Blog Archives

Conditions 1/31/2014

1/31/2014

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
No new snow since Monday, but we're in better shape than last week. Areas that held onto at least some base like Paul Smiths and Newcomb now have reasonably good conditions - at least on the smoother, gentler terrain. Some snow possible on Saturday with temperatures warming to around freezing Friday through Sunday. A bit cooler next week and another chance for snow mid week.
In addition to skiing, there is now a nearly two mile ice skating loop around the perimeter of Mirror Lake.
But for the ultimate frustration for us northern skiers, it appears there is a greater chance of snow falling on the Super Bowl than on any of our ski trails.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS: Base Depth - 2-4"
Surface Conditions - powder on crust
Km Open - 25

Remarks - Right now most sections are thin with rocks either showing or lurking just below the surface, so caution is needed. The exception is the section from Lake Clear Jct. to the Paul Smiths VIC where there is just enough snow for good skiing. Between Keene and Saranac Lake, there is enough snow to be able to avoid above-mantioned obstacles on the section from the Keene end to the beaver ponds on the Lake Placid side. Also skiable from River Rd. up to Rt. 86, although no base under the spruces. Peninsula section's gentle terrain is the best skiing. Whiteface Inn Lane to the top of the pass still just barely skiable, but with extreme caution on the return downhill run. No base at the Saranac Lake end in toward McKenzie Pond, but it has been skied.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 26"
Snow Depth at 4,000 feet: 24-30"
Surface Conditions: Powder on ice
Remarks: New light snow has brought the snow depth at Lake Colden up some more, but snow cover is still very thin at ADK Loj. With the new snow, the Marcy Dam Truck Trail is more skiable than before, but still thin enough that one must use caution not to hit the ricks lurking under the snow. Despite the thin cover, skis or snowshoes must now because the snow depth warrants them higher up. Microspikes or crampons will still be practically

mandatory for any steep trail.

Ice on Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden and all other smaller bodies of water safe to cross, just be very careful around inlets or outlets (reports of several mishaps at Avalanche Lake outlet). Unbridged streams have refrozen, including the Opalescent River in Flowed Lands. Lake Colden caretaker reports that the Calamity Brook Trail is "passable" on skis - at least the "rock" kind.

Definitely be prepared for full winter weather conditions on any bare summit.

Meadow Lane now closed for the winter. Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail, but that smooth road is now a good ski.

Newcomb Lake Road: (and the side road to Moose Pond) is still the best backcountry choice as it is back up to 8" including 2" of new powder.
Hays Brook Truck Trail: to Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow also has reasonably good cover, and all of the difficult to negotiate blowdowns have been cleared.
Fish Pond Truck Trail: has cover, but is blocked by occasional blowdowns from the icing event before Christmas. Very good skiing on the lakes and ponds.
Raquette Falls:, no report but most likely not quite enough cover yet.
Ausable Lake Road: now has 2-3" or so of fluff on an icy base and is again skiable.
Marcy Dam Truck Trail: is still just fluff on crust with rocks that must be dodged and still not recommended, although it has been skied.
Burn Road: Near Little Tupper Lake is smooth underneath and now has good cover.
Whiteface Highway: Good cover on the sheltered stretches, but with the winds on Monday there are likely long sections that are blown bare or nearly so.

__________________________________________________________________________

Trail Conditions

LOCAL INFORMATION(see links below)

Archives

LOCAL INFORMATION
(see links below)