Frankenstein visits Michigan

[PSUFrankenstein]

Off to a wonderful start.  Flight from Chicago to Marquette was delayed...by 14 hours.  Got an airport hotel and hopefully get there late morning tomorrow.   The plan was to hit Marquette mountain tomorrow, Bohemia Friday and Saturday and either Marquette monday/Tuesday or maybe Pine mountain Monday.   Probably still hit Marquette mountain tomorrow afternoon before heading towards my hotel, which is an hour or so from Bohemia 

[Kyle]

Bohemia looks sweet, real “you’re on your own have fun!” Type vibe. 

[NMSKI]

Have fun!  That nordic spa that they have there looks sweet too.  

[PSUFrankenstein]

Finally got to marquette airport around 11:30.  My neighbor was already in the lobby at the airport and 5 minutes later I had bags and we headed to Marquette to pick up the rental truck.   She's friends with the guy at Enterprise and requested a 4wd truck or SUV...dude hands me the keys to a Chevy quad cab diesel truck.  

Stopped at my neighbors place to eat lunch, put the bindings on my board, and hung out with her 4 huskies for a bit. 

2 hour drive to hancock after that, staying here 2 nights...got changed and used my Mt. Bohemia pass to get a free ticket to Mont Ripley.   Rode there about 2 hours...8 inches of snow but heavy wet stuff and since I went at like 4 pm, it was definitely interesting conditions.   Cool place though, some glades and steep-ish but short trails.  

Got fresh lake superior walleye fish and chips for dinner and beers now at Keweenaw Brewing now.  Everything is dirty cheap...appetizer, fish and chips, and a cocktail for dinner was $35...half pints at the brewery are 2.50 or 4.25 pints

[PSUFrankenstein]

The mighty Mont Ripley from the back patio of the brewery

Tomorrow should be interesting...heavy snow expected.  I'm going to wait to leave the hotel until they post a conditions report as it's supposed to be windy and they were closed yesterday for wind

[Benm]

Looking forward to the rest.

You'll be a truck guy after this trip just like @mute1080

[PSUFrankenstein]

1 hour ago, Benm said:

Looking forward to the rest.

You'll be a truck guy after this trip just like @mute1080

I'd love a truck...it would make hauling the kayak around a lot easier.  This truck is big but the quad cab is nice...all my stuff fits back there

[toast21602]

Loving this already. Pumped for you. Those old school janky lifts are the best. Enjoy!

[RidgeRacer]

10 hours ago, toast21602 said:

Those old school janky lifts are the best. Enjoy!

Except when you're riding them . Lol

[toast21602]

15 minutes ago, RidgeRacer said:

Except when you're riding them . Lol

I suppose it does provide a bit of an adrenaline and cortisol boost. They have been around for so long that you know they are tanks and if they have been around this long they will survive another 50 years, but you are also acutely aware that they have been around forever and that makes you think they will collapse with you on it lol 

[toast21602]

@PSUFrankenstein forgot to ask, how was the fish and chips? 

[PSUFrankenstein]

8 minutes ago, toast21602 said:

@PSUFrankenstein forgot to ask, how was the fish and chips? 

Delicious...walleye isn't usually on the menu in PA but it's really good.   Massive portions too

And yeah the janky lifts were interesting...with the recent snow, the t bar had tons of bumps and little drops.  The one double lift was similar to the one serving the far skiers left side at Silver mountain if you remember that one...no bar, low sides, and pretty sketchy

[PSUFrankenstein]

Not my picture,  but this is the lift at Silver that I'm referring to 

[toast21602]

10 minutes ago, PSUFrankenstein said:

Delicious...walleye isn't usually on the menu in PA but it's really good.   Massive portions too

And yeah the janky lifts were interesting...with the recent snow, the t bar had tons of bumps and little drops.  The one double lift was similar to the one serving the far skiers left side at Silver mountain if you remember that one...no bar, low sides, and pretty sketchy

Oh yeah. Is that the one with the random mid station? Checking back at the trail map now is reminding me how much I enjoyed that place and would definitely like to get back. 

