Conditions 2/21/19

INTRODUCTION

      We continue on our temperature "roller-coaster", but fortunately nothing that will diminish to any great extent out existing snow cover.  Temperatures in the low 30s on Friday, a bit warmer on Saturday, and then 40s briefly on Sunday with  chance of some brief rain.  Then cooling off, with highs during the middle of the week only in the low 20s.

       Surface conditions currently are quite fast "ball-bearing fast" in some spots, and with a slight breakable crust outside of the packed areas.  Conditions will slow a bit as temperatures warm during the weekend, but should never become all that slow.  No significant new snow in the forecast.

•  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS​
•  ​Base depth:  8-16"
•  Surface Conditions:  Old powder and crust
•  Km Open - 50
•  Remarks -  Longer sections, Old Mt. Road and McKenzie Pass, broken.  Good cover on all sections.  Still quite fast on the downhills, but not as fast as a few days ago thanks to a bit of new snow.  
• ​
• BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS         
• Snow depth at Lake Colden: 55"   
• 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.
• Johns Brook trail from the Garden now skiable with care as there are still a few rocks showing.
  
• Road to Lower Ausable Lake still has snowmobile traffic, but is otherwise very skiable
  
• 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) -8" 
  •               Off track snow depth - 16"
                  Inches New Snow - 1"
                  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 - 14"
                  Inches New Snow - 1" 
                  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) - 14"
    •    Off track snow depth:  26"
         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.