Ski trails took a bad hit with the rain and warm temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures dropped below freezing again Thursday night and will remain there for the foreseeable future. All trails are now frozen and icy. Trails with existing ski tracks are frozen solid, with bare spots and hard water ice present in some locations. Untracked snow has a 1-2" breakable rain crust that will not support the weight of skier. Downhill sections will be treacherous and caution should be exercised. Skiers heading out into the backcountry should expect to encounter highly variable and difficult ski conditions. Blowdown is a possibility as well, since the rain event brought heavy wind on Wednesday and Thursday.
The good news is that a solid snowpack remains on the ground in most locations. NYSDEC reports 3-12" of snow at lower elevations, 3 feet of snow at the Lake Colden outpost, and up to 5 feet of snow at higher elevations. One good storm could act as a reset and bring us back to where we started last week...keep your fingers crossed.
NYSDEC is warning that rain, melting snow, and breaking ice on rivers and streams could lead to some ice movement on Friday that may result in localized ice jam flooding. This may also occur on smaller streams that cross ski trails.
The good news is that a solid snowpack remains on the ground in most locations. NYSDEC reports 3-12" of snow at lower elevations, 3 feet of snow at the Lake Colden outpost, and up to 5 feet of snow at higher elevations. One good storm could act as a reset and bring us back to where we started last week...keep your fingers crossed.
NYSDEC is warning that rain, melting snow, and breaking ice on rivers and streams could lead to some ice movement on Friday that may result in localized ice jam flooding. This may also occur on smaller streams that cross ski trails.
 Jackrabbit Trail above Whiteface Inn Rd, January 13, 2017 |  Jackrabbit Trail at McKenzie Pond Rd trailhead |
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