reefer
Well-known member
Spent Sunday through Wednesday in Lake Placid. This is my annual trip this time of year with the ski widow, and pretty much the only one I plan weeks ahead. The key for her is a ritzy place to stay, good shopping, good food, and a spa. We were doing Stowe for a while, did Sugarloaf last year. Decided to give the mighty Whiteface a try this year for the first time, with my ski days being Monday and Tuesday while she gallivanted about town.
Stayed at the Golden Arrow. Had a fireplace and in-room Jacuzzi tub that was to die for.
Of course with this crazy spring I wasn’t going to be hitting it at the most opportune of times, with Lookout and the Slides out of the equation, and after the rain Sunday I was hoping they would even be open Monday.
Woke up Monday morning to an inch or so of snow. Took off for the hill about 9:00 after a coffee and bagels from Soulshine Bagel Shop across the street. Good stuff! Pulled in to see the hill was open. Maybe (5) people in the lodge. I think they topped out at (20) total on the hill. Only the Gondi was running. That works! Hopped on the as Steve-O would say, “the Bob Marley Express”. Well about halfway up the wind is just tossing this thing around. It keeps stopping, going stopping, rocking, going……totally freaking me out. One of the scariest rides of my ski life if you can believe it. Was surprised it was even running. Wind was whipping at the top of Little Whiteface, heard later on 50mph gusts. Skiing down was like skiing in a slurpy machine. Rooster tails everywhere. The inch of snow actually blended well with the slush to make skiing pretty enjoyable down Essex to Lower Northway. Hopped on that Gondi again without Bob Marley this time hoping that would help. Still freaked out! All I was thinking to myself it’s my own fault now if I die! (Maybe a little over the edge there but that’s what I was thinking). This time went down Upper Northway. Was getting used to the slush, this was actually pretty fun and was very physical and challenging. Was real close to skiing deep powder. Was sitting way back on those Recon’s.
Got to the Gondi again and decide to tell the liftie how it’s freakin’ me out. He promptly tells me that it’s the wind that keeps kicking it off, and they just keep cranking it up when they can….. are you kidding me? A more reasonable person would have headed right for the Lodge. Not me. Got on. That last run was great and I needed more - like an addict. Well it took a good three minutes before the door closed because it was shut down most of the time, then right after it closes the woman in the control room shouts across to the liftie how they can’t keep going like this. Now I’m really calling myself an idiot for getting on this again. Called Pam, freaked her out with my report, told her this was my last run because I couldn’t do it a fourth time, and I would do the Olympic tour with her……………she later said she started to pray I made it to the top because she knew I would make it down!
Went toward Approach and don’t know what run I ended up on. It was fun and I was kickin’ it! At the bottom the gondi was down. Whiteface closed. Started up some bunny hill lift, don’t know why. Gave us all $50.00 in Whiteface bucks!
Did the Olympic Tour Monday afternoon. It was great! Checked out the ski jump later on. Very impressive stuff! Had dinner at the Great Adirondack Steak House/Brewery – sweeeeeeet.
Tuesday, wake up to an inch or two of snow. Get to the hill for 9:00 today after another Soulshine Bagel. A few more peeps here today, but quite. Maybe topped off at (50) today.
No Gondi. Face Lift, Little Whiteface, and Summit Quad all turning….GREAT! Hit Little Whiteface first because the Summit was fogged-in with light snow drizzle. Did three runs off LW finding some nice heavy snow lines on skiers left and in all the bump troughs. Actually ducked in Cloudsplitter Glade. It was more survival than fun in there, but still interesting. The snow had just covered all the snow snakes up enough………
Did a couple off the Summit after that. Tough visibility but some great skiing on Cloudspin and Skyward. Hit the Lodge for some Lake Placid Brew Pub beer. Was having a great time on the hill, was hoping the clearing would continue. The clouds were lifting more every run. Went back up to the Summit for a couple more laps, then I could see Little Whiteface totally out of the clouds. Headed over there for some photo ops on the outlook, great view of Lake Placid. By 2:30 the Summit was poking out and it turned into spring skiing heaven. Could see for 200miles. Skied right until the closing bell. Came off the hill at 4:20.
Final impressions:
Amazing mountain. I would rank it right up there with anything in the East. Without Lookout Mountain I might not say that but that appears to be a great expansion to the area. Looking at the Slides – they are to die for. I will come back some spring just to lap them over and over. Lookout Below looks intense. Sort of Royal Flush-ish at Killington, a little steeper and narrower. Bottom line is I didn’t have those and still had a great time. Plenty of good overall pitch on the rest of the hill. I also appreciate there is no where to stay on the hill (condo’s etc….). You have to drive to get here. Sort of like what Stowe was…………..
