Mountain Life, Winter 2017/18

A MOMENT WITH LOU BATORI AT 107 P. 14

IRON FISH, A DREAM DISTILLED P. 32

UNVEILING THE NEW INN! SMART, BEAUTIFUL, INSPIRED P. 34

MEET OUR SKI SCHOOL VISIONARIES P. 42

ESTATE GROWN FARM DISTILLED ...AND CLOSE ENOUGH TO TASTE!

MICHIGAN’S FIRST FARM DISTILLERY IS 2.5 MILES FROM CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

• Tasting Flights, Tours, Seasonal Craft Cocktails, Snacks • Great Live Music and Food Trucks Most Weekends • Family Friendly & OPEN YEAR ROUND • Restored Historic Barn for Weddings and Parties

RETURNING SPIRIT

TO IT’S ORIGIN

@ironfishdistillery

WWW.IRONFISHDISTILLERY.COM

14234 Dzuibanek Road Thompsonville, MI 49683 231.378.fish(3474)

NEW! HEAD RENTAL FLEET COMING WINTER 2017

c r ystalmo untain.co m

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Brian Lawson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bob Butz Chris MacInnes Kim Schneider Nancy Story Lynda Wheatley

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Debbie Bihlman Brian Confer Nick Nerbonne Bob Neumann Alan Newton Jeff Rabidoux Brittany Roberts Keirsun Scott Nancy Story Dan and Melissa Photography Iron Fish Distillery Jessica Frederick Photography Kathy Davies Photography Lux Light Photography Oden & Janelle Photography Stormcloud Brewing Company Two Twisted Trees Photography

TIME WELL SPENT At age 107, Lou Batori considers each moment precious and spends a few sharing his thoughts on life and a love of skiing.

P. 14

IT AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER A look at the sun, snow and celebration that defines the winter season’s grand finale.

Crystal Mountain 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr. Thompsonville, MI 49683-9742 888.976.4484 crystalmountain.com info@crystalmountain.com

P. 26

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The early years at Buck Hills began with the bravest mom in the world.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN PRESERVED

Mountain Life© is published semi-annually.

Copyright 2017 by Crystal Mountain. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written approval of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or edit any manuscripts received for publication.

Crystal Mountain’s newest development is the latest chapter of a story that captures the history, character and culture of this beautiful region.

P. 34

M O U N TA I N L I F E

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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LIVE WHERE YOU LOVE TO PLAY. When you make Crystal Mountain your home, your quality of life hits a peak. Literally.

Hiking, biking and winter trails at your doorstep. Two pools, a fitness center and the Crystal Spa. Fifty-eight downhill slopes, and 36 holes of golf. Whether you’re looking for an endless array of activities, a little culture or just a place where you can retreat to and take it all in, Crystal Mountain is where good times abound, 24/7/365.

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Mindful of the Moment On a beautiful day under bluebird skies in late March he sat alone on the Lodge deck. You could tell that he was enjoying the moment in all its simplicity, content with his place in time and space. The art of mindfulness is a trending topic these days, but for this distinguished gentleman in particular it is born from a journey that’s spanned more than a century.

“You picked a beautiful day to be here,” I said to Lou Batori, who not long before had finished a run down Main Street.

“Every day is a beautiful day,” he smiled, speaking in a melodic Hungarian accent. “We are all but tiny particles in the universe, we are lucky to be anywhere.”

Often, I think people are so astonished by the very notion of a 107-year-old who still downhill skis that they miss what’s truly inspiring. Just a few minutes in Lou’s presence is to understand that our greatest source of wealth is time and if spent wisely, its value grows exponentially as one moment passes to the next. The most amazing part of his story, and one that should

give us all hope, is not in how many moments he’s accumulated but the way in which he seems to cherish each of them.

In this edition of Mountain Life we’ll meet a number of people who are doing just that, from starting a self-sustaining farm distillery in retirement to curating the artwork for a village center that’s been 30 years in the making.

With any luck you’ll discover an experience or two worthy of adding to your own story.

We’ll also learn a little bit more from the legendary Lou Batori himself.

The man who has collected 106 winters in his lifetime would remind you that each is precious. We couldn’t agree more and hope to see you for a few of those precious moments in the season to come.

Brian Lawson, Executive Editor CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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What’s New This Winter A Riveting New Read on the Terrain

As Crystal Mountain turns the page to enter its seventh decade of skiing and snowboarding, the plot thickens. Crews, groomers and instructors spent the summer hatching a bestseller with new storylines or more specifically, new feature lines on different pieces of terrain. This warm-weather daydreaming about winter and careful planning is what has helped earn the resort #2 Best

Resort in North America by Liftopia, Top Ten Family Ski Resorts by Condé

Nast Traveler and Traverse Magazine’s Red Hot Best Terrain Park in 2016/17.

CHAPTER 1: The Rise of Little Vincent It’s always been there, lying dormant just below the surface of an intermediate run. But this year as winter takes hold in Benzie County, a metamorphosis will occur on Little Vincent, and a new beast will be unleashed. In the light of day and under the lights as night falls, rails, tubes, bumps and boxes will emerge down the trail’s spine. If the beast can be tamed, it may allow crews to build a jumpline, but until the snow falls and these brave souls stand in the midst of it, one can only speculate on the probability of gaining flight in this new area. What has summoned this transformation near the Crystal Clipper’s summit? Perhaps the answer lies elsewhere on the mountain in Chapter 2.

CHAPTER 2: Tuck’s True Colors As the cold winds of November and December gently kiss the mountain, it will awaken a new beauty on Tuck’s.

The wide-open, intermediate pitch will welcome skiers and snowboarders this season with playful rollers, banks and a few moguls for good measure. This new skills-terrain with enhanced learning features will help intermediate skiers and boarders advance their skills.

Down the mountain a similar phenomenon will occur in Totem Park—as carefully crafted as Tuck’s—with beginner-friendly banks and rollers. The flatland Burton Riglet Park will also help the young and old on their path to a lifetime on the slopes. Elsewhere, one of the Ridge’s fair ladies is getting an edgier look.

CHAPTER 3: Crossing Kay Elegant and whimsical, respected and admired, for most of her life she has kept to herself. However, Kay Blue has never been one satisfied with the status quo, which is why this year she’s decided to take on a new edge. In fact, edge

is just what you’ll need for the skills cross-course that is migrating from the North Face’s Rotary Run to this blue trail that borders the MountainTop townhomes and flanks the Ridge. The banks, rollers and other features provided by Crystal’s team only serve to shed more light on a brilliance that already existed. On that note, it’s worth mentioning a smart investment that’s been made in Tickets and Rental.

CHAPTER 4: HEAD Games Boots. Skis. Boards. They are paired and strategically placed cogs of a system designed to get people on the snow as efficiently as possible. The end result of that process will be even better in 2017/18. Crystal Mountain’s fleet of rental skis and boots have been completely replaced with upgraded HEAD Link Pro skis and Next Edge boots. The new wood-core ski makes turning easier for the beginner and is more responsive for the advanced skier, while new boots offer better performance with generous size and comfort.

CHAPTER 5: Boarding Up Tickets & Rental Wait, in this case boarding up is a good thing, especially when it means one of the story’s most popular characters gains greater prominence. Burton is THE name in snowboarding and one that will have even greater presence at Crystal Mountain this year. Not only will more of our hero’s accessories be featured in the Mountain Sports Shop, but with the addition of new snowboards and boots, Burton will now make up the entire rental fleet.

And they lived happily ever after.

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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S N OW S C H O O L O R I E N TAT I O N

Crystal Mountain is where the Midwest learns to ski. For over 60 years, people of all ages who’ve never been on skis or a snowboard before have started a lifelong love of the sport right here. Still a little unsure? Let us ease your mind with a few notes on what to expect during your first trip to the slopes.

