New Glades

[highpeaksdrifter]

I think this picture is a better indication of how much vert, acreage are contained in the new gladed sections. i expect a full retraction from ronnyrider.

I thought it was supposed to be four expert trails, and one intermediate; am I missing something here?

Cool pic.

They'll probably count where the int. trail forks off as the 3rd expert tail.

[jackstraw]

This thread is a perfect example of how this board cant seem to handle any form of Whiteface criticism. Glades will be nice, but they will also lack continuous vertical. This is a legitimate concern. Lets not forget that criticism often makes products better......

this response is an example of spoutting off w/ very little specfic knowledge on the subject at hand! I betcha there is five times more vert than U can handle in them new glades little ronnyrider...

As far as glades inbetween the expert trails - they face easternly in2 the sun and would melt - the planned glades face northernly and continously drop in vert just like the intermediate trail! rippin aganist the fallline is gonna offer alot of funky session opportunities.

I'm calling ronnyrider out for a ski off!! Step up or shut up!!!!!

maybe youz sally's should come to cannon and ski kinsmans...a real glade w/ real vert...bwahahahhahahaha!!!!!!!

[sleestak]

I think this picture is a better indication of how much vert, acreage are contained in the new gladed sections. i expect a full retraction from ronnyrider.

I thought it was supposed to be four expert trails, and one intermediate; am I missing something here?

youre missing something alright

[NPN]

I think this picture is a better indication of how much vert, acreage are contained in the new gladed sections. i expect a full retraction from ronnyrider.

I thought it was supposed to be four expert trails, and one intermediate; am I missing something here?

youre missing something alright

S, I don't know you at all, so I won't even bother to speculate on why you'd make that comment, but feel free to elaborate whenever you like.

Much more importantly to me is why there are so few new trails proposed for that amount of terrain. Is this part of the 25 mile thing, or is it lack of funding, or Bicky bird traumas, or, or, or? Anyone have any answers on this?

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

Much more importantly to me is why there are so few new trails proposed for that amount of terrain. Is this part of the 25 mile thing, or is it lack of funding, or Bicky bird traumas, or, or, or? Anyone have any answers on this?

There are probably people here who know more definitively than I do, but it seems like the original 2004 proposal with several more trails on the face with the new lift was scrapped in favor of the current design primarily because of the bird habitat. At this point, no additional terrain can be cut due to the 25-mile limit without either re-vegetating some trails or amending the NYS constitution. I hope something can be done, because it seems like there is a lot of room for more eco-friendly ski terrain.

Personally, I think it's pretty great that management has worked so hard to create a balance between development and environmental protection. They should be applauded, and I hope WF publicizes its eco-friendliness. Vermonters shouldn't get all the kudos.

[highpeaksdrifter]

Personally, I think it's pretty great that management has worked so hard to create a balance between development and environmental protection. They should be applauded, and I hope WF publicizes its eco-friendliness. Vermonters shouldn't get all the kudos.

LA QUINTA, CALIF. - Whiteface Mountain, along with Vail, Colo. and
Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada, was a finalist in the yearly
Silver Eagle Awards given by the National Ski Areas Association at its
annual convention.

This year's event, held at the La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta,
Calif., saw Whistler get the nod over Whiteface and Vail in the category of
Fish and Wildlife Protection. Previously, Whiteface had received a 2002
Silver Eagle Award in recognition of environmental excellence in the same
category for installation of a weir to monitor water levels in the Ausable
River.

According to an NSAA press release, 2007 Silver Eagle awards went to
ski resorts in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Canada for environmental
accomplishments in areas such as clean energy and habitat protection. These
honors were announced on May 7.

Whiteface presented its detailed mitigation efforts pertaining to the
impact of the new Lookout Mountain project on the bird species known as
Bicknell's Thrush. The Whiteface effort stated it "is in the process of
expanding its trail system to include a new network called the "Lookout
Mountain" project. This expansion will involve trail and lift construction
in an area of sub-alpine forest preserve located above 2,800 feet. Special
care has been taken to ensure that the native species (Bicknell's Thrush)
are not adversely affected. The Olympic Regional Development Authority
(ORDA) has teamed with the Adirondack Park Agency, Institute of Natural
Sciences, Wildlife Conservation Society, The Adirondack Council, Audubon New
York, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Adirondack Nature Conservancy to
study the potential impacts of the project on the Bicknell's Thrush. The
Bicknell's Thrush is an extremely reclusive bird about which very little is
known."

The Whiteface submission continued to say that tens of thousands of
dollars have been dedicated to research the habits of this species. ORDA and
its partners will establish an international conservation fund in order to
preserve the bird's wintering grounds high in the hills of the islands of
Hispaniola. Additionally, the Whiteface Unit Management Plan, wherein the
Lookout Mountain build-out is contained, moved trails further east "to avoid
naturally occurring Bicknell's Thrush habitat."

"To ensure the long-term viability of Bicknell's and other birds in the
sub-alpine forest, Whiteface went to great lengths to study bird populations
in and around the new proposed terrain," the presentation stated. "As a
result of these studies, Whiteface has adopted an aggressive conservation
policy when it comes to suitable habitat for these birds."

To create an educational legacy, ORDA has displayed a large Bicknell's
Thrush exhibit at numerous

locations at the ski center and Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway. This
informational piece summarizes

the nesting and foresting habits of the species and shows the 2,800 foot
threshold within the context of an

enhanced Whiteface photo.

"I'm very proud to say that Whiteface was able to advance our entry to
the group of finalists at the convention," said mountain manager Jay Rand.
"As much as we have championed the cause of the Bicknell's Thrush, our staff
did an excellent job portraying that effort to the NSAA panel. This also
enabled us to educate those in attendance who may have had little or no
experience with Bicknell's Thrush."

Each summer, the Bicknell's Thrush returns to mountains in the
northeastern United States to breed, so any disturbance must be studied
closely for the long-term survival of the species.

ORDA, the Department of Environmental Conservation and other
environmental and regulatory agencies continue as active partners in the
mission of the long-term continuation of the species.

"The NSAA award has come and gone, but this does not mean our goal to
enhance the habitat of the Bicknell's Thrush has changed," continued Rand.
"We will start breaking ground on Lookout Mountain this summer with a
two-year timetable for completion. In that process, our commitment to this
initiative will not change."

[AdironRider]

No full retraction here, but the image makes it look much better than what I was imagining in my mind. Double fall line should be fun to play with. Does anyone else hope they dont open up the glades to much? I like really tight trees. No more open than High Country at least.