Indianhead Mountain
Encyclopedia
Indianhead Mountain is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
in Wakefield
, Gogebic County
. Indianhead Mountain is in an area called "Big Snow Country", so named because of the annual 200 inches (5.1 m) average snowfall, courtesy of the lake effect from Lake Superior
. The area is home to several popular ski resorts such as Big Powderhorn
from Chicago
, over flew Indian Head Mountain. After seeing the abundant snow and area conditions, he developed Indian Head Mountain Resort. This was the impetus for the local ski industry - in the following years, other resorts opened and the area became a skiing hotspot. Mr. English is credited with creating the ski industry in the area, and shifting the local economy away from the failing Iron Mines to one of the most popular ski destinations in the country. An indication of how important skiing has become to the region is Gogebic Community College's program in ski management, one of the few in the country.
ing, ice skating
, cross-country skiing
and other winter activities. The area is best known for downhill alpine skiing
. Indianhead itself only offers downhill alpine skiing.
The facilities normally found at the hill base are on top of the hill at Indianhead. This means that all skiing
begins at the hill top, so your last lift ride for the day is up and off the hill. There are no accommodations at the base of the hill, but there are numerous trailside condos, hill top condos, and rental cabins in the area.
Indianhead is considered to be a family friendly ski area. Kids under nine ski free with a paid adult.
Amenities include the typical bars, snack areas and restaurant at the top of the hill, and a large restaurant / snack area at the base of the hill. There's also a ski shop, ski and board rentals, and lockers throughout the lodge.
The mountain is serviced by three double chairlifts, one quad lift, one triple lift, one Poma lift, two T-bar lifts and a towrope. The T-bar lifts are at the base of some Expert runs.
The hill also offers NASTAR
racing and has a ski school with private and group lessons. The NASTAR run has permanent course start and end structures for registration, start, timing, etc. on Sundance.
is popular in the Summer months with many hiking
clubs and groups. Many clubs consider it a difficult, albeit enjoyable hike.
, 200 miles (321.9 km) northeast of Minneapolis St. Paul via I-35 to US 2, 110 miles (177 km) from Duluth
, and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Wakefield
.
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
in Wakefield
Wakefield, Michigan
Wakefield is a city in Gogebic County in the US state of Michigan. It is located in the western Upper Peninsula. The population was 1,851 at the 2010 census....
, Gogebic County
Gogebic County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,370 people, 7,425 households, and 4,581 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . There were 10,839 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
. Indianhead Mountain is in an area called "Big Snow Country", so named because of the annual 200 inches (5.1 m) average snowfall, courtesy of the lake effect from Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. The area is home to several popular ski resorts such as Big Powderhorn
Big Powderhorn Mountain
Big Powderhorn Mountain is a ski resort located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan between the towns of Bessemer and Ironwood. The mountain is part of the Gogebic Range with a summit of 600 ft and a base elevation of 1200 ft...
History
The roots of Indianhead Mountain Resort tie in closely with the past and current economy of the area. In the late 1950s Jack English, an amateur pilotAviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, over flew Indian Head Mountain. After seeing the abundant snow and area conditions, he developed Indian Head Mountain Resort. This was the impetus for the local ski industry - in the following years, other resorts opened and the area became a skiing hotspot. Mr. English is credited with creating the ski industry in the area, and shifting the local economy away from the failing Iron Mines to one of the most popular ski destinations in the country. An indication of how important skiing has become to the region is Gogebic Community College's program in ski management, one of the few in the country.
Winter activities
The area offers snowshoeSnowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
ing, ice skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
, cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
and other winter activities. The area is best known for downhill alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
. Indianhead itself only offers downhill alpine skiing.
Skiing
Indianhead features runs from very easy greens through double diamond. Over 95% of the hill is groomed, and although there is no official tree skiing, adventurous skiers manage it anyway. There are 10 Beginner Green runs (the largest, Voyagers Highway is in itself the size of many Midwest ski areas), seven More Difficult Blue runs, seven Most difficult Black runs, and four Expert Double Diamond runs primarily because of moguls.The facilities normally found at the hill base are on top of the hill at Indianhead. This means that all skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
begins at the hill top, so your last lift ride for the day is up and off the hill. There are no accommodations at the base of the hill, but there are numerous trailside condos, hill top condos, and rental cabins in the area.
Indianhead is considered to be a family friendly ski area. Kids under nine ski free with a paid adult.
Amenities include the typical bars, snack areas and restaurant at the top of the hill, and a large restaurant / snack area at the base of the hill. There's also a ski shop, ski and board rentals, and lockers throughout the lodge.
The mountain is serviced by three double chairlifts, one quad lift, one triple lift, one Poma lift, two T-bar lifts and a towrope. The T-bar lifts are at the base of some Expert runs.
The hill also offers NASTAR
NASTAR
NASTAR is the world's largest known recreational ski and snowboard race program. It allows ski or snowboard racers of all ages and abilities, through a handicap system, a way to compare themselves with one another and with the national champion, regardless of when and where they race...
racing and has a ski school with private and group lessons. The NASTAR run has permanent course start and end structures for registration, start, timing, etc. on Sundance.
Hiking
The mountainMountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
is popular in the Summer months with many hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
clubs and groups. Many clubs consider it a difficult, albeit enjoyable hike.
Location
Indianhead Mountain ski area is located in northwestern MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, 200 miles (321.9 km) northeast of Minneapolis St. Paul via I-35 to US 2, 110 miles (177 km) from Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Wakefield
Wakefield, Michigan
Wakefield is a city in Gogebic County in the US state of Michigan. It is located in the western Upper Peninsula. The population was 1,851 at the 2010 census....
.