Conditions 2/12/2015

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • The additional 10-14" of  snow predicted for earlier this week ended up being only 3-4", but no problem as the skiing is great.  With no snow in the Sierras and too much snow in Boston, we have what might be called "Goldilocks" snow cover for the long weekend and into next week.  
  • Temperatures this weekend will be cold with nighttime lows well below zero and daytime highs only in the single digits for Friday through Monday.  Warming to the 20s on Tuesday and Wednesday with a  chance of additional light snow both days.  No thaw in sight.
  • JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
•              Base Depth - 12-16" 
               Surface Conditions - Powder 
               Km Open - 50 km
•                        Remarks - Entire trail broken out with good ski tracks on most sections. 
  
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 37"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  4-5'  
                Surface Conditions: Powder 
            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, needed elsewhere.  This new light snow plus some significant wind loading means that no slide can be considered safe for skiing unless carefully analyzed.
• • Good skiing right from the Loj and through to Lake Colden. 
  • Wright Peak and Marcy good skiing from top to bottom, although there are still a few rocks to dodge in the first mile above Marcy Dam on the Marcy trail.  
    
  • The Calamity Brook Trail fully skiable.  Opalescent River now frozen at Flowed Lands and crossable.  
  • Road to Newcomb Lake and Moose Pond good skiing with now nearly 30" of cover.  
  • Fish Pond and Hays Brook truck trails skiable.  Raquette Falls also skiable, but even with this new snow the steep downhill about three miles in may still have rocks just under the surface. 
  • Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing skiable. 
  • Lake Colden and  Avalanche Lake crossable, but still avoid the outlet of Avalanche Lake. Other lakes also safe to cross.
  • Whiteface Highway skiable from the Toll House, but not a good choice this weekend given the cold and the wind predicted.
  • Keene Valley/Garden Parking has better cover, but it's still likely to be a bit rough skiing to JBL.  The rocks are "disguised but not covered", but the trail is skiable with care.
  • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake packed by snowmobiles and skiable.
  • ___________________________________________________________________
    
  • 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) -  15" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 26"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions - Powder
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 50
    •               Remarks -  NORAM/Empire State Games biathlon this Friday and Saturday starting at 10 AM.  Spectators welcome, and the events will take up only a small portion of the Biathlon side trails. Sunday afternoon 2:30 - 4 singer Celia Evans in the Cross-Country Lodge's Loppet Lounge.  Bar open for the first time this season.
    •      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) -   12" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 24"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions -  Powder 
                    Km Open -20
                    Km Tracked - 15
                    Remarks -  Cascade's narrow, wind-sheltered trails make it a good choice for the cold conditions this weekend - especially with the large fireplace in the lodge.
    •          Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
    •     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
    • www.whitefaceclubresort.com
    •  Base Depth (packed) - 
                    Inches New Snow - 
    •               Surface Conditions -  Powder 
                    Km Open -  10
                    Km Tracked - 10
                    Remarks -
    •              
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 10"
                           Off track snow depth:  20"
                            Inches New Snow 
                           Surface Conditions - Powder
                           Km Open - 20
                           Km Tracked - 10
                           Remarks - All trails open and packed.   
                   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) - 6-8"
                            Inches New Snow - 
                            Surface conditions - Powder 
                            Km Open -13
                            Km Tracked - 8
                            Remarks -  Good skiing with track set on the lower trails.  Upper trails open but still with some thin spots.
    
                     Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                 10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                 http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
    All trails groomed with track set - best conditions so far this winter