Conditions 12/26/17

• INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 
  • •  While the "winter storm warning" for Christmas only produced about 3" of new snow in most places, that combined with Friday's snow means we are in pretty good shape for Christmas/New Years week.  Unfortunately, the temperatures are predicted to be very cold for that period, but with the right clothing, moving along on x-c skis will be a lot warmer than riding some lift and then sliding down.  No significant new snow in sight.
    JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
    •               Base Depth - 4-8" 
    •               Surface Conditions - Powder
                           Km Open - 50 km
•                        Remarks -  Hills still require some caution. All rocks are covered, but not always by very much snow - 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: 24"
                  Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  3-4'  
                  Surface Conditions: Powder
            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.  Boulders below Avalanche Camp now mostly covered. Overall, good skiing.
    • Wright Peak and Marcy need a bit more new snow to be really skiable. 
    • Road to Newcomb Lake good skiing with now 10" of cover.  Moose Pond now probably good skiing. 
    • Fish Pond and Hays Brook truck trails skiable.   
    • Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing skiable. 
    • Lake Colden and  Avalanche Lake crossable, Given the temperatures and the wind predicted for this week, crossing these lakes will likely require a face mask and goggles since the conditions there will be much like the alpine summits.
    • Whiteface Highway skiable from the Toll House, but not all that enjoyable given the wind and temperature predictions.
    • Keene Valley/Garden Parking has about 8" of cover and not really skiable to JBL.
    • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake a bit thin at the very beginning, but otherwise very 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 (packed) - 6" 
        •               Off track snow depth - 8"
                        Inches New Snow - 2
                        Surface Conditions - Powder
                        Km Open - 50
                        Km Tracked - 15
        •               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 - 8"
                        Inches New Snow - 2
                        Surface Conditions -  Powder 
                        Km Open -13
                        Km Tracked - 8
                        Remarks - Narrow wind-sheltered trails will be the best choice for the coming weeks and weekend.  Also, a nice big fireplace with bar/restaurant to help with the warm-up after sk 
      •            Paul Smith's VIC:  www.trailhub.org/trail/generatepdf?orgid=TXpFMA==&actid=TVRVPQ==
                   15 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, 
                               Base Depth (packed) - 7"
      •                        Off track snow depth:  10"
                                Inches New Snow 6
                               Surface Conditions - Powder
                               Km Open - 15
                               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 - 3
                                Surface conditions - Powder
                                Km Open -10
      •                         Km Tracked - 8
                                Remarks -  Good skiing with track set 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 with track set where the snow is deep enough