Whiteface: What else besides the Slides?

**Greg** · Sep 3, 2007, 8:11 PM

Before HPD has a fit, I did start a similar thread for Sugarbush at one time: What else besides Castlerock?

Anyway, we all hear a lot about the Slides at Whiteface and how awesome they are. I saw the pics from this past season and they do indeed look fantastic. I also know that they are generally only open a handful of days each season. With that, what are some of the other key trails/runs at Whiteface (obviously I've never been.)

I plan to hit it up this season with HPD so I suspect I will get a quality tour. Until then, I'd be interested in knowing what some of the best trails are. I get the impression that it's consistently steep for much of its vert. I also get the impression that it's heavily groomed. Is this true? Are there many good bump runs or natural trails, and not just moguled here and there, or natural just following a storm. I mean consistently bumped, or left wild most of the season.

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Sep 3, 2007, 8:16 PM

Whiteface has alot of tree skiing, moguls at mid mountain..and 3216 vert of groomers..It's not as large as Sugarbush but also not as crowded so if you get a powder day..you'll get alot of untracked..often right under the lifts. The terrain is steep on the top 2/3 and flat to moderate on the bottom 1/3 of the vert..I'd like to get back there again this season..

L2RAFO · Sep 3, 2007, 9:23 PM

Steeze, please!!!

Anyway Greg, I'm afraid ( for you bumpers ) part of what you've heard is correct, you're going to be let down in the mogul department.

I don't know your time frame, but, typically, Whiteface is a consistently groomed place. Lower Mac, Top of Cloudspin, Upper Parkway, and most certainly the World Cup course run on Wilderness are your best bets. That's not to say that you won't find a change in that pattern once in a while, but it's the norm.

That said, things do get bumped up as the day goes on. Also, depending on the season, you can get some good glade bumps ( again, don't count on it ).

I hope you bring something other than the mogul slats, because the real treat of Whiteface is the consistant vertical pitch. Closest thing to Snowbird east of the Rockies. Big ass GS fatties all day long. Don't forget the Arnica, and make sure HPD has the hot tub slammin' hot, because your thighs will be screamin'.

Of course, that's a blanket overview, and the chance of an Empire/Slides/Every Glade on the mountain is always possible, but I'd be stupid to promiss more.

Regardless, count on an amazing time. Just hangin' in the High Peaks, and Placid is worth the trip.

p.s.- Sorry, after re-reading your post: Skyward, Mountain Run, Essex, and Northway are some of the best screamers. Approach to Mtn Run to Upper Thruway to Drapper's Drop for first gondi. Over to Summit Quad, and Follies/Paron's for spectacular views on a bluebird day. Skyward to Victoria to Easy Street to Boreen for a serious vert. The options are endless.

kcyanks1 · Sep 3, 2007, 9:34 PM

Empire is a great run, very narrow. It is open about as often as the Slides (it seems to me, but I could be wrong). I know you love Rumble, and you'll love Empire if you get to ski it.

Cloudspin and Skyward in my opinion are good because they provide a lot of vertical at nice pitches, but IMO they don't have much character. I know others will strongly disagree.

I don't think Whiteface can touch Sugarbush for bumps, but you should be able to find something ungroomed.

Hawkshot99 · Sep 3, 2007, 9:34 PM

I used to go to WF several times every year when i was younger with my uncle. At the time my favorite part of the mountain was skiing along and seeing the starting houses on the sides of the trails, and saying to my self that the Olympic DH, or SL, ect. was held on this run. Also I think it was the chair on little whiteface that had a sign that said"experts get off here' beginners go to the top" and the chair dangling you out over the cliff.
I don't remember the skiing too well as it was a long time ago that I was there and I was pretty young, but I loved the place and hope to get back up there this season.

twinplanx · Sep 4, 2007, 8:01 AM

A trip to Whiteface would not be complete without a run through the Tenth Mtn. Division Glade, its on the map but tricky to find/get in to. Although they do need some snow I'd say there a safer bet then the slides.

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Sep 4, 2007, 8:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L2RAFO

Steeze, please!!!

????????

ajl50 · Sep 4, 2007, 8:22 AM

G...
L2RAFO is right- bring the fast legs. The magic of whiteface is speeding top to bottom, carving turns the whole way with no need to let up and barely a flat section to rest the legs. A great example of this is the 1980 ladies downhill course. It starts with Skyward and runs down to the bottom. It's a great run and will def. make you sweat.

Also- DO NOT MISS mountain run early in the morning.

tjf67 · Sep 4, 2007, 8:37 AM

Its going to depend what time of the year you come here. If you come early the only thing to do is follow the guns. You wont be dissapointed. You will find the bumps you are looking for in a manmade snow storm.

