Easiest blue options at Whiteface for an advanced-beginner/lower-intermediate?

[BenedictGomez]

I've never been to Whiteface and I'm skiing there this weekend, but the gf is an advanced-beginner who stays on greens and easier blues.

So the dilemma is, are there easier path's down from the 3 different peaks that arent very steep, or should she stay to the lower mountain? To give a better idea, she's just starting to foray onto blues when we go to places like Jay and Smuggs, but I know the terrain there well, whereas I know nothing about Whiteface.

Specifically, interested in the below blue options to get down from each peak, and which would be doable for a low-level intermediate or a strong advanced-beginner.

Thanks!


Lookout Mountain: Wilmington Trail (opens this weekend) appears to be the only blue way down.

Top Station: The Follies or Paron's


Little Whiteface: Excelsior either all the way down, or to: Northway, Empire, Connector, etc... (seems like there are a ton of blue options down from LW)

 

[Cheese]

This may be a hard sell for you, but the grooming report and early morning runs are more important than the trail map when searching for the easiest way down from any lift on any mountain.

 

[drjeff]

Gore

 

[mriceyman]

Take the gondola and follow the blues all the way down to mid mountain then take the green to the bottom. My wife is probably the same skill level and probably more cautious and she had no problem with this route.

 

[mriceyman]

Wilmington trail is a long but challenging trail if the snow is good. The follies is a good trail for her if it is groomed.

 

[gladerider]

Lookout Mountain: Wilmington Trail (opens this weekend) appears to be the only blue way down.

Top Station: The Follies or Paron's


Little Whiteface: Excelsior either all the way down, or to: Northway, Empire, Connector, etc... (seems like there are a ton of blue options down from LW)

Lookout Mountain: Wilmington Trail (opens this weekend) appears to be the only blue way down.
yes. i would check out the condition and ask people to see how icy it is. there are 2 or 3 steep sections that could get icy.

Top Station: The Follies or Paron's
yes. i would try paron's first since it is wider


Little Whiteface: try excelsior > lower empire > u. valley straight down to the gondola

i would build her confidence by doing little whiteface first. then, lookout mountain, then top station. in that order. that is the order of increasing steepness even though they are all blue.
i would also caution you that some blues there are equal to some blacks if not steeper than many other mountains i've been to.

 

[x10003q]

I've never been to Whiteface and I'm skiing there this weekend, but the gf is an advanced-beginner who stays on greens and easier blues.

So the dilemma is, are there easier path's down from the 3 different peaks that arent very steep, or should she stay to the lower mountain? To give a better idea, she's just starting to foray onto blues when we go to places like Jay and Smuggs, but I know the terrain there well, whereas I know nothing about Whiteface.

Specifically, interested in the below blue options to get down from each peak, and which would be doable for a low-level intermediate or a strong advanced-beginner.

Thanks!


Lookout Mountain: Wilmington Trail (opens this weekend) appears to be the only blue way down.

Top Station: The Follies or Paron's


Little Whiteface: Excelsior either all the way down, or to: Northway, Empire, Connector, etc... (seems like there are a ton of blue options down from LW)

I would stay away from Wilmington. It is can be a very difficult blue and there is no escape. I think the Follies from the top are doable as long as it is not icy. Excelsior off the Gondola can get zoo like as it is the only blue (no green) off the Gondola. It can be tricky. Off the Face Lift there is a green all the way to the bottom. If conditions are icy/flat light stay on the Face Lift. Upper Valley is not difficult, but it also can get crowded.

This is an issue at Whiteface. There is very little terrain available for your gf. I ski mostly Gore and WF. My wife does not like WF because of the lack of low intermediate trails. Whiteface is also a visually scary mountain. From the top you can see the base lodge. The trail might be easy but there is a feeling of falling off the mountain because of the awesome open views.

Your best bet is get her a morning lesson and do some scouting to make your own judgements. Maybe the lesson will lead down one of the mentioned trails and she will make the call.

 

[legalskier]

There's a HSQ that goes halfway up the center of WF- it leads to a long, easy run back down on skier's left. Can't remember the name but you can't miss it. Once you actually get there and see the mountain it's easy to figure out.

