midwest vs. new england trails

Having trouble deciding where to go for my ski trip.......could anyone
comment on the differences/similarities between the nordic centers in New
England and the Upper Midwest (Wisc. Minn, UP)....assuming the snow is good
in both areas. I have skied in New England....I mostly ski the Western
areas like Tahoe, B.C. etc. Looking for something a little different this
year. I do notice that every town in the Upper Midwest I've looked at seems
to cater to snowmobilers to some extent. More so than other areas I've
looked at.

Any comments would be welcome.

Mark

Montana's claim to "Big Sky Country" could be diputed by the Midwest
states. Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan's U.P. are big areas, a lot
bigger than the New England States with much lower population density.
There's plenty of room for skiers and snowmobilers. Book your ski
vacation at Telelmark Lodge in Cable, Wisconsin. 55Ks of fantastic
cross country ski trails plus the 50K Birkie Trail connected to it.
You'll be able to ski at a couple of other great places too like
Mukwanago, Rock Lake (classic only), the Seely Trail, Penokee (classic
only), North End Trails, Fish Hatchery Trails. Plus, you will only be
1 hour 20 minutes from ABR and Wolverine in Ironwood, Michigan. You
can hang out at the famed Birkie office in Downtown Hayward, eat the
best Piza at Coops, have a full course meal at Karabalis, stop at the
big IGA for all of your grocery needs. Plus, you can choose from tons
of motels and resorts or stay at Telemark. When you're resting, you
can hang out at severeal great skis shops including New Moon,
Reiverbrook and Outdoor Ventures. Book your reservation now!

Jay Tegeder
"On the podium if the right people don't show up!" JT


"Mark Eastman" wrote in message link.net...
Having trouble deciding where to go for my ski trip.......could anyone
comment on the differences/similarities between the nordic centers in New
England and the Upper Midwest (Wisc. Minn, UP)....assuming the snow is good
in both areas. I have skied in New England....I mostly ski the Western
areas like Tahoe, B.C. etc. Looking for something a little different this
year. I do notice that every town in the Upper Midwest I've looked at seems
to cater to snowmobilers to some extent. More so than other areas I've
looked at.

Any comments would be welcome.

Mark

What about those connected Minn. systems like the Gunflint. (Is that one part of it? It has a cool name anyway.)

What about those Minn/Can systems and lodges that some demented folks here talked about connecting for a multiday loppet?


I dream about skiing several great areas in the UP, mostly that I've never skied before. Let's see, now how did that go...

*Drive up and ski Munising area on the first day. (I've skied there before. Two WONDERFUL systems within 10 miles of each
other.)
*Marquette/Ishpeming the next day.
*Tech Trails and Calumet the next day.
*Drive home?

Hmm, I recall a bigger line-up than that.

Also, any newbie to the region would insert 2 days before all that to ski:

*Stokely, Soo
*Soo Finn, Soo
(stay at Bellevue Valley B&B...cheap, great!)

To make it a totally full week, add Iron Mt / ABR and Telemark to the list!

Could that whole region be done in a week? Wow!

--

Jeff Potter
****
*Out Your Backdoor * http://www.outyourbackdoor.com
publisher of outdoor/indoor do-it-yourself culture...
...offering "small world" views on bikes, bows, books, movies...
...rare books on ski, bike, boat culture, plus a Gulf Coast thriller
about smalltown smuggling ... radical novels coming up!
...original downloadable music ... and articles galore!
plus national travel forums! HOLY SMOKES! 800-763-6923

PS: I know some of the MidWest systems, and like them. But I'm interested in seeing how N. Eng. comes across stylewise. One
thing about the Midwest style is that you don't see or feel any longtime culture in or around your skiing. Maybe you get a
bit of voyageur/indian sensation. The communities nearby are polebarn-based, however, with a thick topping of
snowmobile/hamburger/videogame on top.

I'd think that N. Eng. systems would be more picturesque, along with their nearby towns. But maybe they're also rainier,
icier, slushier?

What about Midwest weather? Around here we're greygreygrey. I think it's quite a bit sunnier/bluer elsewhere, but compared to
N. Eng.? I don't know.

How about it N. Englanders?

