Conditions 1/19/13

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:  The Lake Placid area picked up another 3" of snow on Friday night, and we now have 4-5" of powder on a firm base of 2-4".  Temperatures around 30 today, Saturday and Sunday, but falling on Sunday afternoon.  High temps now predicted to be only around 10 on Monday and even colder Tuesday through Thursday next week, but warming again before next weekend.  No major new snow in sight, but a few additional flurries are possible Sunday.

• JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:

•               Base Depth - 2-10 inches

•               Surface Conditions -  powder
•               Km Open - 50

              Remarks -  Still some wet areas from McKenzie Pond Road to Saranac Lake, but otherwise the whole trail is skiable for the weekend. Caution still advised on the steeper hills.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
              Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 25 inches
              Snow Depth at 4,000 feet: 3-4 feet
              Surface Conditions: powder
              Remarks: Another three inches of new snow at Lake Colden overnight, but it was light snow and generally only the smoother terrain can be recommended.  Hiking trail from ADK Loj to Marcy Dam better but still not all that skiable.  Truck Trail is skiable.  Avalanche Pass  has good cover as far as the top of the pass.  Past the height of land, many open drainages and damage by a reported "army of postholers" have rendered the trail unskiable. Still some rocks to dodge between the dam and Avalanche Camp.  Calamity Brook Trail has many long wet areas, and is not recommended for skiing.  After yesterday's cold snap and with little snow insulating the ice, lakes are now skiable with mercifully little chance of slush problems.  (Too bad we had to have a major thaw to make this possible.)

• • • • Avalanche and Lake Colden again crossable with caution around the edges, inlets and outlets.
• • Marcy still has good cover above 50 meter bridge. Below that point, probably not skiable even with fresh snow.   Wright Peak also still has cover above the junction with the hiking trail.  
  
  
• Skis and snowshoes are still required in the High Peaks (most are bare booting as far as Marcy Dam) and needed elsewhere, but traction aids will be very necessary on all steep terrain. 
• Meadow Lane has been blocked off for the winter, adding 3/4 mile to approach of Marcy Dam.  
• Otherwise, all the early season favorites including Connery Pond, Whiteface Highway , Newcomb Lake, Fish Pond (lake ice on all ponds is now thick enough and free of slush), Raquette Falls, Ausable Lake Road, and Hays Brook have skiable cover, and will be again skiable this weekend.  15" in Newcomb. Newcomb Lake Road remains very skiable and its gentle grades recommend it.    Trail to Johns Brook Lodge not skiable. 
  
  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 - 5" (packed)  
                Inches New Snow - 3"
                Surface Conditions -  powder
                Km Open - 40
                Km Tracked -25 
                Remarks - Biathlon side open and tracked,  x-c side closed until noon  Saturday  due St. Lawrence winter carnival races. 
• 
       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 - 4"      
                Inches New Snow - 3"
                Surface Conditions -  powder
                Km Open - 15
                Km Tracked - 
                Remarks - 
  
       Lake Placid Club Nordic Center: (part of Lake Placid Crowne Plaza)
•     10 km of trails, open holiday weeks and some weekends, rentals, 518-523-2556,  www.lakeplacidcp.com
                Base Depth -  2-4"     
                Inches New Snow - 3
                Surface Conditions -  powder
                Km Open -?
                Km Tracked - 
                Remarks -  
  
       Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
•     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. (daily during holiday weeks), rentals, 518-523-2551, www.whitefaceclubresort.com
                Base Depth - 6"       
                Inches New Snow - 3
                Surface Conditions -  powder
                Km Open -  10
                Km Tracked - 10
                Remarks -  

           Paul Smith's VIC:
           15 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                       Base Depth - 5" 
                        Inches New Snow - 3
                       Surface Conditions - powder
                       Km Open - 15
                       Km Tracked -
                       Remarks -  Open again as of Friday