Off of little whiteface the best bumps will be on lower Mackenzie. They can be alot of fun. Upper mac has double fall lines and is very steep. you can get a good drop in there if that your thing. It wont produce good bumps, its just to hard to ski.

Drop into the woods off of approach and you will see some of the steepest tightest trees in the east. You can get in a liitle lower of of northway if you want to avoid the steepest pitches, well that is if you stay skiers right.

It they are bumping up wilderness for a comp you will have the racers run to go down. I cant make it all the way down without get thrown out.

Northway over to lower mack is always a good run. You can pop off into the trees if you want. Watch out for dingers there are some big rocks in there.

Empire probably wont be open. Take a look it best when it is not.

Upper mountain. If cloudspin is open there will be bumps up there. Upper cloud to lower sky should have your legs burning. You will have bumps the whole way down if you come in the later part of the year. Lower sky is under the lift so take a rest at the top of Niagara. You want to rip that without stopping. I great watching someone comming down through there who knows what they are doing.

and on and on

If you are skiing with HDP he will send you back to your vermont mountains with a lot more confidence.

ComeBackMudPuddles · Sep 4, 2007, 8:59 AM

Everyone's pretty much covered it. There aren't any real clunkers on the mountain. Probably the only trail not worth skiing is Thruway (if you have to make a choice). If you ski a serious day, you'll be able to hit every worthwhile run on Little Whiteface and the upper mountain.

However, if you're there for one day, and that day features the glades and the Slides, you won't be able to do it all. The place really skis like two different mountains when the terrain is 100% open. Unlike some other posters, though, I think the glades and Empire are open much more than the Slides (relatively speaking....they're not open that much).

I'd add that, from the top of the gondola, the best way to get to the summit quad is to ski the upper part of Essex, cut over to Connector and then hit Lower Cloudspin (a/k/a Victoria). If you are on the mountain early, you can ski Excelsior down, but that trail is to be avoided when crowded.

And don't forget Lookout Mountain!! You'll be back in '09 if you go up this winter, for sure.

Sep 3, 2007, 8:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Greg Nassahegan, CT: 9/20 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Thomaston, CT Posts: 21,160	Whiteface: What else besides the Slides? Before HPD has a fit, I did start a similar thread for Sugarbush at one time: What else besides Castlerock? Anyway, we all hear a lot about the Slides at Whiteface and how awesome they are. I saw the pics from this past season and they do indeed look fantastic. I also know that they are generally only open a handful of days each season. With that, what are some of the other key trails/runs at Whiteface (obviously I've never been.) I plan to hit it up this season with HPD so I suspect I will get a quality tour. Until then, I'd be interested in knowing what some of the best trails are. I get the impression that it's consistently steep for much of its vert. I also get the impression that it's heavily groomed. Is this true? Are there many good bump runs or natural trails, and not just moguled here and there, or natural just following a storm. I mean consistently bumped, or left wild most of the season. __________________ Greg 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05 Life's too short for warm up runs.

Sep 3, 2007, 9:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
L2RAFO Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 166	Steeze, please!!! Anyway Greg, I'm afraid ( for you bumpers ) part of what you've heard is correct, you're going to be let down in the mogul department. I don't know your time frame, but, typically, Whiteface is a consistently groomed place. Lower Mac, Top of Cloudspin, Upper Parkway, and most certainly the World Cup course run on Wilderness are your best bets. That's not to say that you won't find a change in that pattern once in a while, but it's the norm. That said, things do get bumped up as the day goes on. Also, depending on the season, you can get some good glade bumps ( again, don't count on it ). I hope you bring something other than the mogul slats, because the real treat of Whiteface is the consistant vertical pitch. Closest thing to Snowbird east of the Rockies. Big ass GS fatties all day long. Don't forget the Arnica, and make sure HPD has the hot tub slammin' hot, because your thighs will be screamin'. Of course, that's a blanket overview, and the chance of an Empire/Slides/Every Glade on the mountain is always possible, but I'd be stupid to promiss more. Regardless, count on an amazing time. Just hangin' in the High Peaks, and Placid is worth the trip. p.s.- Sorry, after re-reading your post: Skyward, Mountain Run, Essex, and Northway are some of the best screamers. Approach to Mtn Run to Upper Thruway to Drapper's Drop for first gondi. Over to Summit Quad, and Follies/Paron's for spectacular views on a bluebird day. Skyward to Victoria to Easy Street to Boreen for a serious vert. The options are endless. Last edited by L2RAFO; Sep 3, 2007 at 10:21 PM.