Gore

Even better- miles of nice cruising groomers on the lower mountain, with some more challenging runs up top for you (I believe there's even one green off the top). Plus, it's not far off your route to WF. As long as you're passing by, it's well worth a visit.
Enjoy-

 

[tarponhead]

Lookout Mountain: Wilmington Trail (opens this weekend) appears to be the only blue way down.
yes. i would check out the condition and ask people to see how icy it is. there are 2 or 3 steep sections that could get icy.

Top Station: The Follies or Paron's
yes. i would try paron's first since it is wider


Little Whiteface: try excelsior > lower empire > u. valley straight down to the gondola

i would build her confidence by doing little whiteface first. then, lookout mountain, then top station. in that order. that is the order of increasing steepness even though they are all blue.
i would also caution you that some blues there are equal to some blacks if not steeper than many other mountains i've been to.

This pretty much dinged it. FWIW, boreen, a green trail is great with some mini headwalls to keep her entertained.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Top Station: The Follies or Paron's
yes. i would try paron's first since it is wider

Little Whiteface: try excelsior > lower empire > u. valley straight down to the gondola
i would build her confidence by doing little whiteface first. then, lookout mountain, then top station. in that order. that is the order of increasing steepness even though they are all blue.
i would also caution you that some blues there are equal to some blacks if not steeper than many other mountains i've been to.

Thank you for the advice. Sounds like Lookout Mountain might be a no-go if Wilmington has a few pretty steep sections as several have said, but I'll scout that one out. Seems like there will at least be some LW Blue options for her to cut her teeth on.

I think the Follies from the top are doable as long as it is not icy. Excelsior off the Gondola can get zoo like as it is the only blue (no green) off the Gondola. It can be tricky. Off the Face Lift there is a green all the way to the bottom. If conditions are icy/flat light stay on the Face Lift. Upper Valley is not difficult, but it also can get crowded.

Thank you. Will give the above a whirl. Though I now have one vote for Parsons and one for Follies, so I guess that perhaps means both are doable for an early intermediate. I guess I'll scout them out first. She grew up XC skiing, and I was pretty surprised how well that translated over to alpine, so she's picked up downhill pretty quick and is better than she thinks, but confidence is amazingly important in skiing, and she just isnt confident in her skills yet.

Your best bet is get her a morning lesson and do some scouting to make your own judgements.

Not a bad idea actually.

Even better- miles of nice cruising groomers on the lower mountain, with some more challenging runs up top for you (I believe there's even one green off the top). Plus, it's not far off your route to WF. As long as you're passing by, it's well worth a visit.

We planned on skiing Whiteface Saturday and Sunday, but that may already change to "just Saturday" if this storm pans out. If the Cats get hammered with the 8" - 10" that some are predicting at elevation, we'll leave Lake Placid early Sunday for Plattekill. But I 100% want to hit Gore someday. Whiteface, Gore, and Magic are the 3 places I've never been to that I want to knock off this winter.

This pretty much dinged it. FWIW, boreen, a green trail is great with some mini headwalls to keep her entertained.

Sounds good.

 

[40Berg]

My wife and I seem to be in a similar boat as you and yours. I like blues and easier blacks while she feels more comfortable on greens and the occasional blue run.

She really liked Upper Boreen and Upper Valley off Facelift, but kind of freaked out when I convinced her to head up to Little Whiteface. Like x10003q said, it is a bit of a "visually scary" mountain. But she did have a great time on the lower mountain, even playing in the trees a little. There was plenty to keep her occupied while I took some solo trips up.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Thanks to all for the advice in this thread, it was well-utilized over the weekend.

The gf just stayed on Facelift and the beginner area as the conditions were, well, less than stellar (cough, icy, cough) higher up on the mountain shall we say.

We do love the town of Lake Placid though, and will 100% return someday when Whiteface gets some snow, I'd love to see what the place is like with decent conditions. BTW, the food in the WF cafeteria may have been the best food I've ever had at a ski resort. Blown away by that.