Whiteface Conditions

[snoloco]

Whiteface seemed to uniquely struggle when Pratt was CEO. I'm not sure why, but I definitely noticed, and it was extremely frustrating. It wasn't all bad though. In 2022 they started opening the summit on opening day. This resolved what in my opinion were two major issues. One, the gondola used to be the only upper lift until almost Christmas, as they did not run the LWF chair consistently, even once Approach was open. This resulted in very long lift lines on days that weren't actually all that crowded. Two, there was no way to just lap the upper mountain for when conditions were better up there, as is often the case early season.

I would agree that this year they have performed very well. The only thing I still want before I can say they were perfect is making snow on Hoyt's. If not this week, we'd better be seeing it soon.

 

[Deez]

I would agree that this year they have performed very well. The only thing I still want before I can say they were perfect is making snow on Hoyt's. If not this week, we'd better be seeing it soon.

My son skied this weekend and over heard a Whiteface manager say they are blowing snow on Hoyts High or are getting ready to.....take that rumor for what its worth.

 

[capecodbeach]

I have been watching the webcams at Gore and Whiteface. Note to self... There will be NO crowds on the final day of a 3 day holiday. Sorry I stayed home. Oh well, lesson learned. Either people are on their way home or they are home watching the Inauguration. Next year I ski !

 

[Kleetus]

I have been watching the webcams at Gore and Whiteface. Note to self... There will be NO crowds on the final day of a 3 day holiday. Sorry I stayed home. Oh well, lesson learned. Either people are on their way home or they are home watching the Inauguration. Next year I ski !

No crowds because of the cold. That was the driver of people not going. Sure MLK Monday is normally the least busy of the holiday weekend but normally gets a decent crowd. At the bar in SLK last night I can't tell you how many people I heard saying they were just heading home Monday because they didn't want to brave the cold.

 

[Kleetus]

It was a stellar private mountain rental at Whiteface today to close out the weekend. I kid of course but it was a ghost town. Though cold it was manageable with the sun. Everything groomed skied incredible, even better than yesterday. Like skiing groomers out west with no ice anywhere. Was skiing corduroy up until I left just after 1 to head back to SYR. That doesn't happen often.

Everything was great except Skyward which had a wind crust that was funky to ski and break through. ROTDs were Paron's, Mountain Run, Excelsior/Victoria, newly opened Essex with the whales, and Wilmington. Great couple days and may be back this weekend given Gore's state of affairs.

 

[capecodbeach]

No crowds because of the cold. That was the driver of people not going. Sure MLK Monday is normally the least busy of the holiday weekend but normally gets a decent crowd. At the bar in SLK last night I can't tell you how many people I heard saying they were just heading home Monday because they didn't want to brave the cold.

Can not disagree about the cold that was being forecast as a factor. As a retiree of many years I can pick and choose when to ski. Last Friday I chose Gore and was disappointed. This week I am off the mountain until probably Thursday. And my mountain selection for this week will be Whiteface.

 

[capecodbeach]

Skied WF on Thursday with my daughter and grandson. They of course skied more of the mountain than I did, BUT WF was clearly a great decision. Next week will probably be a return to Gore for me... yet WF will be tempting. The extra 50 miles each way being the only downside. That, and the speed traps in Keene and Upper Jay. I had been warned on Facebook so I escaped ticket free. A number of out of staters probably did not. IT was COLD until the sun finally fought its way through at noon! Zero crowds, zero lines. Great snow. The previously posted tips re: using Notch to get to trails off main lodge lifts proved very helpful. Again especially for my daughter and grandson. She lived and skied in Oregon for many years and is raising our grandson to be fearless. We differ....
Is there some event in WF's future over at Bear Den? I was surprised to see the HUGE snow whales along the side of the Moose trail. I wondered if there was going to be an additional terrain park (like Flying Squirrel) being added along the side there? Makes no sense but the whales were enormous. They were still blowing snow under the Notch trail. So much so that the clear plexi magic carpet tube was now a buried tunnel.
I realize sentiment will differ but I again was impressed by the foreign workers in the Bear Den. Pleasant and attentive. In discusion it was suggested they might have come as a "package deal" with the vendor business that runs the consessions? Any truth to that? I would not want to see locals being shut out???

 

[Ripitz]

I was surprised to see the HUGE snow whales

What about the flying saucers?

 

[tirolski]

What about the flying saucers?

View attachment 27318

View attachment 27317

Good eyes, Mr Rip, nice catch.
Me thinks WF may be invaded by lodge lights reflections.

 

[Kleetus]

Good eyes, Mr Rip, nice catch.
Me thinks WF may be invaded by lodge lights reflections.

These are called lenticular clouds. They are formed by air condensing as it's blown over a ridge at intense speed.

If you're flying an airplane, you avoid at all costs. They indicate areas of extreme turbulence.

One of the many things I've learned about weather from years of flying and my college Meteorology class.