Whether or not it’s the historical past, the terrain or the environment, snowboarding at Whiteface Mountain is a one-of-a-kind expertise. In contrast to most East Coast ski areas, Whiteface feels way more like a big resort within the Rockies, with large vertical drop, lengthy runs, some severe hike-to big-mountain terrain and views that make you are feeling such as you’re on an actual mountain.On the identical time, snowboarding right here feels about as classically East Coast because it will get, with a great deal of slim, steep trails reduce by dense timber, loads of chairlifts with a lot of “character,” and a really, let’s say, “Adirondack” snowpack. Having grown up snowboarding right here, I imply that in probably the most loving manner doable.Need to sustain with the very best tales and pictures in snowboarding? Subscribe to the brand new Powder To The Folks e-newsletter for weekly updates.
Whiteface Mountain Stats
Location: Adirondacks, New YorkAcreage: 334 skiable acresVertical Drop: 3,430 feetNumber of Trails: 94Terrain Breakdown: 30% Skilled, 46% Intermediate, 24% BeginnerMost Troublesome Terrain: The SlidesAverage Annual Snowfall: 181.2”
Snowboarding at Whiteface
Snowboarding within the space started in earnest when close by Lake Placid gained the bid to host the third-ever winter Olympic Video games in 1932. Whereas alpine ski racing was not an occasion at these video games, ski leaping and Nordic snowboarding introduced skiers to the world from all internationally. Following these video games, the Veterans Memorial Freeway (a steep mountain street) was constructed up the again of Whiteface Mountain to a small viewpoint construction on the summit. Within the winter, it rapidly turned a preferred ski path for these prepared to earn their turns. At this time, it’s nonetheless a preferred backcountry run for locals.The fashionable ski space opened in 1958 and remains to be owned by the state of New York. Because the mountain slowly grew, it once more drew the eye of the Worldwide Olympic Committee and was chosen because the host website for the 1980 Winter Video games (Miracle on Ice, anybody?) and its alpine snowboarding occasions. Since then, Whiteface has develop into a haven for ski racers, internet hosting quite a few World Cups and U.S. Nationwide races, and it’s house to the NY Ski Academic Basis (NYSEF). It’s one of many few mountains with a vertical drop and steep sufficient terrain to construct a correct Tremendous G and Downhill course.
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Photograph: Jacob Sporn
Just a few highlights for guests are undoubtedly snowboarding off the Summit Chair, the place you’ll be able to drop left off Riva Ridge and select between Skyward and Cloudspin (superior terrain) or go for a mellow intermediate cruiser run down The Follies or Paron’s Run. Skyward and Cloudspin had been the drop-ins for the Eighties downhill and Tremendous G programs–think about racing down these on straight skis from the ’80s. One other favourite zone is taking a experience up the Lookout Mountain chair and ripping down the two.5-mile-long blue-rated Wilmington Path again to the bottom. Love bump snowboarding? Tackle the Eighties Olympic mogul course proper above the Legacy Lodge mid-station. Lastly, there’s loads to maintain professional skiers entertained within the timber, with a boatload of named glades crammed with cliffs, tight tree alleys and different character-building obstacles. Fancy a brief hike to a number of the wildest terrain on the East Coast? Don’t miss out on the expert-only Slides, a collection of above-treeline gullies that supply a snowboarding expertise not like some other.
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What To Do within the Space
Because of the wealthy historical past of the Adirondacks and the Lake Placid area, there’s loads to maintain you entertained after snowboarding or on down days. If you happen to’re on the lookout for an exercise-filled day however wish to use some totally different muscular tissues, head to the Mt. Van Hoevenberg (MVH) Olympic Sports activities Complicated, house to over 30 miles of groomed Nordic tracks, an Olympic bobsled monitor, and an Olympic Coaching Heart for nordic, bobsled, luge, and skeleton athletes. Down the street from MVH, the Olympic ski leaping complicated rises out of the hillside. This one’s price a go to, if only for the views alone. Lastly, there’s the Olympic Ice Heart on the town, with public skating rinks, enviornment occasions, and the Olympic Historical past Museum.
Summer season at Whiteface Mountain
Whereas Whiteface Mountain is finest recognized for its snowboarding, there’s loads to do on the hill and within the surrounding space within the hotter months. Whereas there’s presently no lift-access downhill mountain biking on the mountain, Whiteface is presently revamping a big bike park and, in October 2025, will host a UCI World Cup downhill cease. Mt. Van Hoevenberg is house to a great deal of world-class cross-country trails, plus dozens of space trailheads supply miles of backcountry driving. Different on-mountain actions embrace disc golf, gondola rides, and mountaineering trails.Drive up the Veterans Memorial Freeway on the bottom of the mountain to absorb the epic views of the encircling Adirondack Park. The mountains and lakes round Whiteface are additionally house to lots of of miles of mountaineering trails, swimming, boating, rock scrambles and technical mountain climbing. Lastly, do not skip out on fall foliage within the Adirondack Park; this is without doubt one of the finest locations on the earth to see the leaves change shade in September and October.
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When To Go
Climate on the East Coast might be fickle, however one factor is for certain: It’s going to be extraordinarily chilly at Whiteface a lot of the winter. These freezing temps do have an upside, and that’s the incontrovertible fact that snow sticks round so much longer right here than in most locations. My favourite time to ski right here is mid-February into March, when there’s sufficient snow on the bottom to open to the entire mountain, the times begin to develop into a bit longer, and the temps begin to heat up only a hair.
The place To Keep
As a New York State-owned ski space, Whiteface Mountain does not supply on-mountain lodging. As a substitute, discover a place to remain within the bustling mountain city of Lake Placid, only a brief drive away. Lake Placid affords every little thing you would possibly want for a ski trip, with every little thing from funds digs to internationally acclaimed resort lodges, trip rental houses, all with an genuine Adirondack aptitude. Different nice choices embrace the small city of Wilmington (technically nearer to the mountain) or Saranac Lake.
How To Get Right here and Get Round
Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain are situated about 5 hours north of New York Metropolis and Boston and about two hours south of Montreal, Canada. The closest main airport is both Burlington, Vermont, or Albany, New York, each about 90 minutes away. There’s a shuttle bus service between Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain, plus native bus service to the Olympic websites.
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Photograph: Max Ritter
The place To Eat
Lake Placid is house to some nice meals, starting from high-end delicacies at quite a lot of eateries alongside Foremost Avenue, like Generations Faucet & Grill, to cozy spots like The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn or scrumptious pub meals and nice native beer on the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery. Breakfast might be had at any variety of espresso outlets and native favorites like Saranac Sourdough and the Downtown Diner.
What To Deliver
The number of terrain discovered at Whiteface means you will get away with nearly any kind of all-mountain skis you would possibly wish to experience. I’d suggest one thing within the 100-underfoot vary to assist get you on edge in agency situations however nonetheless present some float for ungroomed terrain and off-piste driving.Way more importantly than stressing over what skis to carry, I’d suggest occupied with your layering. Put on an additional layer or two in comparison with what you is likely to be used to. It will get chilly right here, with biting winds and really arctic temperatures on the higher mountain. Pack an additional buff (or two), put on your heat gloves or mittens, and contemplate investing in boot heaters.
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