For those who've been following my westward Odyski, let's note that the Ski Bum is happily ensconced at Big Sky Resort in Montana and had a wonderful day schussing the "biggest skiing in America," as their marketing guys put it. But before tackling Big Sky on this blog (tomorrow perhaps) let's backtrack a couple of days (and about 1,300 miles) to the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum in Ishpeming, Michigan.

The manequin (womanequin?) represents a nordic skier from the 1970s -- a display of the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum in Ishpeming, Michigan.
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Three figures representing three decades of ski equipment and fashion -- an exhibit at the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum in Ishpeming, Michigan.
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This manequin represents a soldier of the famous Tenth Mountain Division, the elite unit of U.S. "ski troops" who fought in World War II.
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First you ask two questions. Where is Ishpeming? It's in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a seldom-visited region that's rich in skiing heritage.

And exactly why Ishpeming? At the dawn of the 20th century, Ishpeming was the center of American skiing and the predecessor to the United States Ski and Snowboard Association was founded here.

Curator Tom West gave me a tour of the building, its many exhibits and the Roland Palmedo Library. He posed for a picture on the historic Skimobile, which once carried skiers at Mount Cranmore in North Conway, New Hampshire.

We talked about some of the Hall of Fame inductees. This year's class includes Everett Kircher, founder of Boyne Resorts, the owner of Big Sky, Sunday River and Sugarloaf.

Tom West, curator of the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum, talks about the evolution of equipment.
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And talking about ski history and heritage reminds me to remind readers that the Ski Museum of Maine is holding its Maine Ski Heritage Classic at Sugarloaf on Saturday, February 16. Save that date!

America's skiing heritage is a major theme of my current Odyski, and today let's take note of two significant 50th anniversary celebrations that happen tomorrow. Both Wildcat, in northern New Hampshire, and Whiteface, in upstate New York, first started spinning their bullwheels on Jan. 25, 1958.

They'll celebrate with some special events and some very special pricing.

Closest to home for Maine Ski Bum readers, Wildcat drops its price to $9 for the day tomorrow. Historically, that represents nine rides at $1 apiece on the mountain's first-in-the-U.S. gondola. One-ride tickets were the norm in those days, and a nine-run day on the 4,000-foot mountain was considered to be about the max.

Wildcat opened a new chapter in American skiing when it opened its first-in-the-U.S. gondola. The mountain celebrates its 50th anniversary tomorrow with prices rolled back to opening day, Jan. 25, 1958.
PHOTO COURTESY WILDCAT MOUNTAIN

Today the gondola is gone, replaced by a much faster high-speed quad. And by Saturday, that $9 bargain price will also be gone. Of course there will be commemorative events both tomorrow and Saturday. Check the Wildcat website for details.

Less than a week ago I was schussing Whiteface, New York's loftiest ski mountain. They'll offer a $30 ticket price tomorrow. Of course that's still a few times higher than their opening-day price. But then again, they still have a gondola. Mind you, not a 50-year-old machine, but it's still a gondola.

Ski Bum readers have seen quite a bit of Wildcat over the years, so let's take a brief look at Whiteface.

Located about 20 minutes from Lake Placid, Whiteface offers the most vertical skiing in the East. That's 3,166 vertical feet off the summit quad, and about 2,500 off the shoulder peak that's reached by the eight-place gondola.

With 3,166 vertical feet, upstate New York's Whiteface Mountain is tops in the East.
IMAGE COURTESY OLYMPIC REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Whiteface was the site of the downhill, slalom and giant slalom races of the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games. Some of the significant spots, such as the starting and ending points, are marked by signs.

The celebration continues on Saturday with the "Ski Sweater Ball." Check the Whiteface website for details.

It's still a significant venue for World Cup racing. On the first day I visited, a U.S. woman, Emiko Torito, won the Ladies Moguls of the Nature Valley F.I.S. World Cup Freestyle. I watched her -- seeded 29th -- as she skied the two-jump course on Lower Wilderness with dazzling speed and sick style to win the final and deciding run. It was her first-ever first-place finish in a World Cup event.

Although Emiko's family hails from Denver and she currently skis out of Steamboat Springs, she trained in New England.

I've covered a number of World Cup events over the years, and I know that hosting them is a major effort that seldom pays dividends, at least in the short term. I expressed my appreciation to communications director Sandy Caligiore.

