Dec 14, 2024
I hit up Whiteface today for the first time this season, and wow, what a treat for so early in the season! While there was rain earlier in the week, fresh snow followed, and was groomed into the existing surface. There was really no sign that if ever had even rained.
The weather was perfect, which is not something you can usually say about Whiteface. Bluebird skies, cold but not too cold, dry, and very little wind. A few clouds rose up over nearby summits but never made it to the mountain.
No crowds to speak of. Lifts were ski on, minus the 1-2 min wait at the gondola.
Quite a bit of the mountain was open - main trails include Parons and Follies at the top, Excelsior, Essex and Northway from Little Whiteface, Broadway/Boreen/Lower Valley/Easy Street from the Face Lift, and most of the trails in the beginner area/off the Notch, and a few other trails here and there.
Conditions were packed powder, only a bit scratchy in the afternoon, chalky in a few spots. Lower Empire, John's Bypass, and the last curl of Folies were ungroomed with soft bumps.
I was sad to see that the Polish Korner restaurant in the Legacy Lodge was gone. They had good food the last time I was there.
Snowmaking was cranking on the expert runs on Little Whiteface as well as Lower Valley.
27000' of vertical, 25.5 miles of skiing, and 16 runs. Several times did the full 3150' from the summit.
View from the Observation Platform at top of Little Whiteface:
View of the summit from Little Whiteface:
Folies
Parons
Summit quad
Notch HSQ, just below midstation:
Snowmaking on Lower Valley
