Whiteface Gondi

Does anyone know the story behind the "unscheduled maintance" of the Gondi at Whiteface?

bad timing if if will be down a while.

Been posting comments on another string here for almost 2 weeks asking same question, and heard folks seeming to be in know talking, while in lodge this weekend,  that the downtime is "expected to be up to two weeks"  They brought in the manufactor to assist so no longer just a local solution.

Crickets...

From the man this morning:

"The bull wheel bearing at the top of the gondola failed 2 seasons before scheduled replacement.
 
We have 3 of the country’s best technicians working with our crew around the clock to fix this.
 
Things are going well and we will be back in operation shortly.
 
I will update you as repairs progress but rest assured we are doing absolutely everything we can right now."

I was there on Saturday and did see one Dopplemayer truck in the lot.

They don't make 'em like they used to. Was at WF when the summit chair was having it's upper BW bearing inspected up top.

Was there mid-week and really dug the cat rides to the top.
note to self..need to keep eyes open while squeezing shutter button while taking selfie!

I'm guessing the 1968 Gore Gondi ran for many years without incident..please correct me if I'm wrong. I heard parts had to be fabricated for repairs as it reached the "end of its service life"

Hopefully "shortly" is before the weekend when the Xmas crowds come in. In any event, good to hear that they know what the problem is and how to fix it rather than still trying to figure out what's wrong. They won't be completely screwed if they can't get it open for Xmas weekend, but expect some long lines getting out of the base on the Facelift.

it'll be ready just in time for the usual peak/holiday-period wind-hold.

I haven't skied Whiteface before and if the gondola is out for the next couple of weeks, I have a couple of questions:

1) From what I read the gondola was the MAIN way to get up the hill (at least in relative comfort). Will it now be a nightmare waiting for the ONLY hi-speed quad? I was already queasy about all the fixed lifts Whiteface uses (they do know it's 2015 right???) and can only imagine that this breakdown will have a major impact to the rest of the lift system

2) Is this enough of an issue that's it's worth rescheduling my week of skiing (was going Sunday to Thursday)? I was really looking forward to visiting Whiteface but not if I have to spend hours in-line and/or on slow lifts -- especially if the snow conditions are as marginal as all this warm weather has made them.

Thanks in advance for your input,
Jim

It'll suck slightly without the Gondy and it will suck slightly because of the warmup.

But I wouldn't let that deter you from going. The good thing about a Lake Placid trip is that there are a lot of other activities to do if the skiing blows.

Thanks Mattchuck2. If the skiing turns out to be a bust, what other things would you recommend doing? Almost seems like too many choices...

Was there Monday and Gondi was not running. No big deal with relatively light crowds. but if it's not running during the holiday period you may want to avoid face lift, which I would think would be crowded.

Tom

SummerSkier wrote

Thanks Mattchuck2. If the skiing turns out to be a bust, what other things would you recommend doing? Almost seems like too many choices...

Yeah, really depends on what you want. Skating around the Olympic oval or Ice Climbing? Curling or Bobsledding? Winery Tasting or Museum? Stroll around town shopping or winter camping trip into Avalanche pass? Without knowing you, it's kinda hard to suggest what you'd like.

Back online as of this morning!

So many choices, so little time:-)

Anyways, it looks like the fixed the Gondi so problem solved. I will be skiing up a storm and hopefully find time to fit a few of the other activities in...

Thanks again!

Bobsled ride would be cool. They used to have a packaged deal. A ride on the bobsled, ice skating in town and a trip up the ski jump tower.

Ice skating on Mirror Lake is really cool. They plow off areas and a path. I'm not sure if it's frozen enough at this time.

Gondi opened mid day today!