"Running these events is part of our Whiteface heritage," he replied.

Whiteface boasts far broader appeal than World Cup and Olympic-level racing. If your family includes some pint-sized future (or wannabe) Olympians, you'll also find a warm welcome, especially at Whiteface's Easy Acres Family Center.

You don't have to be at the World Cup level to enjoy Whiteface today. With a large learning area, Whiteface is a topnotch place for skiing and snowboarding families.
PHOTO COURTESY OLYMPIC REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

And speaking of the future, when you ride the Face Lift (high-speed quad), look to your right and note the new trails that have been cut. Sandy says they will be ready for skiing and riding in the 2008-2009 season, covered by snowmaking and accessed by a fixed-grip triple chair.

Nothing like starting a new chapter in history for Whiteface's 51st season!

It's easy to picture ski resorts in the northern Appalachian Mountains or the Rockies or the Cascades, but can downhill skiing prosper in the small rolling hills of the midwest? That's exactly what happened at Boyne Mountain, a testimony to the power of positive thinking of Everett Kircher, who built this area from scratch, beginning in 1947.

Today this area, plus a nearby sister resort, proves that downhill skiing can flourish despite the physical limitations of the geography. Unlike some midwestern ski areas, this one isn't close to major population centers. Detroit, for example, is about 250 miles away.

Imposing size and the faux-alpine exterior of the Boyne Mountain Grand Lodge are the first two things that impressed me upon arrival at Michigan's biggest ski resort.
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But thousands come to enjoy about 500 vertical feet, serviced by 10 chairlifts -- including a high-speed six-pack! -- and a suite of accommodations and amenities that rival any in ski country.

Riding the six-pack chairlift at Boyne Mountain, Michigan's biggest ski resort.
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My westward Odyski landed me at Boyne on Monday night, and I skied the mountain yesterday. Boyne Mountain itself won't impress anybody, and the scope of the operation -- including a massive commitment to lifts and snowmaking -- seems almost comically disproportionate to the size of the hill.

View from the summit of Boyne Mountain in Michigan. Note the size of the Mountain Grand Lodge in the background.
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But the sprawling complex of hotels, condos and ski houses near the base tell another story: Boyne attracts hundreds of thousands of people who drive long distances to stay and play.

Why's this important to a Maine-based Ski Bum? Simple: The people who created Boyne now own Sunday River and Sugarloaf. And Boyne's excellent physical facilities -- plus the positive thinking that created them -- bode well for the future of Maine's two premier ski resorts.

Let me share a few observations:

Keystone of the snowmaking operation is the company's proprietary Low-E snowguns, which save about 40 percent of the energy requirements over conventional systems.

Boyne's proprietary Low-E snowguns comprise the keystone of its vast snowmaking operation.
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Architectural and thematic harmony is omnipresent, from a European clock tower to the Swiss-maid uniforms worn by the waitresses in the main restaurant of the Grand Lodge.

Architectural unity includes multiple complexes of private ski houses that sprawl around the base of the mountain.

Boyne attracts families. Kids especially like the indooor water park. I wouldn't be surprised to see one soon at Sunday River.

Boyne founder/builder Everett Kircher was posthumously elected to the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame (which I'll visit tomorrow as the Odyski continues westward) but the business is carried on by his two sons and two daughters. Soon after Boyne bought Sunday River and Sugarloaf, I interviewed Stephen Kircher, who heads the company's eastern operations.

My positive impressions from that interview have certainly been reinforced by very positive personal observations at the company's original resort.

Oswego is obviously an Indian word and I have no idea what it means. But Oswego County, New York, is synonymous with "lake effect" snow, which I experienced in abundance while skiing yesterday at Salmon Hills Outdoor Adventure Center.

I began the day in Watertown, where there was barely enough snow to cover the ground. By the time I drove about an hour south to Salmon Hills in Redfield, the snow was falling about three inches per hour and the driving was treacherous.

The parking lot and ski rack outside the lodge at Salmon Hills Outdoor Adventure Center in Redfield, NY, in an area that's justly famous for "lake effect" snow.
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In winter, Salmon Hills' main outdoor adventure is cross-country skiing; owner Hans Petter Karlsen is a former Norwegian XC standout and biathlon racer.

Hans Petter Karslen, a former Norwegian ski racer, helps a customer.
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About 38 kilometers of trails are maintained for both skate-skiers and traditional stride-and-gliders like myself.

