Conditions 2/19/2014

• INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 
• Highs now predicted only mid-30s today and Thursday, but followed by a mix turning to all rain Thursday night and Friday.  It will, so far at least, be a short thaw with temperatures falling below freezing Friday night and then temperatures in the low 30s under sunny skies on Saturday.  Given this pattern, the best skiing this weekend will probably be at the groomed centers.  None of the ungroomed backcountry routes should lose too much cover, but surfaces may be hard and choppy.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:

•               Base Depth - 10-18"
•               Surface Conditions - powder       

                       Km Open - 50

               Remarks -  All sections skiable and all sections broken out.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
              Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 34" 
              Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  5-6' 
              Surface Conditions: Powder 
              Remarks:    Snow at the stake at Lake Colden has settled back from its earlier depth, but coverage on the trails is very good.  Skis or snowshoes now required for all travel in the High Peaks and definitely needed everywhere else.  Slides are definitely very dangerous as the snow of two weeks ago fell on ice or smooth crust; and last week's snow just added more weight to an already unstable situation.  Ice on Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden definitely crossable, and the firm wind-packed powder means no slush problems there. All other smaller bodies of water safe to cross,  just be very careful around inlets or outlets.  The only downside of this snow is that slush under the snow is again a problem on some lakes - surprisingly so given how thick the ice is after all the cold days with little snow cover.  Both the Avalanche Pass and Calamity Brook approaches to Lake Colden are in good shape.  Unbridged streams have refrozen, including the Opalescent River in Flowed Lands. 

                    Otherwise, all popular backcountry routes (Newcomb Lake, Hays Brook, Fish Pond, Raquette Falls, Ausable Lake Rd., Whiteface Landing) are skiable.  

• Meadow Lane now closed for the winter.  Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.
  

•  Fish Pond Truck Trail: Blowdowns have been cleared. Slush conditions possible on the lakes and ponds.
  
• Whiteface Highway:  The wind picked up after the last storm, so there may be  some areas blown clear - otherwise good cover.
  
• Marcy trail may still be a bit rough between Marcy Dam and the Phelps Mt. trail junction, but good cover above there.  Downed trees below Indian Falls have now been cleared.  Thanks to Ron Konowitz and Colden Caretaker Sean Platt.  
  
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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 (packed) -  7" 
  •               Off track snow depth - 17"
                  Inches New Snow - 1
                  Surface Conditions -  powder and packed powder
                  Km Open - 50
                  Km Tracked - 50
  •               Remarks -  World class conditions
  • 
         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" 
                  Inches New Snow - 1
                  Surface Conditions - powder and packed powder
                  Km Open -15
                  Km Tracked - 10
                  Remarks -  Ski shop and restaurant open daily this week.
    
             Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
  •     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
  • www.whitefaceclubresort.com
                  Base Depth (packed) - 5"
                  Inches New Snow - 1
  •               Surface Conditions - powder and packed 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) - 4-6"
                         Off track snow depth:  14+"
                          Inches New Snow -  1
                         Surface Conditions - powder 
                         Km Open - 20
                         Km Tracked - 5
                         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
                          Base Depth (packed) - 4"
                          Inches New Snow - 1
                          Surface conditions - powder and packed powder
                          Km Open - 13
                          Km Tracked - Tracking as conditions permit
                          Remarks - Lower trails groomed for skating and are in good shape. 
  
                   Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
               10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
               http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
                4-10" of base and all trails are groomed.