- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
- With arrival of another blast of cold air on Monday, the area did manage to pick up 2-3" of new light snow. High winds blew the snow around, so actual coverage varies with many open areas still just barely covered. Areas that held onto at least some base like Paul Smiths and Newcomb now have reasonably good conditions - at least on the smoother, gentler terrain. Tuesday and Wednesday will again be cold, followed by warming to highs in the 20s by this coming Friday. So, while we aren't losing snow, we aren't gaining much either. But for the ultimate frustration for us northern skiers, it appears there is a greater chance of snow falling on the Super Bowl than on any of our ski trails. Next update on Friday, 2/1
- Base Depth - 2-4"
- Surface Conditions - powder on crust
- Remarks - Right now all sections are thin with rocks either showing or lurking just below the surface, so caution is needed. There is now enough snow to be able to avoid these obstacles on the section from the Keene end to the beaver ponds on the Lake Placid side. Also skiable from River Rd. up to Rt. 86, although no base under the spruces. Peninsula section's gentle terrain the best skiing. Whiteface Inn Lane to the top of the pass still just barely skiable, but with extreme caution on the return downhill run. No base at the Saranac Lake end in toward McKenzie Pond, but it has been skied.
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 26"
Snow Depth at 4,000 feet: 24-30"
Surface Conditions: Powder on ice
Remarks: New light snow has brought the snow depth at Lake Colden up some more, but snow cover is still very thin at ADK Loj. With the new snow, the Marcy Dam Truck Trail is more skiable than before, but still thin enough that one must use caution not to hit the ricks lurking under the snow. Skis or snowshoes not yet required in the High Peaks, but should be carried and used if heading to any of the higher summits. Microspikes or crampons will still be practically mandatory for any steep trail.
- Ice on Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden and all other smaller bodies of water safe to cross, just be very careful around inlets or outlets (reports of several mishaps at Avalanche Lake outlet). Unbridged streams have refrozen, including the Opalescent River in Flowed Lands. Lake Colden caretaker reports that the Calamity Brook Trail is "passable" on skis - at least the "rock" kind.
- Meadow Lane now closed for the winter. Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail, but that smooth road is now a good ski.
- Newcomb Lake Road: (and the side road to Moose Pond) is still the best backcountry choice as it is back up to 8" including 2" of new powder.
- Hays Brook Truck Trail: to Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow also has reasonably good cover, and all of the difficult to negotiate blowdowns have been cleared.
- Fish Pond Truck Trail: has cover, but is blocked by occasional blowdowns from the icing event before Christmas. Very good skiing on the lakes and ponds.
- Raquette Falls:, no report but most likely not quite enough cover yet.
- Ausable Lake Road: now has 2-3" or so of fluff on an icy base and is again skiable.
- Marcy Dam Truck Trail: is still just fluff on crust with rocks that must be dodged and still not recommended, although it has been skied.
- Burn Road: Near Little Tupper Lake is smooth underneath and now has good cover.
- Whiteface Highway: Good cover on the sheltered stretches, but with the winds on Monday there are likely long sections that are blown bare or nearly so.
__________________________________________________________________________- 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 - 3-5"
Inches New Snow - 3
Surface Conditions - powder on crust
Km Open - 30
Km Tracked - 4 - Remarks - 2km of man--made with track set plus now two additional mms of track set. All of the X-C side minus the outer loop of the Ladies 5km now skiable.
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 - 4
Inches New Snow - 2
Surface Conditions - powder on crust
Km Open - 5
Km Tracked -
Remarks - Ski shop open daily. Restaurant Wed-Sun.
Whiteface Club Nordic Center: - 10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
- www.whitefaceclubresort.com
Base Depth - 2-3"
Inches New Snow - 3 - Surface Conditions - powder
Km Open - 8
Km Tracked -
Remarks -
Paul Smith's VIC:
15 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
Base Depth - 6-8"
Inches New Snow - 2"
Surface Conditions - powder on crust
Km Open - 15
Km Tracked -
Remarks - No set track, but most all trails except Esker and Silvi are now open with generally good skiing there.
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 0-2
Inches New Snow - 1
Surface conditions - powder on crust
Km Open - 4- Km Tracked -
Remarks - Limited terrain for day skiing only
Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course
http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com- 0-2" of base. Golf Course has been groomed. Better skiing reported on Tupper Lake
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