Lake Placid – There are very few mountains in the country that can boast its position as an Olympic host. Even further, in the eastern United States there is just one – Whiteface Mountain.
If the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee endorse you to host Olympic ski racing, they have great respect for your terrain and ability to provide great snow conditions. That’s what occurred in 1980 and continues to this day here in the Adirondacks.
Whiteface Mountain, just 10 miles from the Mirror Lake Inn, opened 66 years ago this month and is the centerpiece of any Lake Placid vacation.
Just 22 years after greeting skiers for the first time, the venue welcomed the world. Men’s and women’s downhill, giant slalom and slalom events were held in February 1980. Since then, Whiteface Mountain has opened its arms to the snowboard community, and along the way, has hosted a myriad of international ski and ride events as well as local and regional races.
It’s that pedigree that lures today’s skiers and boarders to the site in Upstate New York. Ticket holders love to tackle those trails and then go home wearing their badge of honor for all to hear!
Ride the Summit Chair that takes you to the start of the men’s downhill course. From there, if you’re up to it, you can ski or ride almost every meter of that Olympic track. Just wait until you get to the Niagara section!
Elsewhere on the mountain, take the Little Whiteface double chair. As you climb to the top of Little Whiteface Mountain, notice the start house used for the 1980 slalom and giant slalom competitions. The steepness at the start on Upper Parkway/Thruway and Mountain Run might give you pause to reconsider. If so, stay on that double chair to its conclusion where the intermediate cruiser, Excelsior, may be more to your liking.
So much for the competitive angle. Over the years, this Lake Placid ski resort has developed trails for all abilities. We start with the separate, yet connected Bear Den Lodge, formerly Kids Kampus. A recent, massive expansion offers plenty of leg and elbow room, two dining areas, the best learn-to-ski/ride terrain imaginable, a snowsports school that’s just itching to take your ability to the next level or introduce you to these great sports, a moving carpet to bring newbies safely uphill, and a lift and trail system that connects you easily to the main mountain.
The best thing about Bear Den: it’s toned down and laid back. Everyone is of the same ability level – just trying to learn a new activity or make improvements. In addition, the Bear Den parking lot is right next to the lodge and lift.
The evolution of Whiteface Mountain NY, actually in the hamlet of Wilmington, has seen the development of trails from summit to base that bypasses the steeps. Imagine skiing or riding over 3,100 vertical feet, the most in the east, and never stepping boot on a black diamond run – unless you want to. That’s the beauty of this state-owned ski and ride center – most of the trails are rated as either green or blue (novice or intermediate) but the blacks are never far away.
In addition to the trail network, much time, money and attention has been put on snowmaking and grooming over the years with more access to water and environmentally efficient snow guns. And lift upgrades have been noticeable as well. It all started with the Whiteface Mountain gondola – the Cloudsplitter – an eight-passenger burst up Little Whiteface Mountain from the base, protecting guests from the cold. A new fleet of cabins was installed two years ago.
The Facelift, a high-speed quad chair that carries you halfway to the summit, also comes from the base of Whiteface and is a beautiful ride on a sunny day. Most recently, Whiteface added The Notch in December. This is another high-speed quad transporting riders from Bear Den Lodge to Legacy Lodge, a trip that’s about one-third of the way to the tip top. Again, this chair serves green and blue rated runs. From there, you can ski to the left for Bear Den or turn right and slide over to the main mountain.
The Mirror Lake Inn has its own special connection to Whiteface. Ed and Lisa Weibrecht, owners of the Lake Placid resort, literally raised three ski racing boys on these trails. One of them, Andrew Weibrecht, competed for 16 years with the U.S. Ski Team, highlighted by Olympic silver and bronze medals in the Super G. His medals greet guests at the Inn’s front desk.
Andrew and brother Ethan, a former college ski racer and competitor on the World Freeride Tour, run the Mirror Lake Inn Ski Shop. No need to schlep gear from home – just connect with them in advance via email: skirentals@mirrorlakeinn.com. They’ll hook you up with top-of-the-line gear from Blizzard and Head.
Over the years, Whiteface Mountain has been critically acclaimed. Recently, MSN called our favorite mountain one of the Five Gems in the country. In addition, skimag.com likes the mountain’s authenticity.
Enjoy the reads and then plan a visit to see what the hubbub is all about.