--

Jeff Potter
****
*Out Your Backdoor * http://www.outyourbackdoor.com
publisher of outdoor/indoor do-it-yourself culture...
...offering "small world" views on bikes, bows, books, movies...
...rare books on ski, bike, boat culture, plus a Gulf Coast thriller
about smalltown smuggling ... radical novels coming up!
...original downloadable music ... and articles galore!
plus national travel forums! HOLY SMOKES! 800-763-6923

Thanks for your comments on my "dilemma"........I do think that the beauty
of many New England towns and settings is hard to beat. There is an
interesting overlay of an older culture as expressed in the architecture and
the "quaintness" of the town centers..........I have been to the Upper
Midwest but can't seem to recall how the towns looked. Perhaps more
Adirondack like......because I noticed that many New York State towns also
lack the New England coziness....town green kind of thing. As I have said,
I usually ski around Lake Tahoe or other Western alpine towns....some nice
looking some not. For my trip this year I was thinking of Banff (having a
great snow year).....or Rossland B.C. I asked a friend about the
UP.....he had been there and said it was like Canada but without the "more
interesting" Canadian culture. What I think I would like about the Upper
Midwest is the mixed forests of hardwoods and conifers.....and the frozen
lakes and streams. I also think the landscape is more rolling in
general.......maybe more suited to the sport. Another person said the UP
reminded him of Finland....I thought that was interesting. I hope the
thread continues for a while.

Mark
Danville CA
"Jeff Potter" wrote in message
.. .
PS: I know some of the MidWest systems, and like them. But I'm interested
in seeing how N. Eng. comes across stylewise. One
thing about the Midwest style is that you don't see or feel any longtime
culture in or around your skiing. Maybe you get a
bit of voyageur/indian sensation. The communities nearby are
polebarn-based, however, with a thick topping of
snowmobile/hamburger/videogame on top.

I'd think that N. Eng. systems would be more picturesque, along with their
nearby towns. But maybe they're also rainier,
icier, slushier?

What about Midwest weather? Around here we're greygreygrey. I think it's
quite a bit sunnier/bluer elsewhere, but compared to
N. Eng.? I don't know.

How about it N. Englanders?

--

Jeff Potter
****
*Out Your Backdoor * http://www.outyourbackdoor.com
publisher of outdoor/indoor do-it-yourself culture...
...offering "small world" views on bikes, bows, books, movies...
...rare books on ski, bike, boat culture, plus a Gulf Coast thriller
about smalltown smuggling ... radical novels coming up!
...original downloadable music ... and articles galore!
plus national travel forums! HOLY SMOKES! 800-763-6923

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 16:01:37 GMT, "Mark Eastman"
wrote:

Thanks for your comments on my "dilemma"........I do think that the beauty
of many New England towns and settings is hard to beat. There is an
interesting overlay of an older culture as expressed in the architecture and
the "quaintness" of the town centers..........I have been to the Upper
Midwest but can't seem to recall how the towns looked. Perhaps more
Adirondack like......because I noticed that many New York State towns also
lack the New England coziness....town green kind of thing. As I have said,
I usually ski around Lake Tahoe or other Western alpine towns....some nice
looking some not. For my trip this year I was thinking of Banff (having a
great snow year).....or Rossland B.C. I asked a friend about the
UP.....he had been there and said it was like Canada but without the "more
interesting" Canadian culture. What I think I would like about the Upper
Midwest is the mixed forests of hardwoods and conifers.....and the frozen
lakes and streams. I also think the landscape is more rolling in
general.......maybe more suited to the sport. Another person said the UP
reminded him of Finland....I thought that was interesting. I hope the
thread continues for a while.

Mark
Danville CA


Well, since you mentioned Canada I see that the current issue of Cross
Country Skier has several pages of ads for Quebec. Some of the lodging
deals seemed excellent. Many years ago a xc vacation in Quebec was on our
family's to do list but we let it slide. Maybe winter 2004-2005...


g.c.

