Conditions 12/17/2014

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • No significant new snow since Thursday, but we have plenty pretty much everywhere.  Paul Smiths area only got about 6" out of last week's storm, but Keene to Saranac Lake got 18-24" of dense powder.
  • Warm on Wednesday with some light sprinkles, but no significant melting of the snow that we have. 1-2" of snow possible Wednesday night to refresh the surface.  Still warm on Thursday with possibly some mixed precipitation before again ending as an inch or so of snow.  Cooling by Thursday night, but no really frigid weather in sight.
  • SKI MOVIE SAT, DEC. 20:  DAYS OF MY YOUTH BY Matchstick Productions Some truly amazing skiing presented by Placid Planet - benefit of ASTC/BETA.
  • TIME:  7 PM.            PLACE:  Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Saranac Ave. Lake Placid
  • ADMISSION:  $12 Adults, $10 Children  plus Raffle Prizes from local sponsors
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
  •               Base Depth - 18-24" (except less as one heads toward Paul Smiths)
  •               Surface Conditions -   Wet powder
                         Km Open - 50
                 Remarks -  All sections broken out.  Still a few branches on some sections.
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 25"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  2-3 feet 
                Surface Conditions: Wet powder 
            Meadow Lane now closed for the winter.  Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.  Skis or snowshoes now required in the High Peaks, needed elsewhere.
  • All popular backcountry routes are skiable. Avalanche Pass has been broken out, and the Lake Colden Caretaker has been working to shovel and further improve the conditions.  Wright Peak and Marcy are skiable, but caution is needed as it isn't quite mid-winter conditions yet.  The Calamity Brook Trail is skiable but rough as Newcomb only got 12" - plenty for Newcomb Lake and Moose Pond - but rough for the start from Upper Works.  Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing broken out and all downed branches removed.
  • Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are crossable despite being slushy.  No other lakes or rivers are safety cross.
  • One comment to a report last week asked about slide conditions.  We haven't been willing to hazard a guess about slides since conditions can very tremendously from slide to slide due to the wind.  That said, this heavy snow that fell in two separate dumps is potentially very unstable. 
  • __________________________________________________________________________
    
    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) -  6" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 18"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions -  wet powder 
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 50
    •               Remarks -   Snacks and rentals now available
    •      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 - 16"
                    Inches New Snow -
                    Surface Conditions - wet powder 
                    Km Open -15
                    Km Tracked - 15
                    Remarks -  Ski shop open daily.  Bar and restaurant open weekends.  
    • 
               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 -    
                    Km Open -  
                    Km Tracked - 
                    Remarks - No report on grooming, 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) - 3-5
                           Off track snow depth:  8"
                            Inches New Snow 
                           Surface Conditions - wet powder
                           Km Open - 15
                           Km Tracked - 
                           Remarks -  All trails except for the Esker Trail packed and skiable, but no set track
    
                   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) - 6"
                            Inches New Snow -
                            Surface conditions - powder
                            Km Open - 10
                            Km Tracked - 
                            Remarks - Trails packed, but no set track
    
                     Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                 10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                 http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
               4-10" of cover.  All trails packed and all but Big Tupper Trail tracked.