WHITEFACE MTN (PG2112)

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State: NY
County: Essex
Quad: Lake Placid
Location: N 44° 21.947' W073° 54.184'
Elevation: 4866 ft.
Designation: WHITEFACE MTN 1880
Setting: Bedrock
Type: Bolt
Year: 1880
Established By: Adirondack Surveys
Recovered: 06 August 2006

On the final day of our "Adirondack Mini-adventure," Rich and I decided to investigate Whiteface and see what all the fuss was about. I was intrigued by the mention of both a castle and a tunnel ... and the presence of a tri-station at the summit made the trip imperative. We had originally hoped to watch the sunset from Whiteface two days before, but discovered when we reached the toll gates that the road had closed early in the evening. It's just as well, because visiting the summit during this warm, dry, sunny mid-morning was a beautiful experience. We could see for many miles and were able to identify most of the high peaks and the nearby lakes. We were also, with minimal intrusion from the swarms of tourists at the summit, able to find and document the station mark and both reference marks. We found all three to be in good condition and as described by NGS in 1976. On our next trip, we'll attempt to locate the azimuth mark!

A report on the condition of this mark was submitted to NGS, along with the following recovery note:

The station mark and reference marks 1 and 2 were recovered in good condition. The azimuth mark was not searched for at this time. The 1976 description remains accurate.

Zhanna

Adirondack Surveys Official Description, 1880 (see datasheet for recent updates) :

RECOVERY NOTE BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1942 (FBQ) STATION WAS RECOVERED AS DESCRIBED AND THE MARK FOUND IN GOOD CONDITION. AN AZIMUTH MARK AND TWO REFERENCE MARKS WERE ESTABLISHED. NEW DESCRIPTION FOLLOWS-- STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 6 MILES W OF WILMINGTON ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF WHITEFACE MT. IT IS 42.2 FEET NW OF A WEATHER VANE AND 64.22 FEET WNW OF A WHITE BAROMETER BOX. THE MARK IS A NAIL HEAD IN THE CENTER OF A 1-INCH LEAD BOLT SET IN A DRILL HOLE IN BEDROCK. REFERENCE MARK NO.1 IS E OF THE STATION, 35.5 FEET NE OF THE WEATHER VANE AND 24.5 FEET NW OF THE WHITE BAROMETER BOX. IT IS STAMPED WHITEFACE MT. NO.1 1942 (NOTE 12A). REFERENCE MARK NO.2 IS N OF THE STATION AND 29.7 FEET S OF THE SUMMIT HOUSE. IT IS STAMPED WHITEFACE MT. NO.2 1942 (NOTE 12A). THE AZIMUTH MARK IS NE OF THE STATION ON TOP OF A RIDGE THAT IS NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE WHITEFACE HIGHWAY. IT IS STAMPED WHITEFACE MT. 1942 (NOTE 12A). THE WEATHER VANE IS MOUNTED ON A 1-INCH IRON PIPE AND IS APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET HIGH. THE BAROMETER BOX IS CONSTRUCTED OF WOOD, PAINTED WHITE, AND IS APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET BY 3 FEET BY 4 FEET IN SIZE. IT IS MOUNTED ON 4 IRON LEGS AND THE HEIGHT, OVERALL, IS ABOUT 10 FEET. TO REACH THE STATION FROM THE JUNCTION OF STATE HIGHWAYS 86 AND 431 AT THE W EDGE OF WILMINGTON, GO W ON NO. 431 (WHITEFACE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY) FOR 8.1 MILES TO THE ELEVATOR AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. IF THE ELEVATOR IS NOT IN USE, CONTINUE AHEAD FOR 0.1 MILE TO A RESTAURANT AND SOUVENIR SHOP. TRAIL TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AND STATION. IT IS A 10-MINUTE PACK. TO REACH THE AZIMUTH MARK FROM THE STATION, GO NORTHEASTERLY ALONG A RIDGE, FOLLOWING A TELEPHONE LINE, FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.2 MILE.