Conditions 11/28/2014

             INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • No more significant new snow in the forecast, but it will remain cold Friday and Saturday before warming on Sunday with a chance of some mixed precipitation.   Still warm, but only near 40 on Monday (not 60 like last Monday), but then cooler for the rest of next week.  So no real change in snow cover for the foreseeable future.  
  • Snow depths are 4-6" in Keene, 3-4" in Lake Placid, but only 1-2" further west at Paul Smiths. No direct report on Newcomb, but the NOAA general snowfall map would indicate 4-6". UPDATE:  A visit to Newcomb revealed 3" to at most 4".  Just enough to ski to Camp Santanoni, but very thin under the pines ands the hemlocks.
  
  
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
  •               Base Depth - 4-6" (Keene end)
  •               Surface Conditions -          
                         Km Open - 5 (maybe)
                 Remarks -  Keene end has skiable cover from Rock and River, but with no base and unfrozen ground there will likely be wet spots and icing on ski bottoms.  
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 6" 
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  1' (estimated) 
                Surface Conditions: Powder 
            Meadow Lane now closed for the winter.  Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.
  • Whiteface Highway:  Given the lack of wind with this storm, there  good cover except for a few spots on the higher turns.  
    
  • Marcy Dam Truck Trail not really skiable as the rocks are barely covered.
  • Best bet is the Newcomb Lake Road to Camp Santanoni - this despite the thin cover under the pines and the hemlocks.
  • Hays Brook, Fish Pond, and the VIC trails just barely skiable.
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    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) -  2" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 5"
                    Inches New Snow - 4" (past 48 hours)
                    Surface Conditions -  packed powder 
                    Km Open - 12
                    Km Tracked - 
    •               Remarks -   Flatter terrain x-c side only. Lodge open. No food or rentals 
    •      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) -   2" 
                    Inches New Snow - 4"(past 48 hours)
                    Surface Conditions - packed powder 
                    Km Open -5
                    Km Tracked - 
                    Remarks -  Ski shop open daily.  Bar and restaurant open this weekend.  
    • 
               Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
    •     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
    • www.whitefaceclubresort.com
                    Base Depth (packed) - 
                    Inches New Snow - 4"(past 48 hours)
    •               Surface Conditions -    
                    Km Open -  
                    Km Tracked - 
                    Remarks - Closed, but golf course is skiable
    
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 
                           Off track snow depth:  2"
                            Inches New Snow - 2"(past 48 hours)
                           Surface Conditions - powder
                           Km Open - 
                           Km Tracked - 
                           Remarks -   Smoother trail just barely skiable
    
                   Dewey Mountain - Saranac  Lake
                13 km of trails, open daily (including nights until 7PM Tue. - Fri.), rentals, 891-2697         http://www.deweymountain.com
                            Base Depth (packed) - 2
                            Inches New Snow - 2"(past 48 hours)
                            Surface conditions - 
                            Km Open - 
                            Km Tracked - 
                            Remarks - Still closed
    
                     Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                 10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                 http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
                No current report