Update 11/26/18
Despite the "Winter Storm Warning" for tonight and tomorrow, we'll only count out inches after they fall. In any event, it will likely be heavy, wet snow - not nice fresh powder. Predictions range from 5-9 inches for the Lake Placid area; but if the snow is actually as heavy as the temperatures would indicate, it could lead to the need for a lot more trail clearing.
The snow did melt back with the recent warmer temperatures, so we do need some new snow to keep this early season of skiing going. As promised below, a more complete new report by Thursday with weekend conditions for all areas.
Update 11/24/18
As of Saturday afternoon, the cold snap is over with temperatures back just above freezing. A bit warmer on Sunday with a chance of rain showers in the morning. Then cooling off a bit for the rest of the week with maybe a bit of new snow here and there. So, it may be a thaw after some good skiing, but we'll take a November thaw over a January thaw any year.
The snow we had made everything at the groomed centers plus all of the gentler early-season favorites skiable. Some, besides the truck trails, definitely exhibited "early season" conditions, but Whiteface Landing and the McKenzie Pass section of the Jackrabbit Trail for two examples were still very skiable. As of tomorrow, all of the conditions reported below will be deteriorating, but this does not appear to be any great meltdown. With the up and down weather predicted for the week, we'll probably wait until Thursday, 11/29 to update this report as conditions will likely be changing on a daily, if not hourly, basis until then.
Update 11/21/18
As of Wednesday evening we have picked up a few more inches of snow during the day, but otherwise no significant change in the snow conditions reported earlier. All sections of the Jackrabbit Trail and all popular early season backcountry routes have been broken out from Friday's storm. The only really news is the weather which will be extremely cold for November on Thursday, Thanksgiving day, but quickly warming up. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday will see temperatures near 40 (the normal high for this time of the year)and with a chance of some showers. Tuesday will cool down to around 30 for a high followed by high 20s on Wednesday.Thus minimal loss of snow, but perhaps a benefit overall in firming up the base for what looks like a good, long ski season. (Hope that statement doesn't jinx it).
Introduction:
We have now been able to get a better idea of what the recent storm produced and what area conditions are either in person or from reliable reports. Snow depths did vary widely with 12" in Keene but only 6" or so past Marcy Dam. Still lots of white stuff to slide on. Temperatures were generally above freezing today, Saturday, but no significant melting. There may be a light crust when the temperatures drop. Some lakes have frozen over, but no ice is safe yet.
Weather for the coming week is for a chance of light snow and a return to below normal temperatures for November, but about normal for "true" winter.
Next update as we receive updates, but o later than Wednesday, 11/21, when we have a better idea of the weather for the long Thanksgiving weekend.
JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS Base depth: 8-12"
Despite the "Winter Storm Warning" for tonight and tomorrow, we'll only count out inches after they fall. In any event, it will likely be heavy, wet snow - not nice fresh powder. Predictions range from 5-9 inches for the Lake Placid area; but if the snow is actually as heavy as the temperatures would indicate, it could lead to the need for a lot more trail clearing.
The snow did melt back with the recent warmer temperatures, so we do need some new snow to keep this early season of skiing going. As promised below, a more complete new report by Thursday with weekend conditions for all areas.
Update 11/24/18
As of Saturday afternoon, the cold snap is over with temperatures back just above freezing. A bit warmer on Sunday with a chance of rain showers in the morning. Then cooling off a bit for the rest of the week with maybe a bit of new snow here and there. So, it may be a thaw after some good skiing, but we'll take a November thaw over a January thaw any year.
The snow we had made everything at the groomed centers plus all of the gentler early-season favorites skiable. Some, besides the truck trails, definitely exhibited "early season" conditions, but Whiteface Landing and the McKenzie Pass section of the Jackrabbit Trail for two examples were still very skiable. As of tomorrow, all of the conditions reported below will be deteriorating, but this does not appear to be any great meltdown. With the up and down weather predicted for the week, we'll probably wait until Thursday, 11/29 to update this report as conditions will likely be changing on a daily, if not hourly, basis until then.