Mark Eastman wrote:
I have been to the Upper
Midwest but can't seem to recall how the towns looked. Perhaps more
Adirondack like......because I noticed that many New York State towns also
lack the New England coziness....town green kind of thing. As I have said,


One very picturesque Upper midwest town is Calumet in Michigan's
Keeweenaw peninsula. (The largest pen in superior's south shore) In
fact, the entire pen. is just drop dead gorgoeous Summer or winter from
the view of Copper Harbor from atop Brockaway Drive, to the clap board
village of Eagle Harbor all the way to the decaying cooper smelting
operations on fire lake. But Claumet was the center of all the copper
wealth. It was once called the Paris of the North and what is left
standing after the post mine closing depression is a wonderful
collection of carved stone edifices that one wouldn't expect in such an
out of the way place. There are some 19th century pubs still operating
and the food I've eaten there has been quite good. They have an active
schedule at the opera house plus and active rep theatre group. Skiing
is great with a long season of 300 inch average snow falls per year.
Swedetown trails are right there, and the college town of Houghton is
very close, with kind of a Duluth feel, lift bridge and all.

I am glad you pointed that town out.......I came across it while surfing the
web on the area....and it did look amazing. I like these out of the way
"restored" old towns. I was wondering, in fact whether to stay there or in
Houghton....assuming I do go to the area. From what you said I might
research Calumet a little more. Does it have an "alternative" culture
feeling to it? It sounds like the arts might be happening...even in a small
way. Now I can't decide if I should stay for a couple of nights in Minocqua
WI on the way up there. I think the closest I could fly in is Minneapolis
(for a "reasonable" price from the San Francisco are). I had thought about
spending my first night around Cable Wisc...then a couple of nights in
Minocqua....then perhaps Calumet......what do people think of that plan.
The only "fly in the ointment" is that some weather forecasts are predicted
temps in the mid to upper 30's around Christmas. That would still be a few
days before I started my trip. I would hate to go all that way for icy or
transformed snow.

Mark
"Jim Farrell" wrote in message
...
Mark Eastman wrote:
I have been to the Upper
Midwest but can't seem to recall how the towns looked. Perhaps more
Adirondack like......because I noticed that many New York State towns
also
lack the New England coziness....town green kind of thing. As I have
said,


One very picturesque Upper midwest town is Calumet in Michigan's
Keeweenaw peninsula. (The largest pen in superior's south shore) In
fact, the entire pen. is just drop dead gorgoeous Summer or winter from
the view of Copper Harbor from atop Brockaway Drive, to the clap board
village of Eagle Harbor all the way to the decaying cooper smelting
operations on fire lake. But Claumet was the center of all the copper
wealth. It was once called the Paris of the North and what is left
standing after the post mine closing depression is a wonderful
collection of carved stone edifices that one wouldn't expect in such an
out of the way place. There are some 19th century pubs still operating
and the food I've eaten there has been quite good. They have an active
schedule at the opera house plus and active rep theatre group. Skiing
is great with a long season of 300 inch average snow falls per year.
Swedetown trails are right there, and the college town of Houghton is
very close, with kind of a Duluth feel, lift bridge and all.

Don't forget the famed Valley Spur in Munising Jeff !
JK

"Jeff Potter" wrote in message
.. .
PS: I know some of the MidWest systems, and like them. But I'm interested
in seeing how N. Eng. comes across stylewise. One
thing about the Midwest style is that you don't see or feel any longtime
culture in or around your skiing. Maybe you get a
bit of voyageur/indian sensation. The communities nearby are
polebarn-based, however, with a thick topping of
snowmobile/hamburger/videogame on top.

I'd think that N. Eng. systems would be more picturesque, along with their
nearby towns. But maybe they're also rainier,
icier, slushier?

What about Midwest weather? Around here we're greygreygrey. I think it's
quite a bit sunnier/bluer elsewhere, but compared to
N. Eng.? I don't know.

How about it N. Englanders?

--

Jeff Potter
****
*Out Your Backdoor * http://www.outyourbackdoor.com
publisher of outdoor/indoor do-it-yourself culture...
...offering "small world" views on bikes, bows, books, movies...
...rare books on ski, bike, boat culture, plus a Gulf Coast thriller
about smalltown smuggling ... radical novels coming up!
...original downloadable music ... and articles galore!
plus national travel forums! HOLY SMOKES! 800-763-6923

"32 degrees" wrote in message ...
Don't forget the famed Valley Spur in Munising Jeff !
JK


Um... "famed"... That's my word used to describe the ski areas I talk
about. I have the word copyrighted. For payment, as Wenner says;
"Attach a note with your apology to a set of Pilot bindings...

Jay Tegeder
"I faders spar for framtids segrar"