Warning! No Beginners Allowed

[skicdave]

Doing the daily rounds and ran into Mount Bohema in Northern Michigan. Its only sports a 900ft vert, but boasts expert only runs and extreme backcountry. Check out their trail map. Anyone been there?

Check it out... Mount Bohemia (http://www.mtbohemia.com)

[Bannick]

Given their location they must get heaps of lake effect snow. Kinda tough to get to though. Might need to check that one out next time I am up in the Sault.

[el-bagr]

They say they get 270"! And yet they have 16" base.

I am a bit skeptical of the usage of "extreme".

Here's a topozone map (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=47.39167&lon=-88.01306) of the mountain, plus another of the Keweenaw zoomed out (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=47.39167&lon=-88.01306). It probably has good views out over Superior. But it's far, even from Marquette.

[Mumster]

Looks too tough for me. :eek:

http://www.mtbohemia.com/Images/pic03.jpg

On second thought, several of these pics look like they are taken from the same spot.

[djangoski]

They are taken at the same spot. Nevertheless, it looks like it'd be fun if it were in your local area.

[BladeGirl]

And for some reason "Ladies ski free!" Can't beat that!

-BG

[Mumster]

BladeGirl:
And for some reason "Ladies ski free!" Can't beat that!

-BG :D

[Bannick]

el-bagr:
They say they get 270"! And yet they have 16" base.Ya but it was 50 degrees out here last week which, if they are relying on mostly natural snow then they would have been hit hard and lost alot of coverage.

I was actually talking about this with the wife last week in vermont. I thought opening an experts only mountain with lots of glades and drops would probably be a good idea. Land use/rights would be an issue but there seemed to be plenty of suitable locations all around vermont and I am sure there are similar areas in NH and maine as well.

[BladeGirl]

The environmental permitting to open a new ski mountain in New England would be a bear. Even without snowmaking I imagine impacts would include soil erosion, wetlands, endangered species, habitat, contaminated runoff(both from diesel-fuel generators to run the lift(s) on backup powerm and from vehicles accessing the site), air, and more. Bannick, if you give me a lifetime pass to the mountain I'll be happy to do the environmental permitting work for you.

:)
-BG

[ILOVE2SKI]

Looks pretty good to me!

[TheOctopus]

I've had my eye on this place for a while, and now that it's reasonably close (read: 10 hours by car), I may have to hit it. (I really need to hook up with someone who both loves to ski and who owns a small airplane.) I've heard Mt. Bohemia described as "MRG Mid-West" (with Alta being "MRG-West").

If BG handles the environmental permitting aspects of your area, Bannick, I'll provide litigation management services once you're up and running (in exchange for the life-time pass and a permanent seat at the bar, of course)!

[Skilasnow]

But do they serve Old Bohemian beer?

Bannick, i can be your F & B Director once BG has got you ready to open the lodge

[Jolly J]

I can look after promotions and ski patrol...

Day 15

[kmrnskier]

THAT looks GREAT!! :D

[Bannick]

Ok...a deals with all of you can definately be struck.

I can design the lodge and bar (something with a rustic look with a grated floor to let the blood and guts sluce right through). 4:20 shack for elwood and of course the Tony Matt Clubhouse for initial shareholders and nut bars alike.

The wife can run the day spa...but of course it would be located off-site to reduce the environmental impact.

In this respect the parking should be off site as well with access to the base are via solar or hydrogen powered people movers.

We could try to get the nature conservancy on side to locate an endangered species (hopefully a creature that moves south for the winter) on a parcel of land with lots of annual snowfall. They buy it, allow us to responsibly manage and allow reasonable access to the terrain available. The NC does this type of thing allowing hunting and fishing access to these lands so I would think there would be an argument for a responibly/ethically managed experts only ski area.

We would need to survey the land...preferably in the winter to determine where the best lines and glades that need to be thinned. Hey couldn't the thinning of the under growth be detrimental to the healthy sustainability of the forest or is it really just plain bad?

So we are set....trust funds anyone?

Powder for the people, by the people!

[M@]

I call website!

M@

[el-bagr]

I'll offer legal services, particularly if it's in Maine (licensure issue).

[begin snowball evasive maneuvers]

[TenSeven]

Security and Swedish Female Ski Team Liaison.

[Finhead]

I call barfly and 4:20 shack doorman (hand a little over :D )

and the 4:20 shack would have to be located in the glades.

[Skilasnow]

Hey couldn't the thinning of the under growth be detrimental to the healthy sustainability of the forest or is it really just plain badWhen many of the first westward settlers reached the forrested areas they were frequently struck by being able to drive there horses and carts right through. For centuries the native americans had been doing controlled burns to maintain a healthy forest and greatly reduce the likelihood of wildfires. Since this has not been done now for nigh on 500 years our forests have become fetid quagmires of fire starting materials.

I would propose that we cut no trails, but thin the forest to the level that KM, M@ and I skied yesterday, imagine... 900 acres of cleaned tree skiing...{drool} One electric-drive chair to a peak spot with all trees leading back. Say no to diesel back up and instead LNG back-up. We'll use an LNG shuttle to carry people from the parking lot unless they drive hybrids, in which case they can park at the lodge. The lodge will be heated by environmentally impactless corn-burning furnaces whose energy could also run at least some of the kitchen equipment...

[Bannick]

Sounds good. I actually thought about an underground lift/elevator to reduce the foot print on the ground and the need to cut trees for the lift. It could also mean that we could have a recessed warming hut at the top using ground source heating. The views from the lift would be non existant but it would be totally stealth.

We should ensure that all waste water is recycled and flitered through an organic filter before returning to the enivironment as clean potable water.

It would also be beneficial to run power either solar or off of our own wind farm to be completely self sufficient and off the grid. We could even sell power back to the state to turn a bit of an operational profit.

Now there are some that think that the latest generation of wind turbines are an eye sore but I think they are kind of cool and should definately be used more than they are. but that is another debate.

I am all up for no cut runs...all glades is definately the way to go. Doing this type of approach in the east is better as the deciduous forest allow for better visablity between riders, making a patrol sweep at the end of the day through the trees a little easier not to mention not as many pesky tree wells that you get in the confirous forests out west.

[Frankontour]

WOW !

Quite amazing mountain, for the Mid-west !!!

Now I understand why a friend from Mass was always sending me some pics of the mountain (he didn't say that it was an extreme place).

If I ever go in the US midwest, I'll know where to ski. For now, it's more to think if I'm going to ski in the next 2 weeks as I'm going to Rouyn Noranda for an audit of a mining company (take a QC map. Start from Montreal. Go north, north, north, north, north and north with a little bit left and you will find this city ! They just announce -45F (without wind chill) for next week... ouch. There is a ski area there (20 minutes from the city), but will it be open in these temperatures... and will I have the time to ski anyway ?

[el-bagr]

Franko, bonne chance avec les rouynorandiennes! I've never been quite that far west in Quebec, but the Val d'Or region is nice.

[el-bagr]

Here's a telemarktalk.com thread (http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=15250&sid=da85e984c8ded71831b790ccca02d152) about Mt. Bohemia.

Sounds pretty awful ;)

[RR]

That sounds just thgir! ;)

[skicdave]

Check this out Mumster, KM, BG etc....

Once again, Mt. Bohemia offers free skiing to women all day, every day!

Thats so sexist! :D

[Mumster]

Check this out Mumster, KM, BG etc.... Thats so sexist! :D

Ah, excellent. Sounds like they want their own :femmecannon: FemmesCannon Day. :skifemcool: , :skifemcool: , :skifemcool: