Whiteface has the biggest lift-served vertical drop in the East at 3,166, 3,430 feet if you count hiking to the nearby Slides. It stands majestic and unshielded, lording over a vast valley of forests and frozen lakes. Its position makes for spectacular views, but winter winds do whip across the valley and down the walls of Whiteface with regularity. Veteran eastern skiers do complain that Whiteface is often windblown, cold and icy. Of course, you can’t fault any area for bad weather, and the addition of the Cloudsplitter gondola does provide relief, as well as comfort. On an ideal day, Whiteface is as good as it gets in the East, and spring here can be particularly good.

Expert, Advanced: For some of the best expert skiing in the East, take the Summit Quad and test your legs on Cloudspin and Skyward, where the Olympic downhill races started. For certifiable experts who don’t mind a hike to reach the best terrain, the Slides is the real deal on days when conditions permit. The black-diamond trails off Little Whiteface—Approach, Upper Northway, Empire and Essex—are often left to bump up, providing great terrain for advanced skiers. Whiteface has serious tree skiing, too: 13 acres of black and double-black glades can be found off Little Whiteface Mountain. [TOP]

Intermediate: Take the Cloudsplitter gondola from the base or the Little Whiteface double from the midstation to the top of Little Whiteface. An observation platform, off to the left at the top, gives you an unparalleled view of the lakes and valley. Then try the snaking down Excelsior run, which twists to the midstation. You can cut the rounded corners of this baby like a bobsled, choosing your own pace. After that warm-up, tackle Paron’s Run or The Follies from the top of the Summit Quad. Before this run was added several years ago, intermediates had no way to enjoy either the awe-inspiring view or best-in-the-east vertical available from the top of the mountain. Virtually the entire lower half of this mountain is a delight for intermediates. High-speed lifts have eliminated the old bottlenecks, and there is plenty of space to cruise. [TOP]

Beginner, First-timer: These levels have two secluded areas, the Mixing Bowl near the gondola and Kids Kampus at Easy Acres to the right. The Mixing Bowl allows adult beginners to progress out of the way of more accomplished skiers using Bear lift. Novices and families will enjoy Easy Acres, below the midstation lodge, with its own secluded triple chair, magic carpet surface lift, terrain garden, a series of beginner glades, and a recently expanded Kids Kampus Lodge. Boreen is also a good choice for beginners. [TOP]