Previously gave a brief rundown of the various season pass offerings at ski resorts all across Michigan’s lower peninsula, aka the Mitten, grouped in to three loosely geographical regions: the smaller, ghetto hills of Metro-Detroit and the West Side near Grand Rapids area, and the larger full-service resorts in the Northern Lower Peninsula.
But there’s a whole ‘nother world to Michigan ski resorts that most of us have never ridden or even heard of, in the Upper Peninsula. Mostly located along the western half, these are approximately 10 hours in fair weather from the Detroit or Grand Rapids. Go to the “Directions” page on these resort websites and they list directions from Chicago, the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Duluth, without even mentioning Detroit.
These are all places I’ve never had a chance to ride, but the more I look at these, the more inclined I am to do a Michigan tour.
Big Powderhorn Mountain
At about 600 ft, Big Powderhorn Mountain is among the largest ski resorts in Michigan. All passes include night skiing, and although the early-bird discounts are over, their prices are low to begin with and come with some bonuses. Adult passes are $299, each adult pass gets one free child pass. Or if weekends aren’t youre thing, you could get a mid-week pass for only $199 which entitles the bearer to $10 weekend lift tickets.
Blackjack Mountain
Blackjack is a four-season resort that’s basically across the street from Wisconsin. At 465 vertical feet, Blackjack dwarves most of the lower peninsula ski areas, but is smaller than just about everything else north of the bridge. They are making a “strong commitment” to their terrain parks, with several options for all skill levels. Under new management, Blackjack will be open 7 days a week this season. Until September 30 you can get an adult season pass for $245. Teens 13-17 are $199, and children 12 and under a free.
Indianhead Mountain
With a vertical descent of ~640 feet puts Indianhead Mountain #3 in the “size” department. Expect prices to increase slightly after September 15, but until then you can snag adult season passes to Indianhead Mountain for only $269. Season passes also entitel the bearer to 30% off hotel stays (with advanced booking) and 10% of food and gift shop items.
Marquette Mountain
The Eastern-most resort, with 3 terrain parks, 600 feet of vertical and their own brand of “backcountry”, Marquette Mountain is probably the closest UP ski area to Detroit, and it’s still a good 7 hours away. If the season pass is your thing, expect to pay about $379, otherwise Marquette runs lots of discount options like $17 midweek passes, discounted bundles, advance purchase discounts, senior discounts, you name it. If you pay full price at Marquette, it looks like you’re doing something wrong.
Mont Ripley
Located on the campus of Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mont Ripley is the smallest “mountain” in the UP. Like Mount Holiday in Traverse City, I’d say this is a decent option if you’re in school or living in Houghton, don’t have a car, or can’t find a ride to some of the bigger resorts on weekends. Their website is all broken and I can’t be bothered to pick up a phone and find out what they’re asking for season passes.
Mount Bohemia / Ski Porkies
On the first Saturday in December, Mount Bohemia and the Porkies discounts their season passes to $99 or you can get a combined pass with Ski Porkies for only $124. A hundred bucks. That’s it. There is a $1/day surcharge, but even if you’re riding 100+ days per winter, this is a bargain like none other. Full price of $340 applies if you miss the early sale.
If you’re just headed up there for a few days like I’m shooting for this winter, the recession-proof twofer that they began offering last year will continue for the 2010-2011 season: 2-for-1 lift tickets every day, all season.
Mount Bohemia boasts the most vertical in the Midwest, coming it at just under 1,000 feet. Most of their terrain is un-groomed and expert-rated, and Bohemia routinely ranks as one of the best ski resorts you’ve never heard of.
Ski Porkies is known for magnificent views and good quality skiing & boarding. In-bounds tops out about 650 vertical feet, but in recent years they have added 100 acres of Everest slackcountry terrain, serviced by snow-cat, $20/day for unlimited rides. Including this sidecountry, Porkies has 300+ acres and 787 feet top-to-bottom, ranking the Porkies as second highest shreddable terrain in Michigan.
If you live in the real mountains, you probably don’t need this novelty feather-in-your-cap, but I feel a little guilty claiming Michigan without ever riding these places.
Norway Mountain
Norway Mountain is one of the smaller mountains in Michigan’s upper peninsula in terms of acreage, but still boasts 500 vertical feet and they start making snow on November 1. Unfortunately, Norway Mountain season passes are among the most expensive in the UP: adults are $319 until October 1, and $369 afterwards. Juniors (10-18 years) are $259/$289. Family passes for 2 adults and all dependent children are $759 and $849 after November 1.
An inexpensive midweek pass is available for $189 early-bird, which entitles the bearer to weekend/holiday tickets for discounted price of $15.
Located in Iron Mountain (and only a few miles from Pine Mountain) it may be a good option if you’re looking for variety, or a pit-stop along the way to Mount Bohemia or points further West.
Pine Mountain
Also located in Iron Mountain, Pine Mountain has comparable vertical to Norway Mountain, but is spread of 340 skiable acres. Pine Mountain’s current prices haven’t been posted, but their early bird prices were $299 for an adult, or $699 for 2 adults and all dependent children.
Ski Brule
Boasting the longest ski season in the midwest (6 months wtf???) Ski Brule is closer to most of Wisconsin than it is to Detroit. If we make that trek up to Mount Bohemia it might be worth a day or two diversion… Right now you can snag a pass for $343, in October prices jump $401, but after the New Year’s holiday (January 7) prices drop to $320!
That about sums it up for Michigan ski resort season passes. I think there’s something like 28 ski resorts in Michigan, and this winter I’m going to see how many of them I can hit. Unfortunately the U.P. sounds awesome, but even if I forego the Rockies this winter and spend a week traversing Michigan’s no-man’s-land, I can’t reasonably expect to hit more than a few of them.
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