[PSUFrankenstein]

4 minutes ago, toast21602 said:

Oh yeah. Is that the one with the random mid station? Checking back at the trail map now is reminding me how much I enjoyed that place and would definitely like to get back. 

Yep...lift 4 if I remember correctly.   Silver is awesome,  I'd love to get back there with better conditions 

Looks like Bohemia is open today.  Hoping for no wind holds...I'll have a report later

[EdBacon]

I am very interested to see more of this trip. Off the beaten path for most of us.

[PSUFrankenstein]

Never would've thought one of the most enjoyable powder days would be in Michigan but God damn today is awesome.   I think they reported around 20 inches the last 2 days and still snowing hard.  Taking a break for a beer and tacos...then back out for another couple hours. More pics and a report tonight 

 

[Benm]

dammmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[AirheadD8]

25 minutes ago, PSUFrankenstein said:

Never would've thought one of the most enjoyable powder days would be in Michigan but God damn today is awesome.   I think they reported around 20 inches the last 2 days and still snowing hard.  Taking a break for a beer and tacos...then back out for another couple hours. More pics and a report tonight 

 

And you don’t have to dodge any beginners!!

[theprogram4]

39 minutes ago, PSUFrankenstein said:

Never would've thought one of the most enjoyable powder days would be in Michigan but God damn today is awesome.   I think they reported around 20 inches the last 2 days and still snowing hard.  Taking a break for a beer and tacos...then back out for another couple hours. More pics and a report tonight 

 

Damn dude save some snow for the rest of us!

but seriously, this is awesome 🤘

[NMSKI]

51 minutes ago, PSUFrankenstein said:

Never would've thought one of the most enjoyable powder days would be in Michigan but God damn today is awesome.   I think they reported around 20 inches the last 2 days and still snowing hard.  Taking a break for a beer and tacos...then back out for another couple hours. More pics and a report tonight 

 

[PSUFrankenstein]

Got to Mt. Bohemia around 9:45...waited in line to get a ticket and out to the lift line shortly after 10.  Weird setup,  even if you have a season pass,  you have to scan it and get a ticket every day.  

Took the lift up and did some glades down to the other lift.  Did a couple rins back to that lift and then ended up going out to the far east section which is the ski area boundary.   Caught the bus at the bottom and then did a few runs on outer limits.   I have no idea what trails I did.  I know Jupiter was really good as well as Saturn.   3 runs in outer limits, which takes a while as you have to catch the bus at the bottom.  Did one run in the extreme backcountry but I don't think I took any pics there.  The best snow was in outer limits and extreme backcountry puts you at a shuttle stop closer to the base, which means busses are sometimes already full by the time they get there...so I only did one run in that section.   Took two runs in the haunted valley section after that and then got a beer and shrimp tacos.

Did probably 6 more runs after that.  Mostly in the outer limits section but also 2 runs in the haunted valley and outback section

 

[PSUFrankenstein]

Stopped riding a little before 4...checked out the Nordic spa for a quick jump in the hot tub.  Very crowded.   I didn't bring my phone but took a few pics when I was getting lunch.

Roads getting back were terrible.   This truck has shitty tires so it was an adventure.   Hit the same restaurant as last night and got fried catfish and a hurricane to drink.   Got a rye IPA after that at Keweenaw brewing and back to the hotel.

Bohemia is super cool...almost like a Midwest version of powder mountain.   Some flat spots and traverses, some steeper stuff and with good conditions,  it's a great time.   

[mbike-ski]

So.fucking.cool! UPFTW!

[toast21602]

This is fucking righteous! Really pumped to see somebody get out there. I have thought about it many times but never pulled the trigger because of the unknown. You win. Are those hush puppies with your fish?