Conditions 1/5/2014

• INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 
• Warming to move freezing by Sunday afternoon with sleet and then rain predicted overnight.  Not too much of either, though, and after a warm start Monday will cool down by the afternoon after which it will be about normal next week with some additional chance for more snow.  
• And congratulations to Liz Stephen, U.S. Ski team, whose fast climbing moved her up to 7th overall in the seven stage Tour de Ski.  She finished behind three Norwegians and three Finns. 
• JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
  •               Base Depth - 3-4"
  •               Surface Conditions - powder on crust       
                         Km Open - 25
                 Remarks -  Skiable from Keene through Lake Placid to the height of land heading toward Saranac Lake.  Best cover is on the Keene end of the Old Mt. Road where some base remained after the pre-Christmas thaw. Very thin starting in from the Lake Placid end of the Old Mt. Road.  Whiteface Inn Lane toward the top of the pass skiable, but there are still rocks lurking just below the surface - use caution and don't fall.  
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 16"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  18-24" 
                Surface Conditions: Powder
                Remarks:    New light snow in various flurries (including Thursday) has brought the snow depth at Lake Colden up to more "normal" depth for early January, but snow cover is still very thin at ADK Loj, so even the Marcy Dam Truck Trail is not yet recommended. Skis or snowshoes not yet required in the High Peaks, but should be carried and used if heading to any of the higher summits. Micospikes or crampons will be practically mandatory right from the parking lot.  
  
  Meadow Lane now closed for the winter.  Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.
  
          Road to Newcomb Lake is still the best backcountry choice with now 10" of cover. Hays Brook Truck Trail to Grassy Pond and the Sheep Meadow has very good cover, and all of the difficult to negotiate blowdowns have been cleared.  The  Fish Pond Truck Trail has cover, but is blocked by occasional blowdowns from the icing event before Christmas.  No report on Raquette Falls, but likely not quite enough cover yet.  Ausable Lake Road now has 3" or so of fluff on an icy base and is now definitely skiable.  Marcy Dam Truck Trail is still just fluff on crust with rocks that must be dodged and still not recommended 
  
  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 mostly refrozen Opalescent River now crossable in Flowed Lands.
  
             Definitely be prepared for full winter weather conditions on any bare summit. 
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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 -  3-5"
                  Inches New Snow - 
                  Surface Conditions -  powder on crust
                  Km Open - 35
                  Km Tracked -  30
  •               Remarks - X-C side all open except for outer loop of Ladies 5km.  About 1/2 the terrain on the biathlon side also open.
  • 
         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 - 
                  Surface Conditions - powder on crust
                  Km Open - 10
                  Km Tracked - 
                  Remarks - Ski shop and bar open daily.  
    
             Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
  •     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
  • www.whitefaceclubresort.com
                  Base Depth -  4"
                  Inches New Snow - 
  •               Surface Conditions -  powder
                  Km Open -  10
                  Km Tracked - 8
                  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 -  3"
                         Surface Conditions - powder on crust
                         Km Open - 20
                         Km Tracked - 
                         Remarks - All trails now open.  No set track, but generally good skiing
  
                 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 2-3
                          Inches New Snow - 3 
                          Surface conditions - powder on crust
                          Km Open - 5
                          Km Tracked - 
                          Remarks -  Open on limited lower terrain
  
                   Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
               10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
               http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
                 "Resuming the Grooming" - Still thin cover, but most of the trails are open.  Very nice skiing on the fairways.