Crystal Mountain 70% ofinstructors are certified

It’s best to be 60 minutes early to get checked-in and allow our staff to get you fitted for the proper boots, skis or board.

“

“ LEVEL WITH US

by the Professional Ski Instructors of America or American Association of Snowboard Instructors.

Communication is key so talk with your instructor about your expectations, apprehensions and level of experience. Remember, even Olympic gold medalists started from the same place.

NEVER-EVER: First time on skis or still figuring out how to stop LEVEL 1: Skied before, able to ride the lift and stop LEVEL 2: Comfortable on Green (beginner) and easy Blue (intermediate) terrain LEVEL 3: Gaining confidence on Blue terrain LEVEL 4: Comfortable on Blue and easy Black (expert) terrain

T H E N E X T L EV EL Once you’ve reached Level 4 consider taking a private lesson tailored to your skills and personal goals.

ONLY WHEN YOU’RE READY Goal #1 is to build the skills and confidence to ski safely. You won’t be asked to ski new terrain until you’re ready.

?

AM I READY?

Instructors are trained to assess a skier’s ability and when to move from Totem Park to the Loki Quad and Emmy, the mountain’s gentlest beginner trail.

All Beginners start here on a gentle grade with enhanced terrain features to make learning easier.

PIZZA

& FRIES

Not only two popular choices at the Clipper Cafe but two of the first things you’ll learn in ski school.

P L AY I N T H E B AC KYAR D

The Backyard has some gentle, rolling terrain to test your new skills.

Create a triangle with your skis to

SLOW D OW N Parallel skis for

MORE SPEED

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

K N OW T H E CO D E

The main goal of any lesson is to make you comfortable, confident and safe which means learning The Code: 1. Always stay in control.

2. Skiers and riders downhill have the right of way.

3. Don’t stop where you are not visible or obstruct the trail.

4. When merging on to a trail, yield to uphill skiers and riders.

5. Use safety devices to prevent runaway gear.

6. Observe all posted signs.

7. In order to use any lift you must have the skill to load and unload safely.

REPORT CARD

After each lesson instructors provide an evaluation of what you did well and what to work on next.

Every Crystal Mountain lift has access to a beginner trail so you’ll never be stuck on terrain you can’t handle.

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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GO FOR THE

GOLD IF A FEW INCHES OF FLUFFY POWDER ISN’T MOTIVATION ENOUGH FOR A TRIP TO CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THIS WINTER PROMISES ANOTHER SOURCE OF INSPIRATION. For impassioned winter enthusiasts there is no better time than February to be at the Mountain. It’s even more the case this year as athletes from around the world compete in Pyeongchang, South Korea, during the XXIII Winter Olympic Games (February 9–25)!

If you’re feeling inspired by the pageantry, you need not be relegated to simply watching the athletes compete on television. You can experience many of the events firsthand in Benzie County like ...

ALPINE RACING Crystal Mountain’s NASTAR course works on a handicap system, so you can compete with racers around the country. Who knows, maybe you’ll get invited to the finals in Steamboat, Colorado.

FREESTYLE SKIING (MOGULS) You may not be Hannah Kearney, but the moguls on Buckaroo or Gorge can test your mettle as a freestyle skier.

SNOWBOARD—SLOPESTYLE It might take the international stage during the winter games, but slopestyle is just part of the daily grind on Basin Street, and this year, in a new park on Little Vincent.

As an official Burton Learn-to-Ride Center, kids as young as three years old can get started in the Riglet Park and as they advance, move onto the mountain for private terrain park lessons.

FIGURE SKATING So long as Old Man Winter cooperates with cold temperatures, you can stick the triple Salchow all winter long on the ice rink located right behind the Inn at the Mountain in Barr Park.

ICE HOCKEY Need to burn off a little energy after the U.S. takes on Russia? The ice rink has hours dedicated to hockey.

BIATHLON Crystal Mountain is bringing back the Paintball Biathlon.

Cross-country skiing may be the most physically vigorous of all the winter sports. Calming your breath and heart rate to take a steady shot with the paintball marker isn’t as easy as you might think. Check the events page at crystalmountain.com for biathlon dates.

OLYMPIC SPORTS NEARBY …

While most of the winter games can be experienced right onsite, you can find another Olympic sport in nearby Frankfort, plus one more that might be worth a stop during the trip north or on your way home.

CURLING Off in the distance you might be able to hear the soft thunder of curling stones resonating from Frankfort. As if the beer wasn’t a good enough reason to visit, our friends at Stormcloud Brewing Company have their own curling sheet right outside the brewery. Learn more about this winter’s offerings at stormcloudbrewing.com.

LUGE While the Crystal Coaster alpine slide might seem like it’s designed for luge, it actually is not. But, if you are daring enough, and willing to make the two-hour drive, the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex has Michigan’s only luge course. Designed by three-time Olympian Frank Masley, it’s one of only four luge tracks in the United States. Visit msports.org for details.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING If you really want to know what a sprinter experiences, try the 5K course on Otter—you can also ski it at night as that stretch is lit for night-skiing. If you’ve never been on cross-country skis, Winter Trails Day on January 6 is a great (and free) way to get an introduction to the sport.

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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spa | healthy lifestyle

Its Own Reward

A decade ago, Jim and Chris MacInnes were sitting at their kitchen table envisioning what would one day be Crystal Spa and etching on a napkin something that is the very essence of Crystal Mountain: an active and healthy lifestyle. The Wheel, as it is referred to in resort circles, is now prominently displayed as you enter the Peak Fitness Center and Crystal Spa. Each of its 24 spokes is a reason people come to the Mountain and the wheel is at the heart of a destination whose very existence is based on a life of activity and wellness.

These activities and amenities are at the core of what draws people to the Mountain.

Sure, it’s nice to plop down on a stool and have a beer or scooch up to the table for a piece of cake, but in moderation.

A trip to the Mountain is really about enjoying activity in the snow. Ripping down Buck. Gliding along the Eagles trail on a pair of cross-country skis.

Climbing to David Barr’s Labyrinth with snowshoes underfoot. Powering along the groomed Fat Tire Bike trails.

Award Winning Gardens

Art Park Hikes

Peak Performance Menu

Local Foods

Even relaxing the muscles and rejuvenating the mind with some quiet time in Crystal Spa. In most ways, living healthy is its own reward. However, Crystal Mountain adds a little incentive for its Four Seasons Club (FSC) members. The FSC Healthy Lifestyle Program rewards members and their families for staying active. There are over 60 ways to earn points, and more than half of those activities are available during the winter alone.

There are three thresholds for indiCrossTennis Country viduals and one for families, and Skiing Alpine Skiing meeting thresholds can earn Snowrewards ranging from Crystal shoeing Mountain athletic gear to a Nordic 50-minute service at Walking Crystal Spa.

Strength Training

Ice Skating

Balance Exercise Sample A Healthy Lifestyle Subject Community

Yoga

27821_Healthy Lifestyle Wheel v3.indd 1

If you are a Four Seasons Club member, visit the Peak Fitness Center to pick up your booklet Sauna and get more details.

Not a member yet? Next Steam time you’re at the MounRoom tain visit the Peak and see Massage FSC Members Service Manager Marcus Matthews, or contact him at 888.968.7686, ext. 3354.

Hot Tubs

Indoor Aerobic Exercise

Swimming Fine Art

Hiking Jogging

Cycling

Golf

10/13/09 1:56:11 PM

A Spa Experience Fit to a ‘Tea’ This winter, Naturopathica introduces its Vitality Bar, a unique and delectable sampling of teas, tinctures and fortified honeys to further enhance your visit to Crystal Spa. Crafted by founder and herbalist Barbara Close, these herbal remedies are created to inspire and support well-being beyond the spa service you receive.

