Jackson Hole

We spent some time skiing powder at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and one day at Grand Targhee in nearby Alta, Wyoming. Jackson got pounded with snow starting last Saturday and continuing till about Wednesday. According to locals, the new snow was overdue.

Now, 100 people can ride the tram in 9 minutes to 10,450 feet to the top of Rendezvous Bowl where the snow is usually light and dry. Corbets Couloir was closed due to exposed rock and thin cover. Backcounty skiing can be accessed nearby through gates for those with the proper tools and training.

Bluebird skies followed the storm system opening up 100 mile views for skiers and riders. After a few sunny days another system rolled in with predictions of 10-15 inches in the higher elevations.

Milwaukee Ski Racing

Check it out. Click on Milwaukee Ski racing and you will go to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Ski Council web site. Races at Sunburst, Holy Hill, Alpine Valley and Crystal Ridge.

Local Ski Racing

We had a great time Sunday at Sunburst racing with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Ski Council. What a great organization. The group makes ski racing fun and as competitive as you want it to be. There are seven different classes of varying talents. Attendees or guests or those who show up run 4 races. Two are slalom, where the gates are spaced closely and two are Giant Slalom where the gates are farther apart. No one got hurt, everyone seemed to have fun and the weather was ideal. No wind, fast snow and no lines. About 50 racers carved turns down the courses. Many volunteers chip in to make it work. Check out their website at skimilwaukee.org and get involved. The group offers reduced lift tickets and many other benefits. Afterwards prizes were awarded, some resembling pint glasses with the MMSC logo. Like I said the group likes to have fun. The group races at different venues like Alpine Valley, Holy Hill, Sunburst and Crystal Ridge.

Witnesses recall chaotic scene after Devil's Head ski lift accident in Wisconsin -- chicagotribune.com

Witnesses recall chaotic scene after Devil's Head ski lift accident in Wisconsin -- chicagotribune.com

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Big Snow Country

Indianhead reports 18 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. That's exciting. Blackjack, also in the UP, is under new management and re-opened this year after a one year sabbatical. Go skiing. You won't regret it. Big Powderhorn is open also. Mount Bohemia, on the edge of nowhere on the tip of the Keenwanau peninsula, practically in the middle of Lake Superior, the mightiest of the Great Lakes hopes to open December 18th.

A Bit of A Warm Up

Saturday afternoon and Sunday we saw the mercury rising. Some stressed trees weighted down by heavy wet snow from Wednesday's storm bounced back. Hard pack snow became mush like as clouds moved in, the humidity rose and temps moderated. Shoppers enjoyed the mild weather as an opportunity to navigate the stores.

Blizzard Arrives

A low pressure system moved in Tuesday bringing moisture and snow to the area. Predictions range from 5 inches near Lake Michigan to more than a foot North and West before it is finished. Winds will increase Tuesday night and tempatures will drop Wednesday afternoon. So far it has been a heavy wet snow within 35 miles of Lake Michigan.

Alpine Valley Is Open

Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wi. is open for the season. A nice feature of Alpine is the two high speed quad lifts that allow you to take plently of laps down the consistent pitch. Alpine Valley is a complete resort with lodging, restaurants, golf and in summer an outdoor music theatre in the natural bowl. Wilmot Mountain also opened Monday.

Cascade Opens

Cascade Mountain opened Saturday with good conditions considering there has not been much of a measurable snowfall this season. The high speed quad and a double chair ferried skiers to the top. Hours are 9am-430pm Saturday and Sunday. Cascade will also be open Tuesday and Thursday this week with regular hours resuming next weekend. The noise of snow makers rumbled as skiers and riders carved turns down the North Wall. Ski Patrol assisted many injured skiers and riders on opening day. Later in the day Manitou a large wide run opened.

Even the parking lot had snow perhaps a result of high winds Friday. Snow piles were at least five feet high in some spots. Cascade has nearly 500 snow guns.

The weather forecast looks like some storms are on their way. There is a 70% chance of 2 inches Monday and a bigger storm set to arrive Wednesday.

We reported Devils Head opened in a previous post. We stand corrected. They will open Thursday.

Area Ski Resorts Open

Cascade Mountain and Devils Head are open. Sunburst opens Saturday and Alpinie Valley opens Sunday. Granite Peak in Wausau opens Saturday. Temps have dropped into the 20s making perfect conditions for blowing snow. Wednesday night we saw a few storms dumps bits of the white stuff.

What else opened locally? Let us know.

Devils Head To Open Friday December 4th

According to the website, www.devilsheadresort.com, Devils Head will open Friday, December 4th. It is a bit unusual that due to unseasonably warm temperatures, Sunburst, usually one of the first to open in the Milwaukee area, is not open. Cascade may be open Saturday December 5th but many local ski areas are not committing to a specific date at this time. Tyrol Basin, southwest of Madison, is open in Wisconsin. Hiking only, no lifts. Also TrollHaugen in Dresser Wi., is open.

Granite Peak, in Wausau is planning a December 5th opener.

No word on Wilmot, Alpine Valley or other nearby spots.

Ski Season Opens

The Midwest ski season is open. Ski Brule in Iron Mountain, Michigan traditionally holds Professional Ski Association and Ski Patrol events this weekend, even if the weather is in the 50s and they were able to make snow. That seems to be the case. Check out their web site and see whar snow looks like. Ski Brule, http://www.skibrule.com opened Friday November 20th.