Conditions 2/17/19

INTRODUCTION

     Cold temperatures have returned, unfortunately without much new snow following Friday's warm weather.  The best skiing will be at the groomed centers, and they do have plenty of snow to groom.  Elsewhere, trails that were broken out before Friday's thaw will be quite fast and bumpy.  Unbroken areas now have a breakable crust.

     Cold through Wednesday this week with some snow possible Wednesday and into Thursday.  Thursday will also see a warming trend back to the low 30s through Saturday.  We'll update later this week when the actual amount of snow expected (or actually falls) is known.

•  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS​
•  ​Base depth:  6-12"
•  Surface Conditions:  Frozen old powder and crust
•  Km Open - 50
•  Remarks -  Longer sections, Old Mt. Road and McKenzie Pass, broken.  Good cover on all sections, but will be quite fast on the downhills and recommended only for experienced skiers until we get a few more inches of new snow. 
• ​
• BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS         
• Snow depth at Lake Colden: 49" (recent new snow minus settling and recent thaw)  
• Snow depth at 4,000 feet - 4-5 feet 
• Good cover on all backcountry trails.  Surface conditions will vary from fast downhills to breakable crust.
• 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.  The only exception would be where traction's required and no depression is being left in the snow.
  
  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 - 12"
                  Inches New Snow - 0" new, but 8" past 5 days
                  Surface Conditions - Groomed granular and powder 
  •              Km Open - 50
                 Km Tracked 50
  •              Remarks -   
  
  
  •      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) - 7" 
  •               Off track snow depth - 12"
                  Inches New Snow - 0" new, 10" in the last 5 days
                  Surface Conditions - Groomed granular and 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) - 16"
    •    Off track snow depth:  24"
         Inches New Snow: 
         Surface Conditions -   Groomed granular and powder
    •    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 good skiing.  Upper trails ungroomed , but still with some thin spots.