Conditions 2/11/19

Introduction

     Currently the conditions outside of the groomed centers can be summed up as "dust on crust".  That, however will change starting Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday as this area is predicted to get 6-12" of new snow, and even 6" will be enough to bring every popular trail back into good conditions.  Don't wait, however, as by Friday it will be back above freezing with change of rain or snow extending into Saturday.  Sunday will again turn cold with temperatures only in the low 20s.  So, up and down with the temperatures.  The headline for one story on North Country Public Radio said "How the polar vortex is causing bipolar weather."  Next update late Wednesday when we can report on the storm totals.

•  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS​
•  ​Base depth:  0-8"
•  Surface Conditions:  Frozen granular
•  Km Open - Cover on most every section, but no section can be recommended until we get more snow.
•  Remarks -  
• ​
• BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS         
• Snow depth at Lake Colden: 47"  
• Snow depth at 4,000 feet - 4-5 feet 
• ​No trail can really be recommended for skiing until we get some powder to cover up the hard and fast conditions.
• Traction needed everywhere, but after Tuesday's storm: 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) -3" 
  •               Off track snow depth - 6"
                  Inches New Snow -
                  Surface Conditions - Frozen and groomed granular 
  •              Km Open - 25
                 Km Tracked 20
  •              Remarks - Porter Mt.,East Mt., Inner Loopen and the flatter trails 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(packed) - 3" 
  •               Off track snow depth - 5"
                  Inches New Snow - 2" in the last 72 hours
                  Surface Conditions - Hard pack  
                  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:  18"
         Inches New Snow: 
         Surface Conditions -   Frozen granular
      
    •    Km Open - 30
         Km Tracked -
                          Remarks:  All trails open.                    
                                                                               
                          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 firm.  Upper trails ungroomed with still some thin spots and not really recommended.