Whiteface Mountain at 4867 feet is sometimes called the sacrificial lamb of the Adirondacks. It's ranked fifth in height, of the the "46ers", and first in development. One can drive to the top in air-conditioned comfort and then take an elevator the last 300 feet to the top.

Despite the fortress like weather station and throngs of people in the summer, the peak does offer some splendid views of the other high peaks and nearby Ester, and on a clear day you can see Lake Champlain and on a very clear day Mount-Royal to the north. However, you are over 15 miles away from the high peaks so while the view is impressive it is hard to capture on a photograph.

There are good trails to the top and you can come in from four separate trailheads. Most of them see only moderate use as the other high peaks draw in most of the hikers. In winter expect to see only a few people on the trail as many hikers forgo the trail altogether and come up the closed road.  The main route along the Wilmington Trail is a 5.2 mile one way hike from NY 431 to the top of Whiteface Mountain with an elevation gain of nearly 3700 feet.

This is the only peak in the Adirondacks where distinct evidence of alpine glaciers can be easily found. There peak has two neat arêtes sitting on either side of a well-defined cirque on its north-west face and another arête to the east. All have good trails on them (one is actually built over with a staircase) and are well worth the drive or hike up.

The area on the east side is quite mild and offers only a little exposure but is can be iced over in winter. The undeveloped area on the north side offers a good scramble over very nice rock with a good deal of exposure and the occasional small cornice or gargoyle in winter.

The summit itself is just a flat platform that makes you think that the gods knocked off the top 300 feet of the peak as some sort of cruel joke to the climber types.

For more information on the Adirondack 46ers, get the book Exploring the 46 Adirondack High Peaks and for more info on hiking in the High Peaks Wilderness get the book Adirondack Trails High Peaks Region.

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