How steep is Whiteface

[daboystipsheet]

Does anyone have information on the pitch at Whiteface. I am trying to relate the steepness to other resorts that indicate a pitch of 40%

 

[RIDEr]

Does anyone have information on the pitch at Whiteface. I am trying to relate the steepness to other resorts that indicate a pitch of 40%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiteface_Mountain

There is lift-serviced terrain from 4,386 feet (1,337 m) and hike-to terrain from 4,650 feet (1,420 m). With a base elevation of 1,220 feet, Whiteface has the greatest vertical drop in the east at 3,430 feet. Its neighbor, Little Whiteface, is tops in altitude at 3,676 ft. Whiteface has a total of 18 miles (29 km) of ski terrain spread out over 76 trails. 220 acres (0.89 km²) of skiing area include the "Slides", 35 acres of expert extreme adventure terrain.

 

[Talisman]

I like this quote from Wikipedia "Whiteface features some of the most difficult skiing and snowboarding terrain in the United States. Some of the longest trails on the mountain are intermediate trails - but they also tend to be the most crowded. The ski trails receive plenty of southern exposure sometimes causing ice to form later in the day and subtle breezes sometimes blow snow off the trails." Subtle breezes.

White Face has some steeps and the Slides is some of the steepest terrain in the that can be accessed via a ski lift.

 

[KevinF]

Does anyone have information on the pitch at Whiteface. I am trying to relate the steepness to other resorts that indicate a pitch of 40%

There are very few resorts in the USA that have a significant amount of terrain at a "40% pitch". 40% is frighteningly steep. As others have said, the Slides at Whiteface are probably that steep. Most major resorts probably have a trail that is in the 40% range for a few turns.

But the "overall steepness" of an area? Every place has terrain that is suitable for any ability level; Whiteface isn't an exception.

 

[ajl50]

The answer is that it's steep enough to challenge you while having plenty of mellower runs to family.

 

[tjf67]

Does anyone have information on the pitch at Whiteface. I am trying to relate the steepness to other resorts that indicate a pitch of 40%

I have plenty of information what are you looking for?

We have some of the longest sustained pitches in N.A.. We don't have anything that is 40%.

I dont think the east get the type of snowfall to facilitate descents that steep.

 

[Talisman]

I dont think the east get the type of snowfall to facilitate descents that steep.

Mt Washington has hike to terrain in that range of steepness and between snow fall and what the wind adds from the summit are skiable. The Adirondacks have some hike to slides in that range of steepness.

 

[Marc]

40% is only an 18 degree pitch.

 

[ajl50]

true dat.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

There are very few resorts in the USA that have a significant amount of terrain at a "40% pitch". 40% is frighteningly steep. As others have said, the Slides at Whiteface are probably that steep. Most major resorts probably have a trail that is in the 40% range for a few turns.

But the "overall steepness" of an area? Every place has terrain that is suitable for any ability level; Whiteface isn't an exception.

I think you have degrees and percentage pitch screwed up. Most of Jackson Hole is 30 something degrees in pitch..with several spots over 40 degrees..Whiteface is pretty steep near the top..not some of the most challenging skiing in North America though..

 

[kingslug]

I think you have degrees and percentage pitch screwed up. Most of Jackson Hole is 30 something degrees in pitch..with several spots over 40 degrees..Whiteface is pretty steep near the top..not some of the most challenging skiing in North America though..

When the wind is howling at 40 to 50 mph and everything is nice and shiny, it's pretty challenging. I watched my friend get blown right off the exit ramp of one of the chairlifts, right into the safety net. And I took a pretty hairy slide for life down an intermediate run that looked like a curling field. All it needed was some people with brooms to help clear the way for me. Can't wait to hit it again this year, hopefully with better conditions. Really liked the place, BIG vert.

 

[daboystipsheet]

Thanks for the info -- I was simply trying to make a comparison

to other Western ski hills. i.e Big Sky Montana. I skied Big Sky last year but they didn't have some of the steeps open due to low snow. I am interested in seeing if the trails at Whiteface which I ski weekly has anything that apporoaches what I saw out west.:flame:

 

[tomski]

Steep enough to host World Cup/Olympic Downhills. Nough said.

 

[Warp Daddy]

steep----------------------------its the real deal

 

[screamingcheetah]

Proof of pitch

My 6th time out on a board was last year and at Whiteface during the biggest blizzard of the season. Fat heavy flakes and deep dense snow. Full mask, goggles, and chapstick were a necessity just riding the chair to the peak. The top of Skyward looked like a frozen waterfall. I tumbled and slid head first on my back for quite some distance until I got the board underneath me again. Chipped the tail on my board too. The second time I nailed it and now I'm jonesing to go again. It's definitely steep and very very cold at the peak.

 

[tjf67]

to other Western ski hills. i.e Big Sky Montana. I skied Big Sky last year but they didn't have some of the steeps open due to low snow. I am interested in seeing if the trails at Whiteface which I ski weekly has anything that apporoaches what I saw out west.:flame:

Big Sky is steeper and has longer sustained vertical. There are only 8 hills with longer sustained vert and Big Ski is one of them.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Big Sky is steeper and has longer sustained vertical. There are only 8 hills with longer sustained vert and Big Ski is one of them.

Is Jackson Hole one of them? Is Stowe one of them?

 

[ajl50]

Stowe?
Please

the list is something like this

5,133 feet Blackcomb - Whistler, B.C., CAN

4,180 feet Big Sky - Big Sky, Montana

4,139 feet Jackson Hole/Teton Village - Teton Village, Wyoming

4,131 feet
Kicking Horse - Golden, British Columbia, CAN

3,400 Beaver Creek - Avon, Colorado


3,635 feet Aspen Highlands - Aspen Highlands, Colo

3,580 feet Timberline on Mt. Hood - Government Camp, Oregon



3,514 feet Sunshine - Banff, CAN

3,484 feet Steamboat - Steamboat Springs, Colorado


3,365 feet Mt. Bachelor - Bend, Oregon

3,330 feet Vail - Vail, Colorado

3,267 feet Ajax - Aspen, Colorado (hike to also)

3,250 feet-lake Louise - Banff, CAN

3,250 Telluride - Telluride Colorado

3,241 feet Breckenridge - Breckenridge, Colorado

3,240 feet Snowbird (dubious as they are measuring from hike to summits

 

[ajl50]

And to be honest many of those aren't verts above aren't skiable in one long ass run.
Only a few are actually cont. vertical feet that you can ski.

Whiteface has no real landings or flat parts for the entire 3200 feet of vert.

 

[ts01]

Unfortunately Whiteface isn't mapped yet but this site -- http://3dskimaps.com/ -- answers a lot of "how steep is XYZ?" questions. Worth 1000 words.