tigerlilly - Jan 4, 2023 6:58 am Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2023
Icy, no wind
We thought we could ski up the toll road. As it turned out, above average temps melted the snow pack and we were greeted with ice. Walked up with micro spikes and carried skis. No wind at the summit. Beautiful hoar frost coated everything on the summit. Tried to ski down, but it was too icy for me. My son and husband were able to ski down little sections. Hiked down the rest of the way, carrying the skis. Oh well!
Parked at Wilmington Reservoir... you might be happier parking at the Atmospheric Science center (shaves off some miles). Went up the trail over Marble Mt. (used to be a ski center so the forest is recovering). Whiteface has no views till you hit the summit, then they are incredible. Bagged Esther on the way down, and vowed to never climb Esther again. :-D Esther's trail had foot deep mud out and back with no views, which is odd because it is practically drought conditions. I am now a 44'er!!! Brought the dog.
jake_the_snake - May 28, 2020 10:17 am Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2020
Whiteface Auto Road
Great day on Whiteface although snow conditions were subpar below ~2Kft
joseyinnet - Jul 18, 2019 7:17 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2019
Escape from the heat
Lovely, but hazy, views over Lake Placid and the Adirondack High Peaks
thelisa - Oct 8, 2018 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2018
Gorgeous Fall Day
Great views in all directions. Chilly morning in the low 30's F.
kaimana - Feb 19, 2018 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2018
kaimana
Awesome start to my hiking career. First of the 46! Preparing for Machu Picchu in 5 months.
technicolorNH - Aug 24, 2016 5:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2016
Didn't see a switchback all day
Although I am not a huge fan of drive up summits there was also a restaurant in easy reach a few hundred feet down from the summit observatory so I'm a fan. Plus there are bicyclists there and you know they paid burning muscles to get there just like we do. Four hours and four minutes from the Marble Mountain Lane TH but that also includes tagging Esther and spending ten minutes there. Well constructed trail but it does go up quite sharply right from the beginning.
It was one of the best climbs with a great view. Def to many tourists on top with packed lunches looking at me like I was crazy for climbing up the long way.
TheWolfIsLoose - Nov 2, 2015 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2015
Doesn't Really Count...
My girlfriend and I squeezed the summit in before our hike of Marcy, Gray, and Skylight. We drove to the parking lot and took the "tourist's route" to the summit.
lorothy12 - Jan 4, 2015 7:28 pm Date Climbed: Nov 8, 2014
pre-winter hike
a bit of snow made this feel almost like a winter hike, especially with high winds on the summit. great views from the top.
JRaphaelson - Nov 9, 2014 10:18 pm Date Climbed: Nov 8, 2014
Esther and Whiteface
Took my girlfriend as an intro to winter hiking right after the first snow. Great trail with great views despite the auto road.
Cisco1974 - Aug 12, 2014 3:19 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2014
#1 of 46
I took the easy trail from the atmospheric station? It's part way up the memorial highway and it goes by the trail up Ester. I met two Quebecers in the parking lot and ended up hitched to them for a bit of the up and all of the down. Great people on the trails in the ADK park. The black flies were pesky when you got in the sun or stopped. There is a long section at about 3700 ft or so (according to my casio altimeter) that remains flat. When I was above the road/trail intersection and nearing the top I had a sudden onset of the worst cramps I have ever experienced in my legs. I sat down which meant I stopped....and I was above tree line so there was sun and of course all the black flies ever to live on the planet descended upon me. The funny thing about all of this was I couldn't move for about 10 minutes and so I donated several gallons of O pos to the swarm. I am embarrassed to say this but I believe it needs to be said, I didn't know they were black flies because I didn't know that black flies bite you without causing pain or a pinch. I only knew that black flies bite. By the time my cramps were sated and I reached the summit, I was a bloody mess. My ears were bloody and so were my ankles in a ring around my socks....I must have looked terrifying to all the people who were at the summit, sweat free and complaining of how difficult it had been to climb all the way from the parking lot (because the elevator was OOO). I learned a valuable lesson. Don't hike with just plain water. I have mixed the 32 oz gatorades with water in a 2 liter bottle for all my hikes since and have had far less cramping. I have also begun to eat guacamole and bananas in order to maintain potassium levels prior to hiking.
gneissmountain - Feb 26, 2014 10:09 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2014
Lost my ring
Skied the toll road on skinny skis very windy on turns and at top.. hard to stand. Nice ski out. But I lost my wedding ring either here or at Poko. $100 reward if somebody finds it. Please send me a message if you do. Thx.
