Mt. Bohemia opens with one chairlift approved Mt. Bohemia’Äôs lights lit up the sky at dusk for night skiing Saturday, Dec. 30, the opening day for the ski hill built by Black Bear Entertainment Adventure and Recreation Company at Lac La Belle. The green Mountain Dew chairlift received its state safety permit Friday. LAC LA BELLE ’Äì Skiers and snowboarders celebrated the opening of the Mt. Bohemia Ski Hill Saturday, Dec. 30, after a delay for final chairlift inspection ended Friday with approval from the Michigan Consumer and Industry Services (CIS), Bureau of Commercial Services. Back-country skiers noted about a foot of powder to challenge their knees. Heikki Lunta, the Finnish snow god, sent some heavier snow because of the warmer temperature, which reached the high 20s during the day. Skiers, snowboarders and visitors enjoyed snacks and hot drinks in the new yurt lodge; and some showed up at the newly opened Seasons at Lac La Belle Restaurant, formerly The Landing. Skiers Billie Paveglio of Marquette and Gerry Neher of Hancock "It’Äôs nice. The snow is a little heavy now because of the warm weather," said Gerry Neher of Hancock, who skied most of the day. "I’Äôm looking forward to a lot of good skiing here ’Ķ It’Äôs changed so much, and the view is just beautiful from the top." His friend Billie Paveglio of Marquette, a Michigan Tech student now living in Hancock, said she found the challenge of the steep trails a bit much after about three runs and decided to rest and wait for Neher in the warmth of the well heated yurt lodge. She said she enjoyed the view as well as the atmosphere. "It wasn’Äôt too crowded," Paveglio said. "No long lift lines." Ski patrol member Ted Belej of Houghton Ski patrol member Ted Belej was enthusiastic about his first day using the lifts, although he had already skied on the mountain earlier this week when a Snow Cat was available to take early skiers to the top. "Beautiful. Absolutely incredible ’Ķ and it’Äôs a lot of fun," Belej said of the back-country trails. Bob Grasseschi of Houghton joined Black Bear President Lonie Glieberman, developer of the ski hill, on the way to the chairlift. Grasseschi explained that a bus had brought them from the other side of the hill, so that they could ride the green Mountain Dew Triple Chairlift, now servicing all the skiers and snowboarders until the purple chairlift is completed. Black Bear President Lonie Glieberman and Bob Grasseschi of Houghton head for the chairlift with their skis. "I’Äôve been here since eight o’Äôclock this morning ’Äì first one here," Grasseschi said. "Awesome is the word." Glieberman seemed happy with the turnout, although he would not comment to Keweenaw Today. Black Bear Business Manager Jim Rempel said they would not have an official count of skiers until the end of the day. With the bright lights operating, the hill was expected to remain open until 10 p.m. Snowboarder Kenny Burns of St. Clair Shores, Mich., said he came up with snowmobiler friends but brought his snowboard along because he had heard Mt. Bohemia was opening. He had a chance to try it Friday even though the chairlift was not yet operating. "They were kind enough to let people go up there on the Snow Cat," Burns said, noting his surprise at getting a free ride. "It was a lot of fun out there. It was probably better than Colorado ’Ķ I had more fun here." Inside the yurt lodge, skiers and snowboarders mingled with some visitors who just came to observe. Among the latter were Howard and Debbie Belknap, owners of the Garnet House Bed and Breakfast in Kearsarge. So far none of the skiers were staying at the Garnet House, they said. "We hope for (the ski hill) to go well," Debbie added. Former MTU students Marcus Fischer and Brynn Bialke of St. Joseph, Michigan, warm up in the yurt lodge after skiing the back-country trail at Mt. Bohemia. Two Michigan Tech graduates in mechanical engineering, Marcus Fischer and Brynn Bialke of St. Joseph, Mich., said they come north every holiday season for a vacation. After skiing at Indianhead and the Porkies (Porcupine Mountain State Park), they snowmobiled in Keweenaw County and then came to Mt. Bohemia to ski. Expert skiers, they hit mostly the back-country trail all day, where Fischer said he used to hike. "I’Äôd say it’Äôs definitely the most advanced in the Midwest," Fischer said, noting their Mt. Bohemia experience was preparation for skiing in Utah in March. They both commented that the buses shuttling skiers to the chairlift were timed well and gave them a rest between runs. "We only had to wait about five minutes," Bialke said. "We needed a break after going through all that powder." Fischer said the powder on the back-country trail was "about knee-deep."        