• Women skiers, this is the place for you -- an online community without the male-orientation you'll find in conventional ski magazines and internet ski forums. At TheSkiDiva.com, you can connect with other women to talk about skiing in a way that you can relate to, about things that you find of interest. Be sure to join our community to participate (women only, please!). Registration is fast and simple. Just be sure to add [email protected] to your address book so your registration activation emails won't be routed as spam. And please give careful consideration to your user name -- it will not be changed once your registration is confirmed.

Northern Wisconsin: Granite Peak and Whitecap Mountains

Amie H

Angel Diva
I cancelled my reservation. Things have heated up with my daughter's wedding planning, so hopefully I will be in downtown Chicago signing contracts for Church & Venue Friday. (I have "soft holds" for our deisred date/time but neither are locked in untill I sign contract and write deposit checks. Waiting on our celebrant to contact the chapel so I can move this process along and lock in the date.)

But...now I'm glad to know of the lodging option I found in Bessemer, so if not this season, perhaps next year.
 

shadoj

Angel Diva
@Amie H -- sorry you're not getting out to ski, but you're needed for other worthy pre-wedding activities. Should feel good to get more of the planning knocked down. How exciting for your daughter!

Next year! Maybe the timing will even work to meet up. Only a 5 hour drive from here :smile:
 

Amie H

Angel Diva
@shadoj I mean, maybe I can scoot up there later this season who knows? But yeah, for now Mom stuff takes precedence! :smile:

FYI for anyone planning a trip up that way: The motel that has good reviews, free bkfst, microwave/fridge, and decent rates is: Americinn by Wyndham Ironwood

I have Diamond status w Wyndham, so I qualify for free suite upgrades (although I don't really need the space. Single queen just fine for me.) And I get 10% off best rate with my AARP membership.
 

shadoj

Angel Diva
Heck, if the snow holds up, maybe *I'll* even get to sneak away for a late-season weekend! *crossing fingers*
 

Amie H

Angel Diva
I'm also considering another Tahoe trip later this year bc I'm sure someone will be open in April/May bc they are BURIED. ALSO...United Airlines begins nonstop svc ORD-RNO in March (at least Fri-Sun.) I stay free there (casino) and hopefully will have airline miles to make it happen. It can be an inexpensive trip for me if I book w airline miles. Then my only costs are rental car and lift tix.

I still have 1 free day at Wilmot, too, but not sure they will be able to hold their base much longer.

Finally, a night ski at Cascade or Granite Peak isn't out of the question IF we open our cabin at the end of March AND they are still open.
 

shadoj

Angel Diva
There's a Patrol festival at Granite March 25-26th... haven't decided yet. Might be able to catch a ride, though the drive isn't too bad. Would need to find lodging, though. I'll let you know if I decide to head up that way!
 

Iwannaski

Angel Diva
Hotels by Granite are pricey, but my faves are: the Hampton Inn in Wausau which is a really quick hop to the slopes, and then Fairfield Inn/Suites in Weston, a little further, but a little more room. both have great breakfasts in the room rate, which we really like. If you want to enjoy Wausau in the evening, then there may be better options closer to the nightlife. With two kids the nightlife isn’t really our primary objective… LOL
 

mlt53081

Diva in Training
Ah, totally TRUE. Terrible dining options in the Dells. Like, Culvers is the most reliable option there. I live so close to I-90 though so it's very convenient for me. BUT for the non-skiers, there is the outlet mall, Ho Chunk Casino, movie theaters, bowling, and tacky souvenir shops. (The Eddie Bauer outlet in the Dells is decent, IMO.)

But, speaking of bougie, for an adult super-upscale Wisconsin ski trip, ski Devil's Head and stay at Sundara Spa resort. $$$$ but it's sooooo luxurious and the food is awesome. (I'm not spa-going yet, though until Covid is better understood/less of a threat.)

