If you live here, you don't need this report to know that Thursday's storm gave us 10-12-14" of new, heavy, wet snow. Still snowing lightly as of Friday morning. Given how dense this snow is, pretty much any trail has enough cover to be skiable - provided one is willing to break trail. 

The snow won't last long, however, as the forecast calls for rain starting Saturday afternoon followed by temperatures in the 50s all next week. 

Mt. Van Hoevenberg and Cascade have responded to this new snow and have groomed their entire systems. No current report from either the Paul Smith' VICs or Dewey Mt.

​So, as we have been saying all winter, get out and "ski it while you can."

Back after two weeks of great skiing in Norway.  Thanks for the comments on the rapidly changing conditions. As of Tuesday, 3/26, it appears that whatever fell while I was gone is rapidly melting.  Still plenty of snow above 2,500-3,000 feet, but any approach to that snow will be on foot. Glad it snowed for the Junior National X-C Championships so that the article on the Faster Skier website could be titled, "Miracle that We're not Skiing on Ice".

So, just to make everyone envious, here is a photo of world-class grooming at the high point (after 1,300 feet of climbing) on a 30km trail between two towns (Bardu and Bardufoss) north of the Arctic Circle in Norway.
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With continued warm temperatures, there isn't much left for cross-country skiing except on the man-made snow at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and at elevations above at least 2,500 feet. Still 18" of snow at Lake Colden, but the skiing doesn't start until above Avalanche Camp. 

Hiking options will generally include mud at the beginning but grading to a ribbon of ice in the trail before finally reaching snow somewhere above 2,500 feet - depending on local snowfall history and aspect with regards to the sun.

And your regular reporter is leaving for two weeks in Norway where there is snow, so I won't be able to report if by some miracle winter returns. Comments can be left with this report, but please only report conditions you have personally experienced. And maybe there will be something to report when I return. Cheers, Tony Goodwin

One more report to pass along: Boreas trailhead remains plowed, and 4WD vehicles can probably make it up to the main parking area. 4-5" of snow on the road at the start, so worth checking out as it should be skiable through the weekend at least.

3/3 Update: In case anyone is still hoping for skiing, now the Paul Smith's VIC has closed their trails for skiing. but says they are open for walking with traction aids. This probably puts the nearby hays Brook Truck Trail off the map for the moment as well. Both areas may still have an icy base, but another few days of potential record high temperatures will likely melt that as well. 

Brief Saturday, 3/2 update: Cascade Welcome Center now closed. The Whiteface Highway, our usual "ace in the hole" has many long bare sections on its upper reaches. Still skiable from the toll house, but the higher windy stretches are bare. 
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INTRODUCTION

After a week of wild weather, there isn't much good to report. Tuesday and Wednesday saw record highs, and Wednesday finished with high winds and driving rain as temperatures dropped below freezing. The earlier high temperatures melted much of the base, and the high winds mean some trails will have significant new blowdown. Saturday will be in the 40s with 50s predicted for Sunday.  So, and conditions reported below will indeed be "conditional"

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
         All sections remain at least white thanks to the bit of snow that fell Thursday morning. However, no section can really be recommended. The Old Mountain Road section up from Rick and River has been 'negotiated' on skis, but don't travel much farther than I did (3 miles) to try it. The section starting from Whiteface Inn Lane looked a bit better at the trailhead, but still pretty marginal. 

GROOMED CENTERS

        ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER)
         https://adk.org/cascade-welcome-center/   518-837-5047
           Km Open and Groomed:  5  Track Set: Where possible  
          New snow: 1/2"  Packed Base Depth: 1"   Off Track:3""   
          New Snow last 72 hours: 1/2" 
          Surface Conditions: Groomed granular on hardpack with icy spots.
          Remarks: Only some trails north of the brook are open, and not recommended for beginners. And for those with hope for better skiing net year. Fischer light backcountry waxable skis (my personal favorite) are on sale for $50.00
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. Trail fee of $15/day - $10/half-day. Residents of the Tri-Lakes area ski for free (Donations appreciated)       scottscobblenordic.com.
518-523-9811 or 518-523-3742

          KM Open and Groomed:    Track Set: 
         New snow:    Packed Base Depth:    Off track:    
          New snow past 72 hours: 
          Surface conditions:           
          Remarks: No current report on their website.

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed: 40    Track Set: 5 km  
          New snow:   Packed Base Depth: 15" on manmade snow, 2-4" on Legacy trails   Off track:  5"
          New snow past 72 hours: 
          Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular  
         Remarks:  Legacy trails on X-C side open, including Porter, but set track only on the competition trails.  

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 25    Track Set: Where possible   
           New Snow: 1"  Packed Base Depth:  2-4"  Off track: 4-6" 
           New snow past 72 hours:  1"
           Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular
​           Remarks:  Most trails reported as open, but report says not enough snow to do any grooming.  

            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  Track set: 
           New Snow:    Packed Base Depth:   Off Track:  
           New snow past 72 hours: 
           Surface Conditions:  
           Remarks: Closed until conditions improve .

           TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS
           https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/  518-359-8370
            Km Open:    Track set:    
           New Snow:  ?   Base Depth:     Off track:  
           New snow past 72 hours:  
           Surface Conditions:  
​           Remarks:  No current report

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS: Only some of the gentler terrain on the south side of the High Peaks can be recommended, but  the softer surface conditions this weekend will make that terrain somewhat user-friendly. Those with AT gear or sturdy skis with metal edges my find some of the steeper farther in terrain worth skiing.

                 Snow depth at Lake Colden:  22". 
                
