New lift, trail work proposed for Whiteface Mountain

[urungus]

Stolen from unofficialnetworks

New lift, trail work proposed for Whiteface Mountain

State officials have big plans for improvements to Whiteface Mountain, but a tree-cutting decision could cause hiccups.

www.adirondackexplorer.org

“The plan includes widening the Upper Thruway Trail, Upper Parkway Trail, Lower Thruway Trail and Burton’s Trail. The new lift, the amendment states, will help transition beginner skiers and snowboarders from the Bear Den Area to the more intermediate trails. All of these are listed under the amendment’s highest priorities. The trail widening, Pratt also explained, is to accommodate the growing number of athletic events and to meet international ski standards.“

Unfortunate, I like narrow trails

 

[ThatGuy]

Too bad they can’t get more trails/the slides open regularly.

 

[PAabe]

smh trails always getting more and more obese

 

[deadheadskier]

smh trails always getting more and more obese

Which is especially problematic at Eastern ski areas known for wind scouring. Not wise for places like Whiteface, Sugarloaf, Cannon etc to cut ultra wide trails.

I have not skied Whiteface, but have skied Sugarloaf and Cannon a bunch. I love them both, but every time I'm there I think about how much better it would be in terms of terrain character and snow conditions had they not gotten so chainsaw happy.

 

[Newpylong]

Good to at least have Killington allowing some of the scars to grow back in.

 

[urungus]

Too bad they can’t get more trails/the slides open regularly.

How many days per year on average are the slides open ? Wish there was a way to get an “open” alert for usually closed trails like the Slides, DJs Tramline, Robins Run at Smugglers, etc

 

[ThatGuy]

How many days per year on average are the slides open ? Wish there was a way to get an “open” alert for usually closed trails like the Slides, DJs Tramline, Robins Run at Smugglers, etc

Probably lucky if they’re open on two separate occasions a year. I check if they’re open every once in a while during the winter and its very rare. Here’s some good info about them, https://nyskiblog.com/whiteface-slides/

 

[tumbler]

It's not always the chainsaws but the snowmaking that widens the trails...

 

[x10003q]

Whiteface also widens trails to keep currant with racing safety rules.

 

[Killingtime]

I have not skied Whiteface, but have skied Sugarloaf and Cannon a bunch.

If you hit it right and get good conditions its a pretty awesome place.

 

[ThatGuy]

If you hit it right and get good conditions its a pretty awesome place.

The vert alone makes it worth a trip if the conditions are good, just rare that they are.

 

[urungus]

Conditions were great on my one visit to Whiteface, however the Slides were still closed despite 60 inches of snow in the preceding week

 

[urungus]

 

[Smellytele]

Conditions were great on my one visit to Whiteface, however the Slides were still closed despite 60 inches of snow in the preceding week

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Too much snow keeps them closed as well.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Whiteface absolutely sucks for beginners, and I do not see the entirety of these changes making it any less sucky.

If New York State has money burning holes in its pockets that it needs to dump on Whiteface, it should go to:

1) Snowmaking on Lookout Mountain so that area is open more than 3 Wednesdays per season
2) Extra ski patrol, or whatever it is they need to open the Slides & end the "avalanche danger" farce as being the reason it's never open. Yes, avalanche can happen in there, but not during 95% of the time it's closed for that very reason.

 

[PAabe]

Gore could use some snowmaking help too imo particularly Hudson chair terrain is never open, and burnt ridge takes a while to get going. And they seem to be quick to close glades. Lots of $ dumped into lifts that don't run much

 

[Newpylong]

Lookout Mountain already has 100% snowmaking. The Ski Bowl at Gore has (near) 100% snowmaking. It is a question of priorities for both mountains. If they are so lo down the list (or not at all on the list like 46er and Hudson at Gore) then their pumping capacity all around is inadequate despite saying otherwise.

 

[Smellytele]

Whiteface absolutely sucks for beginners, and I do not see the entirety of these changes making it any less sucky.

If New York State has money burning holes in its pockets that it needs to dump on Whiteface, it should go to:

1) Snowmaking on Lookout Mountain so that area is open more than 3 Wednesdays per season
2) Extra ski patrol, or whatever it is they need to open the Slides & end the "avalanche danger" farce as being the reason it's never open. Yes, avalanche can happen in there, but not during 95% of the time it's closed for that very reason.

Don't beginners have their own little section? Bunny hutch lift area? Maybe the next level is a little lacking. even intermediates can ski all of the lower lift which is pretty flat. and the Wilmington trail is a nice long cruiser. that gets you to lookout (although not back to it). Even at the top skiers right has a lot of blues (victoria is a little steep for a blue)

 

[gladerider]

when they get dumped, whiteface is one of the best in the east

 

[gladerider]

Too much slow keeps them closed as well.

this. avalanche danger in the slides is real.