Whiteface Mountain
By Jennifer Wessner
Whiteface Mountain is located in the Adirondack Mountains, nine miles from Lake Placid, N.Y. Host of the 1932 Olympic cross country ski events and the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, it has retained its large Olympic Complex and ski facilities. Whiteface also boasts the distinction of having the largest vertical drop (3,430 feet) in the Eastern United States.
With over 300 skiable acres, 80 runs and an elevation of 4,650 feet, Whiteface offers a first-class ski experience. The mountain has a good mixture of trails with 37 percent advanced, 43 percent intermediate and 20 percent beginner. The longest trail, Excelsior, is a three-and-a-half mile intermediate run. The Slides are billed as the only true double-black diamond area in the East and provide 35 acres of backcountry to explore. Eleven ski lifts, including a high-speed eight-passenger gondola, connect skiers and riders to the slopes.
Whiteface Mountain has non-traditional skiing experiences for the adrenaline junkie. The NASTAR race course at Whiteface is ranked 10th nationally and No. 1 in the East. Visitors of all ages and abilities are allowed access to the course for a minimal fee. The mountain has five terrain parks, including a kid’s park on the Bronze run. The main terrain park is 79 Railpark. The site of the 2007 World Cup Snowboard Competition, it has multiple lines, its own sound system, and a 450-foot, Zaugg-cut superpipe. The park also has its own rail line.
Families can take advantage of Whiteface’s many children’s programs. Kids Kampus Lodge at Easy Acres is a self-contained area featuring a rental shop, ski school, restaurant, nursery, triple chair and beginner terrain. The Play-n-Ski program (ages four to six) and Junior Adventure (ages seven to 12) are available every day. Whiteface Teen Experience is available during weekends and holidays.
A big draw at Whiteface is the 1980 Olympic Sports Complex. Visitors can take a ride on a bobsled with a professional driver and brakeman. The complex has 31 miles of trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. It has two skating rinks, including an outdoor speed-skating oval and a biathlon range.
This past season, Whiteface introduced Lookout Mountain, an area of the mountain that has not been in use since a previous resort closed in the 1950s. Whiteface redeveloped this land and added four runs and approximately four miles to its existing resort. The new runs are in the intermediate to expert range.
Visitors to Whiteface can find accommodations in Wilmington or Lake Placid. Wilmington has several family lodges, inns and motels to choose from. Lake Placid, a main hub for the area, has a bustling Main Street with many shops, restaurants, hotels and condos. Whiteface Lodge is an AAA Four-Diamond luxury resort in Lake Placid. The resort has a 94-suite hotel, spa, restaurant, movie theater and Canoe Club.
Contact: 518-946-2223, whiteface.com
