- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
- We picked up another 2" of new snow on Saturday night, so things are finally beginning to look good. A good chance of some more significant snow on Wednesday with initial predictions calling for 4-8". Areas that held onto at least some base like Paul Smiths and Newcomb now have good conditions, although on the smoother, gentler terrain is still the better skiing. Some snow possible on Saturday with temperatures warming to around freezing Friday through Sunday. A bit cooler next week and another chance for snow mid week.
- In addition to skiing, there is now a nearly two mile ice skating loop around the perimeter of Mirror Lake.
- Base Depth - 2-4"
- Surface Conditions - powder on crust
- Remarks - Right now most sections are thin with rocks either showing or lurking just below the surface, so caution is needed. The exception is the section from Lake Clear Jct. to the Paul Smiths VIC where there is just enough snow for good skiing. Between Keene and Saranac Lake, there is enough snow to be able to avoid above-mantioned obstacles on the section from the Keene end to the beaver ponds on the Lake Placid side. Also skiable from River Rd. up to Rt. 86, although no base under the spruces. Peninsula section's gentle terrain is the best skiing. Whiteface Inn Lane to the top of the pass still just barely skiable, but with extreme caution on the return downhill run. No base at the Saranac Lake end in toward McKenzie Pond, but it has been skied.
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 28"
Snow Depth at 4,000 feet: 30-36" (Algonquin and Marcy, less on Gothics and Giant.)
Surface Conditions: Powder with ice
Remarks: New light snow has brought the snow depth at Lake Colden up some more, but snow cover is still thin at ADK Loj and on the eastern side of the High Peaks. With the new snow, the Marcy Dam Truck Trail is more skiable than before, but still thin enough that one must use caution not to hit the rocks lurking under the snow. Despite the thin cover, skis or snowshoes must now at least be carried because the snow depth warrants them higher up. Microspikes or crampons will still be useful for any steep trail that doesn't have much snow.
- Ice on Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden and all other smaller bodies of water safe to cross, just be very careful around inlets or outlets (reports of several mishaps at Avalanche Lake outlet). Unbridged streams have refrozen, including the Opalescent River in Flowed Lands. Lake Colden caretaker reports that the Calamity Brook Trail is "passable" on skis - preferably still the "rock" kind.
- Meadow Lane now closed for the winter. Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail, but that smooth road is now a good ski.
- Newcomb Lake Road: (and the side road to Moose Pond) is still the best backcountry choice as it now has nearly a foot of cover.
- Hays Brook Truck Trail: to Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow also has good cover, and all of the difficult to negotiate blowdowns have been cleared.
- Fish Pond Truck Trail: has cover, but is blocked by occasional blowdowns from the icing event before Christmas. Very good skiing on the lakes and ponds.
- Raquette Falls:, no report but most likely getting close to being skiable/
- Ausable Lake Road: now has a surprise 4-5" that fell on Saturday night and is definitely skiable.
- Marcy Dam Truck Trail: Continues to improve with each little bit of new snow. Caution still required as not all rocks are completely covered.
- Burn Road: Near Little Tupper Lake is smooth underneath and now has good cover.
- Whiteface Highway: Good cover on the sheltered stretches,
__________________________________________________________________________- 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 - 3"
Inches New Snow - 2
Surface Conditions - powder on crust
Km Open - 45
Km Tracked - 20 - Remarks - Nearly all trails open including the biathlon side.
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 - 4
Inches New Snow - 2
Surface Conditions - powder on crust
Km Open - 5
Km Tracked -
Remarks - Ski shop open daily. Restaurant Wed-Sun.
Whiteface Club Nordic Center: - 10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
- www.whitefaceclubresort.com
Base Depth - 2-3"
Inches New Snow - 3 - Surface Conditions - powder
Km Open - 8
Km Tracked -
Remarks -
Paul Smith's VIC:
15 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
Base Depth - 6-8"
Inches New Snow - 2"
Surface Conditions - powder
Km Open - 15
Km Tracked -
Remarks - No set track, but all trails except Esker are now open with generally good skiing there.
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 0-2
Inches New Snow - 1
Surface conditions - powder on crust
Km Open - 4- Km Tracked -
Remarks - Limited terrain for day skiing only
Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course
http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com- 3-4" of base. Golf Course and Cranberry Pond loop have been groomed.
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