Conditions 3/13/13

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:  Tuesday saw temperatures in the 40s with intermittent rain.  Some open areas now bare, but still good cover in the woods in the Lake Placid area.  Cooler as of Wednesday morning with chance of some new snow Wednesday through Friday.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear we'll get very much new snow by the weekend, and with temperatures not going much above freezing surface conditions will be hard and fast.  "Spring surfaces" means hard when below freezing, soft corn snow when above.  Best skiing will therefore likely be at the groomed centers once they are able to get out.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:

•               Base Depth - 0-10 inches

              Surface Conditions - spring surfaces          
              Km Open - 25

        Remarks - River Road and golf course sections now not skiable

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
              Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 35 " (before thaw.  Should have update on 3/14)
              Snow Depth at 4,000 feet: 4-1/2 - 5 feet 
              Surface Conditions:  spring surfaces
              Remarks:  Hiking trail from Adirondak Loj to Marcy Dam was rated "rough but skiable" before the thaw.  The truck trail is again the only recommended ski route to Marcy Dam.  Avalanche Pass should have maintained its cover.   Calamity Brook Trail and Flowed Lands were very skiable, but thaw may have opened brooks and/or the river in Flowed Lands.  Marcy Trail still a bit rough just above Marcy Dam, but the main problem is that reportedly a large group postholed all the way to the summit, leaving a very rough surface for skiing. Wright Peak has good cover above the junction with the hiking trail, which was rough but skiable - likely not so skiable now.  Northside Trail to Johns Brook Lodge no longer passable on skis. 

Skis and snowshoes still required in the High Peaks Wilderness Area and needed elsewhere along with traction aids for any steep terrain.  

• • Meadow Lane has been blocked off for the winter, adding 3/4 mile to approach of Marcy Dam.
  • Lake ice now questionable, although Avalanche and Colden will be o.k. once the temperatures drop.
  • All other popular tours (Connery Pond, Hays Brook, Raquette Falls, Fish Pond, Newcomb Lake, Moose Pond, Ausable Lake Road, Whiteface Highway) should still have cover.  Whiteface Highway still thin or even bare above the Lake Placid Turn.  
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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 -  6" (packed)
                Inches New Snow - 
                Surface Conditions - spring surfaces
                Km Open - 
                Km Tracked -  
•               Remarks - Closed Wednesday
• 
       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 -  6" (packed)   
                Inches New Snow - 
                Surface Conditions -  spring surfaces
                Km Open - 20
                Km Tracked - 15
                Remarks - No report 3/13
  
           Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
•     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun.  rentals, 518-523-2551,
• www.whitefaceclubresort.com
                Base Depth -    
                Inches New Snow - 
•               Surface Conditions -   
                Km Open -  
                Km Tracked - 
                Remarks - Closed for the season

           Paul Smith's VIC:
           15 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                       Base Depth - 2-6" (packed)
                        Inches New Snow -  
                       Surface Conditions - spring surfaces
                       Km Open - 15
                       Km Tracked - 
                       Remarks - 10" inches off trail depth before thaw

               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 - 
                        Inches New Snow - 
                        Surface conditions -
                        Km Open -  
                        Km Tracked -
                        Remarks -  No report 3/13

                 Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
             10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
             http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
                          All trails packed and tracked.