Conditions 3/27/2015

• • This past week saw  cold temperatures on Tuesday followed by warming trend on Wednesday, followed by rain and temperatures in the 40s on Thursday.  On Thursday afternoon it turned back to snow with up to 2" of wet snow accumulating in the Lake Placid area. Remaining warm into Friday, but then cooling off a bit with a chance of some light snow on Friday evening.  Temps in the 30s on the weekend, but probably not warm enough to soften things at the higher elevations.  Best surface conditions for skiing this weekend will definitely be at Mt. Van Hoevenberg which is still actively grooming.
  • Some obvious melting has occurred in the open areas, but wooded areas have lost very little snow during the few warm days that we have had so far. The weather pattern through next week has temperatures either a little below or a little above freezing, but no enough to cause any significant melting.  We thus still expect our snow cover to last well into April.  As stated in earlier reports,  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 - 8-12" 
               Surface Conditions - Wet powder and frozen granular
               Km Open - 50 km
•                        Remarks - Steeper sections on Old Mt. Road section and McKenzie section not recommended. 
  
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 36"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  5-6'  
                Surface Conditions: Wet 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 wet snow that fell Thursday afternoon and evening will turn crispy as the temperatures again drop on Friday night.  Sunday will warm to 35 in the valleys, but will likely remain below freezing in the backcountry, so hard and fast conditions will be the rule for the weekend.
• • All popular routes including Marcy and Wright Peak have excellent cover, but not recommended until we get more snow or it warms up to soften the crust.  Approach to Marcy Dam from ADK Loj is hard and fast.  Truck trail is longer but definitely better skiing.
  • Whiteface Highway remains skiable from the Toll House. No current report on the upper part that has been icy with bare areas due to the high winds we have experienced this season.
    
  • Keene Valley/Garden Parking to JBL is skiable with caution. 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) -  11" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 24"
                    Inches New Snow - 2"
                    Surface Conditions - Wet powder and groomed granular
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 50
    •               Remarks -  Still fully open and grooming.  As of next week, they will begin closing on Monday and Tuesday, but currently plan to remain open as long as skiers continue to show up.
    •      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) -   9" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 20"
                    Inches New Snow - 2"
                    Surface Conditions -  Wet powder and groomed granular
                    Km Open -20
                    Km Tracked - 15
                    Remarks -  Bar and restaurant winding down for the season, but the whole area remains skiable.
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 4"
                           Off track snow depth:  20"
                           Inches New Snow - 1"
                           Surface Conditions - Wet powder and frozen granular
                           Km Open - 15
                           Km Tracked - 10
                           Remarks - All trails except Esker Trail 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 - Wet powder and frozen granular
                            Km Open -10
                            Km Tracked - 
                            Remarks -  Fast conditions on the lower trails.  Upper trails skiable with caution.  Lodge closed for the season, but skiing will continue as long as there is snow.
    
                     Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                 10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                 http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
    Still grooming as of 3/20, and full cover on all trails.