The weather system that moved into the region on Monday night brought a mix of precipitation, beginning with freezing rain and sleet in the early hours of Tuesday, followed by 6-12" of heavy, wet snow.  While we all crave champagne powder, this turned out to be exactly the kind of snow we needed to restore the snow pack that was diminished by the weekend meltdown.  

All ski trails in the region are now well-covered and most have been skied in past two days.  All sections of the Jackrabbit Trail are skiable with good ski tracks set and 4-6" of dense snow outside the ski track.  Some drainages remain open but are easily negotiated.  Conditions on the popular McKenzie Pass and Old Mountain Rd sections are superb.   Connery Pond-Whiteface Landing was skied Wednesday and reported to be in good condition.  No specific reports from trails in the Fish Pond - Paul Smiths area but there is no reason to believe its any different (past experience would lead us to believe its better).  

Great conditions are reported in the High Peaks as of Wednesday afternoon.  There's good coverage on the hiking trail between Heart Lake and Marcy Dam, as well as the Truck Trail.  Above Marcy Dam skiers will find good conditions on Avalanche Pass, Whales Tail, Lake Arnold and the Marcy trails (though a few thin spots are reported along Phelps Brook).  

Ice is reported to be strong on Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden.  HOWEVER, the warm temps and rain of last weekend left many lower elevation water bodies flooded and slushy.  Furthermore, many streams are open and flowing, even in the High Peaks.  We cannot vouch for the thickness of the ice on any other lakes or ponds.  Use caution and good judgement whenever you ski onto the ice.  Skiing over a frozen body of water is a cross-country skiing past time; it can access you to areas not seen by most in the summer. With that being said it is a dangerous activity to cross frozen water bodies and should be done with care and respect for your environment. Know the ice conditions and be prepared for anything including heavy winds, snow drifts, whiteouts, slushy conditions, and thin ice. 

Finally, a reminder that BETA is hosting the 25th Annual Ski & Swim Party this Sunday, January 29 at the Crowne Plaza in Lake Placid.  SEE EVENT DETAILS HERE.

The few inches of snow that fell on Tuesday and Wednesday this week improved ski conditions considerably, especially in the High Peaks, but alas, we are going to experience warm temperatures and possibly rain through this weekend that will set us back once again.  

Yesterday (Thursday) we skied into Lake Colden via Avalanche Pass and found surprisingly good coverage all the way from the Adirondack Loj to Avalanche Pass.  3-4" of dense snow covered well the frozen base of last weekend and made for smooth but somewhat sticky kicking and gliding (glide wax recommended).  Avalanche Pass Ski Trail was fantastic with 4-6" of fresh snow.  Whales Tail Ski Trail was skiable but many drainages remain open, which will make it difficult for all but the most experienced skiers to negotiate the steeper downhill sections.  Based on yesterday's observations its likely that Wright Peak Ski Trail is in good shape as well.

Conditions vary widely on the Jackrabbit Trail. Old Mountain Rd and the Lake Placid side of McKenzie Pass have the best snow.  Coverage is much thinner on the Saranac Lake side of McKenzie Pass.  

Sunny and temps in the 40s today (Friday).  Chance of freezing rain overnight and rain tomorrow, with temps again in the 40s.  The next chance for snow looks to be Monday night if the forecast remains unchanged.  

A reminder that next Sunday, January 29 is the 25th Annual Ski & Swim Pool Party at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Lake Placid.  The event is a family-friendly FUN-raiser for Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA).  Join us for skiing (hopefully), swimming (definitely) and socializing with fellow skiing enthusiasts.  As always, we thank the Lussi family for their long-standing support of this event.  

