Whiteface vs. Gore over Xmas and NYE?

[NYSnowflake]

Set your expectations low at either mountain. Both will have limited terrain. 1500 skiers will make lines long. Good chance of a thaw freeze cycle. More times then not the skiing it not fun

Well, last xmas at Sugarbush was bitterly cold and boilerplate conditions with minimal terrain open. I doubt it will be any worse than that! At least they should make a little snow at WF and Gore.

Actually I think one day last Christmas at Sugarbush the parking lot was an absolute skating rink and I was slipping and sliding around so much in the base area that we didn’t even attempt to ski. I pulled the plug that day. Another day there were wind chill and frostbite advisories so severe that I didn’t dare go out on a fear of being stuck on a lift.

 

[NYSnowflake]

Good thinking here. Most of the snow at Whiteface ends up in VT anyway. LOL

We are going to pick up a couple Vermont four packs as well. However, I don’t have lodging lined up there. We used to go to the SWC club up near Stowe but I hear Stowe is an absolute kerfuffle now with parking and crowds.

 

[NYSnowflake]

I absolutely acknowledge that Christmas week is not an ideal week to ski. However, I don’t have any family around here to celebrate the holidays with, and I don’t have kids. Sitting around on Christmas can get kind of dull if I don’t ski. In the line of work that I do I kind of have to take a bit of time off over the holidays because business really slows down. I guess I’d rather be outside taking a few runs in marginal conditions then sitting at home stuffing myself with holiday foods and being bored.

 

[tirolski]

I absolutely acknowledge that Christmas week is not an ideal week to ski. However, I don’t have any family around here to celebrate the holidays with, and I don’t have kids. Sitting around on Christmas can get kind of dull if I don’t ski. In the line of work that I do I kind of have to take a bit of time off over the holidays because business really slows down. I guess I’d rather be outside taking a few runs in marginal conditions then sitting at home stuffing myself with holiday foods and being bored.

There’s more touristy stuff to do in Lake Placid but North Creek area at Christmas time is nice if ya just wanna chillax.
And there’s a great chocolate shop.

 

[Ripitz]

If you’re at Iceface Whiteface, jam a couple quick laps in the morning, then hit up Cascade XC or the Jack Rabbit with a ham bone in the pack. If you’re at Gore maybe do a combo with Garnet Hill. I’ve heard something called “The Secret Ski” over there. Might be worth checking out.

 

[Tjf1967]

Well, last xmas at Sugarbush was bitterly cold and boilerplate conditions with minimal terrain open. I doubt it will be any worse than that! At least they should make a little snow at WF and Gore.



Actually I think one day last Christmas at Sugarbush the parking lot was an absolute skating rink and I was slipping and sliding around so much in the base area that we didn’t even attempt to ski. I pulled the plug that day. Another day there were wind chill and frostbite advisories so severe that I didn’t dare go out on a fear of being stuck on a lift.

It's not Gore or whiteface I was hammering. It's a family ski vacation at Christmas. If you know what you getting into and the family has fun have at it. Expect shit conditions and maybe you will get surprised.

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

I don't know your ability level, but one thing to keep in mind is that Gore tends to blow snow bottom -> up instead of top -> down. Unless we get some nice early season snow storms (don't count on it), Gore's early season terrain is usually mostly beginner runs. WF will have less terrain in total, but they usually have at least a one or two blacks off of little whiteface or mountain run open. Plus as others have mentioned LP is a great town to spend XMAS in.

Before I had kids I had the same mentality as you do, nothing else to do over XMAS so just go regardless. These days unless there's a last minute storm and I can find a room somewhere, I'd rather just do a few early season turns closer to home at Belle.

 

[Harvey]

Like most things (and people) the pros and cons are related.

Gore is very multifaceted, while Belle is much simpler with a single ridge line.

The pro for Belle is it takes a lot less snowmaking to open "black" terrain.

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

Like most things (and people) the pros and cons are related.

Gore is very multifaceted, while Belle is much simpler with a single ridge line.

The pro for Belle is it takes a lot less snowmaking to open "black" terrain.

Don't get me wrong, Gore is my favorite ORDA mountain when it's in full force, but to me it's not worth the dedicated trip and extra driving until the upper mountain gets open.

I also don't fully agree with the prevailing conventional wisdom that Gore is too complicated to get the upper mountain open early - especially now with the new Dark Side chair. The only connecting snowmaking it would require is Wood-In and Cloud, but the direction the last few years has been to get the entire lower mountain and North Woods areas open before really moving up top.

 

[lukoson]

Wish I could be skiing Gore tomorrow