SKIING FAST AND FIRM CONDITIONS AT WHITEFACE
Victoria
When I woke up this morning I was on the fence about going skiing, but in the early afternoon I decided I’d head out to Whiteface and see how it was. Yesterday was a very mild day. Overnight, temperatures plunged well below freezing and while they did rebound some during the day today, only the lower mountain managed to get above freezing. All of this to say, it was a fast and firm day at Whiteface, but you could find some mashed potatoes down low on the mountain.
Excelsior
Ropes up on Upper Skyward
Thanks to the firm conditions, a lot of terrain was closed, including Approach and the terrain accessed off it, Skyward, Niagara, Lower Skyward and Hoyt’s High. Off the summit, Paron’s Run and The Follies were both open and they continue to get thinner and narrower in spots as the days pass. We’ve got a cold period of weather settling in over the next few days, so they’ll likely be open for a little while, but it’s hard to imagine these trails making it much longer in their current state. The Wilmington Trail and Hoyt’s High are also in a similar state. Surprisingly, down low on the mountain, coverage is still pretty good everywhere except in maybe a spot or two.
Looking down Paron’s Run
Looking up at the top of Paron’s Run
While terrain was somewhat limited, there was still enough open to keep me entertained this afternoon and the conditions also kept it interesting. As I said, it was a pretty fast and firm day, but there was some variety to that fast and firmness. While some areas you could hold an edge and get some carving in, others were literal sheets of ice or even thunder, plus we can’t forget that mashed potatoes down low. Needless to say, you could find it all today.
Looking down Paron’s Run
Today was Day 68 on the season for me. While there’s still a lot of ski season left, things are starting to wind down and I think I’ll probably finish the season with 85-90 ski days. That’s pretty good for missing so much time due to injury! It’s possible I may finish with more, seeing as I have passes to places that are open until May, but I think 85-90 is a safe bet for now.
Never Quit Skiing,
Lincoln