Conditions 1/31/19

INTRODUCTION

     The storm Tuesday night and into Wednesday didn't produce but about 2-3" after predictions of mush more, but the skiing remains good just about everywhere.  After today's (Thursday's) cold with a high barely above zero, it will be near 10 on Friday and then mid to upper 20s on Saturday and Sunday.  That, unfortunately, will be the end for the moment of the nice powdery surfaces since it will be mid-40s on Monday with some rain, followed by temperatures in the 30s Tuesday through Thursday next week.  So far, it doesn't look like a major meltdown, but experience has taught to expect that thaws have a way of lengthening.  Stay tuned, but get out and ski this weekend!  

We've posted details below, but if you want to save time, we can say that pretty much any trail has good cover, and most have been broken out.

•  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS​
•  ​Base depth:  8-12"
•  Surface Conditions:  Powder
•  Km Open - 50
•  Remarks -  All longer sections have been broken out.  Nice powder everywhere has covered any old frozen granular.
• ​
• BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS         
• Snow depth at Lake Colden: 51"  
• Snow depth at 4,000 feet - 5-6 feet 
• ​Otherwise, hiking trail and truck trail to Marcy Dam are good skiing as is Avalanche Pass.  Calamity Brook approach to Lake Colden has been broken out and is good skiing, although  crossing the Opalescent River in Flowed Landswill require care to pick a good spot as the ice jammed up with the thaw a week ago.  All other popular routes including Marcy and Wright Peak have good cover - just no current report on whether they have been broken out.  The breakable crust, that was an issue right after the thaw, is either covered or somehow softened to no longer have much of a negative effect on skiing.
• AND IN CASE IT ISN'T OBVIOUS FROM THE SNOW DEPTHS REPORTED ABOVE, SKIS OR SNOWSHOES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL TRAILS IN THE HIGH PEAKS AND ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE WORN ELSEWHERE - BOTH FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND TO PRESERVE GOOD CONDITIONS FOR ALL OTHERS.
  
  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) -7" 
  •               Off track snow depth - 14"
                  Inches New Snow -2"
                  Surface Conditions - Powder 
  •              Km Open - 50
                 Km Tracked 50
  •              Remarks - All trail open, groomed and track-set.  
  
  
  •      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 - 14"
                  Inches New Snow - 2"
                  Surface Conditions - Powder  
                  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) - 14"
    •    Off track snow depth:  26"
         Inches New Snow: 3
         Surface Conditions -   Powder
         Km Open - 30
         Km Tracked -
                          Remarks:  All trails open and in good shape.                    
                                                                               
                          Dewey Mountain - Saranac  Lake​
  •             13 km of trails, open daily (including nights until 7PM Tue. - Fri.), rentals, 891-2697         http://www.deweymountain.com 
                            Remarks - Lower trails groomed and in good shape.  Upper trails ungroomed with still some thin spots.