Skiers work their way through fast-falling snow yesterday at Salmon Hills Adventure Center.
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The terrain is varied and exceptionally attractive. Of course I couldn't see too much of it, due to the very heavy snowfall.

A skier struggles through the snow yesterday at Salmon Hills Outdoor Adventure Center, which lies at the bulls-eye of upstate New York's lake effect snow.
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The lodge is also exceptionally attractive, and it includes a nice retail and rental area plus cafeteria.

Hans believes in pro-actively programming. The local Bill Koch Youth Ski League is very active, and he's got a two-day "Girls Day Out" ski clinic scheduled this coming weekend.

Oswego County is part of New York's Tug Hill Plateau, a triangle-shaped mostly wooded area that lies between Syracuse and Watertown.

After sampling the trails, I struggled through the fast-falling snow to regain the interstate highway. But by the time I reached Syracuse, the snow had stopped and the ground was mostly bare.

Hans had told me that Oswego County is like a bulls-eye for lake effect snow. Believe him, it's true. And yesterday's micro-storm in Oswego County even got some broadcast footage on the Weather Channel this morning.

Among the projects on my westward Odyski is researching a number of stories on American's skiing heritage, and raconteur Joe-Pete Wilson, a former cross-country mogul, is one of the more interesting people I've met in years.

Joe-Pete competed in the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympic Winter Games, and he was the site manager for the cross-country (plus bobsled and luge) in the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games.

Joe-Pete Wilson, who raced cross-country in the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympic Winter Games, is a renowned raconteur and authority on America's skiing heritage.
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Joe-Pete Wilson is the owner of the Bark Eater Inn, a favorite stopover among skiers who visit the Lake Placid region.
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I've been staying at his Bark Eater Inn, a B&B in the nearby town of Keene.

There's no bark served at the Bark Eater. Breakfast is made and served by Betsy Ross. After breakfast I've been interviewing Joe-Pete. He's got some great stories to tell. Skiing stories include making the Olympic team and writing one of the first how-to books on nordic techniques. He also once owned a chain of cross-country ski centers -- the McDonald's of nordic.

Betsy Ross cooks up and serves breakfast at the Bark Eater Inn.
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Non-skiing tales include riding a horse through a fancy restaurant in downtown Lake Placid.

I've also been researching the skiing in the area. On Thursday I did a few kilometers at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the 1980 cross-country venue. Yesterday I headed up to Whiteface to ski the mountain and catch some of the action at the Nature Valley Freestyle World Cup competition.

Skiing on Whiteface, looking down at the Little Whiteface summit area.
COURTESY OLYMPIC REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

With 3,166 vertical feet, Whiteface boasts the most in the East.

By the way, Whiteface celebrates its 50th anniversary on Friday, Jan. 25!

Nordic ski centers can be quiet as a tomb on weekdays, but
Mt. Van Hoevenberg, site of the cross-country races in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, was a beehive of activity and a very happening place when I stopped by yesterday for a few hours.

The Lake Placid, NY, area is the first stop on my westward Odyski. And yesterday was the first time I've schussed in the Empire State.

I'm staying at the Bark Eater Inn, which is owned by Joe-Pete Wilson, a pioneer of the cross-country ski industry. Joe-Pete was an Olympic racer himself -- 1960 at Squaw Valley -- and he was the site manager at Mt. Van during the 1980 Winter Games.

Due to Mt. Van's lack of snow, only about 40 percent of the total trail mileage was open -- and only 15 kilometers were tracked -- but the grooming was excellent. And there was no shortage of skiers.

The first ones I noticed were the noisiest -- lots of happy kids.

The program is called Trailmarkers and Pathfinders, and it introduces third-graders to cross-country skiing. Dozens of kids from the town of Fort Anne were led by half a dozen volunteer instructors. Lessons, trail passes, rental equipment, instruction and a snack are all free!

Program coordinator Barbara Dayton told me that they have about a thousand childen involved!

Third-grade kids get six weeks of free lessons, equipment rental, instruction and snacks at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, site of the nordic races in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.
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With all the kids learning to ski, Mt. Van Hoevenberg was a happening place yesterday.
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There were also older students: young men and women from several colleges. Several biathlon teams were training at the nearby course and range.

