Guide to Ski Areas

This year there are more ski areas with better facilities than ever. To assist the skier in his choice of places, both old and new, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED has compiled a representative guide to the major midwestern ski resorts, giving key facts on each resort—the number of days operated last season; average minimum snow depth; total attendance last year; type of lifts, with length/rise/capacity per hour; new facilities; the address for reservation information. In addition, the guide lists the name and telephone number of the person to call in each area for reports on snow conditions throughout the season.

MICHIGAN

Avalanche, Boyne City: New area, with 2 miles of trails. Poma 1,500/260/700; warming hut. Reservations: Gregg Smith, Boyne City Citizen, Boyne City. Snow conditions: GREGG SMITH, Boyne City, Junction 2-6641.

Boyne Mt. Lodge, Boyne Falls: 10 miles of trails, open 139 days, avg. min. snow depth 2 feet. Double chair 1,800/500/800; double chair 1,830/485/800; T bar 600/450/800. New: Heron double chair 2,250/500/800; snow-making equipment. Reservations: Boyne Mt. Lodge, Boyne Falls. Snow conditions: CHARLES MOLL, Boyne Falls 20.

Brule Mt., Iron River: 3 miles of trails, open 115 days, avg. min. snow depth 10 inches, year's crowd 9,500. T bar 1,600/380/700. Reservations: Iron County Ski Corp., 403 W. Adams St., Iron River, Box 366. Snow conditions: TONY ANDRESKI, Iron River 700; nights, Iron River 368.

Caberfae, Cadillac: 10 miles of trails, open 84 days, avg. min. snow depth 10 inches, year's crowd 45,500. Double chair 2,200/265/1,100; 20 rope tows. New: 300-car parking lot; cafeteria and shop enlarged; enlarged instruction area. Reservations: Chamber of Commerce, Cadillac. Snow conditions: FRED BOCKS, Cadillac, Prospect 5-2679.

Cliffs Ridge, Marquette: 3½ miles of trails, open 87 days, avg. min. snow depth 23 inches, year's crowd 5,000. T bar 1,550/425/1,200. New: three runs; Ridge Run developed. Reservations: Cliffs Ridge, Box 487, Marquette. Snow conditions: ANNAMARIE HOEDLMOSER, Marquette, Canal 5-0486.

Mt. Christie, Oxford: New area, 30 miles from Detroit. Poma 1,200/160/800; three slopes; five toboggan runs; shop; restaurant; lodge; snow-making equipment; night skiing. Reservations: Mt. Christie Lodge, Davison Road, Oxford. Snow conditions: NORM ARCHER, Grosse Pointe, Tuxedo 2-9239.

Manistee Ski Area, Manistee: 7 miles of trails, open 45 weekend days, avg. min. snow depth 9 inches, year's crowd 11,500. 9 rope tows. New: 2 rope tows; 2 runs. Reservations: Holland Capper, Manistee Board of Commerce, Manistee Ski Assn., Manistee. Snow conditions: HOLLAND CAPPER, Manistee, Parkview 3-2154.

Mt. Mancelona, Mancelona: 4 miles of trails. T bar 1,200/300/814; five rope tows. New: 3 rope tows; lodge; locker rooms; bar; new trail; lighting for Friday night skiing; hi-fi skiing music. Reservations: Mt. Mancelona Ski Club, Mancelona. Snow conditions: HAROLD AXTMANN, Mancelona, Justice 7-7491.

Nub's Nob, Cross Village: New area with 2 miles of trails. Poma 1,900/450/800; lodge; restaurant; shop. Reservations: Norm Sarns, Cross Village. Snow conditions: NORM SARNS, Harbor Springs 1164-W2.

Pine Mt., Iron Mt.: Open slopes, with 3,800-foot run, open 116 days, avg. min. snow depth 10 inches, year's crowd 20,000. 6 rope tows. New: Riblet double chair 2,350/340/900; lodge. Reservations: Pine Mt. Corp., Pine Mt. Lodge, Iron Mt. Snow conditions: LAVERN TREPP or IRVING JOHNSON, Pine Mt. Lodge, Iron Mt. 2137.

Porcupine Mts. State Park, 17 miles from Ontonagon: 4½ miles of trails, open 90 days, avg. min. snow depth 12 inches, year's crowd 26,000. Twin T bars 2,800/600/1,200; 3 rope tows. New: ski shelter completed; W-2 ski run smoothed. Reservations: Secretary, Ontonagon Tourist Council, Ontonagon. Snow conditions: KNOX JAMISON, Silver City 32.

