Thursday morning post-thaw update, 2/22:  Wednesday saw record-breaking temperatures nearly everywhere.  The high temperatures (around 70 in many places) combined with a steady breeze and bright sunshine melted much of the snow that we had built up.  Mt. Van Hoevenberg is down to 1 km, and Paul Smiths VIC reports that the trails are only open for snowshoeing today.  Temperatures have returned below freezing, but will go up into the 40s through the weekend and into next week.  Some chance of a few periods of snow, but it isn't a very good forecast for skiing.  Hiking trails are either ice or mud, but the pond skating may be the 'best game in town". The snow's not all gone gone everywhere, and we'll look around to see where even a few inches of new snow might be able to produce some acceptable surfaces to slide on.


As feared, the next big meltdown has started with temperature already approaching 50 as of noon on Monday.  Rain will start this evening and continue off and on through Wednesday when temperatures may get into the 60s.  Instad of winter storm warnings, we now have flood "watches" for the area.  And even after Monday there is no big cooling - just 30s Thursday and Friday and then back into the 40s for the coming weekend.  

With the warmer temperatures, surface conditions will be spring-like for most of the week.  There is a good base in most places, so we don't expect a complete loss of snow.  We will, however, be out checking around as of Thursday to see what's left.  All in all, however, it appears this weekend will be one for hiking with traction aids.  Just don't count on being able to cross any unbridged streams - at least not ones of any size.  

Nextp update on Thursday evening 2/22 after we've had a chance to look around at the extent of the damage.  Meanwhile, ski jumping may or may not happen on Tuesday, and apparently not on the big jump as originally planned.  Final Olympic note:  Women's Sprint Relay on Wednesday, 2/21. 5 AM live local time, and hopefully featured on NBC later if there are good results to show - keep your fingers crossed.

Quick update before the President's weekend folks.  Unfortunately we're in the midst of another significant meltdown.  Its 46F in Lake Placid this afternoon, with rain in the forecast for this evening and early Friday morning.  

We did a big tour in the High Peaks yesterday - out to Avalanche Lake, up the Trap Dike and down the Southeast Slide on Colden, and returned via the Lake Arnold trail to Marcy Dam and the Loj.  All trails were extremely firm and fast, with hard water ice in places below Marcy Dam.  Untracked snow outside of the ski/snowshoe track is very crusty and difficult to ski.  Snow cover on trails was good yesterday but will be diminished further by today's warm temperatures.  Snow on the slides and above treeline is mostly rain-affected and crusty from the precipitation on Sunday.  

Conditions will be similar on most sections of the Jackrabbit Ski Trail and other surrounding trails.  

Skiers heading out this weekend should expect to encounter difficult, icy conditions with rocks and roots exposed in some areas.  After the rain this evening temperatures will drop again on Friday evening to a low of -1F.  Sunny with temps in the mid-20sF on Saturday and Sunday.  

The best skiing will be on groomed trails this weekend.  If you must go into the backcountry, stick to the flatter trails.  We don't recommend attempting Marcy, Wright Peak or Whales Tail ski trails this weekend.  

We'll update again on Monday.  Until then, think snow.  

The snow late last week made for a great weekend of skiing.  Unfortunately, by Sunday evening the temperatures were in the 40s - not long enough to melt much of the nice snow, but enough to make that snow become rock hard by Monday morning when the temperatures dropped.  Cold tonight, then warming with temperatures again in the 40s on Wednesday and Thursday.  And yes, there could be some rain on those days.  Then cold again on Friday with perhaps enough snow to cover up all the crust.  

For Monday, it's back to good traction for hiking, but Wednesday and Thursday would see soft "spring" surfaces.  Mount Van Hoevenberg reported "wet and ice" on Monday, but still that all 50 km were open.  They should be able to groom some of the flatter terrain, and that will be the best skiing until it either thaws or we get more snow.

Next update on Wednesday when we have a better idea of the temperatures range Wednesday and Thursday plus a better idea of exactly how much snow we might get on Friday.  

On Thursday night we received up to 4" of light powder.  Enough to make for reasonable skiing on the gentler terrain, but in many places the snow just hides the water ice that is underneath.  We'll try to get some more specific reports of new snow depth by the end of the day, but at least Mt. Van Hoevenberg now has 10 km open with a few km of set track on the flatter terrain.  

From the remote station in Newcomb it appears that area got about 2", which should be enough for the Newcomb Lake Rd. to Camp Santanoni to be in passable shape.  

Temperatures will be cold Friday with a high only in the single digits.  Saturday will see a high in the upper teens, but warming up on Sunday to near freezing.  Some additional snow possible on Saturday, and most days next week, so we may eventually get back in shape on the "installment plan".

​For hiking in the High Peaks, this new snow has, if anything, made things more treacherous since the icy spots are now hidden by the snow.  Good traction (microspikes at a minimum) will be needed for any even moderately steep trail this weekend.