Conditions 3/9/2015

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • We have picked up another 1-2" of new snow on Sunday night and could possibly get a bit more.  Given that the conditions are about as good as it gets, this new snow is just an added bonus - especially now that temperatures have moderated to more comfortable levels.   Monday will be in the 30s, Tuesday will see low to mid-40s, and then 30s the rest of the week.  With below freezing temperatures each night, there won't be any noticeable melting with these temperatures - just perhaps a bit of crust formed on unbroken areas with the packed areas becoming a bit firmer, but not icy. 
  • The weekend is currently predicted to be above freezing during the day.  Some precipitation, some of which may fall as rain, but no deluge that will melt any significant amount of snow, so we have several more weeks at least of good snow cover in this area. 
  • The only news is some damage to the Keene end of the Jackrabbit Trail - see below.  
  • Next update on Thursday, 3/12, when we have a better idea of exactly what kind of precipitation we will get on the weekend.
  •   
    
  • JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
•              Base Depth - 12-16" 
               Surface Conditions - Powder 
               Km Open - 50 km
•                        Remarks - Entire trail broken out with good ski tracks on all sections.  The only exception is the first mile of the trail up from the Keene end at Rock and River. On Sunday two horses from houses down the road got loose and were chased up to the first beaver ponds before being retrieved.  The surface is badly chopped up with a fair amount of brown material coloring the snow.  We'll see what we can do to mitigate these conditions before the weekend, but for now be forewarned. 
  
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 42"
                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.  The deep snow plus some significant wind loading means that no slide can be considered safe for skiing unless carefully analyzed.
• • All popular routes including Marcy and Wright Peak in excellent condition.
  • 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.
  • BREAKING NEWS:  A comment on Friday's update indicates that a nice ski loop in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area has been broken out as of last week.  Long Swing Trail to Pharaoh Lake to Putnam Pond.  Thanks for all the hard work.  
  • ADDITIONAL BREAKING NEWS: The Bog River ski trail loop from the trailhead closest to Rt. 30 has also been broken out.
  • ___________________________________________________________________
    
  • 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) -  18" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 34"
                    Inches New Snow - 1
                    Surface Conditions - Powder
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 50
    •               Remarks -  NCAA college national championships Wednesday and Friday on X-C 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) -   16" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 30"
                    Inches New Snow - 1
                    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 (packed) - 
                    Inches New Snow - 1
    •               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) - 12-14"
                           Off track snow depth:  22"
                            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.