Conditions 3/14/13

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:  Tuesday saw temperatures in the 40s with intermittent rain, but cool weather returned on Wednesday along with some snow squalls that produced and inch or so of new snow.  Some open areas were bare after the thaw, but still generally good cover in the woods in the Lake Placid area.  Continued cool with a chance of some new snow Thursday morning and Thursday night.  While it doesn't appear we'll get very much new snow by the weekend, just the inch we got yesterday made for reasonable surfaces. And with temperatures not going much above freezing, surface conditions, while still hard and fast, won't be all that bad for the coming weekend.  That said, the best skiing will be at the groomed centers. 

**"Spring surfaces" means hard when below freezing, soft corn snow when above.

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, but still good cover on Old Mountain Road and Whiteface Inn sections.  Use caution on the hill down to McKenzie Pond, and it is thin for the first few yards in from McKenzie Pond Road.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
              Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 29" 
              Snow Depth at 4,000 feet: 4 feet 
              Surface Conditions:  spring surfaces
              Remarks:  Hiking trail from Adirondak Loj to Marcy Dam no longer really skiable.   The truck trail is again the only recommended ski route to Marcy Dam.  Avalanche Pass still has good cover.   Small brooks have opened up on the Calamity Brook Trail as has the crossings of the Opalescent in Flowed Lands.  Marcy Trail still 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) still have cover.  Whiteface Highway still thin or even bare above the Lake Placid Turn.  
  __________________________________________________________________
  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 - 1
                Surface Conditions - spring surfaces
                Km Open - 45
                Km Tracked -  25
•               Remarks - Reopened Thursday with all but Hi-Notch and the outer loop of the Ladies 5km open.
• 
       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 - 1
                Surface Conditions -  spring surfaces
                Km Open - 15
                Km Tracked - 
                Remarks - No report 3/14, but Craig Wood section now closed 
  
           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 

               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 -  Lower trail crusty but open

                 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.