Conditions 1/25/18

• Update 1/27/18:  
•        Definitely warm today, Saturday, but no significant rain and consequently no significant loss of snow in wooded areas.  Groomed centers report no significant changes from Thursday's report.  Also no significant change on the Jackrabbit Trail or in the backcountry except that the warm temperatures may have slowed the skiing down a bit.  That will continue for tomorrow before it cools down.  Then we'll just have to hope that the predicted snow showers turn into something more significant.  Absent that, doesn't look all that good for the week as it may be back up above freezing again by Thursday.  Stay tuned.
• INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 
•     The good news about Tuesday's rain is that temperatures stayed in the low 40s, and with only a few hours of steady rain we didn't lose too much snow.  The bad news is that we received at most an inch of new snow afterwards, so for the most part it's "dust on crust" for surface conditions.  No new snow forecast for today or Friday, and warm again on Saturday with a renewed chance of rain.  Still above freezing on Sunday before we return to cooler temperatures on Monday with at least a chance of snow Monday and Tuesday.  
•      ​Sunday's Pool Party will, of course, still be on, but we'll have to evaluate conditions for the various ski-ins planned.  If temperatures stay somewhat warm, the surfaces should be soft enough to be safe.  Stay tuned, but hope to see as many of you as possible at the Crowne Plaza from 3-6 on Sunday.
•  
  • JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
    •               Base Depth - 3-6" 
    •               Surface Conditions - Crust with a dusting of powder
                           Km Open - 50 km - skiable, but steeper terrain not recommended.
•                        Remarks -  Metal-edged skis might make the McKenzie Pass and Old Mt. Road sections safe to ski, but it will be very fast until it warms up on Saturday.
• 
  
  • BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                  Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 24"
                  Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  4-5'  
                  Surface Conditions: Crust with a dusting.  No reports yet of what fell higher up.
            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 past Marcy Dam, needed elsewhere.  Traction aids practically required for all backcountry hiking where there is a slope.    
  • • Truck trail better than the hiking trail to Marcy Dam, but neither would be much fun.  Not recommended beyond Marcy Dam.  Wright Peak and Marcy not really skiable. 
    • Road to Newcomb Lake still has 10" of cover and is gentle enough to be safe and enjoyable.  Moose Pond also has enough cover, but steeper hills.  
    • Fish Pond, Whiteface Landing and Hays Brook truck trails all still skiable, but only Hayes Brook is recommended with perhaps a short walk on the few steep hills.   
    • Lake Colden and Avalanche Lake crossable, but that is probably of interest only to those hiking with traction. 
    • Whiteface Highway - no current report
    • Keene Valley/Garden Parking has about 6" of cover and not  skiable to JBL.
    • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake was very skiable, but is now quite thin and the snowmobile traffic makes the road very hard and fast. 
    • Mr. Van Trail skiable from the Loj with Marcy Brook solidly frozen, but not really recommended.
    • ___________________________________________________________________
    • • 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) - 4" 
        •               Off track snow depth - 6"
                        Inches New Snow - 1
                        Surface Conditions - Groomed powder and granular
                        Km Open - 50
                        Km Tracked - 20
        •               Remarks -  Tracks on flat terrain and biathlon side
        •      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) - 4" 
        •               Off track snow depth - 6"
                        Inches New Snow - 1
                        Surface Conditions -  Groomed powdered granular 
                        Km Open -15
                        Km Tracked - 10
                        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) - 5"
      •                        Off track snow depth:  7"
                                Inches New Snow 2
                               Surface Conditions - Groomed powder - firm 
                               Km Open - 30
                               Km Tracked -
                               Remarks - All trails open with grooming in progress Thursday AM.   
      •                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 - Crust
                                Km Open -10
      •                         Km Tracked - Some old track remaining
                                Remarks -  Upper trail not recommended
        
                         Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                     10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                     http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
      • Report says, "survived 3rd thaw". Most trails groomed but some thin and icy spots.