Conditions12/6/18

• Update 12/11/18
  
• Conditions remain at near mid-winter as reported below.  Forecast for the rest of the week and weekend has improved with regards to how much rain we might receive each of those days.  Currently, it is not much rain but mostly a "wintry mix", but we won't know for sure until Sunday when the temperatures again cool.  So, at least no major thaw with this weather pattern.  We did work on the Mr. Van Ski Trail today.  Others had broken it out last weekend, but reported some significant new blowdown.  All of the smaller stuff that was the major impediment to travel has now been cleared, but numerous difficult water crossings make this trail still not really recommended as anything but an "adventure".  We'll hope that the continued cold tightens up these wet areas so he new snow can accumulate there. Next complete report on Thursday when at least the weekend weather may be a bit more definite.
  

• Introduction
•    Cold weather and snow have returned this week, so even now in early-December we can report near mid-winter conditions with no thaw in sight.  It's powder surfaces everywhere, but still not quite enough to fully cover all obstacles on any rougher trails.
• 
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS​ ​Base depth:  8-12"
  •  Surface Conditions:  Powder
  •  Km Open - 50
  •  Remarks -  All sections skiable.  Most sections have been broken out.
  • 
    BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS         
  • Snow depth at Lake Colden: 24"
  • Snow depth at 4,000 feet - 4+ feet 
  • Hiking trail from Adirondak Loj skiable.  Truck trail very skiable. 
  • Avalanche Pass still a bit rough getting from Marcy Dam to Avalanche Camp, but the ski trail to the top of the pass is in good shape.  Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are crossable with care, but stay away from inlets or outlets.
  • Marcy and Wright Peak skiable higher up, but still a bit rough getting to 3,000 feet. 
    • • All of the  truck trail skis (Connery Pond, Hays Brook, Fish Pond, etc.) are now fully skiable. 
      • Whiteface Highway - Still being plowed
      • Keene Valley/Garden Parking - Not yet skiable, but getting close
      • Lake Road to Lower Ausable Lake: Good cover, but now being snowmobiled. 
      • Newcomb area has 12-15 inches of snow, so Newcomb Lake Road is good skiing. Sufficient snow to ski to Moose Pond, but no report whether the trees that were down last summer have been cleared.
      • Boreas Ponds also skiable, but no current plowing of the off- road parking, and  the road may not have been broken out.
      • SKIS OR SNOWSHOES ARE NOW REQUIRED PAST MARCY DAM IN THE HIGH PEAKS AND SHOULD BE USED NOW ON MOST OTHER TRAILS.
      
      
      • 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) -5" 
          •               Off track snow depth - 15"
                          Inches New Snow - 2"
                          Surface Conditions - Packed powder
                          Km Open - 50
                         Km Tracked 50
          •               Remarks - Beautiful skiing
          •      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) - 5" 
          •               Off track snow depth - 15"
                          Inches New Snow - 2
                          Surface Conditions - Packed powder 
                          Km Open - 20
                          Km Tracked - 15
                          Remarks - Ski shop open plus beautiful skiing
          • Paul Smith's VIC: www.trailhub.org/trail/generatepdf?orgid=TXpFMA==&actid=TVRVPQ==  
        •            30 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, 
                                 Base Depth (packed) - 8"
          •                        Off track snow depth:  20"
                                    Inches New Snow: 2" - 10" this week
                                   Surface Conditions -  Powder 
                                   Km Open - 30
                                   Km Tracked - 20 
                                   
        •                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) - 
        •                         Inches New Snow - 
                                  Surface conditions - 
                                  Km Open -
        •                         Km Tracked 
                                  Remarks -  Lower trails groomed, upper trails ungroomed.  All skiable.
          
                           Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                      No current report
                       http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com