CRiedel2 - Oct 2, 2013 9:05 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2013
In The Clouds
Hiked up Whiteface Mt via the Connery Pond trail. I wanted to do this one for years and finally made it! The trail was easy to follow and rolled gently through the woods for the first 3 miles or so to the lean-to. From the lean-to up to the summit was the challenging part, but fun. The mountain was clouded in the whole time...until I started my descent. Made for an interesting experience. 8 hours round trip, with about 5 of that being from the lean-to to the summit and back to the lean-to. Took a lot of pictures and had a great time.
friday - Aug 20, 2013 5:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2013
Incredible descent on a bike
Biked instead of hiked. From Wilmington below to the turnaround at the summit. Descent was fun, a bit rough on the pavement down the tollbooth. But past the toolbooth...WHOOOHOOOO!!!
Onager - Jul 27, 2013 4:03 pm Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2013
Took the long route
Climbed Whiteface Mountain 4867' via the 11.6 mile round trip trail from Connery Pond. Very scenic route with dense, dangerous snow creating snow bridges towards the summit (One was at least 20 feet deep) Regardless, we managed to make it to the summit after about 6.5 hours of intense, 55-60 degree incline hiking and some bushwacking due to low hanging branches weighed down by heavy snow and ice. Cold weather around -10 F made the summit less hospitable than I thought it would be and forced us to head back down after a quick water/snack break near the observatory. Trek down was long but fun with some glissading. Was an intense and long, but fun hike and will go again once the weather is warmer.
gintherj - Jul 16, 2013 8:43 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2013
Picked up water on top
Pretty straightforward hike. Cool views of the ski trails and lifts in the summertime. Top of lift about 3/4 way up trail is a good place to have a quiet break with a view. You can actually buy water on the top from a vending machine if you're running low ;)
Bkoziol3 - Dec 26, 2012 12:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2012
Whiteface
Climbed with Ester. #36
Sjboatwright - Nov 18, 2012 11:36 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2012
tigerlilly - Jan 4, 2023 6:58 am Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2023
Icy, no windWe thought we could ski up the toll road. As it turned out, above average temps melted the snow pack and we were greeted with ice. Walked up with micro spikes and carried skis. No wind at the summit. Beautiful hoar frost coated everything on the summit. Tried to ski down, but it was too icy for me. My son and husband were able to ski down little sections. Hiked down the rest of the way, carrying the skis. Oh well!
tigerlilly - Jul 20, 2020 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2020
Pretty Summer Day - mud to my kneeParked at Wilmington Reservoir... you might be happier parking at the Atmospheric Science center (shaves off some miles). Went up the trail over Marble Mt. (used to be a ski center so the forest is recovering). Whiteface has no views till you hit the summit, then they are incredible. Bagged Esther on the way down, and vowed to never climb Esther again. :-D Esther's trail had foot deep mud out and back with no views, which is odd because it is practically drought conditions. I am now a 44'er!!! Brought the dog.
jake_the_snake - May 28, 2020 10:17 am Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2020
Whiteface Auto RoadGreat day on Whiteface although snow conditions were subpar below ~2Kft
joseyinnet - Jul 18, 2019 7:17 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2019
Escape from the heatLovely, but hazy, views over Lake Placid and the Adirondack High Peaks
thelisa - Oct 8, 2018 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2018
Gorgeous Fall DayGreat views in all directions. Chilly morning in the low 30's F.
kaimana - Feb 19, 2018 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2018
kaimanaAwesome start to my hiking career. First of the 46! Preparing for Machu Picchu in 5 months.
technicolorNH - Aug 24, 2016 5:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2016
Didn't see a switchback all dayAlthough I am not a huge fan of drive up summits there was also a restaurant in easy reach a few hundred feet down from the summit observatory so I'm a fan. Plus there are bicyclists there and you know they paid burning muscles to get there just like we do. Four hours and four minutes from the Marble Mountain Lane TH but that also includes tagging Esther and spending ten minutes there. Well constructed trail but it does go up quite sharply right from the beginning.
Blueorchid - Feb 13, 2016 12:00 pm
White face mountainIt was one of the best climbs with a great view. Def to many tourists on top with packed lunches looking at me like I was crazy for climbing up the long way.