“Our herbal remedies, which feature time-tested herbs like turmeric, oats, milk thistle and passionflower, bring wellness full circle by helping to restore and maintain health before imbalances get out of hand,” states Barbara Close.

Each herbal blend is designed to complement your spa experience. Follow a deep tissue RESTORE massage with Muscle & Joint Tea, a calcium and magnesium-rich blend of yerba maté with spicy ginger root, anise and turmeric for healthy muscles. Add a dropperful of the Turmeric Muscle & Joint Tincture for quicker relief.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, unwind with intoxicating aromatherapy in the Nirvana Stress Relief Massage, then enjoy the Stress Tea with the Oats Stress Relief Tincture, a restorative tonic for exhaustion.

To remedy allergies and sleepless nights, follow the ESSENCE massage with Vitality Tea, featuring echinacea and elderflower to support the immune system and peppermint to wake up tired minds. Hit the “reset” button by adding the Milk Thistle Cleansing Tincture.

If you’re feeling dull, sample the Skin Tea, made with soothing, lush blossoms of calendula, red clover and white peony, fortified with the Burdock Radiant Skin Tincture for an antioxidant-boost. Reserve your ‘tea time’ at Crystal Spa by calling 855.995.5146.

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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Lou Batori likes to tell a story about heading up the Crystal Clipper chairlift with someone a few years younger than he. The teen looked at his ski jacket sleeve, read his “100-plus Ski Club” patch and remarked, “Geez. That must be a pretty exclusive club!”

Realizing the teen thought he’d earned the patch for racing down mountains at 100 miles-per-hour on skis (rather than for his age), he just smiled. “Yep,” he said.

As he prepares for the next ski season by adding a “7” patch below the 100 on his lemon yellow ski jacket, the world’s oldest living downhill skier is still tackling life like a racer, taking others by surprise and taking little for granted. While he hasn’t yet hit 100 consecutive years of skiing exactly, he’s only about three years away.

“I hope to get to enjoy the feeling of air on my face, of going downhill,” he says. “I also enjoy getting on top of a hill or mountain and just standing and looking around and thanking the Creator. The Creator tells me, ‘Look around Lou Batori. This place is yours, and it’s priceless.’ ”

There’s a barely perceptible wobble to his step as Batori stands to greet a recent guest. Dressed impeccably in a button-down Oxford and khakis, he directs that blueeyed, mischievous gaze and takes both the visitor’s hands in his and kisses one, then the other. Within minutes, he’s turning the questions around.

“What will you do with the rest of your time?” he asks.

“The most important thing in this life, what is irreplaceable, is time. Try to spend well what you have left in your time book.”

What he doesn’t like is being called an inspiration. “For what?” he asks. “There are two set-ups, go and no-go.

It’s in any design.”

“Nature presumes our future,” he says. “Everything dies, no exception—all vegetation, flowering plants ...” But while he has a practicality that comes from a life of engineering work, he does get philosophical with his advice for living.

time well spent THE LEGENDARY LOU BATORI SHARES HIS PHILOSOPHY ON SKIING AND LIFE

BY KIM SCHNEIDER

“Today’s major crisis is forgotten by tomorrow, invariably,” And there’s this, which seems to best hint as his true life philosophy: “You can stay home and behave yourself, and you’re still going to die, no matter what you do.”

Batori’s friend and skiing “wingman,” George Petritz, likes to tell a story that well illustrates the centenarian’s life philosophy. Batori, when just shy of 100, took off on a cross-country motorcycle trip on his Honda Gold Wing, his wife Judith in the sidecar, her silk scarf flying. The trip abruptly ended when they stopped to visit friends in Wyoming, who weren’t as sure about the idea, loaded the motorcycle onto a trailer and drove the couple back to their cottage home in Glen Arbor. But that was just the beginning.

“A couple of mornings later, Lou got up and said to Judith, or it might have been the other way around, ‘I still want to go to the West Coast,’ ” Petritz said. “The other said, ‘Me, too. Saddle up!’ And they did. They just didn’t stop in Wyoming!”

Batori logged 140,000 miles on that cycle over 35 years, but his passion for skiing pre-dated the Gold Wing. He first donned a Christmas gift pair of skis at age 10, and while he skied some in his native Hungary, he took his skill to another level when his parents sent him to a Swiss boarding school to master French. He jokes that what he mostly learned was how to spend money and use the right fork, but athletics were a school focus. He rowed crew on Lake Geneva and practiced ski class homework in the Alps.

He traveled to the United States to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and later worked in the family business, the Batori Computer Company, as well as major engineering firms like Grumman Aerospace Corporation, through which he was hired to help with top-secret Apollo space missions. Those research days were less job, more an adventure, he says. “I would do it again. I would love to do it again.”

Today’s adventures center on the slopes of Crystal Mountain. A night photo of the mountain hangs above CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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Benzie County is…

A Place for all Seasons!

BENZIE COUNTY ANNUAL WINTER EVENTS NOVEMBER 5K Turkey Vulture Trot Holly Berry Art & Craft Fair DECEMBER Christmas Magic New Year’s Eve Celebration & Fireworks JANUARY World Snow Celebration FEBRUARY Winterfest Betsie Bay Frozen 5K MARCH Mardi Gras on the Mountain Spring Carnival Celts & Kayaks Event

For complete event and area information, go to www.visitbenzie.com

Benzie County Visitors Bureau

www.visitbenzie.com 800-882-5801 Northern Michigan Preserved ®

/benziecounty.cvb #PureBenzieMI

WE ARE SKIING atomic.com

crystalmountain.com

LOU WITH FRIEND GEORGE PETRITZ

his bed, a picture of him on the slopes on the other side of the room, and he’s the only person at Crystal with a designated parking space as well as a free pass for life.

Skiing is therapeutic, he says, especially needed since he lost his beloved wife less than a year ago.

On the slopes, muscle memory takes over, as does something akin to a lucky ritual, notes friend Petritz.

These days Batori skis only on sunny days, because of failing eyesight, and when conditions align, he eases off the chairlift at the last minute, goes into a frail sort of snowplow, puts his skis together, does a half knee bend and pushes off.

On the way down, he hums a Viennese waltz—Strauss—in his head, a remnant from a boarding school year in Switzerland.

“You just ease off a bit now,” Batori notes, as he heads into his 107th year. “Your mental setup is working overtime, but the gears and other paraphernalia that a human being is constructed of gets less output. So you dance to a slower tempo. But you’re outdoors and doing it.

That’s the name of the game. I’ve spent the day saying hello to friends, and everybody knows me. I’m happy if I make a fair run. Then I get a twinge in my thigh which tells me to go get a martini.”

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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GREATER THAN ITS PARTS

D

uring Crystal Mountain’s weekly staff meeting the round table discussion works its way to CEO, Jim MacInnes. A smile crosses his face as he shares with the leadership team that as of January 1, 2018, more than half of the electricity (56%) Cherryland Electric Cooperative/Wolverine Power provides to all of its customers, Crystal Mountain among them, will be carbon-free. This bold move is one for which the resort and numerous other customers have long advocated.

Forward thinking and a commitment to collaborating with its customers has now made Cherryland the leading zero-carbon electric utility provider in Michigan.

“The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The compounding of each sustainability action we take as individuals, groups and institutions is what ultimately makes the most profound impact,” says Jim MacInnes, who was named as Environmentalist of the Year during this year’s Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council Awards Ceremony.

Further illustrating MacInnes’s point about the value of collective efforts are Crystal’s on-site alternative energy initiatives. A closed-loop geothermal system heats and cools the expansion to the Inn at the Mountain. Five EV charging stations provide power for electric cars. A fleet of 150 electric golf carts roams the fairways. While these initiatives add to Crystal’s increasingly diverse clean energy portfolio, there is no silver bullet for the challenges posed by climate change, which is mostly caused by a global dependence on burning fossil fuels.