The town of Lake Placid is beautiful. I would advise anyone to vacation here. The Olympic History just adds to the town’s flavor. Lake Placid Brew Pub was our favorite attraction though!
Route 73 rocks. Beautiful ride! Checked out the bobsled runs on out way out!
Overall a great experience! Some pics.
Stayed at the Golden Arrow. Had a fireplace and in-room Jacuzzi tub that was to die for.
Of course with this crazy spring I wasn’t going to be hitting it at the most opportune of times, with Lookout and the Slides out of the equation, and after the rain Sunday I was hoping they would even be open Monday.
Woke up Monday morning to an inch or so of snow. Took off for the hill about 9:00 after a coffee and bagels from Soulshine Bagel Shop across the street. Good stuff! Pulled in to see the hill was open. Maybe (5) people in the lodge. I think they topped out at (20) total on the hill. Only the Gondi was running. That works! Hopped on the as Steve-O would say, “the Bob Marley Express”. Well about halfway up the wind is just tossing this thing around. It keeps stopping, going stopping, rocking, going……totally freaking me out. One of the scariest rides of my ski life if you can believe it. Was surprised it was even running. Wind was whipping at the top of Little Whiteface, heard later on 50mph gusts. Skiing down was like skiing in a slurpy machine. Rooster tails everywhere. The inch of snow actually blended well with the slush to make skiing pretty enjoyable down Essex to Lower Northway. Hopped on that Gondi again without Bob Marley this time hoping that would help. Still freaked out! All I was thinking to myself it’s my own fault now if I die! (Maybe a little over the edge there but that’s what I was thinking). This time went down Upper Northway. Was getting used to the slush, this was actually pretty fun and was very physical and challenging. Was real close to skiing deep powder. Was sitting way back on those Recon’s.
Got to the Gondi again and decide to tell the liftie how it’s freakin’ me out. He promptly tells me that it’s the wind that keeps kicking it off, and they just keep cranking it up when they can….. are you kidding me? A more reasonable person would have headed right for the Lodge. Not me. Got on. That last run was great and I needed more - like an addict. Well it took a good three minutes before the door closed because it was shut down most of the time, then right after it closes the woman in the control room shouts across to the liftie how they can’t keep going like this. Now I’m really calling myself an idiot for getting on this again. Called Pam, freaked her out with my report, told her this was my last run because I couldn’t do it a fourth time, and I would do the Olympic tour with her……………she later said she started to pray I made it to the top because she knew I would make it down!
Went toward Approach and don’t know what run I ended up on. It was fun and I was kickin’ it! At the bottom the gondi was down. Whiteface closed. Started up some bunny hill lift, don’t know why. Gave us all $50.00 in Whiteface bucks!
Did the Olympic Tour Monday afternoon. It was great! Checked out the ski jump later on. Very impressive stuff! Had dinner at the Great Adirondack Steak House/Brewery – sweeeeeeet.
Tuesday, wake up to an inch or two of snow. Get to the hill for 9:00 today after another Soulshine Bagel. A few more peeps here today, but quite. Maybe topped off at (50) today.
No Gondi. Face Lift, Little Whiteface, and Summit Quad all turning….GREAT! Hit Little Whiteface first because the Summit was fogged-in with light snow drizzle. Did three runs off LW finding some nice heavy snow lines on skiers left and in all the bump troughs. Actually ducked in Cloudsplitter Glade. It was more survival than fun in there, but still interesting. The snow had just covered all the snow snakes up enough………
Did a couple off the Summit after that. Tough visibility but some great skiing on Cloudspin and Skyward. Hit the Lodge for some Lake Placid Brew Pub beer. Was having a great time on the hill, was hoping the clearing would continue. The clouds were lifting more every run. Went back up to the Summit for a couple more laps, then I could see Little Whiteface totally out of the clouds. Headed over there for some photo ops on the outlook, great view of Lake Placid. By 2:30 the Summit was poking out and it turned into spring skiing heaven. Could see for 200miles. Skied right until the closing bell. Came off the hill at 4:20.
Final impressions:
Amazing mountain. I would rank it right up there with anything in the East. Without Lookout Mountain I might not say that but that appears to be a great expansion to the area. Looking at the Slides – they are to die for. I will come back some spring just to lap them over and over. Lookout Below looks intense. Sort of Royal Flush-ish at Killington, a little steeper and narrower. Bottom line is I didn’t have those and still had a great time. Plenty of good overall pitch on the rest of the hill. I also appreciate there is no where to stay on the hill (condo’s etc….). You have to drive to get here. Sort of like what Stowe was…………..
The town of Lake Placid is beautiful. I would advise anyone to vacation here. The Olympic History just adds to the town’s flavor. Lake Placid Brew Pub was our favorite attraction though!
Route 73 rocks. Beautiful ride! Checked out the bobsled runs on out way out!
Overall a great experience! Some pics.
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