TheWolfIsLoose - Nov 2, 2015 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2015
Doesn't Really Count...My girlfriend and I squeezed the summit in before our hike of Marcy, Gray, and Skylight. We drove to the parking lot and took the "tourist's route" to the summit.
lorothy12 - Jan 4, 2015 7:28 pm Date Climbed: Nov 8, 2014
pre-winter hikea bit of snow made this feel almost like a winter hike, especially with high winds on the summit. great views from the top.
JRaphaelson - Nov 9, 2014 10:18 pm Date Climbed: Nov 8, 2014
Esther and WhitefaceTook my girlfriend as an intro to winter hiking right after the first snow. Great trail with great views despite the auto road.
Cisco1974 - Aug 12, 2014 3:19 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2014
#1 of 46I took the easy trail from the atmospheric station? It's part way up the memorial highway and it goes by the trail up Ester. I met two Quebecers in the parking lot and ended up hitched to them for a bit of the up and all of the down. Great people on the trails in the ADK park. The black flies were pesky when you got in the sun or stopped. There is a long section at about 3700 ft or so (according to my casio altimeter) that remains flat. When I was above the road/trail intersection and nearing the top I had a sudden onset of the worst cramps I have ever experienced in my legs. I sat down which meant I stopped....and I was above tree line so there was sun and of course all the black flies ever to live on the planet descended upon me. The funny thing about all of this was I couldn't move for about 10 minutes and so I donated several gallons of O pos to the swarm. I am embarrassed to say this but I believe it needs to be said, I didn't know they were black flies because I didn't know that black flies bite you without causing pain or a pinch. I only knew that black flies bite. By the time my cramps were sated and I reached the summit, I was a bloody mess. My ears were bloody and so were my ankles in a ring around my socks....I must have looked terrifying to all the people who were at the summit, sweat free and complaining of how difficult it had been to climb all the way from the parking lot (because the elevator was OOO). I learned a valuable lesson. Don't hike with just plain water. I have mixed the 32 oz gatorades with water in a 2 liter bottle for all my hikes since and have had far less cramping. I have also begun to eat guacamole and bananas in order to maintain potassium levels prior to hiking.
gneissmountain - Feb 26, 2014 10:09 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2014
Lost my ringSkied the toll road on skinny skis very windy on turns and at top.. hard to stand. Nice ski out. But I lost my wedding ring either here or at Poko. $100 reward if somebody finds it. Please send me a message if you do. Thx.
CRiedel2 - Oct 2, 2013 9:05 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2013
In The CloudsHiked up Whiteface Mt via the Connery Pond trail. I wanted to do this one for years and finally made it! The trail was easy to follow and rolled gently through the woods for the first 3 miles or so to the lean-to. From the lean-to up to the summit was the challenging part, but fun. The mountain was clouded in the whole time...until I started my descent. Made for an interesting experience. 8 hours round trip, with about 5 of that being from the lean-to to the summit and back to the lean-to. Took a lot of pictures and had a great time.
yadahzoemtn - Sep 1, 2013 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Apr 24, 2009
Whiteface and EstherSolo. Beautiful Day.
friday - Aug 20, 2013 5:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2013
Incredible descent on a bikeBiked instead of hiked. From Wilmington below to the turnaround at the summit. Descent was fun, a bit rough on the pavement down the tollbooth. But past the toolbooth...WHOOOHOOOO!!!
Onager - Jul 27, 2013 4:03 pm Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2013
Took the long routeClimbed Whiteface Mountain 4867' via the 11.6 mile round trip trail from Connery Pond. Very scenic route with dense, dangerous snow creating snow bridges towards the summit (One was at least 20 feet deep) Regardless, we managed to make it to the summit after about 6.5 hours of intense, 55-60 degree incline hiking and some bushwacking due to low hanging branches weighed down by heavy snow and ice. Cold weather around -10 F made the summit less hospitable than I thought it would be and forced us to head back down after a quick water/snack break near the observatory. Trek down was long but fun with some glissading. Was an intense and long, but fun hike and will go again once the weather is warmer.
gintherj - Jul 16, 2013 8:43 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2013
Picked up water on topPretty straightforward hike. Cool views of the ski trails and lifts in the summertime. Top of lift about 3/4 way up trail is a good place to have a quiet break with a view. You can actually buy water on the top from a vending machine if you're running low ;)
Bkoziol3 - Dec 26, 2012 12:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2012
WhitefaceClimbed with Ester. #36
Sjboatwright - Nov 18, 2012 11:36 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2012
Nice day hikeA quick day hike on a clear summer day.