SKIING THE WHITEFACE MOUNTAIN TOLL ROAD IN MID-OCTOBER
Today, October 14th, is the earliest I’ve ever skied. There was measurable high elevation snow in the Adirondacks today so I took that opportunity to hike up the Whiteface Mountain toll road and ski down it. The road was actually supposed to be open to vehicle traffic today, for its last day of the season, but the snow caused it to close, which was perfect for those looking to SKI.
I’ve been ready to ski since I took my last turns in May, but when I woke up this morning I didn’t know if I was going to ski or not. There was a lot of mental back and forth. What if there’s no snow? What if there's too little snow? I wrestled with a lot of questions, but eventually decided to do the smart thing and go anyway. Plus, it made the decision easier when I saw snow accumulating at mid-mountain on Whiteface Ski Area’s webcam late in the morning!
So how was Day 1 of my ski season? It was great! The Whiteface toll road is about 5 miles in length and goes up to just under the summit at 4,600 ft. elevation. I made it to the Lake Placid Turn, which is at 4,100 ft., and then decided I was ready to ski. It was about a 4-mile walk up to that point and around 1,900 ft. of elevation gain. I don't own an AT setup or XC gear, so I bootpacked it. The setup worked fine, but if I’m going to do this more frequently in the future, it’s clear that maybe next summer I should invest in a proper setup. For now, though, this works and I’d do it again.
Unsurprisingly, the snow got deeper as the elevation increased
The Lake Placid Turn
Let’s talk conditions. Heavy snow fell most of the hike and temperatures ranged from the mid-20s to the low 30s, based on elevation. The road was skiable from top to bottom and coverage on the road became better as you gained elevation. There was quite a lot of snow above 2,500 ft. and I’d say there was 8–10 inches of snow around 4,000 ft. Surprisingly, the snow up high was very sticky. When I began my descent, I really struggled with the snow and had to use my poles to get any momentum going. Even then, it was still a challenge. As I began to lose elevation, the snow became more friendly and I no longer needed to use the poles. I could even make turns!
So there you have it. Day 1 of my ski season. I can’t believe I skied on October 14! Prior to this, the earliest I’d skied was on Nov. 2, last ski season. It’s also noteworthy that today was my first time seeing snow this fall. Overall, it was a great afternoon. I’m looking forward to MANY more days on the mountain this winter.