Wi-Ski Comprehensive

The Wi-Ski Bot is Skiing Again!

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:05:27 -0600

The Wi-Ski Bot is running again. However, the snow is thin and the rocks and grass are still exposed.

I have got the Wi-Ski Robot running again. However, I do not consider its results 100%. For example, Whitecap opened today with 12 of 43 runs. However, they changed something on their website so the Wi-Ski bot missed the 12 of 43.

I have tweaked two hills to date, Ski Brule and Sunburst. However, the following hills did just fine:

Lutsen
Afton Alps
Granite Peak
Trollhaugen
Norway Mountain
Mt. LaCrosse

Whoever it is responsible for maintaining the condition's page for the above ski areas, I say thank you!

Just Like Magic

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:49:37 -0600

The Wisconsin Skier is back online, just like nothing happened.

However, I do not know what happened. My host service went through a rough spell and for purposes, it looked like the framework and data for The Wisconsin Skier was completely and utterly gone.

In a pique, I opened up another hosting account and was working to transfer The Wisconsin Skier to the new host. That ran into more troubles than anticipated so yesterday, I pointed the domain back to the original hosting service. I wake up this morning and it is all like it was!

It is good to be back and to have this site up and running again. I hope it will be a skitastic winter!

E-Mail Received

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:04:05 -0600

Last weekend I was griping about Ski Brule about their advanced lift ticket sales how the program appeared to be a stealth sale.

Well lo and behold, yesterday in my inbox I found an e-mail from Ski Brule announcing the sale and its imminent end!

I am still somewhat irritated by it all, but the edge is definitely off. At least those of us who spend a fair amount of time at Ski Brule (buying food & beer) have been notified. Why did it take so long and come so soon on the end of the sale?

Get Your Tickets NOW!

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 11:06:26 -0600

I do not know about the other ski areas, but Ski Brule changed their advanced lift ticket sale program.

In the past they would sell advanced lift tickets at a discount until Christmas. You would find Ski Brule representatives at the area malls and sport shops.

However, now the advanced lift ticket sales ends August 31, 2007! I would guess next year they will discontinue the sale? There has been no notice of the change, unless you visit their website. I would have thought something like this would have been announced via mailing, but clearly they hope to catch people unaware. Very bad on you Ski Brule.

One positive thing on this, though. It will cut down on the number of skiers at Ski Brule.

So, if you want discount skiing at Ski Brule this year you had better act quickly!

The Breath of Winter

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 05:52:15 -0600

Winter's exhalation is being felt throughout the state of Wisconsin this weekend.

Winter is still far away, we have more than one full season until astronomical winter, but there is no mistaking the nature of the weather this weekend � change is coming.

The transition from summer to fall is one of mixed emotions. I enjoy the warm & sunny days � they bring great cheer to life, driving with the windows down and my Alpine Valley (July 18, 1989) versions of Sugar Magnolia & Scarlet Begonias cranked not only puts a smile on my face but bring tears of pure joy. I enjoy the days where the sunlight seems to last forever. This weather this weekend reminds me it is all soon to change. Fortunately, for many of us in Wisconsin we have activities we look forward to in the fall. Pleasant days in the grouse woods driving from place to place listening to Mat Lepay (and this year Bob Eucher will spend more ti...

It is Done!

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 07:13:05 -0600

The 2006-2007 ski season in the upper midwest is now closed. Ski Brule and Marquette Mountain both had their last days of skiing yesterday.

Ski area webmasters, I will stop the WiSkiBot from its twice daily runs and keep it off until the 2007-2008 ski season is nigh. To those ski areas who helped me with the project I want to give you thanks. I plan on improving & integrating the ski run report with the map & the WiSkiBot for next season.

I am even contemplating placing courtesy businesses such as restaurants, hotels, night-spots, etc on the ski map to aid readers in planning their whole ski trip to the areas.

New Poll

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 08:52:42 -0600

There is a new reader poll up! The Wisconsin Skier ask you: How many days did you ski in the 2006-2007 ski season?. So, tell us how many days did you skin the last season? Look over the right side and scroll down a bit and answer the poll! BTW, this is The Wisconsin Skier's 200th story!

A Review of Ski Brule.

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:48:03 -0600
Funny as it seems I have not yet written a detailed review of Ski Brule.
Ski Brule is located just across the Wisconsin Michigan border. If there is any hill I have a sense of ownership over, it is Ski Brule as it is close to my father's cabin so it is the natural choice for most of our skiing.
Ski Brule's distinction is their hard work at being the first ski area in the region to open and the last to close. Yeah, many may understand that late October or mid-April snow is usually not too good, but if you are anxious to carve some early turns or want the push the ski season to its very end Ski Brule is the place to go.
The Skiing
Ski Brule is not atypical for the region in that the chairs lead to one point and the runs fan around the hill from the top. Yeah, if you are used to skiing out west, east, or even "Big Snow Country" this is different. Ski Brule has 17 trails.
They have the bunny hill close to the lodge and the first chair you ride up (if ...

Winding Down?

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 21:23:48 -0600
Already, ski areas in the region are really closing down not just changing their web-pages.
The Wisconsin Skier notes we have two ski areas closing their slopes for the '06-'07 ski season. Those are Sunburst, Mt. Bohemia, and The Porcupine Mountains. Steeplechase's regular expression requires updating.
Was it a good season? I can not conclude it was, due to the lackadaisical December and January months. The snowless cold of most of February did not make things great either (at least areas could make snow without losing it) as the runs were icy, the snow slow, and who likes to be ski in -10�F weather?
Only within the last month did the ski season turn around for the better. The snow dump coupled along with normal winter temperatures made the end great. I had fun with that snow dump skiing the bumps at Indianhead and then a glorious day at Blackjack. It was a good weekend of skiing, but it takes more than one weekend to be a good season.
Unfortunately, the...

BIG TIME THANKS!

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:49:00 -0600

The Wisconsin Skier wants to thank Hergerts for linking prominently to the Wisconsin Skier! I will create a side block to link to websites that prominently link to The Wisconsin Skier and Hergerts is the charter member!