"One Tank Getaway" Features Debut with Telemark Resort Winter Fun


When the weather won't cooperate and the cabin's making you feel claustrophobic, it's time for what we call a "one tank getaway." The category is your place to feature fun places to take the family within a couple hours -- and a tank of gas or less -- of Johnson Lake. Our first feature is Telemark Resort near Cable, Wisconsin.


Telemark is known for cross-country skiing and other winter fun. Norm and Kim Okerstrom took their kids and some other family members to the resort during Christmas week. Telemark offers snowboarding, snowtubing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, snowmobiling and ice skating. The resort has gone through its share of financial challenges and no longer offers downhill skiing. Norm says, "they told us they quit downhill skiiing six years ago and it would take millions to start up that operation again... but the market isn't there and they can't compete against ski areas near the Cities."

Instead, one of the smaller slopes is split into two lighted sections -- one for tubing and one for snowboarding. Rope tows serve both runs. A hill pass costs $10. With that pass, you can ride an inner tube or have access to the nearby snowboard slope all afternoon long.



People line up for tubes at noon, when the hill opens.
Photo by Jon Okerstrom


The down-side to the tubing experience is that just one tuber is allowed to leave the top of the hill at one time and there is just one designated run, down the center of the hill. Sure, it's safer, but you won't see trains of people flying down the hill or any variety in the path you take.



Kim Okerstrom of Plymouth enjoys the ride down the tubing run.
Photo by Jon Okerstrom


Snowboard rental costs $20 in addition to the hill pass, but you can use your own board and boots if you have them. You won't find a half-pipe, but the kids and brave adults can test their skills on a series of jumps carved into the hill. They've also built a short metal rail for "grinding"... a skateboarding trick that's made its way into all kinds of sports. In the shot at the top of the page, Tyler Nelson gets some air for the camera. Below is another view of the same jump, looking toward the bottom of the hill.



Waiting at the bottom, Norm, Kim and Ellen (Ty's mom) watch Tyler reach for the sky.
Photo by Jon Okerstrom


While we were there one teen boarder was showing off his broken wrist to his friends. It may have been a "badge of honor" then, but we don't envy the guy when the doctor has to put him back together.

Telemark does have some snowmaking equipment and both hills had enough snow for a day of fun. You can also rent cross country ski gear or buy a trail pass for access to the groomed trails. If you do want to cross country ski, start early. The trails close just before dark.

We thought the crowds were surprisingly small for it being a holiday week. The kids grew bored with the tubing fairly quickly, but seemed to enjoy the freedom that comes with learning to snowboard. When you're ready for a break, you can get a meal at the bar and grill in the lodge -- a 1/3 pound burger basket costs about 8 dollars.

Learn more about Telemark Resort and current snow conditions here. The drive to Telemark takes about 90 minutes.

If you take a one tank getaway, we'd love to hear about it. Send your story and a photo or two in an email and share your fun with your friends on Johnson Lake.

Posted: Mon - December 29, 2003 at 09:39 AM      

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