record low here in Moose last night at negative 6 we were the official epicentre of cold. Full on white knuckle driving long underwearing winter weather. Invigorating fkna.

Snow tires on 3 of 4 cars and boat off to winter storage in a friends barn this past weekend.

Chestnut blowing shit tons of snow but more hopeful that Sundown will open for the weekend since they are more aggressive in the fall but tend to close earlier than the Nut. At least when they open it is a nice long run with good vert. Either way my daughter and I will be getting some skiing in somewhere even if we have to drive the 2.4 hours to Tyrol.

Edit: Rundown just announced opening for the weekend. FKNA.

https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Su...564821132.html

**skiJ** · 11-13-2019, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by uglymoney

So much happens at these little hills.

I skied Wild in 87/88 or 88/89 early season while a high schooler. We drove up there from Iowa in my Ford Escort, paid cash for a room with my paper route funds. I do remember a strange vibe which we liked about the place but the early season terrain was underwhelming so on a whim and with permission from nobody's parents we drove to Lutsen the next day which was fun. We had to take a tiny one lane tree lined dirt road covered in ice to get to Moose Mountain since you couldn't ski to it yet. Was cruising down the road and ended up running head on into a guy with a little white Nissan Sentra on solid ice. Bounced off with no damage to either car. The guy was cool. First and last time I ran into someone. Hail to the 5 mph bumpers and life before parents tracked their kids on Life360 and the cool guy in the Nissan who laughed it off.

In other news with the help of a solid layer of snow and ice for the arctic air to slide in on we set a record low here in Moose last night at negative 6 we were the official epicentre of cold. Full on white knuckle driving long underwearing winter weather. Invigorating fkna.

Snow tires on 3 of 4 cars and boat off to winter storage in a friends barn this past weekend.

Chestnut blowing shit tons of snow but more hopeful that Sundown will open for the weekend since they are more aggressive in the fall but tend to close earlier than the Nut. At least when they open it is a nice long run with good vert. Either way my daughter and I will be getting some skiing in somewhere even if we have to drive the 2.4 hours to Tyrol.

Edit: Rundown just announced opening for the weekend. FKNA.

https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Su...564821132.html

classic. Saved for posterity...

Thank you... tj

**uglymoney** · 11-14-2019, 07:21 AM

Sweet shot of Chestnut from a barge crew member yesterday.

https://facebook.com/story.php?story...00009567167012

**uglymoney** · 11-16-2019, 11:43 PM

Sundown tonight. For the second year in a row we had our first day of the year there mid November! My nine year old came out crushing it. Kind of makes my head spin - but, as luck would have it, she has an unresolved issue weighting her uphill ski at times so at least I got to coach at her bad habits a bit to feel better about myself while I regained my legs.

**mtuhockey33** · 11-17-2019, 08:56 AM

Anyone make it to Granite yesterday or planning on going today? Wondering if it’s worth it or if it’s too packed for opening. I’ll probably end up going this week some time.

**Beach Bum** · 11-17-2019, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by uglymoney

Sundown tonight. For the second year in a row we had our first day of the year there mid November! My nine year old came out crushing it. Kind of makes my head spin - but, as luck would have it, she has an unresolved issue weighting her uphill ski at times so at least I got to coach at her bad habits a bit to feel better about myself while I regained my legs.

^ That's awesome. My daughter just turned 8 and has skied quite a bit but I wish she could turn like that. She's great! Chestnut's also our "go-to" resort, I've read your posts on it before (just joined here). Will be there Dec 7 wknd for first time then many weekends after that until March.

How's Sundown compared to the Nut?

**uglymoney** · 11-18-2019, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by Beach Bum

^ That's awesome. My daughter just turned 8 and has skied quite a bit but I wish she could turn like that. She's great! Chestnut's also our "go-to" resort, I've read your posts on it before (just joined here). Will be there Dec 7 wknd for first time then many weekends after that until March.

How's Sundown compared to the Nut?

Cool and thanks. I think I deer hunt on the 7th but if things go well I should roll in Sunday morning. Look us up. Also race team isn't that expensive if you want to get your daughter ripping turns. Non competitive starts at $300 I think.

Sundown has the same basic layout as Chestnut and same vertical. Smaller footprint, skinnier runs, less sustained pitch. Great place for the local schoolers and they have a nice big race team and Midwest Freeriders just bought an airbag for this year so it will be interesting to see how that goes down. Always a good park scene. Definitely has more energy and some improvements the last few years as ownership has passed to younger blood. Totally different vibe than the Nut...which decidedly has superior steeper terrain (chair 3 ftw) and a dedicated park on the backside (farside).

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**Millsie1** · 11-18-2019, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by GAPERsauraus REX

Wilmot's FB page mentioned the first week of December. Hopefully they push it forward, but they are a lot less flexible than the old Wilmot that used to open with 5 employees on the hill. I still miss the mulleted lifties playing Kill em All on a random Tuesday night.

Wilmot is opening Friday! Nov. 22. I'll be there in the afternoon!