Location:  Crowne Plaza, Olympic Drive, Lake Placid (follow signs from front desk to pool area).
Time:  3pm to 6pm
Cost:  $10 Adults / $5 Children

Before the pool party join us for the annual Theresa Klauck Memorial Ski Tour on the Jackrabbit Trail to pay homage to a long-time friend of the Jackrabbit and former ASTC Board Member.  Meet at 11:30am at Cascade XC Center and finish at the Crowne Plaza in time for the pool party.  Depending on snow conditions and interest, we may also have a group ski from McKenzie Pond Rd in Saranac Lake to the pool party.  More information and updates will be posted to this website:

www.jackrabbittrail.org/annual-pool-party 

Another rain event coming our way folks.  Currently good coverage and fast and firm skiing on the entire Jackrabbit Trail, with a few thin, icy spots at lower elevations and on segments with dense tree cover.  Late Tuesday night (1/10) we picked up 3-4" of dense, heavy snow in the Lake Placid area. We assume but have not confirmed that a little more fell in the High Peaks at higher elevations.  Skiing will be good today but its warming-up to a high of 39F.  Hopefully this new snow from last night, combined with the solid base of snow we already had on well-traveled ski trails will serve as a buffer for the rain and 40-50F temps we're going to get tonight and tomorrow.  Thursday night temperatures will drop again into the 20s and the tail end of this storm may bring some new snow overnight.  Below zero temps will return Friday night, but no other snow in sight for the MLK weekend.  We're in "wait and see" mode and will post another update on Friday once the damage is assessed.

National Weather Service - forecast for Lake Placid, NY

Brief update today...

We picked-up 3-4" of dry fluffy powder between Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning.  This fell on top of the wet snow and ice that was left in the aftermath of the freezing rain event on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.  The new snow will improve trail conditions considerably across the region but we'll need a bit more accumulation to get back to the conditions we enjoyed over the New Year weekend.  Skiers should beware that crusty ski tracks, wet spots, ice and other obstacles will be lurking under this new snow.  Use caution on downhills and drainage crossings. 

According to the National Weather Service, the next chance for snow showers will be on Sunday, otherwise we'll see daytime temps hovering in the teens for the next 5 days, with nighttime temps dipping below zero.

Lake ice is reported to be 4-8" thick throughout the region and will get stronger over the next few days, but caution should still be exercised whenever attempting an ice crossing.  Pay attention to stream inlets and outlets, and always follow this advice...

Skiing over a frozen body of water is a cross-country skiing past time; it can access you to areas not seen by most in the summer. With that being said it is a dangerous activity to cross frozen water bodies and should be done with care and respect for your environment. Know the ice conditions and be prepared for anything including heavy winds, snow drifts, whiteouts, slushy conditions, and thin ice.

The next report will be issued on Sunday 1/8/17.

The past 3 days the skiing was as good as its been in a long time...at least that's our excuse for not posting an update since Friday.  We didn't quite get the blast of snow that was forecast for New Year's Eve, but the skiing was fantastic regardless.  The Jackrabbit Trail and most other major ski routes have almost 100% coverage and good ski tracks.  Whiteface Landing, Hayes Brook, Fish Pond and Deer Pond trails are all in good condition.  In the Eastern High Peaks skiing is fantastic above Marcy Dam.  Avalanche Pass Ski Trail is in great condition with 8-10 inches of powder outside the ski tracks.  Mt. Marcy has been skied in reportably good conditions.  The hiking trails from Heart Lake are finally in good condition for ski touring.  Whales Tail could use more snow.  Mr. Van Ski Trail conditions are variable and several large trees are down (will hopefully get cleared this week).   

However this is the Adirondacks so there must be a "BUT" in there somewhere, right?  Yup.  Another rain event is upon us, and this morning (Tuesday) we found a thin glaze of ice on the car windshields.  Temperatures have spiked to near 40F today and the National Weather Service has issued a freezing rain advisory until Wednesday morning.   Wednesday night the temperature will drop again to the teens.  We may see some snow Wedneday night and Thursday.  

This afternoon and tomorrow skiers are likely to encounter wet and slushy conditions with a possible freezing rain crust.  Hopefully the warm-up is short enough and the rain light enough for us to preserve most of the current snowpack, which is now deep enough to cover most rocks and obstacles on the ski trails.  

A brief update will be posted tomorrow night after we assess the conditions after the rain tonight.