Conditions 3/4/13

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:  After the recent snows, including 4" Saturday and Saturday night we are closer to "mid-winter" conditions than we've been in two years with definitely the best conditions of this year.  Continue just below freezing through Tuesday with a chance of some additional snow, but then warming later in the week to as high as 40 on Saturday.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:

•               Base Depth - 10-20 inches

              Surface Conditions - powder and crust           
              Km Open - 50

        Remarks -  Entire trail skiable.  

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
              Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 39" 
              Snow Depth at 4,000 feet: 4-1/2 - 5 feet 
              Surface Conditions:   powder 
              Remarks:  After some new snow and some settling, snow depth is the same at Lake Colden as last week - just denser and therefore better cover.  Hiking trail from Adirondak Loj to Marcy Dam still rated "rough but skiable."  Better if taking the Old Marcy Dam Trail from the campground.  The truck trail is still the better skiing, but longer.  Avalanche Pass is in good shape.   Calamity Brook trail and Flowed Lands also very skiable.  Lower part of the Marcy Trail still a bit rough but definitely skiable thanks to some judicious shoveling just below the Phelps Mt. trail junction.  Good cover above the Phelps Brook bridge 1.2 mi. beyond Marcy Dam. (This is also known as 50 meter bridge because at one time the bridge there was about 50 meters long.)   Wright Peak still only skiable above the junction with the hiking trail.  Northside Trail to Johns Brook Lodge passable on skis, but still too many rocks and roots showing to upgrade it to "skiable". 

Skis and snowshoes definitely required in the High Peaks Wilderness Area and needed elsewhere.  

• • Meadow Lane has been blocked off for the winter, adding 3/4 mile to approach of Marcy Dam.
  • Lake ice safe and mostly slush free.
  • All other popular tours (Connery Pond, Hays Brook, Raquette Falls, Fish Pond, Newcomb Lake, Moose Pond, Ausable Lake Road, Whiteface Highway) in good shape.  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 -  8" (packed)
                Inches New Snow - 2"
                Surface Conditions -   powder  
                Km Open - 50
                Km Tracked - 47 
•               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 -  8" (packed)   
                Inches New Snow - 2"
                Surface Conditions -  powder 
                Km Open - 20
                Km Tracked - 15
                Remarks - 
  
           Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
•     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun.  rentals, 518-523-2551,
• www.whitefaceclubresort.com
                Base Depth -  6" (packed)   
                Inches New Snow - 2
•               Surface Conditions - powder  
                Km Open -  10
                Km Tracked - 10
                Remarks - 

           Paul Smith's VIC:
           15 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                       Base Depth - 6-8" (packed)
                        Inches New Snow -  2
                       Surface Conditions - powder
                       Km Open - 20
                       Km Tracked - 15
                       Remarks - All loops open. 13" 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 - 5" (packed)
                        Inches New Snow - 
                        Surface conditions - powder 
                        Km Open -  15
                        Km Tracked - 7
                        Remarks -  Upper trails now have better cover. Set track on lower trails.

                 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.