Update 12/28/18
So far the latest thaw hasn't been as bad as the previous Friday thaw. Temperatures never reached 50, and there was relatively little rain or wind. All the nice new powder on top of the crust is gone, but the base remains mostly intact. Once the temperatures drop, it will be too icy for much good skiing, but at least the base remains so a few inches will make a significant improvement. Look for a more complete report tomorrow after we can survey the groomed centers and look at what might have still melted overnight before it cools down.
INTRODUCTION
Well, a minor "Christmas miracle" in that the predicted 0-2" of new snow turned into 2-4". This has made more terrain skiable - at least until the Grinch comes in with the next thaw on Friday. There is currently no agreement among forecasters whether Friday will be just a "wintry mix" or pure rain and temperatures near 50. Cold weather again afterwards, some will still hang on to a base.
The only good news from these thaws is that now some frost can finally get into the ground and freeze up many of the little seeps that have been plaguing backcountry trails up until now. Lake ice will also be able to thicken without the snow cover. This will improve backcountry for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, expect icy conditions on all hiking trails that have been previously broken out, and a breakable crust on previously unbroken sections. Traction essential for any even moderately steep trails, and snowshoes still needed on unbroken terrain. Stream crossings will be difficult with ice-covered rocks showing as the water goes back down.
JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS Base depth: 2-6"
So far the latest thaw hasn't been as bad as the previous Friday thaw. Temperatures never reached 50, and there was relatively little rain or wind. All the nice new powder on top of the crust is gone, but the base remains mostly intact. Once the temperatures drop, it will be too icy for much good skiing, but at least the base remains so a few inches will make a significant improvement. Look for a more complete report tomorrow after we can survey the groomed centers and look at what might have still melted overnight before it cools down.
INTRODUCTION
Well, a minor "Christmas miracle" in that the predicted 0-2" of new snow turned into 2-4". This has made more terrain skiable - at least until the Grinch comes in with the next thaw on Friday. There is currently no agreement among forecasters whether Friday will be just a "wintry mix" or pure rain and temperatures near 50. Cold weather again afterwards, some will still hang on to a base.
The only good news from these thaws is that now some frost can finally get into the ground and freeze up many of the little seeps that have been plaguing backcountry trails up until now. Lake ice will also be able to thicken without the snow cover. This will improve backcountry for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, expect icy conditions on all hiking trails that have been previously broken out, and a breakable crust on previously unbroken sections. Traction essential for any even moderately steep trails, and snowshoes still needed on unbroken terrain. Stream crossings will be difficult with ice-covered rocks showing as the water goes back down.
JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS Base depth: 2-6"
- Surface Conditions: powder on frozen granular
- Km Open - 15
- Remarks - Steeper sections not really recommended, but the gentler terrain at each end of the Old Mt. Road section plus the Peninsula section will be fine
- BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS
- Snow depth at Lake Colden: 16"
- Snow depth at 4,000 feet - 2-3 feet
- Hiking trail from Adirondak Loj not really skiable. Truck trail skiable, although still a bit rough.
- Avalanche Pass is still not really skiable. Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are crossable with care, but stay well away from inlets or outlets after last Friday's thaw.
- Marcy and Wright Peak were skiable higher up and still have a base once we get more snow.
- All of the truck trail skis (Connery Pond, Hays Brook, Fish Pond, etc.) are again skiable.
- Whiteface Highway - Still being plowed
- Keene Valley/Garden Parking - Not skiable.
- Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake: Not really skiable even after getting past the bare areas at the start as the new snow hasn't covered up the rough, icy surface underneath.
- Newcomb area has at least 4-6 inches of base snow, so Newcomb Lake Road is skiable.
- Gulf Brook Road to Boreas Ponds has good cover, and the parking area is now being plowed. There is some slightly rough surfaces on the base underneath the 3" of new snow as far as the summer parking area, but mostly smooth beyond there except for a few short stretches with water damage.
- 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) -4" - Off track snow depth - 10"
Inches New Snow - 3"
Surface Conditions - Powder on frozen granular - Km Open - 22
Km Tracked 22 - Remarks - Back in business
- 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) - 5" - Off track snow depth - 10"
Inches New Snow - 4'
Surface Conditions - powder on frozen granular
Km Open - 13
Km Tracked - 8
Remarks - - Paul Smith's VIC: www.trailhub.org/trail/generatepdf?orgid=TXpFMA==&actid=TVRVPQ==
- 30 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241,
Base Depth (packed) - 12"- Off track snow depth:
Inches New Snow:
Surface Conditions -
Km Open -
Km Tracked -- No updated report for Christmas day.
- No updated report for Christmas day.
- Off track snow depth:
- 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) - - Inches New Snow -
Surface conditions -
Km Open - - Km Tracked
Remarks - Closed until conditions improve
Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
No current report
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