Hubbell resident Barb Raica, food service employee, helps Gary and Audrey Erickson of Calumet choose a snack in the cafeteria yurt. The Ericksons (right) visited Mt. Bohemia with their son Dave Erickson, a snowboarder now living in Montana, and his friend Mary Nikolaisen of Oslo, Norway. Gary and Audrey Erickson of Calumet brought their snowboarder son, Dave Erickson of Kallispell, Montana, and skier Mary Nikolaisen of Oslo, Norway, to check out the hill for the coming week while they will be visiting the family. "I can’Äôt wait," Dave said. Directing traffic near the parking lot was Mt. Bohemia security guard Gene Longpre of Lac La Belle. Longpre said he had been at the hill since 7:30 a.m. and would stay as long as needed. "I’Äôm retired, and I don’Äôt like retirement," Longpre said. "I just love to be outside like this." Chairlift builder Todd Lecklider (left) of Dayton, Ohio, chats with Mt. Bohemia security guard Gene Longpre of Lac La Belle. Todd Lecklider of Dayton, Ohio, said he helped build the green chairlift and was still working on the purple one, which has not yet been inspected. "I’Äôm still putting the bearings in the shaft for the driveline (for the cable)," he said. Concerning the safety of the Riblet Chairlifts, which are his specialty, Lecklider said, "I’Äôd put my wife and kids on (one of them)." Keweenaw County Deputy Sheriff Bill Luokinen, Jr., said the Sheriff’Äôs Department would have vehicles checking the Mt. Bohemia area, but any extra patrols would be out because of the New Year’Äôs Eve weekend, not just because of the ski hill opening. "We have very good coverage for this weekend," he said. "(It) is historically a pretty busy weekend for us ’Ķ I imagine it’Äôs pretty busy for everyone ’Äì all police departments." He noted the weekend between Christmas and New Year’Äôs is the busiest snowmobile weekend as well as a time when there are more people in the area. "All in all, we’Äôre expecting a pretty busy weekend, and Mt. Bohemia would be just another factor," Luokinen added. "Sheriff patrol units will be on duty throughout the county." An underblade (drag) truck churns up some snow as it pours stamp sand and salt on U.S. 41 between Phoenix and the Lac La Belle Road Saturday, Dec. 30, the opening day of the Mt. Bohemia Ski Hill. The Keweenaw County Road Commission was busy keeping the roads plowed, sanded and salted for the weekend as well. Seasons Restaurant has busy weekend One sign of the busy weekend was the flourishing new Seasons at Lac La Belle Restaurant, formerly The Landing, and its accompanying Lac La Belle Lodge. Cathy Westcott (left), new co-owner of the Seasons at Lac La Belle Restaurant (formerly The Landing) and the Lac La Belle Lodge, serves hot coffee to snowmobiler Jodi Kolquist of Blaine, Minn., in the new bar area of the restaurant, which re-opened on Dec. 22. Besides drinks (liquor license forthcoming) sandwiches, hot dogs and other items will soon be sold at the bar. "It’Äôs been busy all day ’Äì skiers, snowmobilers ’Ķ a lot of sightseers to see the hill," said Cathy Westcott, who, with her husband Troy, opened the Seasons store and gas station on Friday, Dec. 15, and the restaurant on Friday, Dec. 22. "We had a nice start to the season with all this snow," Troy said. He was helping a snowmobiler customer, Steve Kolquist of Blaine, Minn., replace his burned-out lamp while Cathy served Kolquist’Äôs wife, Jodi Kolquist, some hot coffee. The restaurant has a new menu, specializing in fine dining, and a chef/manager, fluent in French, who studied culinary arts in France ’Äì Malcolm Hudson, formerly of the Harbor Haus Restaurant in Copper Harbor. Ron Waara, owner of the Harbor Haus, is also helping out at Seasons for the winter. The menu reflects Hudson’Äôs French training, with such items as Rotisserie Poussin (small chicken), Filet Mignon / Port Wine & Veal Reduction and Crˆ®me anglaise topping such tempting desserts as Chocolate Torte or Caramelised Pear Tart. Hudson’Äôs most popular specialties include Buttercrunch Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Toasted Hazelnuts, and Grilled Lake Trout with Herbed Couscous. "He makes an awesome salad," Cathy Westcott said. The menu now includes sandwiches as well, she added. The restaurant now has a nonsmoking dining room, and the bar (with smoking allowed) is now in part of the attached store and awaiting a liquor license. In addition, the Westcotts have completely remodeled two two-bedroom cabins of the former Lac La Belle Resort and are working on the one-bedroom cabin on the lake. Dining Room Manager Julie Danis of Hancock likes her new job at Seasons. "I like everything about the place ," Danis said. "I like the atmosphere, who we work for and work with ’Ķ It’Äôs great to work in a place where you’Äôre proud to serve the food." Seasons Dining Room Manager Julie Danis of Hancock discusses the dinner menu with Krissy Kovachich, waitress, and her sister Michelle Kovachich, hostess, of Calumet. The chef’Äôs assistants include Chris Newsome from Alabama and Kevin Blackstone of Escanaba. Chris Berry of Houghton is bartender. Waitress/hostesses include Danis and Krissy and Michelle Kovachich of Calumet. Krissy Kovachich, now a student at Lake Superior State in Sault Sainte-Marie, Mich., is working at Seasons during her holiday break. She has been skiing in Ontario, Canada. "I love the view ’Äì the ski hill and everything," she said. The Westcotts have three children who will be attending the Copper Harbor School: Alexandra, 10; Zachary, 8; and Meghan, 5. "This is a new adventure," Cathy Westcott said. Hours at the Seasons Restaurant are Monday through Sunday: 8 a.m.-11 a.m., breakfast; noon-3 p.m., lunch; and 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m., dinner. For reservations or information call the restaurant at (906) 289-4118 or the lodge at (906) 289-4293 or email: laclabellelodge@pasty.com. Click here for more photos of Mt. Bohemia’Äôs opening ’Ķ ’Äì Michele Anderson December 31, 2000