OUTDOORS
Mount Brighton
April 17 , 2005

Like rating the local trail system when it comes to Mt. Biking , why not try somewhere different to ski or snowboard each issue? Last issue we were at Alpine Valley, this week I was able to head out to Mt. Brighton and try their slopes. I was very surprised with the difference between the two.

The first thing I noticed was that Mt. Brighton has very few trees on the slopes unlike Alpine that is much more wooded and gives you the feeling of being up north. At first I thought this made the hills look very cold and windy, but once I went up the first chairlift I forgot about the lack of trees. The snow was nicely groomed and the variety of the hills was excellent. They have something for every person's personal level and once you think your good, humble yourself and try one of the mogul runs. Once I had been on the slopes for a while I actually liked the fact that there weren't any trees. I know this sounds crazy coming from a Tree hugger (not the Sunny Bono type), but I liked the fact that I could see all the other hills from the top and could decide if I wanted to make my way over to a not-so-crowded area or change runs due to a back-up at a chair lift. I wouldn't say this would be a great area on a very windy night with snow coming down, but I was out skiing on a beautiful sunny day, so the views were great for Lower Michigan .

If it's your first time on a ski slope, then Mt. Brighton has a full staff of instructors to keep you learning and many different lesson plans to choose from. They offer Group Lessons, Private Lesson Packages, and Mogul Lessons for both ski and snowboarding. No need to worry if you don't have your own equipment, Mt. Brighton has over 1400 skis and 450 snowboards in the rental department. They also have a nice, warm area for the parents to sit in and watch their kids on the hill if they choose not to partake in the slopes themselves.

Mt. Brighton was the first Ski Resort in the state of Michigan to start a High School Boarder Cross event. “This is the resorts second year for the program and its going great” said Joe Bruhn, who is General Manager of Mt. Brighton . “We hope it will become a letter sport within a few years”, Bruhn said. Not only do they offer the Boarder Cross Track, but they have a good size Half Pipe and some nice Jumps for those who seek the thrill of some big air.

Looking for an alternative to the Night Club scene but can't stand the thought of sitting at home on a weekend night? Well don't worry, because at the bottom of the slopes is a full service bar with a sit down restaurant, you can get the best of both worlds. They even have Beer Leagues every Wednesday night that has a following of over 200 racers.

After a long day of skiing in unseasonably warm weather I sat down in the lounge with a stiff drink and a stiff, aching back thinking how I would love to be in that half pipe with those young kids catching some air. Then again I'm old, and have to worry about getting out of bed on Monday morning. I don't think the boss will understand that I just had to show the 15 year old punk who kept heckling me that I could do a 540 Tailgrab. This was before I realized I couldn't land it.

Next time you're looking for some outdoor activity in the winter, check out Mt. Brighton .

STLD Editor