Whiteface Via Toll Road

[Gray Ghost]

Has anyone done this route in the winter? How long a hike? I already read the report on Views from the Top, but is it normally very doable in winter and is there sufficient parking near the gate? Thanks. -GG

[adkdremn]

Sorry GG, I don't know the answer to this, but I also have a question about hiking Whiteface via the toll road. If you hike the toll road in winter, or summer for that matter, to the top of Whiteface does it count towards doing the 46, or do you need to do the trail? I'm guessing no, but I don't know for sure.

[mike1889]

Yes climbing Whiteface via the Toll Road counts toward the 46, as long as you also walk down and not grab a ride! It's about 5.5 miles each way from the gate house to the summit. The grade is gentle and most people ski up and back down, although you can snowshoe or simply walk if there isn't enough snow. There is sufficient parking near the gate. Normally in winter, there is enough snow to ski most of the road. Some sections near the top are very exposed and sometimes blown clear of snow, leaving either bare pavement or ice. Times will vary but figure on 2.5-4 hours to ski up and 45 min.-1.5 hours to ski down, depending on how fast a skier you are.

[Neil]

This is a wonderful way to "get" one of your 46. From the parking area to the summit you may be able to bare boot but you may also require either crampons or MSR type of snowshoes. The wind can be howling and so you might want goggles and a face mask. For the ski down when I did it goggles were mandatory because it was snowing a fair bit.
If the conditions are icy and rutty I bet this would be a challenging ski. We averaged just under 20 mph with falling snow. Took us about 15 minutes from the Wilmington turn to the bottom. You get a nice burn in your quads after a while.

[Gray Ghost]

Alright, guys, I don't ski. It seems like snowshoeing/bearbooting sixteen miles might be a bit much, but with the easy grade how long should it take me? I consider myself a moderate to slow hiker, especially in snowshoes. I have no interest in skiiing because I'd probably go right off the edge.

I'd love to do a winter high peak, and as you point out Neil, this is a great way to get one of my 46 done. However, with only eight hours of daylight...I definitely won't make it my first winter peak trip and will try some lesser peaks first. It just seems like the easy grade might make it doable. Any other thoughts and suggestions are appreciated. -GG

[RonandJon]

Whiteface Toll Road XC Ski - Pictures

Chili willie and I did this ski in March of 2003. The advantage of a March ski is that the snow tends to be deeper and better consolidated. There was some drifting in the S curves, resulting in bare spots. Also, it was soft during the day and as we started down, making for slow skiing. As the temps dropped and the snow firmed up, the descent got quicker. A couple of snow mobiles headed up as we headed down - maybe they were going up to the top to check the weather instruments or maybe they were just there - and we skiied in their tracks, which really sped up the descent.

The last 100 feet of verticla to the summit was interesting I had show shoes and Willie had 6-pt crampons, and he had the better of it that day.

In the morning the snow stuck to the skiis as we went in and out of the sun softened snow. If I were going again, I would put glide on the bottom of the waxless skis to prevent this.

It is 5.5 miles from the toll gate to the summit. It is plowed from the start of the road to the toll gate and then unplowed. We just parked along the side of the road and there was plenty of room.

We saw skiers, snowshoers, tele-mark masters, etc. Some people climbed up the trail and then walked down the road.

Any way, here is a link to some pictures, most of which Chili willie took. It was about 50 degrees when we started out, and that is chili willie with no shirt on. I would have caused snow blindness if I had done the same!

Enjoy:

http://community.webshots.com/album/230171234mkkXrm

[Neil]

The road portion's distance, as measured in Topo! is 5 miles with a grade of about 10%. I snowshoed it at the end of Oct. this year. I didn't keep track of my time but I'm sure I got down it in way less than 2 hours.

[Gray Ghost]

Sweet, so four hours round trip, Neil? I thought someone said it was eight miles. Five makes me feel better and it certainly looks doable now, especially since a certain elf told me Santa's bringing a pair of MSR Denali's this year. I can't wait to get 'em!

[Gray Ghost]

Ron - Thanks for the tips as well, and nice pics!

[Neil]

Sweet, so four hours round trip, Neil? I thought someone said it was eight miles. Five makes me feel better and it certainly looks doable now, especially since a certain elf told me Santa's bringing a pair of MSR Denali's this year. I can't wait to get 'em!

4 hours? That seems very fast. Add 30 minutes to get to the summit (this is generous but you will stop, eat and get dressed a bit more before hitting the stairs), include summit time and going back down to the parking area. The climb up the long 10% grade could be a little longer than what you may have estimated. Also, if you encounter violent winds they can really slow you down (or speed you up ).

One way or the other you will have enough time. Even if you come down in the dark it dosn't really matter because it's a road.

[Gray Ghost]

For me personally i think six or seven hours is a good goal. Definitely gotta factor in summit time. I'll just bring the headlamp, but good point about the road.

[pico23]

Whiteface toll road

I posted the report for Sunday on VFTT. I got to 3500 before I got bored of the lack of snow Sunday. The visibility was pretty low to.

I skied it two seasons ago and it took probably 5 hours with summit time. I could have done it faster or slower depending on the mood but on skis 4 hours is pretty reasonable. Your best bet it to wait a bit and ski it or snowshoe it but right now it's slick but tough on your gear unless you bareboot.

It's +-5 miles and +-2300 feet from the base.

Parking has room for at leat 10-15 cars if they are parked well.

It's very doable in winter and makes a great beginner ski. You don't need anything special just light touring gear for the 10% grade. You can practice your snowplows or better wedge turns the whole way down. Or just haul to the car in well less than an hour.

[Phil P.]

My wife and I skied up the Whiteface toll road way back in December '84 in almost white out conditions with a group of about 10 people. We had 2 novice skiers with us and although they found it a little challenging coming down they managed OK. I really enjoyed it but could have done with a little more speed on the flatter sections.

[mike1889]

I thought someone said it was eight miles. Five makes me feel better and it certainly looks doable now, especially since a certain elf told me Santa's bringing a pair of MSR Denali's this year. I can't wait to get 'em!

Not sure why I thought it was 8 miles, 5.5 is more like it, sorry about that.

[RonandJon]

8 Miles High

Mike

It is 8 miles from the beginning of the Memorial Highway to the summit, so you were right about the number. When the crazies race to the summit, they start from the beginning of the road, and the distance is 8 miles. The good ones are all under an hour, too - amazing! Ron