Convince Marc that Whiteface is the place to be -OR- Lets discuss Whiteface

[koreshot]

Yeah, but when you lived in Siberia you probably had to drive at least that far just to buy your vodka, so, irrelevant perspective.

I'm a dead man next time I ski with kore....

Back in Siberia I drove my uncle's Zil truck, it was like a big bear on the snowy roads. I remember we used to play funny jokes on the mongol nomad family that settled by the Taiga Pass road, the Zil would outrun them and their horses! But I digest...

 

[deadheadskier]

Only one way to find out for sure.



Depends on the storms track. Also noreasters have been rain, sleet and mixed alot the past several years. Cold Alberta Clippers one after the other can add up the inches too. WF also has latitude and elevation going for it.



Really one of the first things I noticed about the place. I grew up skiing at Hunter so the contrast was striking. I didn't say better, I'm just saying very different.



I'm pretty sure that's going to happen.

And speaking of WF check out the pic Takeahike46er posted on SKIADK. If you look at the far right you can see the liftline cut and one expert trail cut on Lookout Mt. Out of the pic is a 2 mile intermediate trail, I hiked it, it's going to be the most kick ass blue trail I'll ever ski. They will also be cutting 2 more black trails. Also 60 acres of new glades. This expansion is going to balance the mountain out nicely.

Looking at that photo, will there be access to the Slides from Lookout Mountain as well?

 

[gladerider]

i attest to 260+ last year.
i've been going to WF for 4 years in a row and last year was absolutely fantastic. it got dumped.
i call it ICEFACE normally, but last year it was unbelievable.
when it gets dumped, i personally think it is arguably the best mountain in the east..IMHO

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

Like what they said.

Uncrowded, chill, laid back. The mountain skis huge (over 3K of sustained vertical), but feels intimate (it all goes back to the same base area). Great variety of expert terrain. Efficient lifts. It's a skier's mountain, with no condo developments or fake village areas taking management's attention away from what really matters. Yes, it doesn't get the same snow as northern Vermont, but that's not a reason to NEVER ski the place.

Plus, the intangibles. 1980 Olympic alpine events. How can you not want to ski the downhill and slalom ski trails at least once? In fact, the men's downhill trail still features the fastest recorded speed in Olymics history (on the section referred to as "Niagra"). Yearly World Cup race and freestyle events. Whifeface Chili. Amazing views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains over Lake Champlain. Lake Placid, host of the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, 9 miles away, with great restaurants and all the cheesy nightlife you could want (except for MudPuddles, which is, sadly, gone forever ).

I wouldn't let people speculate I dig sheep for just any mountain. Whiteface is unique and it's the best. :flag:

 

[bvibert]

That and you just want to stir the pot a little, but that's cool.

Not so much really, but if that's the resulting effect then that's cool with me too.

Seriously I thought the title I came up with pretty accurately describes the theme of the thread...

 

[crank]

I don't mean to be a tool or anything but Whiteface, to me, skis like a tilted ironing board. It's long and narrow. Not a lot of variety. Steepish with a consistant pitch, but nothing really steep enough to give you pause. Too much grooming. A good place for racers. Big vert is true. I've only skied there a holf-dozen times over they years and have never been when the slides were open. Every time I've been there Whiteface had ok conditions, but they would get a couple of inches from a storm where VT picked up closer to a foot.


Sorry to dump on Whiteface. I don't hate the place and will likely ski there again before I die. It is worth checking out. Lake Placid is a great little resort town and the Olympic history and facilities are cool. I love the region and often go camping near there in the summer.

 

[tjf67]

While this is definitely a topic better left to a new thread, I've yet to be convinced Whiteface has something that is worth the very long drive for me, that'why I've never been. In less drive time I can be to any of the N VT resorts or the Presi's.

If I lived in Mass or Conn I would not come to WF either. I would go to sugarloaf for the big consistant pitch. Northern VT is also easier to get to.

Anyone who lives in NY or Jersey that skips by whiteface to ski anything other than jay is making a mistake. That is my opinion which from experience around the house does not hold much water

 

[tjf67]

Looking at that photo, will there be access to the Slides from Lookout Mountain as well?

