GALENA -- Chestnut Mountain Ski Area is much improved from days past, and right now it's incredible.
The snow conditions are excellent, better than most of the times were were in Colorado. Today, Jan. 27, 2011, there was an ample base and a couple of inches of powder. Perfect. The weather also was perfect, sunny and in the 20s.
There's more: if you are age 70 or older, you ski free! Yea! That's us.
The runs are good -- shorter than the main ski areas in Colorado, but steep enough to be fast and fun. The area has installed new quad ski lifts since we were last here, eliminating the lines, at least on weekdays.
The lodge is nice, too. A little scruffy as befits a ski lodge, but clean and comfortable, with a good restaurant and other facilities, including a nice indoor swimming pool and spa/hot tub.
It's cable TV offerings are weak: no MSNBC or Comedy Channel, and no DVD player in the room. Those could be remedied easily, and should be. The rooms have free Wi-fi and refrigerators.
In short -- we're having a lovely time.
We also found a better way to drive to Galena from central Illinois -- through Iowa. Take I-80 across the Mississippi, then go north on Route 61 to Dubuque, four lanes all the way. Connect with Route 20, cross the Mississippi back into Illinois, drive to Galena then follow the signs to the ski area. This avoids the awful drive on Illinois Route 84 along the Mississippi to Galena,a slow 2-lane, heavy with big trucks.
There's one last perk: the altitude. No headaches from altitude sickness, the bane of the Colorado ski areas.
With an ample base and snow making equipment, the skiing at Chestnut Mountain ought to be good for another month or more. For the money, it's a terrific bargain.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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