“It’s why this core value is ingrained into the very guest experience at the Mountain, from the LEED-certified Crystal Spa to the week-long Tesla Explores event we hosted last summer,” said Crystal Mountain President Chris MacInnes. “Our vision has always been long term and ‘the power of we’ is critical to protecting the natural resources that make our corner of the world such an incredible place.”

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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Explore the many real estate opportunities from Crystal Mountain Realty and make an investment in your family they’ll never forget.

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Set Sail Beyond the Slopes Tucked away just beyond the downhill trails of the Ridge and Backyard is an ocean of possibility to discover. A short walk on snowshoes into Michigan Legacy Art Park reveals five sails climbing from a sea of snow toward blue skies. Five Needles by Michael McGillis is among 50 sculptures in what would have to be considered among the most unique snowshoeing venues in the nation.

“We embrace winter and encourage our summer visitors to come back to discover how a blanket of snow changes the Art Park experience,” says Renee Hintz, executive director of Michigan Legacy Art Park.

For anyone looking to break into winter sports, none may be easier than snowshoeing. It’s simply a hike, only in bigger shoes that help distribute your weight so you don’t sink into the snow. If you’re looking to shed a few pounds, it can help with that too. The stretch that serves as a barrier-free trail in the summer months is ideal for those just getting back into shape while an off-trail climb to David Barr’s Labyrinth can challenge the more advanced snowshoer. Guided tours are offered on Sundays throughout January.

The snowshoe route isn’t the only winter trail to be enjoyed in proximity to Art Park. More advanced cross-country skiers can catch a glimpse as they glide by on Flying Squirrel and Stag Hollow. If you’ve ever promised to get into snowshoeing or cross-country skiing ‘someday,’ then that day might be January 6, Winter Trails Day. This free introduction to cross-country skiing and other winter sports is open to the public. Visit crystalmountain.com for details.

WINTER SOUNDS Weekly concerts at the Michigan Legacy Art Park amphitheater have become a staple of the summer season but the harmony and scenery are equally beautiful in December. Join the Benzie Central Chamber Choir and help them usher in the holiday season with a Winter Sounds concert on December 16. Visit michlegacyartpark.org for more details.

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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bryant betts

BY BOB BUTZ

As a penniless high school grad, Crystal Mountain Chef Bryant Betts dreamed of launching his culinary career in one of New Orlean’s top hotel kitchens. He just had to slip past security first.

If you run into him today, you’d never guess the guy once led a life that probably made his parents cringe.

But now, when Betts tells the story and you know how things turned out, it actually sounds pretty charming … most of the story, anyway.

The crib-notes version goes like this: Kitchens are hot, noisy, stressful places, but Betts loved to cook. He loved the camaraderie he found in the kitchen. So at 17 and with only a little line-cook experience under his belt, he left Mississippi and wandered down to New Orleans, where jobs were hard to come by for a kid with no formal culinary training.

He started by doing odd jobs, living with a couple of friends in a run-down place in Tremé—a rough Canal Street neighborhood hit hard during hurricane Katrina.

But that part of his story comes later.

“After I couldn’t get a kitchen job anywhere, I decided to get creative,” Betts recalls. “So one day I decided to sneak into the Fairmont—now the historic Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria hotel—right across from the French Quarter. I slipped past security, walked into the head chef’s office, told him my story, and he asked, ‘When can you start?’ ” Betts started as a line-cook and was soon promoted to sous chef. Things were going pretty well. He worked long hours but made some new friends. He even got a few vacation days to go back home, which is where he was in late August 2005, when Katrina roared in.

Kitchen And Family Balance Creativity, versatility and knowing how and when to improvise are some of the key qualities of being a topnotch chef. These along with a dedication to family and friends are themes that play heavy in Betts’s retelling of his time in New Orleans and what eventually led him to northern Michigan.

“I first met my wife, Amber, in seventh grade while I was at a charter school in Mt. Pleasant,” he remembers.

“We wound up reconnecting after Katrina, after I had to leave the Fairmont—which was destroyed by the flood waters—and was working as an executive sous chef at Le Pavillon Hotel.”

Working in the trenches of hotel kitchens, steakhouses and casinos in his early 20s, Betts learned to prepare Cajun, French, Italian and every cuisine in between. But it was his relationship with Amber that led him to northern Michigan after a job opened up in the kitchen at Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel. Their second child was born while they were living on the island. Betts loved the work, but the long days during tourist season—roughly six months every year—didn’t leave much time for family.

“Everything about Crystal Mountain—even the work environment—is family oriented. I was lucky back in 2012.

Maecy had just been born, and the resort was looking for someone versatile to lead their kitchen, someone who understood all manner of cuisine. I really love the people I work with. I get to experiment with creating new menu items and, except for the banquet season, I keep the sort of hours that let me enjoy time with my family.”

Out Of The Flood But the future didn’t always look so certain, which brings Betts—now 31—back to Katrina.

“In the days before the hurricane, I was on vacation, visiting family. When I first heard the news, I thought it was just a bad storm and that it might mean an extra day off. It turned out to be a pretty big deal.”

From his family’s home in Mississippi, Betts tried getting in touch with his colleagues and roommates back in Tremé. When that failed, he decided he had to at least try to get back.

“My dad was an ex-fireman, and I had his old badge that he gave me when I was a kid. So I made my way into New Orleans, got past the police checkpoints, then took a boat as far as I could into the city until I had to basically wade and swim the rest of the way to our building.”

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Alligators, snakes and dead bodies in the floodwaters made headlines after the storm. But Betts doesn’t like talking about that.

“I definitely saw things I never want to see again,” he says.

Finally reaching his apartment, Betts found the first floor of the building completely flooded. His roommates were safe on the third floor with food and water, but living in fear of the most desperate people who were raiding local buildings in search of supplies. Betts stayed with his roommates until the floodwaters receded then spent months helping them clean up. He did some bartending, worked in a steakhouse kitchen, then eventually took the

position at the Le Pavillon that lasted a couple of years before he and Amber made their way north.

Lots of great chefs forgo culinary school for the practical experience they gain working in a real kitchen. But ask Betts now if going the “easier route” would have been a better way to fulfill his ambition, and he demurs.

“I probably should have done school, but I really believe that experience in the kitchen speaks higher.” This and, of course, experience in life that now goes into everything Chef Betts cooks.

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N!

RATIO OLL IN CELEB R D S N E A M D TI , SNOW E GO O F SUN O LE T T H H T N S T MO ONE L A

R E V R O E T V ' N O I A

IT TILL IT'S

stick around for a Fais do-do (that’s Cajun for dance party) to cap off the festivities.

THINK INSIDE THE BOX

WHEN MOTHER NATURE AND OLD MAN WINTER CONSPIRE THEY CAN BE QUITE THE LITTLE PRANKSTERS. For example, during many a month of March they’ll try to fool the masses by greening up back yards south of Michigan Highway-10, in a lame attempt to trick people into believing that ski season is actually over. We know better, right?

Of course we do! It’s not so easy to pull one over on skiers and snowboarders. In March, the sun comes out, the big top goes up behind Kinlochen, the party begins and the skiing and snowboarding continues.

This grandest of finales plays out each weekend with food, drink, live entertainment and plenty of revelry on the mountain.

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER! MARCH 2-3 When you have an executive chef that got his start in New Orleans’ French Quarter, Mardi Gras on the Mountain (March 2-3) always tastes a little better. While Bryant Betts is serving up something authentic straight from the Bayou, strut your stuff in the costume contest and then

MARCH 9-10 Cheering crowds to the left and right.

The finish line below. Surrounded by a masterpiece of cardboard and duct tape, beauty and speed, you glide downhill to glory in the Cardboard Classic (March 10). This annual tradition is but one of the spectacles during Spring Carnival (March 9-10).

