Best places around Chicago for skiing

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by GoCUBS1

I think Indianhead is now the best option in our area. Granite peak has more ice/less snow base and is more crowded than Indianhead I think. Do you know if Powderhorn is still open?

Also, UP lodging options are amazingly cheap as compared to e.g. Wausau, Wisc. Helps if you can bypass the ski lodging assoc. and rent directly from the chalet owner.

The low amount of cabin/house rental options has kept us from going to Wausau before. But 6.5 hrs each way to get to Indianhead is a hike.

[NorCal Dude]

I've never had a lodging issue in Wassau. But I don't do holidays and I don't wait until the last week to book a room.

Comparing 'powder' conditions to anywhere east of the rockies is a joke to most avid riders. There is a huge difference between heavy, wet, lake effect snow, and fresh pow found in say, Aspen. It is like comparing a bowl of oatmeal to talcum powder. I have spent many a "fresh powder days" out east, from white face ny to lutsen mn. It's all the same, most of that stuff gets clumped or pushed into the woods and by the end of the day 5 year olds are sliding down the hill belly first for kicks. Ice is Ice, embrace it.

Thats part of the reason some of the best downhill skiiers and boarder cross guys come from the eastern half of the country. They know their edges.

Outside of the novelty of going to MN or MI there really is not much point. You'll spend like 6-9 hours driving, one way. You'll spend like 100 bucks on gas, 100 bucks on lift tickets, 200 bucks on lodging and 200 dollars on food and entertianment. And thats IF YOU DONT HAVE KIDS. All that for a weekend of riding some where that is roughly the same as Rib Mountain by Wassau. Same type of verticle, similar terrain, same weather.

At that point you might as well take that money, default to my old post, and head west. After the holidays you can catch a flight to denver from Chi for like 200 bucks.