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

[Marc]

According to Google Maps, the drive time to Whiteface is only shorter than that to Jay by 8 minutes (4 hrs 40 min vs 4 hrs 48 min). And while both estimates are over estimates, the point is, the drive time is about the same for me (from experience). Smuggs takes the longest (of the major N VT resorts) clocking in at 5 hrs on Google Maps, still only 20 minutes more than WF (in reality, it's about 4.5 hours from me). MRG is 4.25 hrs on GM (in reality a little less than 4 hrs).

So from Woodstock, in reality, WF is just about at the upper bounds of drive time compared with where I'd go in N VT. And of course this post is only about me, because I really am that egocentric.

 

[Marc]

Meaning you like goats or something?

No, no... that would be caprid-centric.

:dunce:

 

[PA Ridge Racer]

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:

No convincing needed here. I'm going this year. Which ones were the olympic trails?

 

[crank]

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



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.

.

#1, Fair enough: Face Chutes at Jay, Tramline at Cannon if I ever get a chane to ski it, some of the hike to lines on Mt. Mansfield, some of Paradise at MRG, Tuckerman's Ravine...

#2, Didn't mean to generalize, sorry. I was referring to my personal experience based on the last 2 times I skied at and stayed at Whiteface. Both times I ended up migrating to VT and enjoying better conditions.

I live in Fairfield County, CT and drive time to Lake Placid is about the same as to Northern, VT.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

#1, Fair enough: Face Chutes at Jay, Tramline at Cannon if I ever get a chane to ski it, some of the hike to lines on Mt. Mansfield, some of Paradise at MRG, Tuckerman's Ravine...

.

Fair enough back at you. I thought you where referring to inbound trails that where open on a regular basis at WF compared to the like at other mountains. Based on what you mentioned at guess it would only be fair to say that the Slides at WF have some pucker factor as well.

IMO, when speaking about consistantly steep (relative to the East) long runs ( not just a couple hundred feet of steep) WF has alot more then most.

 

[kingslug]

I checked out WF twice. One in the middle of winter in a pretty bad wind storm when ALL the ice was exposed. Still had a good if sometimes scary time. The next time was at the beginning of the season on half a trail, still 1600 vert though. I want to ski there simply because it's there, it's different, and its huge. Prolly the same reason I want to head back to Smuggs. It's different, not worse or better than any other place, just different.

 

[skimore]

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.

Spot on. Routinely drive right by and go another couple hours to N VT for consistenly better conditions

 

[L2RAFO]

And regarding poaching the slides... well there's a not much chance I'd drive 4 1/2 hours to risk getting my ticket clipped.

Just in case you change your mind do make sure that you hang on to that ticket TIGHTLY on the way down. If they catch you poaching the Slides with a valid ticket it's loss of privilages. If they catch you poaching the Slides without a ticket it's an arrestable offense.

On the bright side, the back seat of our Statie's cruisers are much cleaner than in the rest of the State.

 

[takeahike46er]

With Whiteface, as with any mountain in the northeast, it pays to be within a day trip distance. It allows you to be more selective as to which days and resorts are worth skiing.

Try this: Instead of hitting up the usual mountains when you see snowfall setting up for your day off, check out what's happening at Whiteface. You might be pleasantly surprised. You might find better conditions than the neighbors to the east. Always default to other mountains when it snows and of course Whiteface is going to offer lesser conditions. Of course, in the end, Whiteface may not be your thing. That's cool. But there are some things the mountain does really well--- even better than N. Vermont. It's worth checking out, and it's only going to get better next season!

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

Spot on. Routinely drive right by and go another couple hours to N VT for consistenly better conditions

LOL. Whatever, dude.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

No convincing needed here. I'm going this year. Which ones were the olympic trails?

Men's Downhill: Cloudspin to Upper Valley to Lower Valley to, basically, the start of Lift 7, or the "Freeway" chair (as it is known now)

Women's Downhill: Skyward to Easy Street to Lower Valley to, basically, the start of Lift 7, or the "Freeway" chair (as it is known now)

Men's & Women's Slalom: Mountain Run

Men's Giant Slalom: Thruway to Lower Valley to, basically, the start of Lift 7, or the "Freeway" chair (as it is known now)

Women's Giant Slalom: Parkway to Lower Valley to, basically, the start of Lift 7, or the "Freeway" chair (as it is known now)

 

[AdironRider]

Nice, I go away for a few days and return to this thread. Some great points have already been made, but in my quick run through I missed one facet that I absolutely love about skiing the face, and that is the fact that there are absolutely no crowds. Admittantly I wasnt riding Christmas holiday, but I never waited longer than 5 minutes to hop on the gondi all season, and never once waited for the summit, or mtn run lifts. The lack of people on the mtn leads to the lift system working well IM0.

 

[Marc]

Nice, I go away for a few days and return to this thread. Some great points have already been made, but in my quick run through I missed one facet that I absolutely love about skiing the face, and that is the fact that there are absolutely no crowds. Admittantly I wasnt riding Christmas holiday, but I never waited longer than 5 minutes to hop on the gondi all season, and never once waited for the summit, or mtn run lifts. The lack of people on the mtn leads to the lift system working well IM0.

You might have me with that one. Being as I am, and not a huge fan of other people, if I can get to Whiteface on the weekend and not see big crowds, not even stand on line for more than 5 minutes, that very well could entice me to make the drive...

A free lift ticket wouldn't hurt either.

 

[andyzee]

Count me in for at least one trip this year.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Count me in for at least one trip this year.

AZ didn't you once say you're 2 hours away and looking for a place to land other then Kmart? If so you'd be nuts not to check it out. It might fit your needs and your not too far away. If you want we can hook up when you come.

 

[andyzee]

Count me in for at least one trip this year.

AZ didn't you once say you're 2 hours away and looking for a place to land other then Kmart? If so you'd be nuts not to check it out. It might fit your needs and your not too far away. If you want we can hook up when you come.

2 hours, no way, it's more like 5 for me, Killington's 4.5. And yes, I am looking for a possible alternative to Killington for next year because I don't trust Powdr.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

You might have me with that one. Being as I am, and not a huge fan of other people, if I can get to Whiteface on the weekend and not see big crowds, not even stand on line for more than 5 minutes, that very well could entice me to make the drive...

A free lift ticket wouldn't hurt either.

Aride is right on. I didn't realize that had not be mentioned. You'll see some people Xmas week and Pres. week, but on a normal weekend you'll be amazed. When discussing crowds alot of threads mention that all mountains get crowded on weekends. Those people have not been here.

Good catch Aride.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

2 hours, no way, .

Sorry, I must of been thinking of someone else. I remember it was a Kmart reg though.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Count me in for at least one trip this year.

I thought the vertical of Whiteface is 3216 feet???

 

[AdironRider]

Its something around 3100 vert lift served with the extra 300 coming from some hiking in the slides. Total of 3430 skiable vert.