WILMINGTON, N.Y. --- It’s August, but the skiing and riding season at Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y., is not too far off. Weather permitting the first day of the season is scheduled to begin, Friday, Nov. 29.

This season, the Olympic mountain will debut a new (and as yet un-named) glade on Lookout Mountain.  The 1,500 foot long expert glade will be cut half-way down Hoyt’s High and will also connect the Summit Chair lift. 

The development of the new glade is expected to begin this week.  Once completed, the glade will add an additional 4.7 acres to the mountain’s already 283 acres of skiable terrain and 3,430 of vertical, the most vertical east of the Rockies. This is the first new trail added to Whiteface Mountain in more than five years.

“We’re pretty excited about this plan.  It’s the resort’s first new trail since the opening of Lookout Mountain in 2008,” said New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) president/CEO Ted Blazer.  “Last winter the mountain added snowmaking to Hoyt’s High and this will make another exciting addition that will enhance our guests’ overall experience at the mountain.”

Other mountain improvements include the addition of 35 low energy snow guns that will provide efficient snow coverage on Easy Street, Broadway and Excelsior. The mountain has also purchased an energy efficient boom fan snow gun that will be used to cover the mountain’s Lower Valley trail.

“Our overall goal is to always improve upon our guests’ experience, while at the same time use less energy and be more efficient.  The purchasing of the 35 additional guns and the boom snow gun keeps us moving in that direction,” added the mountain’s general manager Aaron Kellett.

A new Pisten Bully 600 Winch Cat has also been added to Whiteface’s fleet of cats and groomers.

 -- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.