Sep 3, 2007, 9:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
kcyanks1 Sugarbush Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,187	Empire is a great run, very narrow. It is open about as often as the Slides (it seems to me, but I could be wrong). I know you love Rumble, and you'll love Empire if you get to ski it. Cloudspin and Skyward in my opinion are good because they provide a lot of vertical at nice pitches, but IMO they don't have much character. I know others will strongly disagree. I don't think Whiteface can touch Sugarbush for bumps, but you should be able to find something ungroomed. __________________ -Kenny

Sep 3, 2007, 9:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hawkshot99 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 1,938	I used to go to WF several times every year when i was younger with my uncle. At the time my favorite part of the mountain was skiing along and seeing the starting houses on the sides of the trails, and saying to my self that the Olympic DH, or SL, ect. was held on this run. Also I think it was the chair on little whiteface that had a sign that said"experts get off here' beginners go to the top" and the chair dangling you out over the cliff. I don't remember the skiing too well as it was a long time ago that I was there and I was pretty young, but I loved the place and hope to get back up there this season. __________________ 19 Rossi Mutix-175 Scott Mission- 178 Scott P3- 178

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Sep 3, 2007, 8:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
GrilledSteezeSandwich Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 9,008	Whiteface has alot of tree skiing, moguls at mid mountain..and 3216 vert of groomers..It's not as large as Sugarbush but also not as crowded so if you get a powder day..you'll get alot of untracked..often right under the lifts. The terrain is steep on the top 2/3 and flat to moderate on the bottom 1/3 of the vert..I'd like to get back there again this season..

Sep 4, 2007, 8:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
twinplanx Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: lawnguyland Posts: 248	A trip to Whiteface would not be complete without a run through the Tenth Mtn. Division Glade, its on the map but tricky to find/get in to. Although they do need some snow I'd say there a safer bet then the slides.

Sep 4, 2007, 8:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
ajl50 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: philly Posts: 702	G... L2RAFO is right- bring the fast legs. The magic of whiteface is speeding top to bottom, carving turns the whole way with no need to let up and barely a flat section to rest the legs. A great example of this is the 1980 ladies downhill course. It starts with Skyward and runs down to the bottom. It's a great run and will def. make you sweat. Also- DO NOT MISS mountain run early in the morning.

Sep 4, 2007, 8:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
tjf67 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: L.P. Posts: 897	Its going to depend what time of the year you come here. If you come early the only thing to do is follow the guns. You wont be dissapointed. You will find the bumps you are looking for in a manmade snow storm. Off of little whiteface the best bumps will be on lower Mackenzie. They can be alot of fun. Upper mac has double fall lines and is very steep. you can get a good drop in there if that your thing. It wont produce good bumps, its just to hard to ski. Drop into the woods off of approach and you will see some of the steepest tightest trees in the east. You can get in a liitle lower of of northway if you want to avoid the steepest pitches, well that is if you stay skiers right. It they are bumping up wilderness for a comp you will have the racers run to go down. I cant make it all the way down without get thrown out. Northway over to lower mack is always a good run. You can pop off into the trees if you want. Watch out for dingers there are some big rocks in there. Empire probably wont be open. Take a look it best when it is not. Upper mountain. If cloudspin is open there will be bumps up there. Upper cloud to lower sky should have your legs burning. You will have bumps the whole way down if you come in the later part of the year. Lower sky is under the lift so take a rest at the top of Niagara. You want to rip that without stopping. I great watching someone comming down through there who knows what they are doing. and on and on If you are skiing with HDP he will send you back to your vermont mountains with a lot more confidence.

Sep 4, 2007, 8:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
ComeBackMudPuddles R-A-D Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,158	Everyone's pretty much covered it. There aren't any real clunkers on the mountain. Probably the only trail not worth skiing is Thruway (if you have to make a choice). If you ski a serious day, you'll be able to hit every worthwhile run on Little Whiteface and the upper mountain. However, if you're there for one day, and that day features the glades and the Slides, you won't be able to do it all. The place really skis like two different mountains when the terrain is 100% open. Unlike some other posters, though, I think the glades and Empire are open much more than the Slides (relatively speaking....they're not open that much). I'd add that, from the top of the gondola, the best way to get to the summit quad is to ski the upper part of Essex, cut over to Connector and then hit Lower Cloudspin (a/k/a Victoria). If you are on the mountain early, you can ski Excelsior down, but that trail is to be avoided when crowded. And don't forget Lookout Mountain!! You'll be back in '09 if you go up this winter, for sure.

Sep 3, 2007, 8:11 PM
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