Unfortunately, just a dusting at the end of the rain. So, nothing north of the High Peaks is now skiable. Before the end of the week, we'll survey the possibilities south and west of the High Peaks, but with no new snow in the forecast anything left will just be a hard, icy crust. That said, maybe Newcomb will pick up a surprise 2-3 inches, and the road to Newcomb Lake will be an option. Stay tuned.
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SUNDAY, 12/17, WEATHER UPDATE
The National Weather Service has now issued a flood watch from Sunday evening to Monday evening. High winds, temperatures around 50, and an inch or so of rain will melt much of the snow we have and add that to the streams. So, hope you were able to ski, because there doesn't appear to any significant new snow at the tail end of this pattern. If nothing else, we'll do a brief "windshield" survey on Tuesday to see if anything survived at any trailheads. Above 2,500 (or for sure above 3,000 feet) there will be snow remaining after this pattern, but it appears it will be a while before there is skiable snow on which to get there. There has been good snow in may locations for the past few days. See previous reports for where they were. We have now had one day with temperatures in the 40s and more of the same for the next three days, with rain possible/likely on Monday. Cooling off after Monday, but so far no compensating snow. Many branches down on ski trails, including the Jackrabbit, but relatively few downed trees. If you ski or, perhaps later, walk any of the trails, you are very much entitled to heaving aside any branches you encounter. Sections already checked include:) a )Jackrabbit Trail from Rock and River in Keene to the beaver pond near the Lake Placid end of the section. b )McKenzie Pass to the lean-to from Whiteface Inn Lane. Cleared up to the lean-to. Otherwise, take your chances, and don't forget the toss away some brush. INTRODUCTION
Despite the previous report that we would wait until the weekend for another report, actual reports and on-site checks indicate that the rest of this week will be a good time to get out and ski. Colder temperatures Wednesday and Thursday, but warming as of Friday. Again, the possibility of rain over the weekend, but in the end last weekend set us up for some good conditions this week. JACKRABBIT TRAIL Sections between Keene and as far as McKenzie Pass (above Whiteface Inn Lane) have enough cover to be traversed on skis; but no specific reports as there are likely still some wet areas. Past the top of that pass toward Saranac Lake likely not enough to ski just yet. Additionally, the heavy wet snow has brought down some trees and branches that will take a week or so to fully clear. ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER) https://adk.org/cascade-welcome-center/ 518-837-5047 Km Open and Groomed: 10 Track Set: 8 New snow: 2" Packed Base Depth: 3-4" Off Track 5-6" New Snow last 72 hours: 9" Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: Great early-season conditions Remember that Cascade is now owned by the Adirondack Mt. Club. Ski shop open as usual, and ADK members ski free. SCOTTS COBBLE NORDIC CENTER - NEW 10 km of groomed trails on Craig Wood Golf Course - rentals, lessons operated by High Peaks Cyclery. Free for residents of the Tri-Lakes area. $15/day, $10/half-day for others. . scottscobblenordic.com KM Open and Groomed: 10 Track Set: ? New snow: 2" Packed Base Depth: 3-4" Off track: 5-6" New snow past 72 hours: 8" Surface conditions: Packed powder Remarks: MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG: https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/nordic-sliding-centers/conditions 518-523-2811 Km Open and Groomed: 15 Track Set: ? New snow: 2" Packed Base Depth: 3-4" Off track: 5-6" New snow past 72 hours: 8" Surface Conditions: Packed Powder Remarks: 1.5 km of the competition trails plus the flatter "Legacy" trails and InnerLoopen and Ladies 5km . Unconfirmed report of grooming on the Perimeter Loop on the Biathlon side. PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER: https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/,518-327-6241 Km Open: 15 Track set: 0 New Snow: 3" Packed Base Depth: 3-4" Off track: 6-8' New snow past 72 hours: 2" Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: DEWEY MOUNTAIN: https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter 518-891-2697 Km Open: 8 Track set: ? New Snow: 2" New snow past 72 hours: 6" Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: Lower mountain trails open TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/ 518-359-8370 Km Open: 10 Track set: 10 New Snow: 2" Base Depth: 3-"4 Off track: 5-6" New snow past 72 hours: 7" Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS: Snow depth at Lake Colden: No current report, but likely 2' based on neighboring trail condition reports. 