**uglymoney** · 11-27-2019, 06:51 PM

The weather has gone to shit down here. Way...too...warm...and rainy. All the weather is north and on that note a friend and I will be up in the Twin Cities region at Trollhaugen with the ski groms for racecamp Saturday and Sunday. 7 new today and the forecast looks promising for more so might be good even though that place is a mole hill. Ping me for laps and pocket beers.

**ill-advised strategy** · 11-27-2019, 07:46 PM

We were supposed to get 2 feet here but it rained a lot and slushed and I bet it’ll be 6” when it’s done. Not that I’d return the 6”, but it’s no 2 feet.

**skuff** · 11-27-2019, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by ill-advised strategy

We were supposed to get 2 feet here but it rained a lot and slushed and I bet it’ll be 6” when it’s done. Not that I’d return the 6”, but it’s no 2 feet.

Bummer, the noaa forecast this morning for Champion, MI called for 11"-16" today.

**diggins1712** · 12-02-2019, 03:47 PM

Fellow Midwesterners, I'm curious if you have powder skis in your quiver? If so, how often do you get to use them? Mt. La Crosse is my home hill and I'm wondering if it's worth it to pick up some powder skis.

**GAPERsauraus REX** · 12-02-2019, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by diggins1712

Fellow Midwesterners, I'm curious if you have powder skis in your quiver? If so, how often do you get to use them? Mt. La Crosse is my home hill and I'm wondering if it's worth it to pick up some powder skis.

Yes, but not for skiing in the Midwest.
If I'm lucky, i get 10 days at a real mountain each year, so that's my excuse for having them.

What are you considering a "powder ski?" 120mm underfoot?

I'm in Chicago, so the closest places (Wilmot, Cascade, Alpine Valley, etc) do not warrant skis wider than 90-100mm underfoot even if it snowed 15"+. Due to heavy grooming and zero tree skiing, even that type of snowfall does not last to be skied beyond the day it falls. If that describes Lacrosse, and you dont get to the mountains every year, you're likely not going to use them much, if ever.

Maybe worth it if you can regularly get to Mt. Bohemia, but that's the only place I've ever been in the Midwest that I would want skis wider than 100mm.

**diggins1712** · 12-02-2019, 08:24 PM

Thanks for the helpful response! I’d consider powder skis to be 110ish+ mm underfoot since I’m on 190+ cm (6’6, 215 lbs). I’ve got a 90 mm underfoot for my daily driver, so I should be set there.

That’s a really good point about the fresh powder not lasting long in the MidWest. Mt. LaCrosse is pretty small, so that will definitely hold true there. We’ve had a few 10”+ storms since I’ve lived here, but I haven’t gotten out to ski them yet. My hope is to try and take a sick day during one of the better storms, but that may be wishful thinking!

Prior to kids, I used to get out to real mountains 4-5 days a year, but no so much anymore. Sounds like powder skis would sadly sit in my basement most of the time. Thanks again for your insightful response!

**mtnjam** · 12-03-2019, 12:04 PM

Mount LaCrosse, wow, never thought I'd see someone on here listing that as their home mountain.

I went to school at UW-LaCrosse from '90 to '94 and skied Mt. LaCrosse numerous times when I probably should have been studying. Skied that mountain for free quite a few nights too back when they used a dot matrix printer and it was the in thing to wear all the ski passes you had for the season on the same coat. A black sharpie marker is handy for those kinds of things and they never checked my pass or rarely and if they did and recognized me they didn't care.

As for powder skis at Mt.LaCrosse, I never needed them when I was there even skiing the edges of the runs (where the soft snow is) and that was when we skied on cocktail stirrers. Rossi 7SKs and Rossi 7GSs.
Good memories of that place.

I still remember all the poles I broke at the midstation on whichever lift that has that and the stern lecture I got from the lifty on said lift for coming in hot to the liftline and spraying everyone standing there.

All the cookies I spun in the parking lot in my rear wheel drive rusty Toyota Corolla and all the burgers at the McDonalds near the Trane Mfg. Plant out that way.

Have a drink for me at the Popcorn, Brothers and "The Library" and especially the place that has the fishbowls full of blue curacao and yes, I was there for the Coon Creek "riots" back in 1991 and yes, I did get teargassed.

How long have you been in LaCrosse, do you remember a place just across the big blue bridge called Sabatinos diner which apparently now is a truck stop.

Looks like Cowley Hall got a pretty nice upgrade too, I spent a lot of time in the basement of that place in the radiation lab with Dr. Niekarz. I always had a thing for his daughter and a friend of hers that also became nuc med tech like me.

**diggins1712** · 12-03-2019, 06:11 PM

Sounds like you’ve had some good times in La Crosse! I’ve lived here a little over 3 years, so I don’t know a lot about the history of the area.

I also like to ski the edges at Mt. LaCrosse and I agree powder skis aren’t necessary, although I haven’t been able to get out during or immediately after a big storm. Hopefully this year!