Bridge on Jackrabbit Trail, between McKenzie Pond Rd and the spur trail to McKenzie Pond. Jan 13, 2018 Mother Nature hit the reset button this weekend. Heavy rain on Friday switched to freezing rain and then snow late in the evening as temperatures dropped from the 50s to single digits overnight. When the skies cleared on Saturday afternoon we were left with ideal conditions for backcountry trail skiing. Observations on the Jackrabbit Trail yesterday revealed about 6 inches of perfect powder snow, sitting on top of a thin layer of tiny freezing rain pellets and then a 1-2" inch crumbly crust, with unconsolidated sugar snow under the crust. The crust easily supports the weight of a skier or snowshoer. Total snowpack around 2500-3000 ft in the Lake Placid area seems to be 12-16".
If any hikers are reading this....we always discourage hiking without snowshoes in winter, BUT NOW WOULD BE A HATEFUL TIME TO POST HOLE.
Skiing will be fantastic just about everywhere, but the heavy rain on Friday left previously frozen streams swollen with melt water and ice flows. Skiers should expect to navigate around at least some open water on most trails. The ice on larger rivers like the West and East Branch of the Ausable broke up on Friday. Most smaller streams and drainages are open with running water, but the cold temperatures should start to lock that up today. In some areas water flooded onto trails and then partially refroze before being covered with the new snow. Use extreme caution on ice crossings, especially near inlets and outlets.
In other words, WET SPOTS ABOUND...DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT A METAL SCRAPER.
One very specific alert for the Jackrabbit Ski Trail - see photo at right. When traveling toward McKenzie Pond from the parking area on McKenzie Pond Road, the first bridge reached (in the big dip) was flooded as of Saturday afternoon. Skiing on this section of trail cannot be recommended today. Crossing the stream is not advised.
National Weather Service forecast for the Lake Placid region here.
Sunny and cold today with overnight lows reaching -22F. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be perfect for ski touring. Temperatures in the teens and sunny all day. More snow possible Tuesday and Wednesday.
We will post another update on Monday afternoon.
IF YOU ARE OUT SKIING AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE OBSERVATIONS, PLEASE POST THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. THANK YOU!
If any hikers are reading this....we always discourage hiking without snowshoes in winter, BUT NOW WOULD BE A HATEFUL TIME TO POST HOLE.
Skiing will be fantastic just about everywhere, but the heavy rain on Friday left previously frozen streams swollen with melt water and ice flows. Skiers should expect to navigate around at least some open water on most trails. The ice on larger rivers like the West and East Branch of the Ausable broke up on Friday. Most smaller streams and drainages are open with running water, but the cold temperatures should start to lock that up today. In some areas water flooded onto trails and then partially refroze before being covered with the new snow. Use extreme caution on ice crossings, especially near inlets and outlets.
In other words, WET SPOTS ABOUND...DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT A METAL SCRAPER.
One very specific alert for the Jackrabbit Ski Trail - see photo at right. When traveling toward McKenzie Pond from the parking area on McKenzie Pond Road, the first bridge reached (in the big dip) was flooded as of Saturday afternoon. Skiing on this section of trail cannot be recommended today. Crossing the stream is not advised.
National Weather Service forecast for the Lake Placid region here.
Sunny and cold today with overnight lows reaching -22F. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be perfect for ski touring. Temperatures in the teens and sunny all day. More snow possible Tuesday and Wednesday.
We will post another update on Monday afternoon.
IF YOU ARE OUT SKIING AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE OBSERVATIONS, PLEASE POST THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. THANK YOU!
Jackrabbit Ski Trail, McKenzie Mountain Wilderness Area, Jan 13, 2018
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