Thunder Mt., Boyne Falls: 4 miles of trails, open 100 days, avg. min. snow depth 18 inches, year's crowd 7,000. Poma 2,400/510/820; 4 rope tows. New: 1,000-foot rope tow; 2,100-foot run; lodge improved; ski patrol; ski school dorm. Reservations: Joseph H. Behse, Boyne Falls. Snow conditions: JOSEPH H. BEHSE, Boyne Falls 61.

Walloon Hills Ski Area, Walloon Lake: 4 miles of trails, open 98 days, avg. min. snow depth 10 inches, year's crowd 5,000. Poma 2,000/400/1,000. Reservation: Walloon Hills Ski Area, Box 186, Walloon Lake. Snow conditions: DONALD BARRETT, Walloon Lake, Kellogg 1-2702 or 1-3381.

MINNESOTA

Lookout Mt. Ski Lodge, Virginia: New area with 3 miles of trails. Riblet double chair 1,500/275/900; double-deck chalet. Reservations: Lookout Mt. Ski Lodge, Virginia. Snow conditions: ANDY BRADISH, Virginia, Sherwood 1-2717.

Lutsen Resort, Lutsen: 3 miles of trails, open 85 days, avg. min. snow depth 8 inches, year's crowd 8,000. 4 rope tows. New: 4,000-foot intermediate run; heated swimming pool. Reservations: Lutsen Resort, Lutsen. Snow conditions: GEORGE NELSON JR., Lutsen, Mohawk 3-7551.

Mt. Normandale Ski Lodge, 5 miles from Minneapolis: Open slopes, open only 3 days due to lack of snow. Platter-type lift 1,000/200/500. Reservations: Mt. Normandale Ski Lodge, 86 and Normandale South, Minneapolis. Snow conditions: GORDON BOWEN, Minneapolis, South 1-7515.

Pine Bend Ski Area, St. Paul: 3 miles of trails, open only 2 days last season but normally open 65 days, avg. min. snow depth 10 inches, normal year's crowd 15,000. 4 rope tows. New: lodge; ski shop; restaurant; slopes smoothed. Reservations: Oscar Cyr, Route #1, South St. Paul. Snow conditions: OSCAR CYR, Hasting, Geneva 7-4636.

SOUTH DAKOTA
Terry Peak Ski Area, Lead: 4½ miles of trails, open only 26 days due to poor snow depth of 3 feet, local skiers only. Double chair 5,000/1,200/300. New: clubhouse; runs redesigned. Reservations: Chamber of Commerce, Deadwood. Snow conditions: ED KEENE, Deadwood 38.

WISCONSIN

Hardscrabble Ski Area, Rice Lake: 3 miles of trails, open 40 days, avg. min. snow depth 20 inches, year's crowd 19,733 6 rope tows. New: 2 open slopes; 5-acre skating lake. Reservations: Hagen Motel, Rice Lake. Snow conditions: MRS. CASPER HAGEN, Rice Lake 762.

Mt. Telemark, Cable: 2¼ miles of trails, open 120 days, avg. min. snow depth 12 inches, year's crowd 25,000. T bar 2,000/320/1,000; 8 rope tows. New: chalet redecorated; bottom of Tapley run widened. Reservations: Telemark Co., Hayward. Snow conditions: TONY WISE, Hayward 15 or 254.

Rib Mt., Wausau: 3 miles of trails, open 61 days, avg. min. snow depth 3 inches, year's crowd 17,000. T bar 1,450/350/750; 3 rope tows. Reservations: Chamber of Commerce, Wausau. Snow conditions: DELMAR DRUM, Wausau 2-1011, nights, Wausau 8-5126.

Sheltered Valley, Three Lakes: 2 miles of trails, open 115 days, avg. min. snow depth 12 inches, year's crowd 5,000. Poma 1,700/200/500; 4 rope tows. New: Nocolet dining room in chalet. Reservations: Northernaire, Three Lakes. Snow conditions: MIKE MARTY, Three Lakes 4397.

Trollhaugen Ski Area, Dresser: 5 miles of trails, open 40 days, avg. min. snow depth 6 inches, year's crowd 18,000. 6 rope tows. New: slopes smoothed; rental shop enlarged; Sno Cat. Reservations: Walter J. Peterson, St. Croix Falls. Snow conditions: WALTER J. PETERSON, St. Croix Falls 3-J.

EAST AND WEST

Following are some of the top resorts in the East and West which skiers may want to consider.

Aspen Highlands, Aspen, Col.: New area with 12 miles of trails. Constam T bar 1,200/220/800; Riblet double chair 2,700/900/800; Riblet double chair 8,800/2,000/400; restaurant; shop; ski school. Reservations: Nadine Johnson, Chamber of Commerce, Aspen. Snow conditions: PETER SEIBERT, Aspen, Walnut 5-7181.

