Conditions 12/28/2014

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • The thaw unfortunately continued through Saturday and into Sunday morning.  Cooler temperatures promised by Sunday evening and then quite cold Monday night and Tuesday, but no significant new snow with the cooler temperatures.   Surfaces will not be ideal for skiing except at the groomed centers.  
  • After cold temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday, it will again warm up with temperatures now predicted to be above freezing by next Saturday.  Oh well, we had a nice start to the winter.
  • 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.
  • Surface conditions are "granular" which will be loose if the temperature is above freezing and frozen if below freezing. 
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
  •               Base Depth - 4-8" (except less as one heads toward Paul Smiths)
  •               Surface Conditions -  Granular 
                         Km Open - 30
                 Remarks -  Peninsula and Fawn Ridge sections cleared of blowdown, and coverage is near 100%. Trail above Whiteface Inn Lane has washouts in the first half mile, but then has good cover and has been cleared to the lean-to and the top of the pass.   Surfaces will be fast once the temperature drops, and the steeper sections such as the hill above McKenzie Pond are not recommended.
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 10"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  15" - 20"  
                Surface Conditions: 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.  Caretaker skied to Marcy Dam and back on Friday, but said do it "only if you are getting paid to do it".
  • Wright Peak and Marcy were skiable, but definitely need a lot of new snow to again be 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, but just barely.  Hills going to Moose Pond will be fast. 
  • Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing remains skiable but fast on the downhills
  • Lake Colden remain crossable.  Avalanche Lake can be crossed, but there is open water at the edges and at the outlet, so the trail is the safer choice.  Old Norse proverb: "Praise not the ice until it is crossed."
  • Whiteface Highway requires walking to get to the snow, and is then crusty and fast above.
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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) -  2-5" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 6"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions -  Granular
                    Km Open - 45
                    Km Tracked - 15
    •               Remarks -   New set track on the flatter terrain.  All but Ladies 5 km reported as skiable.  Some bare spots developing
    •      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) -   3" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 5"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions -  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 -  Granular
                    Km Open -  7
                    Km Tracked - 
                    Remarks - Open. Reporting fast conditions but ok on the gentler terrain.
    •              
    • 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 - Closed.  Still cover in the wooded areas below Rt. 86.
    
               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 - 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 -  12/27 report says lower trails are "firm" but skiable.
    
                     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."