Whiteface/Lake Placid
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Whiteface is big. As in BIG. With a vertical drop of 3,350 feet in fact, Whiteface can claim top honors in the East for that category. The resort's vertical is, of course, a major reason why Whiteface is the only resort in the eastern United States to have hosted the Winter Olympics.
Skiers and snowboarders visiting Whiteface benefit from the resort's proximity to Lake Placid as a variety of non-skiing activities are possible. Always wanted to try your hand at the bobsled? This is the place to do it.
As for the mountain itself, 211 skiable acres are spread across that entire vertical. 97% of the resort is covered by snowmaking but The Slides - Whiteface's experts-only area - requires some help from Mother Nature.
Nearby Lake Placid (9 miles from the resort) serves as a great center for all the area's attractions. Ice-skating, shops, pubs, a toboggan chute, and more are all available in town and the lodging includes everything from four-star luxury to Bed and Breakfasts.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Lift Elevation | 1220 feet to 4650 feet |
| Vertical drop | 3350 |
| Total trails | 80 |
| Very Easy Trails | - |
| Intermediate Trails | - |
| Advanced Trails | - |
| Lifts | 11 |
| Surface lifts | 1 |
| Chair lifts | 10 |
| Car lifts | 1 |
| Fixed quads | 1 |
| Detachable quads | 1 |
| Long Run | 3.5 miles |
| Six seaters | 0 |
| Terrain | 20% beginner, 40% intermediate, 37% advanced |
| Total terrain | 282 acres including 35 acres in The Slides and 53.5 acres of tree skiing |
| Snow making percent | 98% excluding gladed terrain and The Slides |
| Additional Info | No night skiing. Icy and cold. Good groomers. |
| Model Name/Type | MPN | EAN/UPC |
|---|
User Reviews: Whiteface/Lake Placid
Most Recent User Reviews
Whiteface holds a sweet spot in my heart. When I was a student at Cornell my friends and I would make the drive up to Whiteface a few times a year. We would rent a bunkhouse in the area that was most definitely a youth hostel in 1980 (see 1980 Olympics vibe, both pro and con). It is great for a bunch of college kids, +/- 10 years. We kept the tradition alive post-college when we were all living in NYC.
Whiteface is a sizeable mountain for the East Coast. It has enough terrain to keep an advanced skier entertained for a day. Two days is pushing it. It is wonderful for beginning skiers and families. The lodge at the bottom of the mountain is 1980-fabulous and has a great DJ and live bands after the ski day. It is incredibly fun. Whiteface has updated lift equipment and a great high-speed gondola that takes you to the top of the mountain. It has good variation of terrain, with steep groomed, steep ungroomed, backwoods skiing, and easy stuff.
The town is also charming. I imagine it would be possible to stay in a nice inn there, and have a sweet ski weekend away with your significant other. That was not my experience in Whiteface, but I can see how it is possible.
Definitely a stellar option for those out East.
Having spent a fair amount of time in the Lake Placid area over the years as an employee on per diem, I would heartedly recommend Art Devlin's as a place to stay, (on the south side of town) friendly people. It is also convenientlly within walking distance of the Lake Placid brew pub (don't drink and drive!). They brew their own beer, and the food is good pub quality. If you happen to be there on a tuesday, they used to have a twofer deal after 7PM.
I would also recommend if you have the time , driving a half hour west to the town of Saranac Lake, for breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe, and a visit to the Adirondack interpretive center (@Paul Smiths). Saranac also has quite a few art galleries if that interests you and has more of the feel of an Adirondack town.
Although being very very icy and cold, Whiteface is huge with spectacular terrain and 3 peaks. 3100 vertical lift serviced and 3400 vertical including The Slides (extremely steep with natural hazards backcountry-type and above treeline run), with the best steep groomers in the area (the Olympic runs as well as tons of others), will make up for it. It also very close to Lake Placid.
A must-do for any skier or snowboarder if they can brace the cold and tear the ice.
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