Whiteface (Adks) SLide

[MD Cuse]

A few buddies and I are going to climb up Whiteface via the slide on Labor Day weekend - the big Whiteface Brook slide that comes up from Lake Placid.

We're going to start at Connery Pond and spot a car up in Wilmington so we can also hike over to Esther on our return.

I did this slide about 7 years ago buy don't remember much except that we cut over to it too soon and got tied up in a bunch of blowdown at the bottom. Other that that it was an awesome climb and seeing the tourists watch us as we made our way up to the top was funny. Getting to the head wall and climbing over the railing is a great feeling, as are the cold cokes and french fries at the top.

Any suggestions/info on the best place to cut over to the slide from the trail? Have any herd paths developed over the past few years?

Thanks.

Mike

MD Cuse

 

[beverly]

We're planning to hike this slide this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[MD Cuse]

That would be great, thanks.

Climbing that slide is a wonderful hike. Weather forecast looks good for the weekend so far - hope you have a great day.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

Cut over when you see 'the pipe'. Follow the pipe to the slide. Problem is, that it is pretty hard to find 'the pipe'

 

[beverly]

We did the slide on Saturday. I'm afraid I can't be of much help in telling you the best route up. About 25 minutes after the lean-to there was a path that branched off to the brook - but that seemed to be too soon to get of the trail and we didn't investigate. When the trail turned away from the brook, we figured we should just head north and keep the brook close by.

After about 1/2 hour or more of bushwhacking in not-to-difficult, pretty open terrain, we decided to plunge into the brook and follow it up. We joined up with the brook after it turned in a more easterly direction. There were pieces of pipe along the way up. The brook was easy to manage at that point, but it was pretty slick and slow going.

The lower part of the slide was more difficult - some slippery spots and steep slabs. But after that the rock became more grippy and drier and it was a pleasure to scramble up. We got views all the way up until just before we summitted!

It was a muggy day - so the best part was soaking our feet (and heads) in the water off the docks at Whiteface Landing on the way back.

 

[MD Cuse]

Thank you very much for the information Beverly. It will be good to keep in mind for when we decide to cut over. Your experience sounds very similar to what we did years ago.

Mike

MD Cuse

 

[NYBRAD]

LOOK FOR THE PIPE my arse.........

Cut over when you see 'the pipe'. Follow the pipe to the slide. Problem is, that it is pretty hard to find 'the pipe'

Is the pipe just an old wives tale? I'm starting to believe it's a wild goose chase!

It must be,
Twice I've looked for it to no avail. We must be cutting over to early where the brook is thick. Both times we hacked our way to the slide but never saw a pipe.
I don't recall seeing it on the way back either.

 

[Neil]

THIS pipe?

 

[Pete_Hickey]

THIS pipe?

Yep. That's the pipe. You can follow it right to the trail.... Although most people follow it from the trail to the slide.

FWIW, I've only found it once in four trips... Although I've only looked for it once ...and I didn't find it that time. The time I found it, I wasn't looking.