Others will attempt the icy waters of the Slush Cup (March 10) but all will finish strong under the big top for a live band and beverages!

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA MARCH 30-APRIL 1 This March is even better than most because it has five weekends. The Easter Bunny always arrives for the traditional Easter Egg Hunt (March 31, 10am sharp) but a few surprises may just find their way to the slopes as well. Sunday also brings the Easter Buffet. The best part: all lodging guests SKI FREE the last weekend of the season!

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING MARCH 16-17 It would be hard not to smile during Celts & Kayaks (March 16-17) weekend. St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year and rest assured there will be plenty of Irish fare and green beer to go around. But before you get too swept away in food and drink, test your skills piloting a kayak in the downhill races. End the day by raising a glass and dancing a jig with live music from Brena (brenaband.com)!

BRING THE THUNDER MARCH 23-24 Crystal is going retro for the weekend. I mean way back, Nordic Gods kind of retro. The Mjolnir Challenge features two courses: The Thunder Run straight up Thor and a more Devious Dash with obstacles on Loki.

The winners in each race get their name etched on Thor’s legendary hammer; all who reach the top will be rewarded. The only question now is: Are you worthy? Join us at day’s end for a feast fit for Valhalla.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GO NORTH! Where will you find the best snow as the temps get a bit warmer in March? The North Face. Because it avoids the direct light, the snow holds firmer later in the day.

In fact, North Face tends to hold its snow later than any other trails often well into May. DON’T LET IT ‘PASS’ YOU BY If you’re the type that’s already thinking about next winter before the current one is over, then March is the time to save.

Crystal Mountain’s Premier Season Pass price is at its lowest of the year. Stay tuned to crystalmountain.com for details about the Spring Sale.

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November 2017

THANKSGIVING RECONNECT

17 Spa Holiday Open House 23 Slopes Open! (conditions permitting)

13th Annual Turkey Vulture Trot

Thanksgiving Day Buffet 24 Holiday Trail Celebration 24-26 Ski & Snowboard Sale 25 First Light Celebration

December 2017 16 Michigan Legacy Art Park Winter Sounds 24 Christmas Eve Buffet 25 Christmas Buffet 31 New Year’s Eve Celebration

January 2018

NOVEMBER 23-26 The Turkey Vulture Trot, Thanksgiving Buffet, Holiday Trail and First Light Celebrations and with a little help from Mother Nature, opening weekend for skiing and snowboarding!

NEW YEAR’S EVE DECEMBER 31 Welcome 2018 with a party for every member of the family along with the traditional torchlight parade and fireworks over the mountain.

MARDI GRAS ON THE MOUNTAIN MARCH 2-3 Laissez les bons temps rouler with costumes, New Orleans cuisine and live entertainment.

SPRING CARNIVAL

ational Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month N National Safety Awareness Month 1 Registration Opens, North Mitten Half-marathon, 10K & 5K 6 Winter Trails Day (cross-country, snowshoe, fat tire bike) 21 Fat Chance Fat Tire Bike Race 21 World Snow Day

MARCH 9-10 Cardboard Classic. Slush Cup. Slopeside party. Live music. Sun. Snow.

Need we say more?

CELTS & KAYAKS

February 2018

MARCH 16-17 Celebrate your victory in the downhill kayak races with green beer and live music from Brena!

14 17

RETRO WEEKEND (MJOLNIR CHALLENGE)

Valentine’s Day Teddy Knape Fest

March 2018 Season Passholder Appreciation Month 2-3 Mardi Gras on the Mountain 9-10 Spring Carnival 10-16 Canadian Break 16-17 Celts & Kayaks 23-24 Retro Weekend 31 Easter Eggstravaganza Weekend

MARCH 24 Are you worthy? Find out with the Thunder Run on Thor or face obstacles in a Devious Dash up Loki followed by food, drink and revelry!

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA WEEKEND MARCH 30-APRIL 1 Finish the ski season with a holiday weekend of family fun activities.

April 2018 1 Easter Buffet 7-May 20 Crystal Spa Days The Peak Fitness Center + Crystal Spa will be closed April 2-6 for spring maintenance

C R Y S TA L M O U N TA I N . C O M

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Althea The Great!

IF YOU HAVE THE BRAVEST MOM IN THE WORLD, AMAZING THINGS CAN HAPPEN.

BY NANCY STORY

T

hat’s what nine-year-old Chris Petritz MacInnes thought as she sat in the back seat of the family station wagon heading up a narrow dirt driveway.

She and her mom, Althea Petritz, were heading to a local logger’s homestead, hoping to persuade him to donate lumber for the warming hut at a new community ski area envisioned in Benzie County’s Buck Hills range.

“It was dark, and it was a long, muddy hill,” Chris recalled.

“I thought my mom was the bravest person in the world, to go to that man’s house. And she got him to donate those timbers.”

Althea was both literally and figuratively in the driver’s seat, powered by persistence as she solicited help from all over the county. Along with several others like Ward Creech, Bus Olsen, Bud Nason, and Keith VanDuzen, she had helped form the steering committee to build a small community ski area on the site of what is now Crystal Mountain. Althea, a Benzonia native, was a perfect fit for the group, she knew practically everybody.

“My parents (Cherry Hut founders James and Dorothy Kraker) always contributed to the community,” Althea said. “So that’s just what I did, too.”

It’s a familiar story by now. Over 60 years ago, local high school principal Ward Creech rigged up a rope tow in his backyard on Benzonia’s Severance Street, so that kids could ski down. By the time Chris herself was six years old, she was skiing at Creech’s Hill.

But while Chris and other Benzonia youngsters were schussing downhill, Creech and a crew of local skiers were exploring the potential of more skiable terrain in the hills just outside of Thompsonville.

“Skiing was something that was sweeping the country,” Althea said. “So we thought, Why shouldn’t it sweep us?

It (skiing) was a new thing and we had a lot of verve.”

Verve, plus the fortitude to ask over and over again for support. Althea’s bounding enthusiasm and energy prOpelled others into action. People who had never donated before donated to the cause, contributing remarkable amounts of labor materials, equipment and funds for the project. Work bees were organized in the fall of 1956.

“It was a blast — just one big picnic. We kids thought it was heaven!” Chris recalled.

And heaven didn’t wait. Within three short months, a rope tow was installed, three runs — Buck, Fawn and Doe — were cleared, and thanks to a whole lot of tenacity, the warming hut was constructed. The memories from that cozy nook at the base of the slopes still provide plenty of warmth even six decades later.

So many small community ski areas were built in the 1950’s and 60’s, born of a desire to bring people outdoors to enjoy the snow and all its possibilities. Those that remain today have an indelible connection to community, and in Crystal’s case, one forged by a dedicated few, including the world’s bravest mom.

“There were lights on it, so we could ski at night,” Chris recalled.

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WHEN THE SPIRITS MOVE YOU

BY LYNDA WHEATLEY

MOST PEOPLE WHO VISIT SCOTLAND RETURN HOME WITH A 10-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MALT FROM SPEYSIDE; BROTHERS-IN-LAW DAVID WALLACE AND RICHARD ANDERSON, ON THE OTHER HAND, RETURNED TO MICHIGAN WITH A DREAM: TO LAUNCH A FARM DISTILLERY IN THOMPSONVILLE. There was just one catch. Richard, who had been living in Marquette with his wife, Sarah, for the past 25 years, didn’t know this “farm-distillery idea” being bandied about on vacation was actually a real plan—until about two days after their return, when David informed Richard that he had put down a deposit for a custombuilt still, handcrafted in Germany.

“Richard hadn’t said anything to me about it at all because he really didn’t think it was going to happen,” says Sarah. “Anyway, two years later, we’re living in Thompsonville, and we’re doing this.”

This is Iron Fish Distillery, a 120-acre working farm, restored century-old barn/event space, 4,900-squarefoot spirits production facility and tasting room, and purveyor of seven small-batch spirits (and counting).

