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Upstate New York

Today is my last day in the Adirondacks. I'll cap off my final day with a tour of Whiteface Mountain. Getting to the top will require a steep drive up Veteran's Memorial Highway, followed by a short hike to the top.

I break camp then head out to the mountain. The road to the top, Veteran's Memorial Highway, promises to be quite an engineering feat, rising over 2,300 feet in just 5 short miles. Now, that's pretty steep, even by today's standards.

After 4 years and $1,250,000, the road was officially opened on July 20th, 1935. Shortly thereafter, President Roosevelt made a trip up the mountain and in a formal ceremony dedicated the Highway as a memorial to the New York State Veterans of the Great War (WWI). In 1985 the Highway was rededicated the Whiteface Memorial Highway to veterans of all wars.

The tour posted here will just cover the scenic highlights of the mountain. Click here for a more thorough write-up of my mountain top adventure as covered in the sights section of my website.

After turning onto the Veteran's Memorial Highway I drive a little ways before encountering this toll house. I'm a little surprised when I'm told there's an entrance fee. It's $9.00, yowza! Hope there's free food at the top!

After paying my admission I drive up the mountainside. The drive proves to be a very steep one, I certainly don't want to lose my brakes on my way back down. Nearing the end of my drive I see in the distance a weather station and a shelter house atop the mountain.

Whiteface Castle sits at the end of the road. From there tourists can either walk up a stone stairway or take an elevator to the top of the mountain.