Its been a great week for "early season" skiing in these parts and we've received a number of positive trip reports from popular ski trails in the region. Alas, we're now watching the rapid melting of snow outside the BETA office and staring in disbelief at a weather forecast showing a high of 45F and a 100% of rain for Sunday, January 10. The good news is this appears to be a short duration event and temperatures will drop below freezing again late Sunday night, with possible accumulations of 1-2 inches on Monday and snow showers on the horizon for most of next week.
National Weather Service Forecast for Lake Placid
Most sections of the Jackrabbit Ski Trail have been skied in the past week, with variable but "skiable" conditions reported from Paul Smiths to Keene. Be sure to use caution on downhills if you're out on the Jackrabbit this weekend, as you're likely to encounter rocks lurking just below the snow surface. Beaver ponds on the Old Mountain Road section were frozen and crossable earlier in the week, but we must advise against skiing on the ponds (or any other ice) now that things have heated up. Hays Brook Trail has seen quite a bit of traffic, as has the Santanoni Trail in Newcomb, the Cooper Kiln Pond Trail from Bonnieview Rd in Wilmington and the new Heaven Hill Trails in Lake Placid, and skiers have reported great conditions in those locations.
Adirondack Powder Skiers Association reports good coverage on the Whiteface Toll Road and Avalanche Pass Ski Trails.
As for predictions for the coming week...we're in "wait and see" mode until at least Monday morning.
XC Ski Area Conditions (click links)
Cascade XC Center
Mt. Van Hoevenberg
Paul Smiths VIC
Upcoming Events
Jan 16-18 - Winter Weekends at Great Camp Santanoni
Jan 17 - Sunday Ski & Music at the VIC (Paul Smiths)
Jan 23 - Cascade XC Center Full Moon Party
Jan 24 - SAVE THE DATE - BETA-ASTC 24th Annual "Ski & Swim" Pool Party (3pm-6pm) and Bi-annual Meeting (2pm-3pm)