Whiteface - Lookout Mountain...estimated opening?

WF now in for some snow next week vs r*in forecasted earlier.

This might just salvage my hopes if skiing Hoyt's this year.

They didn't make snow according to today's report, but I think temps will be cold tonight for some resurfacing and building base depths (and there are locations this needs to happen).  Continue this throughout the weekend, and then move onto Lookout once the snow comes (no snowmaking on open terrain while it's snowing) would be my preferred plan of attack.

I literally had a dream that I got to Whiteface to find all of Lookout open, with no mention of it open or with snowmaking from anywhere.

I asked some snowtribe members why it wasn't on the report and they said "Were you the kid that kept emailing management"?  "We wanted it to be a surprise that it opened.  Management wanted to put the guns on Cloudspin to piss you off more, but we decided that enough was enough".

Then my alarm went off

snoloco wrote

Then my alarm went off

I bet that was a sticky situation.

Highpeaksdrifter wrote

snoloco wrote

Then my alarm went off

I bet that was a sticky situation.

moving the guns snow!

Yep, saw it on fb and the website.  Snowmaking should start up there tonight and continue until the trail is opened next Saturday.

It took emails to management, fb posts, a petition, and dozens of pages of slandering, but I'll finally get what I want.   

The above is sarcastic btw.

Owning up to coming off as a dick, along with self deprecating sarcasm!  I like it!!  

Good on you, Sno.

FWIW, with cold temps soon to be durable for a sustained period, post a good 8" snow in addition to prior base, with L.E.S. forecast to crank over the next 3 days, THIS is the correct time for them to be blowing snow on Lookout Mountain, and IMHO is the first "correct" window for snowmaking over there.  

Any other prior attempt would have resulted in loss of $$$ and resources; in other words, Whiteface snowmaking management got this right.

Merry Christmas!  

Serious sno do you really consider this season a fail by WF ops?  I would call this season, so far, average or maybe a little bit better.

It really depends how you look at it.

This December was quite good, but January was not in terms of weather.  My grading scheme gave Whiteface a C+ for Christmas terrain.  If it weren't for Lookout not being open, it would've been a B, or even an A.  My grading schemes heavily emphasize opening all lifts, and that's just a personal preference of mine.  From a terrain only perspective, they would've had a B for that week.

My MLK Weekend grading scheme was very flawed and biased and designed to give Whiteface an F for failing to open Lookout.  I was planning to look at reports of crowds and long lift lines and then come on here and spectacularly give them an F in a long rant.  Based on actually skiing there that weekend, I'd give a C+.  I'm not giving a B or A unless all lifts are open, but they had very good conditions, and lift lines weren't all that long (nonexistent on upper lifts).  Gore had a D for wasting some snowmaking opportunities and sheer ice and thin cover found on many trails.

Overall, Whiteface has done a pretty good job handling the weather and managing their snowmaking operations.  Much better than Gore IMO.  There are times when they made snow on open terrain that I would've expanded terrain, and times when lifts weren't running that should've been, but overall, they've quite well.  Things are about to get even better with the addition of the Lookout terrain in the coming weeks.  

I think that in the future, opening Lookout by MLK Weekend should be a top priority.  People I rode the lifts with were disappointed that it wasn't open yet, and since they have lots of things going on in the area that weekend (WC bumps and aerials, Chevy weekend, etc.), I think having all 3 summits of Whiteface open would make for an amazing weekend for anyone in the area.

Hey Sno,

MLK wasnt all bad...after all you rode the lift with my wife and you met me at the grill at mid.

as stated then, you are welcome to stop by for a bite to eat when ever i am grilling, or you could bring something to toss on.  I wont be up superbowl weekend, but my sister and friend will be and they may be grilling.

I get your expectations on grading the mountains and having all lifts open, but they are a bit unrealistic based upon the size of the hills and especially based on the weather this year.

Whiteface has done a nice job this year in dealing with serious weather fluctuations, rain mid week, and inconsistent weather.   With all of that, the skiing has been surprisingly good.
For now,  study, find someone to drive to the mountain with, and enjoy the weekend.

Yes, MLK was quite good.  A far cry from the "shit show" I originally predicted quite vocally.

Maybe I'll see you this weekend.

I was basically saying that I thought they handled this year's up and down weather well, although there might've been a few things I'd have done differently.

snoloco wrote

My MLK Weekend grading scheme was very flawed and biased and designed to give Whiteface an F for failing to open Lookout.  I was planning to look at reports of crowds and long lift lines and then come on here and spectacularly give them an F in a long rant.

That's quite an admission.  I mean it was pretty obvious, but I give you credit for coming clean.

snoloco wrote

I think that in the future, opening Lookout by MLK Weekend should be a top priority.

Humans are funny creatures. You drive me nuts, and at the same time I really value your contribution.

Humans are funny creatures. You drive me nuts, and at the same time I really value your contribution.


I second Harvey.

Petit Homme is a good dude for sure.  

As of yesterday morning, the report notices said "Wilmington Trail being prepped for snowmamking".  That was taken down when the summit quad went on wind hold and wasn't put back up today.  Lower Thruway, Upper Northway, and Lower Skyward still reported as snowmaking.  Nothing on WT.

Might need to put the petition back up.  Hopefully their social media posts weren't a bait-n-switch.  Then again they did say "starting this weekend" not Friday or Thursday.

snowmaking is on Wilmington trail

Saw it with my own eyes today.

Glad you got him under your wing , now get him ready for the slides . The kid HAS zeal and if he is mentored by you guys ...well he's gonna be a force

warp daddy wrote

Glad you got him under your wing , now get him ready for the slides . The kid HAS zeal and if he is mentored by you guys ...well he's gonna be a farce

FIFY