On Sunday my riding buddy and I climbed Whiteface, the forth highest of the 46 Adirondack high peaks (elev 4867'). The climb is 8 miles long and covers 3500' of vertical so it is a relentless climb. This is the elevation (and grade) from the GPS - however since my GPS does not have a true altimeter the grades are not quite right - The grade is a pretty steady 8.5%, a little worse at the bottom and very top - a few spots in the middle where it eases up a tad.


The road is the Verterans memorial highway - rather fitting for Memorial Day weekend.


Here at the bottom in the town of Wilmington (at the start) you can see the peak - it's the second one in the back - on top you can barely make out the weather station - that's where we will be shortly.



The first 3 miles of climb takes you up to the entrance gate. You need to get there after they close - no bikes are permitted when there are cars on the road. This is the gatehouse. It was the only break in the whole climb - getting me and the bike under the gate.



However - by the gatehouse is a lake with this sign - I wonder if the caught any, I didn't see any children bobing around in the lake.

This is the elevation at the gatehouse - 1/3 of the climb is done


Just around mile 4 is the first switch back - this is mentally the toughest part of the climb.
Then around mile 5 you see what is yet to come.


Continued on next post...