Aspen Ski Area, Aspen, Col.: 33 miles of trails, open 120 days, avg. min. snow depth 4 feet, year's crowd 125,000. Chair 8,480/2,574/275; chair 5,210/713/275; double chair 4,940/1,140/450; double chair 3,100/836/900; double chair 3,100/836/900; double chair 6,775/2,150/700. New: three motels: Villa Lamarr, 120 people, lounge, coffee shop; The Nugget, 75 people, lounge, swimming pool; The St. Moritz, budget-priced chalet near mountain, suites to dormitories. Reservations: Nadine Johnson, Chamber of Commerce, Aspen. Snow conditions: NOREEN INMAN, Aspen, Walnut 5-3611.

Big Bromley, Peru, Vt.: 12 miles of trails, open 113 days, avg. min. snow depth 4 feet, year's crowd 90,000. J bar 12,800/700/900; J bar 22,480/680/900; J bar 31,800/500/900; J bar 41,600/385/900; J bar 51,100/225/900; Poma 62,000/480/850. New: Riblet double chair 5,700/1,400/800; novice slope; 700-car lot above Lord's Prayer. Reservations: Wells Glenn Realtors, Manchester. Snow conditions: FRED PABST, at Bromley, Manchester 315.

Buttermilk, Aspen, Col.: New area with 4 miles of trails. Doppelmayr T bar 4,000/720/1,000; restaurant; shop. Reservations: Nadine Johnson, Chamber of Commerce, Aspen. Snow conditions: NOREEN INMAN, Aspen, Walnut 5-3611.

Mad River Glen, Vt., Waitsfield: 10 miles of trails, open 135 days, avg. min. snow depth 5 feet, year's crowd 25,000. Chair 5,640/1,990/500. New: Hall T bar 1,500/300/800; intermediate trail; enlarged parking facilities. Reservations: Mad River Glen, Waitsfield. Snow conditions: KEN QUACKENBUSH, Mad River Glen, Waitsfield 20, ring 2.

Mont Tremblant, St. Jovite, Que.: 30 miles of trails, open 110 days, avg. min. snow depth 10 inches, year's crowd 22,000. Chair 4,174/1,092/350; chair 5,200/1,300/520; T bar 3,428/730/800; T bar 2,700/750/800. New: Sissy Schuss, Devil's River Run, Nansen, Lowell Thomas, Duncan's resurfaced. Reservations: Mont Tremblant Lodge; Club or Hotel, Chalet des Chutes; Chalet Pinoteau; Chateau Beauvallon—all Mont Tremblant, Que. Snow conditions: ERNIE McCULLOCH, Mont Tremblant 83.

Mount Hood Ski Bowl, Government Camp: 1¼ miles of trails, open 50 weekend days, avg. min. snow depth 4 feet, year's crowd 35,000. Chair 3,600/650/280; double chair 1,800/650/750. New: slopes smoothed. Reservations: Hughes Cabin Court, Government Camp. Snow conditions: MARGARET SULLIVAN, Portland, Capitol 8-9275.

Stowe, Stowe, Vt.: 25 miles of trails, open 115 days, avg. min. snow depth 4 feet, year's crowd 100,000. Double chair 6,200/1,700/960; single chair 6,330/2,030/360; T bar 2,000/500/1,200; T bar 4,000/1,000/1,200; T bar 1,800/300/1,200. New: slopes smoothed. Reservations: Stowe-Mans-field Assn., Stowe. Snow conditions: CHARLIE LORD, Stowe-Mansfield Assn., Alpine 3-7716.

Sugarbush Valley, Warren, Vt.: A new area with 10 miles of trails. Carlevaro-Savio Telecar 9,300/2,388/600; Hall T bar 1,400/300/1,000; Valley House for 90 guests; shop. Reservations: Housing Office, Sugarbush Valley, Waitsfield. Snow conditions: JACK MURPHY, Sugarbush Valley 46, ring 22.

Sun Valley, Sun Valley, Idaho: Extensive trails, open 107 days, avg. min. snow depth Baldy 50 inches, Dollar 30 inches, year's crowd 115,191. Ruud Mt. chair 1,965/703/250; Dollar Mt. Chair 4,880/628/500; Half Dollar chair 1,200/186/500; Baldy Mt. chair 3,846/607/600; chair 3,776/1,322/600; chair 3,967/1,324/400; double chair 4,275/1,347/700; chair 3,080/1,072/400. New: additional chairs on Dollar Mt. and Half Dollar; Dollar cabin enlarged; Central Park run extended. Reservations: Winston McCrea, Sun Valley. Snow conditions: MARY BAILEY, Sun Valley 3311.