Skiers and snowboarders head down the Wilmington Trail Thursday at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Area. Photos/Richard Rosentreter/Lake Placid News

RICHARD

ROSENTRETER

WILMINGTON – The Slides were open to skiers and snowboarders on Monday at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Area in Wilmington.

The trail was open on Monday based on conditions, according to the mountain’s report, and the ski patrol was requiring avalanche precautions such as a beacon, shovel and probe to ski that area. On Friday, the slides were open without such an avalanche protection requirement.

In addition, the Wilmington Trail and Sugar Valley Glades on Lookout Mountain were opened for the first time this season on Wednesday.

A couple from Ocean City, Md. pose for the camera Thursday at the top of Little Whiteface.

“There is quite a bit of snow over there (slides) and we hope to open the slides more often this season,” Whiteface Mountain Manager Aaron Kellett told the News on Wednesday. “The skiing is phenomenal.”

As of Friday, Whiteface had 80 trails open and 10 lifts operating with a primary surface of loose granular, according to the mountain’s daily ski report.

Kellett said efforts are ongoing to open even more terrain at the ski area.

“We hope to concentrate our snowmaking efforts on Hoyt’s High in the upcoming week,” he said.

For more information on ski conditions, visit www.whiteface.com or call 518-946-2223.