If you have non-skiers in the group, the better play might be stay over by Bayfield, WI and drive to ski. I've not been, but as a Wisconsinite, I'm sure you know about it. (Near Apostle Islands.) They also have a little community ski hill (Mt Ashawabay.) Non skiers can hike, go to shops, etc.

Or Minoqua ( <1hr south on 51 from Whitecap) which is also a cute resort town, shops to visit, parks, dining options, etc. Also big casino near Minoqua (Lake of the Torches.)
If you can to the Dells during the week it is a pretty good bargain. Two years ago my partner & I went several times to Devil's Head, During COVID and they ran great mid week stay & ski deals. Weekends is too crowded for me. Cascade is about 30 min away and a nice hill.
 

shadoj

Angel Diva
If you can to the Dells during the week it is a pretty good bargain. Two years ago my partner & I went several times to Devil's Head, During COVID and they ran great mid week stay & ski deals. Weekends is too crowded for me. Cascade is about 30 min away and a nice hill.

@mlt53081 Welcome! Glad to have another Midwest skier on the forum!

Cascade looks like a ton of fun for how close it is to you. Would love to meet up next season somewhere in WI/MN/MI if you're game; I've finally managed to meet a couple local Divas this winter. I'm generally happy to trade the weekend crowds for slightly-reduced terrain/amenities & affordability during the week :smile:

Everyone do a snow dance, OK? I'm not ready for our season to be done in March!
 

Amie H

Angel Diva
I do Cascade night ski on Fri nights and it's almost never crowded, especially if you hang over by Cindy Pop area. It's also inexpensive. There are 2 inexpensive but clean/safe/comfortable motels in the Portage & Baraboo areas I'm cool with. The place I stayed last time in Baraboo, Best Western, was great, a lot of skiers. I was 15-20 min from Cascade, Devil's Head, and Mirror Lake, where I did a Saturday morning Nordic session and loved it.

My work situation is a little unusual, and I can't really take midweek days off...if I do it's for a couple trips out West.

@shadoj I'm not sure Cascade is worth a trip from MN, but for Chi/Mke/Mad folks, it's a fun day trip.
 

Amie H

Angel Diva
@Bookworm Way up there, they have been getting amazing snow off the lake as usual (i follow on social media and look at XC trail condition reports.. this weekend a few places had wind holds.

Up by the Dells might be good this week if all the snow they got this weekend holds. I have a cabin in Central WI and for sure climate there(North of Madison) is different than Chicagoland. Wilmot is not, being right on the border.
 

Amie H

Angel Diva
Heads up Wisconsin Dells visitors:
Devil's Head closed end of day Sunday 3/12 for the Season.
Cascade's last day seems to be Saturday 3/18.
Mirror Lake State Park Cross Country trail reports list most trails as GOOD or EXCELLENT condition.
Nordic Mountain - open Fri-Sun. CHEAP lift tickets this closing weekend! Sunday adult 6 hour flex ticket $39!
 

Amie H

Angel Diva
As I did not want to drive the evening of St Patrick's day IN snow IN Wisconsin, I'm just popping over to Nordic Mtn (east of Wautoma) on Saturday, and staying overnight in Baraboo (I actually had a comp room at Ho Chunk! Yay!) Likely will take my Nordic skis and go to Mirror Lake State Park Sunday morning before heading home.
 
Last edited:

Bookworm

Angel Diva
Before COVID, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick lead singer) would do a show in January at Monks in the Dells. Each time we went we thought we'd have a chance to go skiing at Mirror Lake, but there was never any snow!
 

Amie H

Angel Diva
Glad I went up to WI this past weekend. TBH, not much of a TR to offer, bc Nordic mountain is so tiny. XC skiing at Mirror Lake was tough because trail had lots of icy and/or totally bare/muddy spots, but I still enjoyed it, especially the long stretches of groomed track on the 3+ mile trail I skied. Here is the first of my video reports.


(I used editing software that unfortunately doesn't allow me to upload in 4k, so that is why the sharpness isn't great.)
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
26,235
Messages
497,592
Members
8,503
Latest member
MermaidKelly
Top