Conditions 2/3/18

• FURTHER UPDATE 2/6/2018
  
• Forecast for Wednesday looks very good.  At least 6" of snow, but likely to 10".  This will erase any effects of the recent thaws.  Local snows had produced some good conditions before this big snow, but now every area will be in true mid-winter condition with no new thaw in sight.  Next full update still on Thursday, 2/8, but the report should be good. 
• UPDATE 2/5/2018
• Not much new snow on Sunday night despite predictions of maybe 3-6".  Still more snow possible on Wednesday and no thaw in sight.  Next full update on Thursday, 2/8, when we see how much snow we have actually received.  Otherwise, little change to the report below except for confirmation from skiers Saturday afternoon and Sunday that the light fluff tended to just slide off the hard crust.  Hikers reported similar conditions with the snow sliding off the bulges of water ice.


• INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 
•    The area from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake, Paul Smiths, and Tupper Lake has picked up about 4" of new light powder in the past 24 hours or so.  Not enough to fully recover from the icy conditions due to the several recent thaws, but a good start.  More snow possible on Sunday into Sunday night and again on Tuesday.

• JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS​
•         ​Surface Conditions:  3-6" of hard, crusty base with 2-4" of powder on top.
•         Km Open - 50 km - skiable, but steeper terrain not really recommended.
•        Remarks -  Metal-edged skis would be preferable for the McKenzie Pass and Old Mt. Road sections as those sections will be very fast until we get some more snow on Sunday.
• 
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS         
•  Skis or snowshoes still required in the High Peaks past Marcy Dam.   Good traction aids (Microspikes or more aggressive crampons) required for all backcountry hiking where there is a slope.  The light powder only hides the water ice, making it quite treacherous.
  •     Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 24"
                  Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  4-5'  
                  Surface Conditions: Powder on crust or water ice. No reports yet of what fell higher up.
  • • Truck trail better than the hiking trail to Marcy Dam,   Wright Peak and Marcy not really skiable. 
    • Road to Newcomb Lake still has 14" of cover and is gentle enough to be safe and enjoyable with the new snow.  Moose Pond also has enough cover, but steeper hills.  
    • Fish Pond and Hays Brook truck trails all still skiable, but only Hayes Brook is recommended with perhaps a short walk on the few steep hills.   
    • Lake Colden and Avalanche Lake crossable, but that is probably of interest only to those hiking with traction. 
    • Whiteface Highway - no current report
    • Keene Valley/Garden Parking has about 6" of cover and not  skiable to JBL.
    • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake again skiable. Thin in spots but the snowmobile traffic has packed the new snow to create a reasonably good surface.   Some ATV traffic as well. but the wheel marks aren't deep enough to really be in the way.
    • Mr. Van Trail skiable from the Loj with Marcy Brook solidly frozen, but not really recommended.
    • ___________________________________________________________________
    • • 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) - 4" 
        •               Off track snow depth - 6"
                        Inches New Snow - 4
                        Surface Conditions - Groomed powder and granular
                        Km Open - 20
                        Km Tracked - 1 (Mini Loop)
        •               Remarks - Flat terrain now groomed
        •      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) - 4" 
        •               Off track snow depth - 6"
                        Inches New Snow - 4
                        Surface Conditions -  Groomed powdered granular 
                        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) - 5"
      •                        Off track snow depth:  7"
                                Inches New Snow 4'
                               Surface Conditions - Groomed powder - firm 
                               Km Open - 30
                               Km Tracked - 
                               Remarks - All trails groomed.   
      •                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) - 3-5"
                                Inches New Snow - 3
                                Surface conditions - Powder on crust
                                Km Open -10
      •                         Km Tracked - Some old track remaining
                                Remarks -  Lower trails skiable. Upper trails not recommended
        
                         Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                     10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                     http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
      • Report says, 4" new snow.  Most trails groomed but some thin and icy spots.