Conditions 1/19/2015

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• •  While we did have about 24 hours of above freezing temperatures and even some rain, there was no significant loss of snow cover, so I guess this doesn't really "qualify" as a "January thaw".  Temperatures will be dropping on Monday with daytime highs on Tuesday and Wednesday only in the teens.  Warming again to highs in the 20s by the weekend.  Some snow today as the temperatures drop, but no significant new snow in sight.  Fortunately, we still have a good base, although surfaces will be a bit "crispy" until we get at least a few inches of new snow.  Check back on Wednesday for an update.  
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
  •               Base Depth - 6-10" 
  •               Surface Conditions - Powder and crust
                         Km Open - 50 km
•                        Remarks -  Hills still require caution as not every rock is fully covered - particularly in the first 1/2 mile above Whiteface Inn Lane and at the Keene end of the Old Mt. Road section.
  
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 22"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  30-36"  
                Surface Conditions: Powder and crust
            Meadow Lane now closed for the winter.  Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.  Skis or snowshoes required in the High Peaks, needed elsewhere.  Good traction still required for the steeper mountain trails.
•             
  
  • Truck trail still the recommended choice over the hiking trail to Marcy Dam, but hiking trail can be skied, starting on the Old Marcy Dam Trail.  Some boulders to dodge getting to Avalanche Camp, and still some thin spots on the ski trail to the top of the pass and down to Lake Colden, but overall quite skiable.
  • Wright Peak and Marcy still  need more new snow to again be skiable.  
    
  • The Calamity Brook Trail still a bit rough but skiable.  Opalescent River now frozen at Flowed Lands and crossable with care.  
  • Road to Newcomb Lake good skiing with now 12" of cover.  Moose Pond now also good skiing. 
  • Fish Pond and Hays Brook truck trail skiable.  Raquette Falls probably not yet.
  • Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing skiable. 
  • Lake Colden and  Avalanche Lake crossable, but avoid the outlet of Avalanche Lake. Other lakes also finally safe to cross.
  • Whiteface Highway skiable from the Toll House.
  • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake packed by snowmobiles, a bit thin at the very beginning, but 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) -  7" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 12"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions - Powder and crust
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 45
    •               Remarks -   New set track on most trails.  Porter Mt. Loops very good skiing
    •      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) -   6" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 10"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions -  Powder 
                    Km Open -20
                    Km Tracked - 10
                    Remarks -  
    • 
               Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
    •     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
    • www.whitefaceclubresort.com
    •  Base Depth (packed) - 
                    Inches New Snow - 
    •               Surface Conditions -  Powder and crust
                    Km Open -  10
                    Km Tracked - 7
                    Remarks - Open again with track set on most trails.
    •              
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 2-4"
                           Off track snow depth:  12"
                            Inches New Snow 
                           Surface Conditions - Powder and crust
                           Km Open - 20
                           Km Tracked - 10
                           Remarks - All trails open and packed.   AM.
    
                   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) - 3-5"
                            Inches New Snow - 
                            Surface conditions - Powder and crust
                            Km Open - 5
                            Km Tracked - 
                            Remarks -  Good skiing on the lower trails.  Upper trails now open with "variable conditions".
    
                     Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                 10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                 http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
    All trails groomed except for Big Tupper Trail