Every inch—and drop—of the enterprise is overseen by its family of owners: sisters Heidi Bolger and Sarah Anderson, and their respective husbands, David and Richard.

They are visionaries, four environmentally minded entrepreneurs who have transformed a fallow farm that formerly served as the county grain mill into a giant, thriving grain garden—certified through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, which verifies a farm’s commitment to environmentally sound farming practices.

“We’re very near the Betsie River, so we’re very interested in keeping all of our practices [environmentally friendly], protecting the river and the people and the land that we’re farming,” Sarah says.

Their approach fits hand-in-glove with Crystal’s philosophy to respect its land, watershed, and community, so naturally the two companies often partner up, not only to serve Iron Fish spirits at resort events and restaurants, but also to bring Crystal events, such as yoga classes, to Iron Fish’s farm.

THE IRON FISH TASTING ROOM IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITH VODKA, RUM, GIN, WHISKEY AND BOURBON

“I always say we’re in the middle of nowhere with the best neighbors,” Sarah says.

AVAILABLE FOR TASTES, COCKTAILS, AND PURCHASE. TWO TO TRY: THE MAPLE

As neighbors go, Iron Fish is no slouch itself. In addition to growing much of its own grain, Iron Fish supports other family farms in Michigan by buying grain from many that are non-GMO and/or, like Iron Fish, employ organic practices.

BOURBON

(FINISHED

IN

BARRELS THAT ONCE STORED MAPLE SYRUP FROM THE NEIGHBORING GRINER FAMILY FARM) AND THE RECENTLY RELEASED TAWNY PORT BOURBON, MADE IN 60-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT

“We’re super aware of the impact that the craft beverage segment is having on agriculture in Michigan,” says Sarah. “And it’s not insignificant. It’s really upping the ante for farms, and we’re really proud to be part of that.”

BARRELS FROM PORTUGAL . FIND IRON FISH AT 14234 DZUIBANEK RD., THOMPSONVILLE, 49683. (231) 378-3474, IRONFISHDISTILLERY.COM.

-- S O W H A T ’ S T H E S T O R Y B E H I N D T H E I R O N F I S H N A M E ? --

Although Heidi and Sarah grew up in the Saginaw area, their mom hailed from Benzonia.

The sisters, who spent many summers up north as kids, always felt a special connection to the region. Many years ago, Heidi and David bought a cottage on the Betsie River, and then just six years ago bought the farm that’s home to Iron Fish. Like the steelhead that run the Betsie River-often called Iron Fish for their hard-Fighting nature-the determined foursome feel that they, too, have come home. “When it’s time to spawn, the steelhead go back to the river they came from,” says Sarah. “Iron Fish is like that for us. It’s returning to the origin, returning to your source, returning home.”

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SLEEPING BEAR DUNE LAKESHORE BY ANN & STEVE LOVELESS, ART PRIZE WINNER (2013)

ATTRACTED AND INSPIRED BY OUR STUNNING NATURAL FEATURES, BENZIE COUNTY HAS LONG BEEN HOME TO A TALENTED CREATIVE COMMUNITY WORKING IN MANY DIMENSIONS. Their works describe and help preserve Benzie’s history, culture and character.

They are the storytellers who see not only the county’s physical attributes, but also feel and share its spirit.

In the early 1990s a marketing specialist on our Crystal staff, Kim Gerberding, who also served on the Benzie Chamber’s Marketing Committee, coined the phrase “Northern Michigan Preserved” as the tagline for Benzie County. This phrase captures succinctly the images of abundant natural resources that bless Michigan’s smallest county. Clear-water lakes, streams and rivers, Lake Michigan shoreline with pristine beaches, dunes, dramatic sunsets, forests, farms, orchards and one stoplight in the entire county, perhaps signals a slower tempo.

As a business committed to thoughtful stewardship, we have long recognized that property value is not just determined by physical structures and function. There

is also a value in the stories and images that speak to our hearts and create powerful emotional connections.

Telling the stories of northern Michigan through our local artistic community adds intrinsic value to our enterprise, helping to preserve the unique culture of this beautiful area.

Our first attempt to pair storytelling with development was in 2001 with Kinlochen. We intended to reference the arts-and-crafts style of Grand Rapids architect Alexander McCall, whose designs from the 1920s and ’30s still grace the Frankfort area. Ultimately, however, Kinlochen took us to Scotland, naming each residence after a castle with its own coat-of-arms, tartan, and image of each castle and a nearby golf course. With ownership in Kinlochen comes a special connection with a castle in the “Kingdom of Golf.”

We loved theming as part of our development process, but wanted to weave it around our northern Michigan roots. With the Cottages at Water’s Edge we documented the Benzie County cottage vernacular from the early CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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They are the storytellers who see not only its physical attributes, but also feel and share its spirit. – Chris MacInnes

1900s. We included architectural historian and former Michigan State Historian Kathryn Eckert on our design team in addition to master planners, Mark and Bill Johnson, landscape designer, Sandy Clinton, architect, Bob Holdeman and interior designer, Mary Witte. The result was 22 petite cottages encircling ponds and streams, with interior finishes, furniture, art and artifacts typical of an early-1900s northern Michigan family cottage. We also commissioned local artist Glenn Wolff to create a collage of Benzie County elements that speaks to the magic of this place.

We then applied lessons learned to the next development, The Bungalows at Crystal Glen. Instead of the multi-family condo development originally planned for this site, it became eight single-family bungalows repeating the rhythm, scale and style of the Cottages at Water’s Edge. We named each one after 1900s Crystal Lake platted developments and included arts-and-crafts details such as a Pewabic tile fireplace designed for this project, historical pictures unique to each bungalow and an early-1900s era map of Crystal Lake. With these details and nuances, owners and guests can relate and connect to this place as if it had been part of their family legacy… or wished it had been.

In winter 2013/14, when we were planning for the major development at the heart of our village, we decided to use a more contemporary design—a decision we did not make lightly. We wanted this new building to be a beacon for the future. This modern form called for the extensive use of glass—three floors of nine-foot-high, floor-to-ceiling plates that frame the exterior environment and offer magnificent views in any direction.

“Timeless by Nature. Contemporary

by Design,” expressed the theme. But how could we convey an authentic up-north feeling without referencing a cottage on the lake, cabin in the woods or pebbles in a jar? The J.W. Marriott in Grand Rapids and Aspen Skiing Company offered great examples. The Marriott commissioned Daniel Watts to photograph the faces of life in Grand Rapids’ international sister cities and successfully used this collection in every hotel guest room.

Aspen Skiing Company’s Paula Crown commissioned German photographer Walter Niedermayr to “provide a

contemporary vision.” She added, “Walter’s unique visual language embodied the Aspen experience.” Niedermayr’s images are used throughout the business and community of Aspen, and speak volumes about its culture and support of the arts.

Inspired by these examples and our own experience, we decided to tell our northern Michigan story by naming each of the eight residences after a special place in the region, illustrated with photography. Selecting names was a blast as we advocated for our favorite haunts. The winners were Arcadia Dunes, Old Mission Peninsula, Fishtown, Betsie Bay, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Otter Creek, Platte Bay and Point Betsie. Then we went a step farther. Because our region has so many outstanding photographers, we commissioned a different photographer for each residence, to capture that place through their camera’s lens. This project would celebrate both the northern Michigan landscape and its artistic community.

Lining up eight different photographers to shoot eight different locations and fit with the décor of each residence was complicated. I discussed this challenge with Michigan Legacy Art Park Executive Director Renee Hintz, an accomplished musician and arts administrator, who is also sensible, innovative and enjoys a challenge. I asked, “Does this make sense and could we pull it off?” Renee liked the idea but wanted to “marinate” on a recommendation.

