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King of the Mountain-Granite Peak Ski Area Wausau, Wis. |
By
Naomi K. Shapiro
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Granite Peak Ski Area has become one of the newest, most highly favored ski destinations in the Midwest. Spreading across the north-facing slopes of Rib Mountain, this area boasts the tallest vertical drop in both Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula, measuring at 700 feet.
Granite Peak boasts 74 runs, 60 of which are brand new, and offers a wide variety of trails to delight every level of expertise. Skiers can find steep chutes at the top, with seven tree-lined runs that meander through gorgeous tree stands - think
'out West.' There are also a terrain park, half-pipe and an "Enchanted Forest" tree run for kids, among many other features.
Granite Peak's early snowfall and late season snow retention
lead to
reliable skiing from mid-November through early April. The ski
area's location, just 3.5 hours from Chicago lends another apt
description: "Mountain skiing in the heart of the Midwest." |
Granite Peak is proactive in developing and maintaining its infrastructure and facilities. Skiers and snowboarders love the mountain's virtually 100 percent snowmaking and grooming. A new ticket kiosk, New Alpine Learning Center and Mountain rental shop are all designed to streamline and enhance the skiing experience. Seven new lifts include a new, high-speed, 6-place COMET Express chairlift, which is the longest in the Midwest; new beginner-only SANTA chairlift; and new Sun Kid Wonder Carpet.
Everyone enjoys taking a break at the restored, historic stone "Tenth Mountain" Chalet with its four stone fireplaces, Reindeer Coffee Bar and Stone Hearth Eatery. Nearby, the new 10,000- square-foot Sundance Chalet & Grill with two gigantic fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the slopes and comfortable relaxation and dining areas, offers a range of chef-prepared meals, ski fare, fresh bakery goods and fresh gourmet coffee.
To top it off, you're just five minutes from "The Natural Ski
City of
Wausau," which boasts a panoply of first-class accommodations,
services, shopping, food and beverage, museums, activities, theater,
music, entertainment, and other year-round recreation.
Granite Peak's season is enhanced by special celebrations and
musical presentations almost every weekend. Some of the main
annual events are Thanksgiving Weekend, Spirit of Christmas
Weekend, College Weekend, Avalanche Days and the popular Family
Festival, each featuring a variety of |
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entertainment, activities, fireworks and bonfires. In addition,
there are numerous special events at Wausau's Grand Theatre and the
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.
"We're constantly working to make our pricing structure very affordable for everyone," says Operations Manager, Vicki Baumann.
"Come and see why Granite Peak continues to quietly and proudly
solidify its position as King of the Mountain of the Midwest."
Contact: 715.845.2846, www.skigranitepeak.com.
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Midwest New & Noteworthy |
The Midwest has many great, affordable places to ski (and it's close to home!).
Michigan's Crystal Mountain is celebrating fifty years in operation this season and, to celebrate, is hosting 50th themed events and themes starting Thanksgiving weekend. Festivities will continue throughout the season. However, there are plenty more reasons to visit this Michigan monster in
'06/07.
To offset growing concerns for the environment, Crystal Mountain's high-speed, four-person chairlift, the Crystal Clipper, will be powered by wind beginning this winter. Crystal will be the first resort in the state to commit to wind energy. Though the lifts still run on traditional fuel sources, the resort has purchased an equal number of wind-power credits from wind farms to counterbalance the non-renewable resources they will be using throughout the season. The resort says that their ultimate goal is to run the entire resort on renewable energy.
Playing in the snow isn't only for the boys! Crystal's hosting this season's Women's Winter Tour in February. This annual fundraiser, which is the United States' largest winter sporting event exclusive to women, promotes female outdoor sporting in a noncompetitive environment while celebrating wine, women and chocolate. The event offers a weekend full of skiing (both downhill and cross-country), lessons, a film fest, snowshoe hike and other activities interactive activities.
Contact: 800.968.7686, www.crystalmountain.com.
Right behind Crystal in years of operation is the popular Nub's Nob ski area, also in Michigan. This year brings two new expert-only, gladed tree-skiing areas featuring natural terrain. The area is
'hike-in only' for those who want to escape the crud and catch a great hiking experience in their day.
Also on the menu are more skiable acres, as the area has widened the top half of the Whitefish run on Pintail Peak and added a permanent line of snowguns to the north. This brings the total snowgun count to 242 and the snowmaking capacity up to 5,000 gallons per minute
- meaning more ski time during the day and better snow quality throughout the season. |
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Contact: 800.754.6827, www.nubsnob.com.
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Only three hours west of Chicago lies Chestnut Mountain Resort just outside of historic Galena, Ill. Recently ranked the #2 ski resort in the Midwest by Ski Magazine, this destination has a lot to offer both newbies and old snow pros. With 19 runs from bunny to black diamond and 220 acres, the medium-sized Chestnut packs a big punch.
Twelve new snowguns give the mountain the largest snowmaking system per acre in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Their seven-acre terrain park is the biggest of its kind in the Midwest.
Daily specials make a drop on the slopes an affordable adventure
and the resort offers 'Powder Pup' and 'Powder Ranger' group
lessons for the kids. The resort has also recently added two new
runs, the black |
diamond 'Mine Shaft' and the intermediate 'Bobcat.' For the
non-skiers (or if you're hurting from a nasty spill), there's always
the sauna and Jacuzzi to comfort those aching bones or the riverboat
casino to quench the need for that adrenaline rush. Attention: keep
the shopaholic spouses away from downtown Galena - it won't be
pretty.
Contact: 800.397.1320,
www.chestnutmtn.com.
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