Conditions 3/20/2015

• • This past week saw warm temperatures and a bit of rain on Tuesday followed by a bit of snow as the temperatures dropped so that Wednesday and Thursday were cold and dry.  Continued cold today, Friday, but it will warm up on Saturday.  Some snow is predicted in the morning, changing to light rain in the afternoon, followed by falling temperatures and snow on Saturday night.  Cold again on Sunday with temperatures only in the teens.  Then slow warming to the 40s by Wednesday, but no significant precipitation in sight.  
  • Some obvious melting has occurred in the open areas, but wooded areas lost very little snow during the warm days a week ago and we won't be losing much this weekend or even next week any this week.  We thus still expect our snow cover to last for several more weeks, but the rule will now be SPRING CONDITIONS, i.e. potentially hard and icy when temperatures are below freezing and soft and slow when they are above freezing.  Any new snow will, of course, change that equation for a short time, but from now on it's watching the thermometer or skiing at the groomed centers as long as they are open.  
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  • JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
•              Base Depth - 12-16" 
               Surface Conditions - Powder and frozen granular
               Km Open - 50 km
•                        Remarks - Entire trail broken out with good ski tracks on all sections. 
  
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 39"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  5-6'  
                Surface Conditions: Powder and frozen granular
            Meadow Lane now closed for the winter.  Adds nearly a mile each way on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.  Skis or snowshoes required in the High Peaks, needed elsewhere.  The warm weather two weeks ago created a very breakable crust in any untracked areas that will make for difficult trail-breaking.
• • All popular routes including Marcy and Wright Peak in excellent condition.  Approach to Marcy Dam from ADK Loj is hard and fast.  Truck trail is longer but definitely better skiing.
  • Whiteface Highway skiable from the Toll House, but the upper part is icy due to the high winds we have experienced blowing the snow off.
    
  • Keene Valley/Garden Parking to JBL is skiable with caution, but much improved from a month ago thanks to the continuous small additions of snow. Good cover for skiing beyond JBL.
  • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake packed by snowmobiles and skiable.
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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 (packed) -  12" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 28"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions - Powder and groomed granular
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 50
    •               Remarks -  Fresh tilling on the XC 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(packed) -   12" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 26"
                    Inches New Snow - 
                    Surface Conditions -  Powder and groomed granular
                    Km Open -20
                    Km Tracked - 15
                    Remarks -  
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 12-14"
                           Off track snow depth:  26"
                           Inches New Snow - 
                           Surface Conditions - Powder and frozen granular
                           Km Open - 20
                           Km Tracked - 10
                           Remarks - All trails open and packed.   
                   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) - 8-10"
                            Inches New Snow - 1
                            Surface conditions - Powder and frozen granular
                            Km Open -13
                            Km Tracked - 8
                            Remarks -  Powder on a hard base makes for fast conditions on the lower trails.  Upper trails skiable with caution
    
                     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 groomed with track set, but no update for three weeks