BOYNE MOUNTAIN Fri 3/20/26
It’s been since 2018 that I skied at Boyne Mountain with a few buds and a young man that came out from Vermont of all places because he wanted to take pictures of the many first chairlifts in the country. I cannot believe that much time has passed, but finally after skiing the Highlands two weeks ago yesterday I decided I better get up to the mountain and observe all the snow that fell last weekend with the historic Northern Michigan blizzard.  there were several new chair lifts installed and I wanted to see what all has changed really wasn’t that busy for a Friday before a spring carnival as I rode not only the six pack which has been there since 1992 but also the new D8 by myself.
 Snow conditions were a little bit. Should I say wet and sticky or your body was going forward and the skis were slowing but once you got on a decent pitch, it was fine. The man-made snow was underneath the meadows chairlift that was turning brown and getting down to be somewhat icy, believe it or not and with all the open bowl terrain it’s hard to distinguish between what was groomed earlier in the morning and was not groomed.
Coming north from Grand Rapids, which had absolutely no snow and actually we golfed yesterday as soon as you got north of Reed city towards Cadillac there was snow on the ground. Just amazing. It was like a shut off valve south of Reed city. Was a long drive but when you’re doing 80 low 80s in a 75 zone doesn’t take extremely long but almost 2 ½ hours each way for a couple hours of skiing or so by myself.
For the price of $25 with a Michigan ski pass from Mount Bohemia couldn’t beat the deal and the alignment of the D8 and the Boyne land quad helps with the distribution and the igloo at the top of the D8 with all the chairs and fire pits and what not is kind of cool and then of course there’s the sky bridge, which is a few years old.

No real complaints just the RF ID units were not working all the time. I tried several different positions and had to hold the card right up against the scanner. Say what you will but I guess I’m an old wicket ticket man. The shuttle bus or should I say pick up truck with a wagon is very efficient and as a lift nut to my surprise, the old Hemlock double was running originally one of the first made in the world from Sun Valley, Idaho.
The Super Bowl, Alpine center pole Dopp double, Ramshead, and Victor not running or needed.
One of the old Disciples lifeline’s was turned into an open black trail just to skiers left of Devils Drop, so in my opinion the new D8 terrain can keep an advanced skier busy for a bit.
Well for an old hack great grampa to be I feel contented with 7 ski days at all different areas except for 2 days at Caberfae this year after a 4 year sabbatical hiatus .
Well, it’s back to golf tomorrow with the wife at 65°.
