Some more review-type info on the trip:
Staying at the lodge: We were in the B-wing of the lodge, which is definitely where you want to be to go straight to the slopes in the morning. We literally took five steps, and we were outside just a little bit away from the lifts. It was about as close to ski-in lodging as you could get at this resort. The rooms have a definite dorm room feel. There's few-to-no king size beds, so you're sleeping on doubles (two in a room). (My DH and I slept separately, so that we'd still love each other in the morning...a double does not a happy us make!) There is a fridge in each room, as well as a coffee maker, but NO hair dryer. The heater for the room was also on overdrive. If it was on, it was baking you. We kept it off when we weren't in the room and basically just turned it on before bed. Our friends down the hall took another approach; they turned it on but also cracked a window open. The rooms were clean and nicely set up. The amenities (pool, jacuzzi) were nice, but the towels at the pool run out fast. We never made it to the outdoor jacuzzi. We just used the indoor one, as it is at the other end of the B-wing. If you end up at the inn instead of the lodge, I hear it has nicer rooms, but it is pretty far from the skiing, so plan for a walk.
Chicagoland Express Package: Overpriced, but convenient. We used this package (as did the friends we were with), and it was nice to not have to worry about food cost, but when I added it up at the end of the trip, I think we could have done the trip cheaper just buying everything individually. The pizza on Friday night was really good for cafeteria pizza, though...not Chicago style or anything, but still really good...HUGE pieces of sausage. I will say that despite signage you may see, the place doesn't nickel and dime you on the package food, so long as you don't go overboard. I got extra fruit without being charged at the cafeteria. I got refills from Smokies even though it's clearly posted that there are no refills. The fancy dinner on Saturday night was a little overboard with the offering of "upcharge" items, but the food was excellent. We ate without any upcharges, and we were really impressed. I recommend the hard apple cider porkchops.
Restaurants and bars: See above for pizza comment.
Overall, with the exception of the nicer restaurant and the pizza, the food was mediocre, but it was plentiful and hot which is all we cared about. At the bars, the bartenders often gave away booze. I got a free peppermint pattie because the bartender accidentally made an extra, and then he made one for my (male) friend because he felt bad giving me a free drink and not him. So, we both got free drinks. My girl friend got 2 free shots at Avalanche while waiting to place a drink order.
Lift hours: The lifts partially close starting at 4:30pm, with the main lifts closing at 5pm. The main lifts re-open at 6pm, but the secondary lift at the top of beginner run, for example, closes at 4:30 for the day. This caught us and many others off-guard, as we weren't expecting it to close until 5 when the other lifts do. The other duplicated lifts at the resort also shut down around 4:30 for the day. The lifts partially open at 9am (again, the main ones only) and fully open by 11-ish. These hours for the lifts weren't disclosed anywhere that we could find. It was never really a big problem or anything, but it just bugged me that they didn't note it on the big "lifts open" board...at 9am, the lifts open board would read "all lifts open" when in reality, some lifts wouldn't be. I'm just type A about that kind of thing, maybe.
Lift operators: The operators were friendly and helpful where I was at (green and blue lifts)...they never failed to slow the lift down when asked, and I had several operators remember me or others in my party and ask us about something we'd mentioned to them or ask if we needed the lift slowed again, which was nice. I never managed to get on the "riblet" 2-seaters without getting them to slow it down...positioning my rear into that seat requires care.
Overall, I have to say that Devil's Head was an excellent beginner-to-intermediate experience. I missed the newer/better lifts from Alpine Valley, but the lifts were fine for me overall (even the riblet), mostly thanks to feeling like the operators were really on the ball. I'd definitely recommend the site to other beginners. I'd also say that once any beginner gets the bunny hill even mildly under control, it's worthwhile to go up to the second green lift and do those short green runs at the top of the hill...they're really easy and FAR less crowded than the bunny hill looked to be...the biggest concern on them is maintaining speed through the flat sections. As I mentioned in my first post, they were easy enough that I could experiment with balance and edges without fearing speed issues. I really think my technique improved on this trip thanks to that practice area, and as has become habit for me, I had instructors (not hired by me) stop to comment on my form in a positive way, which was cool. I took no lessons, so I can't comment on that at all.
My only regret is that I was really sore, so I only got 5 runs in today (2 on the long green, 3 on the inferno/cauldron blues). I "graduated" to the blue runs (and thus to the riblet chairs), which was awesome, but sadly, I'd really burned myself out on the green runs the day before, so my legs totally gave out at like 1pm on the blue. I make pretty S-tracks in the snow, though, and I spray snow behind me.
PS - My DH wanted me to add that he really recommends the Outer Limits run (far right on the trail map). It's a mogul run, and he said it's the most challenging run he's found in Wisconsin to date.
