Visitors take in the views offered at the observation deck near the summit of Little Whiteface at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center in Wilmington on Sunday, Sept. 22. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

WILMINGTON — I’m not an engineer.

Calculus and physics were my kryptonite in high school, and I was fortunate enough to not have to cross paths with them in college. Derivatives could have been a foreign — or extraterrestrial — language, as far as I was concerned.

Despite my emphatic allergy to the STEM fields, ever since I started skiing there as a young kid, I could not help but marvel at the feat of engineering and ingenuity the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain showcases.

It is one sweet machine.

I’ll just say that the mechanical prowess of the Cloudsplitter Gondola alone should be enough to put it on your visit.

Sitting pretty and enjoying the ride as the Sentinel Range can be seen beyond Whiteface Mountain’s Cloudsplitter Gondola cabin in Wilmington on Sunday, Sept. 22. The gondola cabins have large transparent windows and offer sweeping 360-degree views throughout the ride. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

But, if you’re not yet convinced, the view alone that the gondola offers on a nice day is one of the finest in the Adirondacks, with next to no effort required. What could be better?

The Cloudsplitter Gondola is conveniently located about 50 feet from the ski resort’s main lodge. Throughout the summer and fall months, the lines are short. I had the opportunity to ride the gondola during the resort’s Oktoberfest celebration on Sunday, Sept. 22, their biggest fall event. Even then, arriving early in the day, the line in front of me was less than a minute.

In the winter, the gondola still offers scenic rides, just bring a heavy coat as the cabins are enclosed but not heated. During busy ski days, there can be a bit of a wait, as it is the mountain’s most popular lift. However, people not skiing or snowboarding who are just there for the scenic ride are queued into a separate line and given priority over those carrying skis or boards. If you’ve had dreams about being able to cut to the front of the line at a busy amusement park, this could be your chance to make that a reality.

Oh, and scenic riders are offered their own private cabins apart from skiers and snowboarders who, during busy days, may or may not need to pack into the cabins like sardines.

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The Cloudsplitter Gondola’s thrillingly-steep lift line can be seen from the gondola making its descent just after leaving the summit terminal to begin the return trip to the base at Whiteface Mountain. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

The ride

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After the friendly lift staff checked my ticket, I was in the gondola before I knew it. The cabins load at a safe low speed, with operators never far from the big red stop button in case of an accident. After swiveling around the loading area, the cabin doors automatically close, and shortly thereafter, like a plane barreling down the runway, the gondola begins to accelerate as it shoots out of its base terminal and begins the climb up Little Whiteface.

The gondola rises quickly, immediately providing nice glimpses of the resort’s base area and lodge. Not only is the lift going uphill, but additional height has to be gained as the gondola crosses above another ski lift: Warhorse, named in honor of Lake Placid’s Andrew Weibrecht, a two-time Olympic medalist in the super giant slalom who first learned to ski at Whiteface.

After crossing over Warhorse, the Cloudsplitter Gondola continues for a few minutes at a very gentle incline. Trails below form some of the resort’s terrain parks in the winter. To the left (if one is facing up the lift line), glimpses of the AuSable River poke out through the trees. Riders facing forward can see that this gradual climb doesn’t stay that way for long.

The gondola’s incline soon increases as it begins climbing the face of Little Whiteface. Here, looking backward, views begin to open and the base terminal shrinks smaller and smaller. This is a rugged stretch of the mountain, with no ski trails cutting through below the lift.

At tower 15, the lift actually takes a brief downward dip before making the final, and even steeper yet, climb up Little Whiteface. More steep and rugged mountainside terrain beneath the lift gives way to glimpses of the nearby Sentinel Range to the immediate south, and the High Peaks further beyond them in that same direction — left as you are looking up the lift line.

After finishing the climb, an impressive set of three ginormously tall towers, complete with a combined 30 wheels, rapidly break the gondola’s ascent and send it into its terminal near the summit of Little Whiteface. The gondola slows back down to a safe unloading speed. Shortly thereafter, the doors automatically open and riders can make their way over to a nearby viewing deck that provides phenomenal views of Lake Placid and the surrounding peaks.

Nearby, a rocky outcrop completes the actual summit of Little Whiteface at 3,678 feet. The summit has a sign marking it, as well as a plaque that pays tribute to the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, who have an extensive and storied involvement with Whiteface.

While I was not keeping track of time, the ride up takes about 15 minutes. The ride down provides unique views in its own right and has a thrilling start as the gondola almost immediately begins a rapid descent after leaving the terminal.

Scenic rides on the Cloudsplitter Gondola are a must for anyone visiting Lake Placid, especially for non-skiers and riders who otherwise wouldn’t experience the magic. The gondola and observation deck on Little Whiteface are both wheelchair accessible.

Prospective visitors should note that Whiteface Mountain’s Cloudsplitter Gondola is open on a limited basis through Columbus Day. Scheduling, pricing and more information about it can be found at tinyurl.com/ypd85x2d.