3-4' above 4,000 feet Skis or snowshoes are required by regulation in the High Peaks as the snow depth is now above the 8" threshold. Snowshoes or skis still advisable on all other backcountry terrain - especially above 3,000 feet. WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: Not yet skiable MARCY TRAIL: Not yet skiable WHITEFACE HIGHWAY: Skiable starting at the Toll House. Some bare areas due to wind, but otherwise fully covered. MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL: Skiable with caution as many rocks remain a hazard. Downed trees may be an issue HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ: Not skiable. AVALANCHE PASS: Not skiable past Marcy Dam, but skiable higher up on the pass. Avalanche Lake is being crossed, but use caution at the outlet. If in doubt, take the trail on the west (right) side about 50 yds. before the actual outlet and use the bridge to cross the outlet. CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING: No report, but likely not quite ready to be skied. HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL: No specific report, but the Paul Smith's VIC report indicates enough snow to ski this trail. FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL: No report, but possibly skiable. RAQUETTE FALLS: Not likely skiable. GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Good cover (6-8" as of last week) with another 3-4" over the past weekend. Some plowed parking as of last Thursday. We can hope that will continue Please register if you ski there to help justify continued plowing. NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good conditions last week, and likely continued good with another 4" reported from the weekend storm. AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: Likely not quite ready to ski yet. MONDAY MORNING REPORT:
As of 11 AM, it appears the snow has ended for now. So far, none of the threatened high winds. Snowfall amounts vary widely from 2" in Keene to 8" in two locations in Lake Placid. Saranac Lake reports 3", but 8" not far to the west. Newcomb reports 5". Therefore, any area that was skiable before this thaw and then snow is still skiable, although the trail breaking will likely be hard work. The only consistent factor is that the snow is heavy and wet, but less so at higher elevations. Given that the depths reported so far are elevation dependent, we can assume significantly more snow above 2,500 feet. We'll be collecting reports as the week goes on and post an update before the weekend. The National Weather Service has now come down from their earlier estimates of 8-14" of new snow by Monday afternoon to agree with Accuweather and other forecasters that it will be more like 5-10". And given this trend, the final total will likely be closer to the low end than the high end. The agreement in all these forecasts is that it will be heavy, wet snow. A good base perhaps, but not exactly a 'powder fest'. After Monday, all forecasts agree that there will not be any significant new snow, and that daytime temperatures will be a few degrees above or below freezing. Next Sunday will likely be the warmest with a high of 40. So, at the high end of the estimates, the groomed centers can try to make some good conditions out of the wet snow. The low end may just allow some packing to produce a good base that is likely to survive the warmer temperatures forecast for later next week. Areas that held a good base (Gulf Brook Rd., Newcomb Lake Rd., Whiteface Hwy.) should have survived this thaw and will be skiable regardless of the new snowfall amounts. WEATHER UPDATE 12/9/23
The latest forecast starts with flood watches for Sunday afternoon and evening, but precipitation is now predicted to change to wet snow during Sunday night with accumulations of several inches or more. So, those places where there is a good base will be skiable starting on Monday. Whether there is enough to make other areas skiable will have to wait until Monday when we see how much new snow has fallen. That said, the trend of the forecasts is in the right direction and we can be legitimately hopeful about what we'll be seeing for conditions next week. REPORT AS OF 12/7/23 As we've noted, the weekend weather does not look good, but there are a few places that will likely hold onto some snow as a base for any future snowfall. First is Gulf Brook Road to Boreas Ponds. Currently 6-8" of dense snow with a nice powder surface. The powder surface won't last, but there should still be several inches of cover so that road will remain skiable after the thaw. And only a few inches of new snow will make for great skiing for the weekend of 12/16-17. Second, the Whiteface Highway also appears to have enough snow to survive the thaw. Again, it will be nice to have an inch or so of fresh snow on top of the frozen crust that will be left after the thaw. Third. while not recently checked, the Newcomb Lake Road to Camp Santanoni should also retain some cover after the weekend. Stay tuned as we try to assess how much snow might fall on Monday as the temperatures finally drop from the 40s and 50's predicted for Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures in the valleys remained above freezing for most of the past weekend, so all that fell at the lower elevations was rain. The higher summits, however, remained just below freezing, so the 1-1/2 - 3 feet of snow starting at 2,500 feet is still there in case anyone is planning on hiking any of the higher peaks. On Sunday night, areas to the north of the Lake Placid/High Peaks did receive some new snow, and that includes the Whiteface Highway. So again, we're back to that as about the only skiing except for the man-made snow in the Mt. Van Hoevenberg stadium. Likely the snow on the Newcomb Lake Road has survived this thaw, but that's about it for the moment.