And the Snowboomers, Mt. Van's program for senior skiers. About a dozen were present yesterday; they headed out on the trail for a two hour lesson.

The Snowboomers pose for the Ski Bum's camera yesterday at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.
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Plus there were a bunch of regular folks like myself, who simply showed up to ski a few miles.

Nettie Hauk, of Rochester, NY, slides and glides along the trails at Mt. Van Hoevenberg yesterday.
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Undaunted by Friday's downpour and the overnight quick freeze -- and hungry for skiing -- a schuss buddy and I headed west to the Mount Washington Valley yesterday for some downhill at Attitash followed by some chowing-down at the Jackson Ski Touring potluck dinner.

Cherie Perkins, one of the Ski Bum's favorite schuss buddies, poses for the camera at Attitash's Bear Peak yesterday.
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Cherie skis in toward the base yesterday at Attitash's Bear Peak.
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After taking a few runs on Bear Peak, we crossed over to the Attitash side. Conditions? A very skiable frozen granular surface -- about the best the grooming crew can do after as much rain as we got on Friday and the overnight freeze-up.

Attitash's vastly expanded snowmaking capacity was obvious: Plenty of cover on all the main trails with only a few bare spots.

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View of the Attitash main lodge, taken from the summit triple chairlift.
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Heading down from the main summit at Attitash yesterday.
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After the lifts closed, Cherie and I headed up to Ptarmigan's Pub for some apres ski before continuing to Jackson.

Apres ski at Ptarmigan's at Attitash.
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The monthly potluck suppers held at Jackson Ski Touring have been a mainstay of the Mount Washington Valley's social scene for years. Great food and outstanding company!

Cherie and I sat opposite John and Alice Pepper, a charming couple I've known for about two decades.

John was one of the original stockholders of Wildcat Mountain, which celebrates its 50th season this year. The first stockholders also got lifetime passes to the Cat. "Fifty years of skiing for a thousand bucks!" exclaimed John.

Wife Alice, who usually heads up the Over-70 division of the masters races, is the author of a recently published history of Jackson.

The Jackson Ski Touring Club's monthly potluck dinners are a mainstay of the Mount Washington Valley's social scene.
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Alice Pepper is a masters ski racer -- and author of the recently published history of Jackson.
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Among the others I chatted with last night: Steve and Sally Swenson, the parents of three-time Olympian Carl Swenson, who was the top nordic racer on the U.S. Ski Team for many years. Steve and Sally remain formidible competitors in New England masters racing.

Maybe it was the great snow and mild temps, and maybe it was people making New Year's resolutions to get out and become more active. But in any case, I had a big turnout for my annual Maine Outdoor Adventure Club trip to Sunday River Cross Country Ski Center in Newry.

Members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club pose in front of the 1872 Artist Covered Bridge yesterday at Sunday River Cross Country Ski Center in Newry.
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Many of the members were longtime friends who have been on other cross-country ski trips with me over the years. Plus there were a surprising number of new faces -- people who had just joined the club. And we had at least a couple of prospective members who probably will join.

Cherie Perkins of Standish was trying out her new skis for the first time, and appeared to do nicely with them. Cherie's longtime friend, Nadya Pearson of Portland, was on a nicely preserved pair of wooden skis that date back to the mid-1970s.

Cherie Perkins was on her new pair of cross-country skis.
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Nadya Pearson poses with her trusty old wooden skis, which date from the 1970s.
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Two longtime friends, Cherie Perkins and Nadya Pearson, share a smile with the Ski Bum/photographer along the trail yesterday at Sunday River Cross Country Ski Center.
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Per my usual custom, we took a short ski in the morning and returned to the lodge for lunch. Then suitably fortified and refreshed, we headed out on a trip to the 1872 Artist Covered Bridge, the western-most limit of the trail system.

Maine Outdoor Adventure Club skiers pause and pose along the trail yesterday at Sunday River Cross Country Ski Center.
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Four of us had waxable skis, while the rest skied on waxless. With temps rising through the day, we all had a bit of trouble either with clumping or grip.

I heard a number of upbeat comments regarding the excellent grooming of the trails -- generally one classical track plus a skating lane with occasional sections of dual tracks plus skating.

All in all, we covered about nine miles total, including ascending the steepest pitch on the trail system. We had two very tired skiers when we returned to the lodge late in the afternoon. And the rest of us felt that we'd had a big workout.