Glen Plake “Down Home Tour” - Still Moving!
I’m in Ishpeming UP Michigan across the street from the US National Skiing Hall of Fame, which we wanna visit. The “western wallop” seems to be living up to its reputation and looks like fun! It’s been awhile since there’s been that much snow in town = Heavenly’s trees should be
coming in nicely!
Where we left off — Rib Mountain/Granite Peak, we visited Rib on our first DownHome Tour but didn’t ski, it was New Years Eve and they had just closed! So a raincheck is due. Heavy lake effect snows are falling as we work our way up Wisconsin - last time we were
here a lady named Vicki worked at Rib, she still does - however the mountain has changed completely, 13 runs have turned into 70+, the Stonehouse Lodge “built in
1938” still stands strong but it’s now supported by surrounding new facilities: daylodge, rentals, ski shop, etc… the improvements have been a huge undertaking and have turned ‘lil Rib Mountain into Granite Peak one of the Midwest’s finest areas.
Skiing with some regulars we find some steep skiing snowmaking bulges to do some Reel Thrills filming - who joined us here - also some fun tree skiing before entering the Stonehouse where something very special happens……deep fried cheese curds… we tried eating these fresh cheese curds earlier in the trip, kinda rubbery/squeaky when you chew’em. I am a huge
french fry freak, it’s hard to ski without them, as I walk into the lodge something deep fried passes by, “are those deep fried cheese curds?” - “YES” - oh my are these things good - probably really unhealthy but good!!!! Burn calories/ eat calories… that’s my
motto. Great skiers, great skiing and great fun - Vicki and your staff - Thank you - great seeing you again!
The plan has been to go up into the upper part of Michigan aka UP - a winter wonderland of snow, the area is known to get 300+ inches due to the surrounding Great Lakes. As soon as we drive through the town of Rhinelander the scenery begins to change… architecture / geography / culture, all instantly becomes “North Country”. As we pull into Pine Mountain the 120m ski jump is hard to miss, organized skiing has been going on here for a long time. As I’m
scamming some tickets, some Rat Pack members recognize me and I also run into Rick Gregorio a former South Shore local and Heavenly executive, whose relocated to
here! I used to run into Rick a lot, as Rick rephrases a statement about my background “I was a Blue Angel” - “you were blue but no angel”… we have a laugh about
being a kid growing up at a ski area. Something Rick has still got his hands full of at Pine Mountain. The crew here is awesome, a mix of great skiers who are also waterskiers in the summer - “show skiers” who aren’t afraid to explore technique - we spend the day with
the very talented high school race teams - on their day off - doing ballet tricks, and due to their ability the moves become quite complex. As kids came and went - to do ski school teaching obligations - I continued to pollute the minds of Pine Mountains youth
with 50-year-old tricks in exchange for some barefoot pyramid secrets. If you’ve ever seen one you’ll never forget it! We take the skis off - it’s 9:30pm. This place is all about introducing skiing to people, beginner packages are almost free. Passes are cheap,
it is an asset to the surrounding communities and wants to be. “Skiing is not an expensive elitist activity.” It’s a pastime to be enjoyed by all, and Pine Mountain is doing it!
more to come….
Glen
January 9th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
try not to miss mt. bohemia
January 9th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Glen & Kimberly,
It was great to meet you both. I may be posting ahead of the story line but I won’t give-away the next few chapters. I hope the experience across the Yoop was good. You came to Ishpeming just as a huge ass storm was socking Heavenly and the UP was getting kicked in the b@#s from a January thaw.
I was thinking you two would have parked the truck and hopped a plane west, but instead you stayed and skied with us in the Midwest.
Both of you are true ambassadors to the sport. Thanks.
I’ll keep a lookout for Little Johnny to send to the ski jump coach.
Till the next time our paths cross, keep your ski tips up.
-bob
January 12th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
How was Bohemia? I heard they got hit hard…perfect timing.
January 15th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Glenn, It was great to see you and Kimberly at Marquette Mtn in Marquette Michigan (1/6/08). It was great you spending time in “God’s Country”. It was also great you took the time to spend with the kids.. all of them from 6 years to 82 years. Walt Cook quit NASTAR racing at 80. As YOOPERS were sorry you didn’t see the UP in more snow as it was foggy when you were here. The “Big Lake” is a sight to see on a clear day from the top of the Mountain. Thanks for stopping at the “Back Door” too!! We appreciate you taking the time to visit our little bit of the world. In relative terms the “back door grill” was a little bit bare the day (1/6/08) you saw it. It was also unfortunate that the weather was not our typical January day. The big lake (Lake Superior) is quite a sight to see from the ski hill as well as the journey down the road around the UP. You gotta come back to see/ski the UP and Marquette Mountain. We truly are in “Gods Country” when you’re in the UP. We are hardy souls and call ourselves “YOOPERS”. Nice to meet you & Kimberly and taking to time to stop by. Argie from the Back door.
Tom Argetsinger, 210 Co Rd 545 Marquette Michigan.
Hope you return someday to God’s Country. PS the local paper didn’t even know you were in town, that’s how the back door likes it.
January 16th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Plake, What a thrill to meet you at Granite Peak. My friend Chris and I have been talking you up to our Ski Club at Shawano High School. Chris and I are the faculty advisors. It meant a lot to meet you. I wrote a story and posted it on my profile for Freeskier Magazines website (www.freeskier.com). Freeskier featured the story on their home page and I received several comments. Most comments were from skiers that met you at several different locations. Many people really appreciate what you do for the entire sport of Skiing. As you say “Ski you” again at Granite Peak. Thanks again for the memory.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Hey! Missed you when you were in Petoskey. Abbi and Peter both said that you did a fly by. Abbi has wanted to touch base with Kim.
I was thinking back to the first Down Home Tour to Schuss MT and Sugarloaf. TC High School Ski Team training for slalom with you on 210 GS boards. Pretty funny.
How was Bohemia? Interesting place for a ski area. Too bad it’s a bit out of the way especially with 300 inches of snow.
Tips Up
Hi