Conditions 2/24/18

Jackrabbit Ski Trail, above McKenzie Pond. Feb 23, 2018

Jackrabbit Ski Trail, above Whiteface Inn Rd at Placid Lean-to, Feb 23, 2018

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

•   As noted in the previous post, we were hit pretty hard by the thaw; and the forecast doesn't promise much relief through to the end of next week.  Of couse there is still another whole month when conditons could be amazing, but right now skiing in the Lake Placid-Saranac Lake area is pretty limited.  Looks like another weekend/week of hiking with traction - even if hiking on the Jackrabbit Trail.
• The only bright spot may be the southern Adirondacks where Lapland Lake picked up 4" of "packable" snow on about a foot of base.  
• As predicted before the thaw, many areas did not lose all of the accumulated snow, so it won't take much to get things back in skiable shape - but that doesn't seem to be in the forecast.
  
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS​ ​

• Base depth:  0-10"
•  Surface Conditions:  hard frozen granular and ice
•  Km Open - 
•  Remarks -  Section starting from Whiteface Inn Lane has good cover to the top of the pass, but the snow is bulletproof and needs at least a few inches of fresh snow to make it enjoyable to ski.  From the top of the pass, the long downhill to McKenzie Pond is not currently skiable.  There are multiple long patches that have melted down to the leaves.  The rapid thaw and rain overwhelmed many drainage ditches so there is water damage to the snow surface and water ice flows in some spots.    In from McKenzie Pond Rd. also has periodic water ice with bare spots/water damage on at least the lower part of the climb from McKenzie Pond.  Old Mt. Road section has bare spots and stretches of water ice.
  ​
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS         
•  Good traction aids (Microspikes or more aggressive crampons) will be needed on nearly all trails - especially if they have been previously skied or snowshoed.
  •     Snow Depth at Lake Colden: no current report
        Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  4-5'  
        Surface Conditions: Hard frozen granular and water ice.
  •     Some cover left on Meadow Lane, but likely bare spots on any south-facing hill going toward Marcy Dam.  Hiking trail definitely not skiable. 
  • • Road to Newcomb Lake and Moose Pond still have about 10" of snow there, and drainage should have prevented both water damage and the formation of water ice..
    • Fish Pond and Hays Brook truck trails all retained skiable cover - just need a few inches on top of the crust.    
    • Lake Colden and Avalanche Lake crossable, but extra caution is needed around inlets or outlets..
    • Whiteface Highway - no current report
    • Keene Valley/Garden Parking - Mostly a very hard frozen granular or water ice surface as far as JBL. 
    • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake again too icy.
    • ___________________________________________________________________
    • • 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) - 0-4" 
        •               Off track snow depth - 0-6"
                        Inches New Snow - 
                        Surface Conditions - Groomed granular
                        Km Open - 1
                       Km Tracked 1
        •               Remarks - Mini Loop on "Snow Factory" snow
        •      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) -  
        •               Off track snow depth -
                        Inches New Snow -
                        Surface Conditions -  
                        Km Open -
                        Km Tracked -
                        Remarks - Closed
        • 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) - 5"
      •                        Off track snow depth:  10"
                                Inches New Snow: 0 
                               Surface Conditions - Frozen granular  
                               Km Open - 
                               Km Tracked - 
                               Remarks - Only snowshoeing (tractioning?) recommended of Thursday.
      
      
      •                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) - 
                                Inches New Snow - 
                                Surface conditions -  
                                Km Open -
      •                         Km Tracked
                                Remarks -  Closed
        
                         Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                     No report 
                     http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com