09/26/05

Though its vertical drop is only 245 feet, this pint-sized resort is for serious skiers.

by Contributor

The Scene
Developed in the mid '80s, Crystal Ridge is relatively new on the ski scene and features a clean and charming wood-beamed chalet, complete with cafeteria and bar. Since the owners do most of the cooking, and they're interested in repeat business, the grub is better than average.

The Slopes
Crystal Ridge operators like to separate their hill from those "other" greater-Milwaukee ski areas (Wilmot Mountain and Alpine Valley Resort), which Ridge staffers irreverently term "mascara mountains" (meaning visitors are more focused on trolling for dates than pushing their alpine skills to the limit). This begs the question: Are 10 runs with a max drop of 245 feet enough to brag about? You can decide, but Crystal Ridge is somewhat unique in its relaxed policy toward expert skiers and boarders who want to rip down the hill without dirty looks from the establishment--so long as they pose no serious threat to themselves or others.

Vital Stats
Vertical drop: 245 feet
Top elevation: 290 feet
Base elevation: 60 feet
Skiable acres: 75 acres
Lifts: 5
Beginner terrain: 20 percent
Intermediate terrain: 50 percent
Advanced terrain: 30 percent
Snowboarding: Full facilities