More than just another area to cross off The List, Whiteface is a “must do” for any serious northeast skier. Many sources designate Lake Placid as a premier northeast skiing destination. Ski Magazine ranked Whiteface number one in the eastern United States (and Whiteface won’t let you forget it). Two-time site of the Winter Olympics, Whiteface boasts the biggest vertical drop east of the Rockies and is host to the only on map slide skiing in the east. It looks great as marketing fluff. But how does Whiteface actually stack up?

Quite well, actually. Despite premonitions of disappointment, I tremendously enjoyed all that Whiteface has to offer. The mountain continually surprised me throughout the day. It is more than just a steep groomer paradise and is well billed as a premier destination in the northeast. The vertical drop is truly impressive even accounting for the long run out serviced by the aptly but unfortunately named “Face Lift”.

While top to bottom leg burners can be skied via the two quads, the best policy seems to be lapping the three fixed grip upper mountain lifts and reserving the detachables for moving out of the base area. During our visit, the Little Whiteface Double was off line. But with our attention was focused on the Slides, we primarily skied off the Summit Quad most of the day with occasional excursions on the Cloudsplitter.

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