Looking ahead, temperatures will cool down mid-week with some chance of a few inches of new snow. Unfortunately, the forecast for next weekend features temperatures in the 40s and rain. We'll post an update later this week while keeping our fingers crossed that the forecasters are wrong on this forecast. FRIDAY EVENING UPDATE: So far, Friday temperatures have climbed to the low 40s, and all precipitation has fallen as rain. Initial views of the summits indicate snow above above about 3,500 ft. We'll see what estimate we can come up with tomorrow, but it will now appears it will remain above freezing for much of Saturday before cooling down with perhaps an inch or so of snow on Saturday night. As usual, it seems, it's a back-and-forth start to the season, but at least cold weather returns by the middle of the week.
I know, we promised a more definitive report as of Thursday evening; but right now there isn't a forecast that is very "definitive" - except to say that it will precipitate Friday through Sunday. So far little new snow predicted for the Lake Placid area with a greater chance of rain. However, temperatures will only be mid to upper 30s so not much loss of what we have, and it could easily be all snow above 2,500 feet. Right now, there is golf course skiing in Lake Placid. Also skiable as reported earlier are: Marcy Dam Truck Trail to Marcy Dam, Newcomb Lake Road to Camp Santanoni, Gulf Brook Rd. to Boreas Ponds, and of course the Whiteface Highway. The best take-a-way is that the weather won't be very nice for being outside, but we won't lose much, if any, of what we already have. Next week will again turn colder, so no loss of snow there. Given that temperatures were close to or even above freezing on Sunday night, it was hard to tell what kind and amount of snow that had fallen. Two days later, various credible reports indicate that there is good snow (enough for snowshoes to be required in the High Peaks) above 2,500, and skiable snow even below that elevation in places.
Specifically, 17-18" on top of Avalanche Pass and at Lake Colden. Not skiable above Marcy Dam, but apparently skiable once up on the pass. There is also a report of skiing from Blue Ridge Rd. to Boreas Ponds. Whiteface Mt. received less snow, but the Highway is again skiable. Another report said that the 2-4" of dense snow was sufficient to ski to Marcy Dam - albeit with still some rocks to avoid. And Newcomb Lake Road can also be added to the skiable list. The Whiteface Highway is again skiable from the Toll House. 2-3" of snow on ice at the Toll House, but more snow as one climbs. Some windblown areas on the final turns, but that's not unusual for this time of the year. We will continue to look for reliable posts while also doing some personal research to hopefully prepare a good report for the weekend. Unfortunately, the forecast for Friday is a bit iffy regarding what temperatures and what kind of precipitation we will receive. Stay tuned. After a stable Thanksgiving weekend with at least some skiing possible, Sunday night saw some rain that was, at times, heavy. Temperatures dropped by morning, so the ground was again white in the valleys with an inch or so of wet snow. It appears that it was all snow at higher elevations, but what altitude that is remains to be seen. It never went above freezing on the summit of Whiteface, so we know there is snow there. How much is the question and how far down the mountain does that snow go?
Tuesday and Wednesday valley temperatures will remain below freezing, and then only be mid to upper thirties through the rest of the week and weekend. So far, no significant new snow in the forecast, but there will certainly be skiing this coming weekend. We'll see how much and where and report on Thursday evening, 11/30 . Yes, some very wet, dense snow fell on Tuesday night. As has happened before, it seems that areas to the east (like Keene) received more than areas farther west. So, this doesn't mean any skiing to report in Keene, but even the golf courses in Lake Placid are mostly green. The Whiteface Highway has maybe an inch of slush at the Toll House with good cover starting at the pump house at about two miles up. Somewhat surprisingly, Meadows Lane and the Marcy Dam Truck Trail have about 3" of dense snow and can be rated at "just barely skiable". The survey didn't extend to the other early season favorites in Newcomb or Paul Smiths. Reports welcome.
Thursday's forecast is for clouds and temperatures near to just above freezing. So, no melting and surfaces will remain soft. On Friday, temperatures will cool so that att the wet snow will become quite firm and choppy where it has been skied while it was soft. After that, temperatures remain below freezing for the weekend without any new snow = not much change to what is reported above. Have a happy Thanksgiving and maybe a bit of skiing as well. |
Trail Conditions 101Trail condition reports are posted frequently during the ski season. The Adirondack backcountry can be a hard place to predict with weather and trail conditions that often change rapidly. We can't offer the same detailed descriptions of trail conditions as groomed nordic centers. Archives
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