• Saturday-What'sUP January 12 - 05:48 pm

This solitary skier at Marquette Mountain didn't have to worry about running into anyone on the way down the hill, except for the man behind the camera, Aladino Mandoli. There's something magical about skiing at night, with the lights glowing all around you, but coming down the hill with no one else in sight is a trip in itself. You just push off, let loose and away you go!

Good morning, nice picture. Are the lights on every night during skiing season?

OH my, I do love that picture.

I like the night skiing picture. Mary, I was thinking that you can ski on Ripley at night now? How is their new lift, etc? Thank you for the fun picture, Aladino and Mary.

Great picture.....Brings back memories of going over to Ripley in the middle of the night while a student at Tech and going for a night ski.

We use to borrow the cafeteria trays and go "Trayin" on the old mountain, I think back then it was called Cliffs Ridge, if I remember correctly. Oh well, again, back in the younger days. Great fun!

When my buddy and I were students at Suomi College in the 50s the Tech ski coach would let us use the tow rope free when the ski team was practicing. I can't remember his name. Really a nice guy. when he found we were students at Suomi he was very helpful in that way. Only a rope two back then. And the ski jump was there and used each winter. One of our classmates, Mel, ??? was a jumper and used to try to get us to jump. He now is a history prof at the University of Chicago. Hmm, probably retired now.

Another thought. Back when I was at NMC one of my fall part time jobs was to brush the ski slopes at cliff's Ridge. The owner hired a gang of us Sig Rhos to do the job. Then he would treat us to sandwiches and beer at Sylvia's bar. That was our frat's "official" hangout and she was our fraternity mother or whatever. Couldn't be official with the college but we didn't care. Just before Thanksgiving break she would put on a buffet in her place for all of us. The frat guys and the locals. What a nice gal.

Growing up in the 60's, the folks in Humboldt twp., (30 miles west of Marquette)got together to put in a rope tow for public use. The hill was on the road to Fish Lake and the use of the land was permitted by the private owner. The area line manager for UPPCO secured used telephone poles, CCI supplied the tow rope, the township paid for the lights/electricity and the State (thru Van Riper State Park) supplied the tow motor. All that the patrons had to do was supply gas and enjoy the fun.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the hill would be overflowing with skiers. Even our female history teacher from Champion High who had never been on skis before ventured out!!!! During the week days, every evening after homework was complete, we would ski through the fields and woods to the hill. The lights would be turned on, a bonfire would be made, and we would ski until our curfew.

During the deep cold of January and February, we would get home with near frost bitten toes - boy, they would hurt when we would soak them in cold water to thaw out!

Then....about 1965, the snowmobile craze came into being and nobody wanted to ski anymore. The hill lay abandoned, and the motor went back to the state.

I was back to the hill a number of years ago, the poles for the rope tow were still there; however, they were leaning and the hill was quite grown over with trees.

The hill may be gone, but my memories remain.

Les

I remember skiing Ripley at night; but I rememebr most the severe cold involved with night skiing (before Polarfleece!). The runs were really fun, but that cold drive home - all the way across Hancock - is still a vivid memory! ...and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Later,
Dave

Speaking of going down mtns...lol When I was in high school, a bunch of us seniors visited GCC in Ironwood. A bunch of us went down their ski hill on them glossy folders, what blast it was. I don't know who had the idea but heck it was fun while it lasted. Leave it to students to think of things to use to go down a mtn in the wackiest and craziest possible ways lol

nice gentle slope === i remain walter p

What a fun picture!

I would certainly need that much space around me so I wouldn't take anyone else out! LOL! Very pretty night shot.

~Deb