Conditions 1/22/2015 and beyond

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• •  Pretty much what we see on Thursday is what we get for the weekend and beyond.  Warming to the 30s on Saturday with a chance of some light snow, but then again cooling to about seasonal norms for Sunday and into next week with still no significant new snow in sight.  Fortunately, we still have a good base, although surfaces are a bit "crispy" and fast given our lack of any new snow.  Given these very stable conditions, next update on Monday, 1/26 when we have a better idea of any chance for snow next week.  
  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: 26"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  3-4'  
                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.
  
•          Lake Colden and the higher elevations did pick up some snow earlier in the week when other areas had a few brief rain showers.  So while it's still not full mid-winter conditions the skiing in from the Loj at least is improved from last weekend.
  
•             
  
  • 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.  Boulders below Avalanche Camp now mostly covered, and only a few thiner spots on the ski trail to the top of the pass and down to Lake Colden.  Overall good skiing.
  • Wright Peak and Marcy still  need more new snow to again be really skiable, although Marcy above the steep hill after 50-meter (now 5-meter) bridge is in good shape.  
    
  • 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 trails skiable.  Raquette Falls now skiable, but caution is still required on the hills as not all obstacles are fully covered.
  • 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.
  • Keene Valley/Garden Parking still has marginal cover and not really skiable to JBL.
  • 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 -  
    •      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 -
    •              
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 4-6"
                           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.   
                   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 -10
                            Km Tracked - 
                            Remarks -  Good skiing on the lower trails.  Upper trails now open with some thin spots.
    
                     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