December 13th, 2014

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

• • No new snow since Thursday, but we have plenty pretty much everywhere.  Paul Smiths area only got about 6", but Keene to Saranac Lake got 18-24" of dense powder.
  • Sunny most of Saturday and Sunday and then some clouds starting on Monday and more precipitation possible on Wednesday with daytime temperatures rising to freezing or a little above.
  JACKRABBIT TRAIL CONDITIONS:
  •               Base Depth - 18-24" (except less as one heads toward Paul Smiths
  •               Surface Conditions -   Powder
                         Km Open - 50
                 Remarks -  Old Mt. Road section broken out.  Other long sections should be by now, but no actual report.
  
  BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                Snow Depth at Lake Colden: 27"
                Snow Depth at 4,000 feet:  2-3 feet 
                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 now required in the High Peaks, needed elsewhere.
  • All popular backcountry routes are skiable. Avalanche Pass has been broken out, and the Lake Colden Caretaker has been working to shovel and further improve the conditions.  Wright Peak and Marcy are skiable, but caution is needed as it isn't quite mid-winter conditions yet.  No report on the Calamity Brook Trail, but Newcomb only got 12" (plenty for Newcomb Lake and Moose Pond) but probably not enough for the start from Upper Works.
  • Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are crossable.
  • One comment to yesterday's report asked about slide conditions.  We haven't been willing to hazard a guess about slides since conditions can very tremendously from slide to slide due to the wind.  That said, this heavy snow that fell in two separate dumps is potentially very unstable. 
  • __________________________________________________________________________
    
    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) -  6" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 18"
                    Inches New Snow - 1" (past 24 hours)
                    Surface Conditions -  packed powder 
                    Km Open - 50
                    Km Tracked - 40
    •               Remarks -   All but the black diamond trails.  Lodge open. No food or rentals 
    •      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) -   6" 
    •               Off track snow depth - 18"
                    Inches New Snow - 1"(past 24 hours)
                    Surface Conditions - packed powder 
                    Km Open -15
                    Km Tracked - 10
                    Remarks -  Ski shop open daily.  Bar and restaurant open this weekend.  
    • 
               Whiteface Club Nordic Center:
    •     10 km of trails, open Wed-Sun. Rentals, 518-523-2551,
    • www.whitefaceclubresort.com
                    Base Depth (packed) - 
                    Inches New Snow - 
    •               Surface Conditions -    
                    Km Open -  
                    Km Tracked - 
                    Remarks - No report on grooming, but golf course is skiable
    
               Paul Smith's VIC:
               20 km of trails, open daily, rentals, 518-327-6241, www.adirondackvic.org
                           Base Depth (packed) - 3-5
                           Off track snow depth:  8"
                            Inches New Snow 
                           Surface Conditions - powder
                           Km Open - 15
                           Km Tracked - 
                           Remarks -  Most trails packed, but no set track
    
                   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) - 6"
                            Inches New Snow -
                            Surface conditions - powder
                            Km Open - 10
                            Km Tracked - 
                            Remarks - Trails packed, but no set track
    
                     Tupper Lake free x-c ski trails
                 10 km of groomed trails starting from Tupper Lake Golf Course 
                 http://www.skitupperlake.blogspot.com
                No current report