Whiteface condition anyone?

[gladerider]

I am heading up to Whiteface tonight for the weekend. Wondering what kind of condition I should expect.....
I thought middle of January would be a safe bet, but it looks like they had only 3" so far this year. I am also taking my kids. I hope there are some decent trails to ride on.

would appreciate any replies

 

[ALLSKIING]

I was at Killington a few day ago and it was getting better. I would bet on some ice and packed powder. I would think it would be ok to go..Have fun

 

[SAB]

Conditions should be OK - not great but acceptable. Most of the mountain is open with the exception of the expert runs off the summit. That makes for a reasonable amount of terrain.

It will get icy in the afternoons, so an early start would be best. Also, it's going to be COLD, so everyone will probably be riding the Gondola - making the trails off the Gondola crowded. Of course, with the cold, maybe it won't end up being all that crowded after all.

Have fun.
SAB

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Just got back from WF. It was cold, but the mountain is in good shape. They are blowing alot of snow. They started making snow on Skyward today, might be open by Sunday if they can stay with it around the clock. Hit Essex Sat. morning. It was the trail pick of the day today.

 

[BickMaster]

Whiteface?

I would avoid it absolutely.
Been there Thursday.
No natural snow. The bushes look like late late spring after a 4 inches snowfall.
Ice and hard pack everywhere but in Essex. One trail from the top only. All upper mountain expert closed.
Little Whiteface is opened and artificial snow keep it alive but very hard.
If there were no snowmaking, the mountain would be closed period.
If you go, bring your SG skis and get them SHARP.

I would choose Stowe instead.

Hope my advice will get to you on time.


*< :O(

 

[gladerider]

Thanks guys.

Just got back from WF last night.

Saturday was brutally cold. But, condition was better than I expected.

Sunday was great. It was cold, but the sun was out and made a lot of difference.

The top was open saturday, but was not worth it. It was actually closed on sunday.

It was my first time at Whiteface and I am impressed with the mountain.

I am definitely going back...

One guy who works there told me that they are expecting to open 100% by next weekend. They were making a lot of snow.

Got back home last night. I found my house dumped in 15" of snow.
How nice....

 

[SAB]

I was there yesterday, too, and it was surprisingly good. We were racing elsewhere on Saturday, and I heard the weather at Whiteface was fairly brutal. Sunday I thought was great. Lower Cloudspin in particular was beautifull - nice, cold, 'plastic' snow that was great for edging - and hardly any people! Don't know why the usual crowd wasn't cutting over from Excelsior, but they weren't and you usually had the hill to yourself! NASTAR course was also in great shape, if gates are your interest.

Glad you liked it and will be back. The upper mountain is great in the right conditions.

SAB

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

SAB, are you a NYSEF coach or racer at Whiteface?

 

[SAB]

No, not affiliated with NYSEF. I help out with the ski team at Beartown, a small hill near Plattsburgh. My son was on the team for 3 years and my daughter is in her third year on the team. The team has mainly 5 to 11 year olds, after which the kids move on to bigger hills. Alot of our alumnae are in the NYSEF program at Whiteface, and some go to the Titus Mt. team.

We had a race Saturday, so I had to help set up the course, and my kids and I all raced. I can say I won the adult Telemark division, but that's pretty pathetic because I was the only one. Or, I can say I was last place in the over 18 men division, and that is probably more accurate!

At any rate, skiing at this small hill alot for the past 4 years, it has been fun to play around with running gates. Running gates has certainly made me a much better skier. Now, once in a while at Whiteface, we run the NASTAR course for the fun of it.

Look for me on the hill - I'm pretty sure I'm the only one wearing a Beartown Jacket. I know you're a WF regular - where do you hail from?

SAB

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

SAB - I sent you a personal message. I sometimes have trouble getting and receiving them (probably my fault). Let me know if you don't get it.

 

[BickMaster]

Conditions...

Whiteface is great, steep and impressive. This year have not been their best yet.
The slides are outstanding but If you love cruising on hard stuff, I understand that you have been fulfilled.

I prefer glades and powder and this is what your name sugested.

Hope I haven't been misleading.

*< ;O)

 

[gladerider]

Re: Conditions...

Whiteface is great, steep and impressive. This year have not been their best yet.
The slides are outstanding but If you love cruising on hard stuff, I understand that you have been fulfilled.

I prefer glades and powder and this is what your name sugested.

Hope I haven't been misleading.

*< ;O)

I love glades. None were open at WF though. I must go back when they are open. Cruising is fun, but gets me bored quick. I've been deprived this year. So, with or without the glades, I had fun..

I have two girls 6.5 and 8 and they liked the mountain also, so we are definitely going back.

Where are the good glades? I know Jay is great....

 

[SAB]

Jay and Mad River have some of the best glades around. Whiteface has glades once they have enough snow to get them open - but they just don't compare to the other two.
SAB

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Gore doesn't get the credit they deserve for there glades. When they get snow and everything is open they have alot to offer.

 

[takeahike46er]

Gore doesn't get the credit they deserve for there glades..

I certainly would agree. The burnt ridge area has some of the best terrain in the northeast. High pines and double barrel are amazing as well.

WF could use a few more marked glades. An expansion of the snowfields area could be a start.