Her solution was brilliant: engage the Art Park Collections Committee to curate the photography. In gratitude, Crystal made a donation to the park for their guidance.

The members of the Collections Committee—Wes Blizzard, Jerry Gretzinger, and Patty Pelizzari—are art professionals, experienced collectors and well-connected with the region’s arts community.

Perfect!

The Collections Committee sent out a call-for-entry to area photographers.

Based on the images submitted, they matched up photographers with each of the themes. The Collections Committee collaborated closely with the design team, led by interior designer, Cindi Brege to select which images would work best in specific locations, a bit like solving a Rubik’s Cube. However, the results speak for

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OTTER CREEK SUITE

themselves, with each Residence having a unique identity that captures the spirit of each place.

Several other artists have played important roles in helping tell this story. We contacted ski instructor and coach Joe Dasin, whose day job is metal sculpting, about creating a 72-inch dimensional piece themed around Crystal’s roots: skiing. We offered vague ideas, including a sketch by Jerry Gretzinger, of our concept.

Project manager, Kirk Davidson, helped determine scale, character and tone. Joe ultimately solved the challenge brilliantly with a wall-mounted sculpture composed of real hickory skis that he formed and laid out in a carefully proportioned pattern.

Earlier I referenced another prolific and internationally recognized artist, Glenn Wolff. We commissioned him to create an area map in his signature whimsical style to locate each residence.

Finally, we cannot overstate the contributions, collaboration and support of Steve and Ann Loveless, Frankfort residents and ArtPrize winners in 2013 and 2015. They listened to our concept, supported the notion of using a different photographer for each Residence, and allowed us to use copies of their acclaimed works, Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore and Northwood Awakening, in key public corridors. In his own right, Steve is an outstanding photographer and several of his Point Betsie images were selected for the Residence that bears its name. In addition, he is among the best framers in the world, whom artists know and trust to frame their work in a way that is true to their vision. Steve, working with the owner of State of the Art Gallery, Patty Wolfe, printed, framed and installed all of the images.

In the words of famous Benzie County artist Gwen Frostic, we invite you “to come take a walk with us,” and experience how the community of artists associated with this project tell and preserve the story of Northern Michigan with passion, enthusiasm and immense skill.

Crystal Mountain President Chris MacInnes has been a part of the resort since its early days as Buck Hills and played a key leadership role in its evolution over the last 30 years, including an intimate role in the development and design of this most recent expansion to the Inn at the Mountain.

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Center Stage

BY BRIAN LAWSON

“Be the stage for exceptional experiences.” These words are the very foundation of Crystal Mountain’s mission and are more than words simply scribbled down during a strategy session or posted on a webpage. They spring to life in seemingly every corner of the village. The phrase certainly holds true as the curtain opens this winter on an incomparable new space in the very heart of this mountain community.

The 25 new rooms in the new South Wing of the Inn at the Mountain are unlike anything you’ll find in this little corner of the world. Vibrant oranges and greens seem to perfectly accent a modern, sophisticated design, with finishes, fixtures and furnishings like stone pebble shower tile, heated floors and towel racks, even cozy little sleeping nooks for the kids. Each room’s window reaches floor to ceiling and frames a never-before-seen panorama of the village, downhill trails and main street.

Something important that is hidden from view within this 31,200-square-foot building is more than 26,000

MIDDLE-LEFT: WOOD SCULPTURE BY JOE DASIN LOWER-LEFT: NORTHWOOD AWAKENING BY ANN AND STEVE LOVELESS, ART PRIZE WINNER (2015) LOWER-RIGHT: MURAL BY GLENN WOLFF

feet of pipe traveling 460 feet below ground as part of a closed-loop geothermal heating and cooling system.

The earth’s constant temperature keeps guests warm in the winter and cool in the summer. You can’t tell it operates 48 percent more efficiently than a traditional system with a fraction of the carbon footprint, but it’s very important to note. In this way, the design serves a critical responsibility to serve and sustain the environment inextricably intertwined with the well-being of the resort’s guests, property owners and staff.

Above all, this place will be a new stage where the people of this mountain community, those here year round and others simply here for the weekend, can find a new connection. It will happen on the rooftop watching the fireworks on New Year’s Eve. It will happen over a cup of coffee in the Bru lobby bar. It will happen in the Mountain Market and while skating figure-eights on the ice rink. It happens this winter as the dream and determined work of the last three years become a reality.

Be the stage for exceptional experiences.

–Crystal Mountain Mission

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Virtue of Experience JANICE DAVIDSON AND CHRIS FISHER HAVE A PASSION FOR ADVENTURE AND HELPING PEOPLE DISCOVER THEIR POTENTIAL; A DYNAMIC COMBINATION SET TO BUILD UPON THE SUCCESS OF CRYSTAL’S SKI SCHOOL.

BY BOB BUTZ

JANICE DAVIDSON, VOLUNTEER FOR WINGS OF WONDER (UPPER-RIGHT) AND FORMER INSTRUCTOR FOR OUTWARD BOUND (LOWER-LEFT).

CHRIS FISHER, PRO CYCLIST (UPPER-LEFT) AND LEVEL 3 PSIA-CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR (LOWER-RIGHT).

SIXTEEN YEARS AGO, CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN’S DIRECTOR OF RECREATION, JANICE DAVIDSON, GOT HER FOOT IN THE DOOR AS A PART-TIME HOUSEKEEPER. The one-time U.S. Forest Service firefighter and Outward Bound instructor now leads a team of 80 people, while at home she’s a mother of two. Now adding responsibilities as Program Director for the Ski and Snowboard School, Davidson is a busy woman and gets right to the point when it comes to discussing what makes Crystal Mountain so good at teaching.

“It comes down to a couple of simple things,” she says.

“We understand our student’s goals, challenges, apprehensions, and we have a great team of high-level instructors who make the learning fun and engaging.”

Turning Advancement Into an Adventure Davidson’s life and travels—the Outward Bound internship that led to a field industry gig in the mountains of North Carolina and the Florida Everglades, the firefighting and wilderness first responder and EMT training, choppering in to fight wildfires out West, and her after-hours volunteer work with the local non-profit raptor sanctuary, Wings of Wonder—have taught her that the best kind of learning happens when it’s rooted in an exciting experience.

For Davidson and her team, the responsibility to grow the sport is a personal one, a responsibility not only to Crystal but also to a sport they love. “We’re working on new programs—like ongoing ski and snowboarding camps for people who never ever thought they’d take it up. We were lucky to find this sport, and we want to help others discover it too,” she says.

(Fisher Training Systems, a coaching service for cyclists) and the slopes of Crystal Mountain in the winter.

“When I came to work at Crystal five years ago, I was a USAA certified coach but not an instructor,” he recalls.

“But I went through the training and managed to get my Level 1, 2, and 3 PSIA certification in one year.”

He was the first to have done so in over 20 years.

Terrain-Enhanced Teaching Fisher’s skiing ability is only eclipsed by his enthusiasm for passing along what he knows. Through a lifetime of training with and working as a professional-level ski racer, his “terrain-enhanced” teaching approach is as creative as it is effective.

“This is a mind-body approach to teaching,” he explains.

“It uses the student’s innate sense of balance over varied terrain to help foster a neuromuscular connection to the snow. Basically, it allows the body and brain to understand what skiing feels like, which really quickens the learning process.”

In addition to working with grooming teams, improving terrain features and working to provide new teaching areas for intermediate-level skiers, Fisher’s big goal for this winter is to help as many instructors as he can earn their PSIA certification.

“PSIA instructor certification takes a lot of training and isn’t easy,” he says. “But it demonstrates a high proficiency for teaching and an elevated level of professionalism. My goal is to keep our instructors enthused and train them to pass their certification exams because ultimately, it benefits our students.”

An “Experiential” Approach Chris Fisher, Crystal Mountain’s Director of Instruction, shares Davidson’s “experiential” philosophy and approach to ski and snowboard instruction.

