Whiteface Mountain
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About Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain stands at 4,867 feet (1,483 m) and is the fifth-highest peak in New York State. Unlike most High Peaks, Whiteface has a developed summit with a road, castle-like stone observatory, and an elevator to the top. It was the site of the alpine skiing competitions of the 1980 Winter Olympics. The mountain offers spectacular views of Lake Placid, the surrounding High Peaks, and on clear days, views stretching to Vermont and Canada. The northern slope features trails of the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center, one of the premier ski resorts in the eastern United States.
History
Whiteface Mountain derives its name from the exposed anorthosite rock on its upper slopes that gives it a white appearance, especially when covered with snow. In 1935, construction began on the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, a project championed by Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt to honor veterans and provide jobs during the Great Depression. The highway, which allows visitors to drive to within 267 feet of the summit, was completed in 1935, and the stone summit building was constructed shortly after. The mountain gained international prominence when it hosted the Olympic alpine skiing events in 1980.
Weather Forecast
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light snow
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- Freezing conditions expected
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