Whiteface Highway update: As of Sunday at midday there was excellent snow coverage on the toll road (see photos). Some bare pavement lurking under the fresh snow in the usual windblown locations but these spots are easily avoided. Above the pump house 3-4 inches of powder made for enjoyable skiing. We picked up a few more inches Sunday night so Monday should be great skiing still.
Snow depth in the woods next to the Highway did not seem to be more than about six inches at 3,000 to 4,000 feet, but Whiteface seems to have been in the "shadow" of the recent snows, so expect more snow at 4,000 feet in the rest of the High Peaks, i.e. snowshoes required to summit any other 4,000-foot summit. Getting to 4,000 feet on anything but the Highway will require some form of traction aid.
STAY TUNED - we're out patrolling the Paul Smiths end of the Jackrabbit Trail and Hayes Brook truck trail today. Expecting to find good skiing in this area as well as the Fish Pond Truck Trail, always a good early season ski outing. We'll update this report this afternoon.