Fisher—a Level 3 PSIA instructor/examiner and board member of the PSIA’s Educational Certification Committee—started skiing at age two. Already racing when he was 8 and living in northern Michigan, Fisher dreamed of making the U.S. Olympic team and moved east to the Berkshire Mountains for training at Salisbury School.

A Division 1 racer and captain of the Bates College Ski Team, Fisher’s dream was ultimately derailed by injury.

His passion for competition led him to professional bike racing, which he did until 2003. He now divides his time between his performance bike racing/training business

c h r i s fisher

janice davidson

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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Labor of Love VACATIONS AND REUNIONS AREN’T THE ONLY REASONS SO MANY FAMILIES CHOOSE TO GATHER AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN. The resort is a destination where unions between families are celebrated, hosting upward of 50 weddings across the four seasons, with most during summer and fall. From the top of the mountain to the exclusive field at Stone Road, weddings are not only a labor of love for the resort staff but also for the many coordinators, florists, and photographers who bring their talents to create the perfect day. We asked a few to share their thoughts on what they like so much about wedding day at the mountain.

The Ceremony “Of course, I love the top of the mountain because that view is amazing!! But a very close second or even a tie is (Legacy) Art Park,” said Victoria Mekas, of Victoria’s Floral Design & Gifts (victoriasfloraldesign.com). “I love the wilderness, I love the seclusion, the seating … and decorating that area is so fun!”

The setting can be just as beautiful and decorative in the village, tucked away among the trees near Petritz Pond.

“I always find myself dreaming of the pond lawn for the

Oden and Janelle Photography

perfect Up North ceremony,” said Kristi Mills, of Simply Exquisite By the Bay (simplyexquisitebythebay.com).

“The stone walkway and arbor are nestled among the shade trees with the fountain in the background. The lighting is magical and always provides the perfect setting for photos.”

The Photos “One of the best things about photographing weddings at Crystal Mountain is the unending places and landscapes that are constantly evolving around the resort,” said Melissa Lande, of Lux Light Photography (luxlightphotography.net). “Whether it’s various shades of florals blooming among your dress and the wild grasses swirling around your feet, or the towering pine trees that lend a woodland feel to your day, the ideas are infinite and unique.”

Although Melissa is quick to mention that the top of the mountain is particularly stunning. “It’s the WOW factor, when every guest steps off the chairlift and stares around in awe, blown away by the rolling hills, plunging skyline and pops of Michigan hues of blue and green in the surrounding countryside.”

The Receptio� All of that beautiful countryside is part of what makes Crystal such a distinctive place for a reception.

Just as inviting to creative impulses are the versatile spaces within the Crystal Center.

“My favorite reception site is at the base of the Crystal Clipper, at the lodge under an open tent with all the natural beauty that surrounds,” adds Kristi Mills. “The site serves as a comfortable, private setting for guests to enjoy an evening under the stars. The patio is a quaint area that can be graced by market lights, creating the perfect space to unwind and celebrate the special day.”

“We love to do draping at Crystal Mountain, the ceilings, backdrops and tables,” said Cindy Burkhardt, Sweet Seats Chair Covers LLC (sweetseatschaircovers.com).

“We have decorated the entrance to the Northwest Territories space to make you feel special the moment you enter the building. It’s very beautiful.”

Victoria Mekas offers another, more exclusive suggestion as well. Crystal Mountain opens its Stone Road location to just a couple of weddings a year, and the couple must have a coordinator to reserve it. The remote locale offers a blank canvas, the opportunity to design a custom experience. “It was neat and very different, secluded; she (the bride) brought out furniture, games…very elegant.”

These reasons and many others—like Crystal Spa, an almost limitless menu of resort activities and a friendly and attentive staff—have kept the resort as a mainstay on The Knot’s, Best of Weddings list. If you’re interested in tying the knot at the mountain, contact Wedding & Special Events Sales Manager, Carmen Kott at 231.378.2038.

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

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WINTER LOOKBOOK O T

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JUST AS THE BLUE, BLACK, RED, GOLD AND GREEN OF THE OLYMPIC RINGS SHINE BRIGHTLY IN SOUTH KOREA THIS WINTER, SO TOO WILL THOSE COLORS IN THE SHOPS AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN.

Reach your peak with the (A) Atomic Redster X9 skis, (B) Redster Race Boots paired with (C) Boot Doctor insoles and an (D) Atomic Race Helmet. Bash some gates with (E) poles, (F) gloves, (G) shin guards and (H) pole guards by LEKI. Rachet down those buckles with the (I) Ski Key (also doubles as a bottle opener) and tune up your boards with the (J) EVO edge tool by Swix.

Just out to free ride? The (K) Karbon Neon, (L) Sync Stretch Puffy and (M) Dare2B Immensity ski coats along with handmade leather gloves from (N) Hestra will keep you warm, dry and in-fashion. Helmets by (O) Smith and (P) Pret are a perfect match along with the all-mountain, high-performance (Q) Atomic Vantage 75 and (R) Hawx 120 boots.

T S

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Stay hydrated with a (S) Crystal Mountain water bottle

by Camelbak and keep it with you in a boot bag or backpack by (T) Dakine or (U) Transpack (there’s also a heated version).

Lids from (V) Sync and (W) Ten Tree (along with the ten trees the company plants with every purchase) make a good statement, as do the (X) Burton Dunmore Jacket with thermal regulating liner, (Y) Burton Invader Boots and (Z) Dakine bag that carries your board.

Visit Mountain Sports, the Nordic Shop in Kinlochen and the Peak Boutique for these finds and many more!

CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM | MOUNTAIN LIFE | WINTER 2017/18

47

Meet Me At the club C

F

rom Jim Dandy to Grand Traverse and so many others around the region, ski clubs have always been a part of the culture and tradition of the sport. Two in particular take permanent residence on the downhill trails at Crystal Mountain and work closely to instill a lifelong passion in the next generation, from their first run down Totem to a podium finish in competition.

For more than 40 years, the Northwestern Alpine Ski Academy (NASA) has been the launching pad for successful high school and college skiing careers, rocketing some as high as the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Development Team. The North Coast Snow-sports Club, previously the Leelanau Ski Club, has been around for nearly 30 years, introducing kids to skiing and nurturing their development through their teenage years. Like Crystal Mountain itself over the last 30 years, these partnerships continue to evolve.

Perhaps the most notable of changes this winter will be the addition of a new program director to handle the administrative side of NASA and work with North Coast to further tune this relationship so each can focus on its core competencies. This will allow Dan Janowiak, who founded NASA, to focus on his true passion, coaching ski racers. The USSA Level-300 Certified Coach has been skiing himself for nearly 60 years and coaching more than two-thirds of that time, including a stint

M

as an assistant for the USSA Development System.

Patti Yearn, president of the North Coast Board of Directors and longtime high school ski coach, comes from a strong heritage of ski instruction herself, growing up in a ski family with a father who led the Blizzard Ski and Snowboard School in Detroit for 16 years.

The mission is to provide kids a clear path from building the very foundational skills of skiing to advancing toward a competitive high school, college and potentially elite-level career. Crystal Mountain Snowsports School will collaborate with North Coast to do what they do best, building fundamental skills until young skiers can manage every level of terrain, fostering a lifelong passion for the sport. From there, the baton is passed to the USSA-certified coaches, clinics, camps and programs provided by NASA. “Dan and his coaching staff, Patti and the North Coast instructors as well as Crystal’s staff will be working together to create continuity between our respective programs,” said Steve Kermode, Crystal Mountain senior vice president. “Whether you live here or just visit, there will be a program to help your children achieve their goals.”

For more information on NASA visit nasaalpine.org and to learn more about the North Coast Club visit northcoastsnowsportsclub.com.

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