Skiing "the slides" at Whiteface

[BenedictGomez]

That was a very nice little guide.

The slides were not open when I've been there, which I here is the norm.
I guess If I ever want to ski these things I'm going to have to wait last minute and make the 5+ hour drive when it's a near certainly they'll be open. Someday......

 

[Harvey]

That was a very nice little guide.

The slides were not open when I've been there, which I here is the norm.
I guess If I ever want to ski these things I'm going to have to wait last minute and make the 5+ hour drive when it's a near certainly they'll be open. Someday......

Thanks BG.

I've done just that. Some of the pics in our guide were taken in 2010. I saw them from my office and said... gotta get me some of that! Did what I had to, to get out of work, made the drive, and missed them by one day. Spring is the best shot you'll have to get into the slides as the snowpack is stable. But it seems like every spring is blowtorch these days. With no manmade snow it melts out fast.

The mountain has really worked hard to increase the number of days the slides are open, by sending patrol in, early season, to pack things out and improve stability. It's not a simple or cost effective process.

Aaron the new GM is especially committed to opening the slides. He'll have to balance that goal with public safety and cost.

 

[bdfreetuna]

Awesome blog/ guide. The Slides are high on my list but it's a real long drive for a gamble.

How many runs can you get in the slides in an average day of them being open?

 

[Harvey]

Awesome blog/ guide. The Slides are high on my list but it's a real long drive for a gamble.

How many runs can you get in the slides in an average day of them being open?

Thanks BD.

Some generalizations...

In my experience more than half of slide days are spring. Patrol waits until things soften. An (extremely) early opening would be maybe 10:15. I've heard of them opening at 11 or later. And they close early because sweeping them takes time.

So let's say they go from 10:45 to 2:30. I'd call 4 runs a good day. So that's like 6000+ vert.

Remember once you get off the lift, you've got some climbing to do. It probably take 10 or more minutes to get to Slide 1 and IMO 2,3 and 4 are more interesting.

Still... the drive is not soo much of a gamble IF you have info from the right sources - like someone who has skied them the day you ask about it. (It's likely that if there slide potential, will be talking about it in the NYSB forum.)

And if you like that kind of thing, it's REALLLY fun. Plus if you get to WF on a spring day and the slides close before you get in them, there is still usually good conditions on bump skiing to be found.

 

[tarponhead]

It was a little like herding cats, but we got some of the most knowledgeable Whiteface locals to give us their input for our updated Whiteface Slide Guide. It includes some detailed strategy on how to approach each inbounds slide, plus updates dictated by the torrential rains of May 2011. Thinking that skiers sub'd to this thread might dig it. Hope so.

Very generous of you you Harvey, thank you. Only been to WF a few times in the spring, they were never open. I'll try to target them this year. Serendipity just ain't doing it for me...

 

[BenedictGomez]

About 10 minutes ago Whiteface posted this short message to Facebook:

shovel, beacon , probe (=

I'm guessing this must be their way of hinting that the Slides will soon open, and if so, it must be pretty darn early on a historical basis.

 

[skiNEwhere]

That's different from the norm, I didn't think they ever opened until March

 

[St. Bear]

I was disappointed when I was there last year. I saw Patrol in the Slides, and one guy on the lift said he thought they would open up, but they never dropped the rope. I was right before the heatwave in March, the day after they got 6". It would've been sweet.

 

[BenedictGomez]

That's different from the norm, I didn't think they ever opened until March

Whiteface just posted this picture (Slide 1 I believe), with the sole word "Open". Pretty awesome.

Given there's already enough snow in there to open them up in early January, I imagine they should be a safe bet to open after decent dumps the rest of the season.

 

[jaytrem]

Nice, anybody else going to be there on Thursday for the $10 day?

 

[Nick]

They put up some more pics. Looks sick> I'd love to try this .

 

[AdironRider]

Has patrol gotten any better at opening them up?

The spring comments ring true, that is definitely your best bet.

That being said, patrol at the Face is about as conservative as you can be in opening them up. Most days Ive been in there I skinned the road and dropped in from the top. Not that being conservative is a bad thing, but they take it to the extreme, or at least did.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Has patrol gotten any better at opening them up?

That being said, patrol at the Face is about as conservative as you can be in opening them up. Most days Ive been in there I skinned the road and dropped in from the top. Not that being conservative is a bad thing, but they take it to the extreme, or at least did.

I dont mind them being conservative for safety sake either, but I agree that many Whiteface locals in the know think they way overdo it. But what's worse is I've heard negative comments over the years of them being closed, yet patrol is skiing them. That kindof sucks, and isnt good from a PR perspective.


Here's a Slides link with a nice picture (though it's dated as they dont look like this anymore post Irene)

http://skiadk.com/WFSlides.pdf

 

[Smellytele]

Too bad I don't have a avy beacon

 

[AdironRider]

I dont mind them being conservative for safety sake either, but I agree that many Whiteface locals in the know think they way overdo it. But what's worse is I've heard negative comments over the years of them being closed, yet patrol is skiing them. That kindof sucks, and isnt good from a PR perspective.


Here's a Slides link with a nice picture (though it's dated as they dont look like this anymore post Irene)

http://skiadk.com/WFSlides.pdf

What you've heard was most definitely true, but since Ive left they do seem to be open more.

Whether that is due to better snow or less "Im God the Patroller" mentality I dont know.

 

[St. Bear]

But what's worse is I've heard negative comments over the years of them being closed, yet patrol is skiing them. That kindof sucks, and isnt good from a PR perspective.

This is what happened to me, and yes, it did suck.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Has patrol gotten any better at opening them up?

The spring comments ring true, that is definitely your best bet.

That being said, patrol at the Face is about as conservative as you can be in opening them up. Most days Ive been in there I skinned the road and dropped in from the top. Not that being conservative is a bad thing, but they take it to the extreme, or at least did.

Yea they still are. Those Slides weren't even formed from avalanches as most people think. The last avalanche I remember hearing about was a couple of years ago after a heavy March storm and a warmup. And I believe those folks accessed it from outside the resort. Other than that, I can't remember any other time.

 

[skisheep]

Apparently this is the first time that they have been open in January since they have been added to the map, and the first time since 2001 that they have been open before Presidents week. Yes there has been alot of snow but could this also show patrol more willing to open the slides?

 

[St. Bear]

Apparently this is the first time that they have been open in January since they have been added to the map, and the first time since 2001 that they have been open before Presidents week. Yes there has been alot of snow but could this also show patrol more willing to open the slides?

If nothing else, it's good marketing.

 

[AdironRider]

Yea they still are. Those Slides weren't even formed from avalanches as most people think. The last avalanche I remember hearing about was a couple of years ago after a heavy March storm and a warmup. And I believe those folks accessed it from outside the resort. Other than that, I can't remember any other time.

Id only heard of them going once due to snow, which was during the Valentines Day storm in 07 and even then, I think they just assumed as I didnt see much debris or anything.

Almost all of the ADK slides have been formed due to heavy rain events, ala Irene opening up a whole bunch of new backcountry two years ago which I have yet to hit.