Not really. You will be able to bush wack over to slide 5 but you will come in below the top.

 

[bvibert]

If I lived in Mass or Conn I would not come to WF either. I would go to sugarloaf for the big consistant pitch. Northern VT is also easier to get to.

Which is exactly where Marc is coming from (I think), well maybe not Sugarloaf (also a haul from here) but like you said there are a lot of alternatives in Northern VT which are closer.

I can totally see where Marc is coming from, being in a similar situation myself. That said I do want to make the trip just to check it out..

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

Fair enough.

Growing up north of Albany, it was easy to get to Whiteface, Gore and southern Vermont (up to Killington), so I skied all the resorts in that region (except, strangely, for Okemo). I never once made it to Sugarbush, Stowe, MRG, Jay, etc., 'cause they were just too far. I wish I had, though (and I did finally ski Stowe a couple years back).

But, anyway, Whiteface still is the best.

 

[Greg]

there are a lot of alternatives in Northern VT which are closer.

Interestingly enough, Brian, Whiteface is about the same distance as MRG and closer than points north of 89. What's your excuse now?

I'm looking forward to skiing Whiteface this season. My expectation is a consistently pitched big vert mountain that is heavily groomed. For me, if Whiteface had a reputation of having more bumps or natural terrain, I might have checked it out by now. Still, I suspect the vibe and checking out the place with HPD and company will keep me more than entertained.

 

[tjf67]

Which is exactly where Marc is coming from (I think), well maybe not Sugarloaf (also a haul from here) but like you said there are a lot of alternatives in Northern VT which are closer.

I can totally see where Marc is coming from, being in a similar situation myself. That said I do want to make the trip just to check it out..

Make it worth it. Dont plan a trip till March. If you come later in march you will more than likely going to get a shot at the slides.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

If I lived in Mass or Conn I would not come to WF either.

I-90 W to I-87 N. You can get from Boston to WF via Albany in a little over 5 hours.

 

[bvibert]

Interestingly enough, Brian, Whiteface is about the same distance as MRG and closer than points north of 89. What's your excuse now?

I'm looking forward to skiing Whiteface this season. My expectation is a consistently pitched big vert mountain that is heavily groomed. For me, if Whiteface had a reputation of having more bumps or natural terrain, I might have checked it out by now. Still, I suspect the vibe and checking out the place with HPD and company will keep me more than entertained.

Alright, so I'm just talking out of my ass apparently.

Strike everything I've typed previously on the subject from the record!

I just don't like NY, there I said it, happy now?!?!?

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

I just don't like NY, there I said it, happy now?!?!?

Must be tough living in East New York, I mean, Connecticut.

 

[bvibert]

Must be tough living in East New York, I mean, Connecticut.

That's Fairfield county, we have a lower percentage of NYer's in Litchfield county.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Interestingly enough, Brian, Whiteface is about the same distance as MRG and closer than points north of 89. What's your excuse now?

I'm looking forward to skiing Whiteface this season. My expectation is a consistently pitched big vert mountain that is heavily groomed. For me, if Whiteface had a reputation of having more bumps or natural terrain, I might have checked it out by now. Still, I suspect the vibe and checking out the place with HPD and company will keep me more than entertained.

Get ready for your expectations to be exceeded. I just hope there's snow in the woods when you guys are there.

 

[Greg]

Get ready for your expectations to be exceeded. I just hope there's snow in the woods when you guys are there.

Looking forward to it. I hope you know how to get around up there...

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Not really. You will be able to bush wack over to slide 5 but you will come in below the top.

I only know a couple of guys that have skied Slide 5. They came in from Memorial Highway and said it was a real tuff bushwack. I'm hoping Lookout will make 5 more accessible, but I'm not counting on it.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Steepish with a consistant pitch, but nothing really steep enough to give you pause. .

Just picking your brain. What in bounds trails in the NE are steep enough to give you pause.

they would get a couple of inches from a storm where VT picked up closer to a foot.
.

IMO, this statement is an over generalization. Historically northern Vermont does receive more snow on average, but we get some dumps that they do not.

Also WF continues to improve their snowmaking every year. This year they added state of the art air compressors and transformers. They not only will be able to make more and better snow, but also in a more enviromentally friendly way.