Conditions 3/2/2015

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • No real change in the surface conditions except we did pick up 1-2" of new snow on Sunday night - just enough to freshen the surfaces.  Temperatures this week will generally be warmer than what we've been having, but it will still be colder than normal for early March. Temps in the 20s Monday and Tuesday, near 40 on Wednesday (but now no rain in the forecast), then back to lows near zero and highs in the low 20s Thursday and Friday.  Saturday will be sunny with mid to upper 20s and Sunday a bit warmer than that.  A few periods of snow during the week, but nothing major in sight.
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  • JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
•              Base Depth - 12-16" 
               Surface Conditions - Powder 
               Km Open - 50 km
•                        Remarks - Entire trail broken out with good ski tracks on most sections. 
  
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 40"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  5-6'  
                Surface Conditions: Powder 
            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.  This light snow plus some significant wind loading means that no slide can be considered safe for skiing unless carefully analyzed.
• • Good skiing right from the Loj and through to Lake Colden. 
  • Wright Peak and Marcy good skiing from top to bottom, although there are still a few rocks to dodge in the first mile above Marcy Dam on the Marcy trail.  
    
  • The Calamity Brook Trail fully skiable.  Opalescent River now frozen at Flowed Lands and crossable.  
  • Road to Newcomb Lake and Moose Pond good skiing with now nearly 40" of cover.  
  • Fish Pond, Raquette Falls, and Hays Brook truck trails skiable. 
  • Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing skiable. 
  • Lake Colden and  Avalanche Lake crossable.  Other lakes also safe to cross.
  • Whiteface Highway skiable from the Toll House.  Still be prepared for the cold as the highway exposed to any wind that might be blowing.
  • Keene Valley/Garden Parking has better cover, but it's still likely to be a bit rough skiing to JBL.  Despite some additional snow, the rocks are still "disguised but not covered", but the trail is skiable with care.
  • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake packed by snowmobiles and skiable.
  • BREAKING NEWS:  A comment on Friday's update indicates that a nice ski loop in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area has been broken out.  Long Swing Trail to Pharaoh Lake to Putnam Pond.  Thanks for all the hard work.
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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) -  16" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 30"
                    Inches New Snow - 1
                    Surface Conditions - Powder
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 50
    •               Remarks -  
    •      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) -   14" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 28"
                    Inches New Snow - 2
                    Surface Conditions -  Powder 
                    Km Open -20
                    Km Tracked - 15
                    Remarks -  Cascade's narrow, wind-sheltered trails make it a good choice for the cold conditions today and later this week - especially with the large fireplace in the lodge.  Final Full Moon Party this Saturday, 3/7. Starts at 8 PM with skiing to bonfires for hot dogs and drinks followed by a band in the lodge.
    
    
    •          Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
    •     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
    • www.whitefaceclubresort.com
    •  Base Depth (packed) - 
                    Inches New Snow - 2
    •               Surface Conditions -  Powder 
                    Km Open -  10
                    Km Tracked - 10
                    Remarks -
    •              
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 10"
                           Off track snow depth:  20"
                            Inches New Snow - 1
                           Surface Conditions - Powder
                           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 
                            Km Open -13
                            Km Tracked - 8
                            Remarks -  Good skiing with track set on the lower trails.  Upper trails open but still with some thin spots.
    
                     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 -the good conditions continue.