Update 11/21/18
As of Wednesday evening we have picked up a few more inches of snow during the day, but otherwise no significant change in the snow conditions reported earlier. All sections of the Jackrabbit Trail and all popular early season backcountry routes have been broken out from Friday's storm. The only really news is the weather which will be extremely cold for November on Thursday, Thanksgiving day, but quickly warming up. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday will see temperatures near 40 (the normal high for this time of the year)and with a chance of some showers. Tuesday will cool down to around 30 for a high followed by high 20s on Wednesday.Thus minimal loss of snow, but perhaps a benefit overall in firming up the base for what looks like a good, long ski season. (Hope that statement doesn't jinx it).
Introduction:
We have now been able to get a better idea of what the recent storm produced and what area conditions are either in person or from reliable reports. Snow depths did vary widely with 12" in Keene but only 6" or so past Marcy Dam. Still lots of white stuff to slide on. Temperatures were generally above freezing today, Saturday, but no significant melting. There may be a light crust when the temperatures drop. Some lakes have frozen over, but no ice is safe yet.
Weather for the coming week is for a chance of light snow and a return to below normal temperatures for November, but about normal for "true" winter.
Next update as we receive updates, but o later than Wednesday, 11/21, when we have a better idea of the weather for the long Thanksgiving weekend.
JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS Base depth: 8-12"
- Surface Conditions: Powder
- Km Open - 50
- Remarks - All sections skiable. Old Mt. Road section broken out from Keene to beaver pond on Lake Placid side. Not frozen, so no continuous route
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS- Snow depth at Lake Colden: 15" as of Thursday according to a forest ranger report. Definitely more now, but no skiable way to get there.
- Snow depth at 4,000 feet 3 feet
- Hiking trail from Adirondak Loj not skiable. Truck trail very skiable with a good skied-in track.
- Avalanche Pass not skiable yet. Trail from Marcy Dam to Avalanche Camp "negotiable" on skis, but generally only 6" beyond Marcy Dam.
- Marcy and Wright Peak not skiable without some very poor conditions on the approach.
- All of the truck trail skis (Connery Pond, Hays Brook, Fish Pond, etc.) are now fully skiable. Broken track to the top of the climb on the Fish Pond truck trail
- Lake Colden and Avalanche Lake not crossable
- Whiteface Highway - Still being plowed
- Keene Valley/Garden Parking - Not yet skiable
- Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake: Good cover and trail broken out as of Friday.
- ___________________________________________________________________
- X-C SKI CENTER CONDITIONS: (Groomed, trail fee required)
- Mt. Van Hoevenberg X-C Ski Center:
- 50km of trails, open daily, rentals, lessons, 518-523-2811, www.whiteface.com/activities/cross-country-skiing
Base Depth (packed) - 5" - Off track snow depth - 6-8"
Inches New Snow - 3"
Surface Conditions - Packed powder
Km Open - 45
Km Tracked 30 - Remarks -
- Cascade X-C Ski Center:
- 20 km of trails with connection to 50km at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, open daily, rentals, lessons, restaurant, bar. 518-523-9605, www.cascadeski.com
Base Depth(packed) - 5" - Off track snow depth - 6-8"
Inches New Snow - 3
Surface Conditions - Packed powder
Km Open - 10
Km Tracked -
Remarks - Ski shop open - Paul Smith's VIC: www.trailhub.org/trail/generatepdf?orgid=TXpFMA==&actid=TVRVPQ== No current report
- 30 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241,
Base Depth (packed) - - Off track snow depth:
Inches New Snow:
Surface Conditions -
Km Open -
Km Tracked -
- Dewey Mountain - Saranac Lake
- 13 km of trails, open daily (including nights until 7PM Tue. - Fri.), rentals, 891-2697 http://www.deweymountain.com No current report
Base Depth (packed) - - Inches New Snow -
Surface conditions -
Km Open - - Km Tracked
Remarks -
Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
No current report
http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
RSS Feed
