 Clearly Whiteface near Lake Placid, New York is one of the defining mountains
of eastern skiing and riding.
With 3,166 vertical feet of lift-serviced terrain it's the biggest in the
east. And, if your legs are in shape, you can do all that vertical in one
continuous run, without having to waster time on any long traverses or flat run
outs. You can really find out how good you are on Whiteface.
Even with little natural snow, Whiteface is a big, burley mountain with lots
of variety in the trails, lots of super-steeps, and some gentle cruisers.
But when it dumps here, and all the glades and chutes are open, it's a
paradise for the hard-core. Think Stowe or Sugarloaf. That kind of paradise.
I happened to be at Whiteface during the Sweetheart Storm of Valentine's Day,
2007. No, that's all right, you don't have to feel sorry for me.
The day before the storm, they were blowing snow like crazy on the steepest
terrain on the upper mountain and both Skyward (steep!) and Paron's were in
superb condition.
As the blizzard was just getting wound up on Valentine's Day morning, the
slopes were already covered with 10 inches of fresh powder! Seriously wonderful
stuff.
I count that day as one of the best ski days in years. If there'd been enough
snow to open the glades, maybe one of the best ski days in a decade. Skiers and
riders live for days like this on mountains like this.
The next day, when there was enough snow to open everything, the wind kept
many lifts on hold. Mother Nature wins sometimes, at Whiteface and everywhere
else . . .
Of course there are far worse places to be snowbound that Lake Placid. You've
got excellent cross-country skiing at the Olympic facility, a museum, ice
skating rink, tobogganing, and, of course, a whole bunch of great places to stay
and to-die-for restaurants.
Life can be pretty darned good sometimes. | 
Resorts by State 
