Conditions 12/26/2014

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • After two days of thaw and high winds on Christmas Day, we still have snow.  Surfaces will not be ideal for skiing except at the groomed centers.  The first significant chance for new snow appears to be on Sunday, but still not that much unfortunately.  Next week the temperatures return to seasonal normals, but still no significant new snow in sight.  As noted below, there will be branches and trees down on most trails.
  • The only good that may come out of this thaw is that it will "reset" the process of ice formation on area lakes.  We thus may get some good thick ice before the next big snow, and this will minimize the chance of slush under the snow on lakes.
  • LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IDEA:  LOST SKI AREAS OF THE NORTHERN ADIRONDACKS  by Jeremy Davis.  Learn that there were once 14 ski areas in or near Lake Placid, and another 13 between Tupper Lake, Paul Smiths, Saranac Lake, Wilmington, and Jay.  Available at the Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid and The Mountaineer in Keene Valley. 
    
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
  •               Base Depth - 4-8" (except less as one heads toward Paul Smiths)
  •               Surface Conditions -   Frozen granular 
                         Km Open - 30
                 Remarks -  All sections will have branches and trees down until we get out and clear.  Surfaces will be fast and the steeper sections such as the hill above McKenzie Pond are not recommended.
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 14"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  18" - 24" feet 
                Surface Conditions: Frozen granular
            Meadow Lane now closed for the winter.  Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.  Skis or snowshoes still required in the High Peaks, needed elsewhere.  Good traction required for the steeper mountain trails.
  • All popular backcountry routes were skiable, but now only the gentler terrain can be recommended after the thaw. 
  • Avalanche Pass was in good shape thanks to some shoveling by the Lake Colden caretaker, but it won't be much fun on skis until we get more snow.  
  • Wright Peak and Marcy were skiable, but definitely need a lot of new snow to again b skiable.  For hikers, Marcy Brook at Indian Falls is probably "out" and could be difficult to cross.  
  • The Calamity Brook Trail was skiable, now too rough at the beginning.  
  • Road to Newcomb Lake still skiable.  Hills going to Moose Pond will be fast. 
  • Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing skiable but fast on the downhills
  • Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden have been crossable, but not so until it cools down and freezes all the water that accumulated on the surface of the snow. Caretaker says the outlet to Avalanche Lake likely went out and likely took the trails with it. No other lakes or rivers are safe to cross.  The only good that may come from next week's thaw is that we can start over building up a decent thickness of ice on the lakes so that there isn't "terminal slush" that prevents crossing any lakes without icing up.
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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) -  5" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 10"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions -  Frozen granular
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 50
    •               Remarks -   Snacks and rentals now available.  Area will start tilling the flatter terrain and setting new track where possible
    •      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 - 8"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions -  Frozen granular 
                    Km Open -15
                    Km Tracked - 15
                    Remarks -  Ski shop open daily.  Bar and restaurant open weekends and Christmas week.  
    • 
               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 - Open for the season as of 12/20, but no report on current operations.
    •              
    • Lake Placid Club Nordic Center  -  Open for Christmas week 12/26-1/4
    • 15 km of trails   518-523-2556
    •  Base Depth (packed) - 
                    Inches New Snow - 
    •               Surface Conditions -   
                    Km Open -  
                    Km Tracked - 
                    Remarks - Dogs permitted with restrictions, but no report on current operations
    
               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:  4"
                            Inches New Snow 
                           Surface Conditions - Frozen granular
                           Km Open - 15
                           Km Tracked - 
                           Remarks - Latest report is as of 12/24.  Esker, Loggers then reported as closed.
    
                   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 -  No current report, but unlikely they survived the thaw.
    
                     Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                 10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                 http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
              Current report:  "The Grinch stole our snow."