                Skis or snowshoes are required by regulation in the High Peaks when the snow depth is  8" or above. Not now required at most trailheads, but skis or snowshoes required for those venturing to higher terrain. All storms to date have been definitely elevation-dependent, so expect much greater snow depth above 3,000 feet. And above 4,000 feet expect 5-6' since the earlier snow did not melt at that elevation.

WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL:  Maybe skiable above the hiking trail portion.

MARCY TRAIL:   Probably not skiable until close to Indian Falls, and so far no reports of anyone actually skiing Marcy.

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Icy but skiable starting at the Toll House. Some windblown sections on the usual turns.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL: Some bare spots reported to Marcy Dam, as of last weekend, so likely more after the warm temperatures this past week.  See trailhead photo from today.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ: Not skiable.    

AVALANCHE PASS:  Now skiable, at least past Avalanche Camp. If still skiing,  rocks to dodge between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp. Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden now being crossed. On Avalanche Lake be aware of possible thin ice at the outlet.  If in doubt, go to the right shore a few yards before the outlet and use the foot bridge to cross.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  No current report

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL: Parking lot is plowed.  Some trees down from an earlier windstorm, but not a real problem.,  Otherwise, still skiable.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  No report

RAQUETTE FALLS:  No current report.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS:  Good cover to the ponds, although the steeper hills on the return to the trailhead will require caution if the surfaces are firm and fast.  Some spots plowed for parking as of 2/20. Please register if you ski there to help justify continued plowing.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: As usual, likely the best choice with these otherwise marginal conditions. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: Skiable cover once past the initial thick hemlock cover, but snowmobile tracks by Ausable Club workers will make it quite hard and fast even as the conditions warm.  

UPDATE. THURSDAY, 2/22.

DEC'S Thursday report says 33" of snow at Lake Colden with 8" at Marcy Dam. The report also confirms the good skiing on Avalanche Pass. Just be aware that surface conditions on Saturday, after the thaw/freeze cycle, may not be so ideal. Better perhaps to wait until it warms up again. 

Also, note the comment that Dewey Mountain also has good skiing now.

First of all, thanks for all the helpful comments on the previous report. They certainly helped to let skiers know what the conditions were like with the new snow.  As for the trip to Minneapolis, we watched Jessie Diggins take a third and a fourth, but the big news was Gus Schumacher winning the 10 km race on Sunday. This made him the first American male to win a World Cup distance race since Bill Koch in 1983! And with 20,000 fans showing up each day, X-C skiing is very much alive in the State of Minnesota - even if they have less snow that the Adirondacks this year.

As for the local ski conditions, it appears that any rain will hold off until late on Thursday, so get out and ski. Friday will see rain, followed by a very cold Saturday = icy surfaces. Sunday will be warmer, but no real new snow in sight. 

The best skiing is at the VIC as they have picked up several inches of new snow, and mostly never lost their base. The nearby Hays Brook Truck Trail will also be good skiing; and to answer one question in the comments, the Hays Brook parking has been regularly plowed this year. 

Otherwise, Mt. Van hoevenberg reports 40 km open, but very thin cover on the Legacy Trails. Cascade Welcome Center is open north of the brook, but similarly thin cover. Craig Wood reports enough snow to groom, but notes an icy base underneath. 

In the backcountry, Avalanche Pass is good with the truck trail the best approach to Marcy Dam. Boreas is also good and has been broken out, but plowed parking is limited. Newcomb Lake Road is also good.  Also nice to receive a positive report on Raquette Falls - good until the last steep, south-facing downhill.

​Ski it while you can!

Predictions early in the week were for nothing more that snow showers on Friday and Saturday. Now, we have a "Winter Weather Advisory" for the High Peaks and Tri-Lakes, but as of this evening only 1-3" is forecast for Lake Placid. This is clearly a rapidly changing forecast with much greater amounts predicted for areas west of here.  So what actually happens in anyone's guess.

Unfortunately, your usual reporter will be away this weekend in Minneapolis to watch the World Cup X-C races. While that seems to be a "legitimate" excuse to be gone at this time of the ski season, I didn't believe any substitute reporter was needed until this most recent forecast. What can be said is that conditions will improve for the weekend on any trail that still managed to hold onto a base. Tuesday night saw an unexpected 1-2", and another 1-3" on Friday will further improve conditions. 

On the Jackrabbit Trail, both the Keene side of the Old Mountain Road section and the Lake Placid side of the McKenzie Pass section retained a base and will be great skiing by Saturday. The Marcy Dam Truck Trail will be improved, but not that good. Boreas and Newcomb will be great with just the little new snow.

Otherwise, check the links on the groomed centers for the latest on their reports; and feel free to comment on whatever you find when you ski this weekend.

Weekend weather saw a bit of rain along with a bit of snow, but not enough to change conditions from those reported below. There is still snow cover on all trails, but it is thin in spots. Surfaces are frozen granular, so the only skiing worth mentioning are the groomed centers that have enough snow to actually groom.

Mt. Van Hoevenberg has groomed and track-set their 4 km of competition trails where there is man-made snow plus "put some corduroy" on 4 km of the flattest Legacy trails.

Cascade reports about 8 km of terrain north of the brook as skiable.

Paul Smith's VIC had groomed about 9 km enough to produce a loose surface, but still warns about some this or slushy spots.

The weather this week will be mostly cooler than last week, so no further loss of snow; but no significant new snow. Not finally really cooling down now until next Sunday. The best plan may just be to sharpen up the Microspikes. 

UPDATE FRIDAY EVENING 1/26:
It rained on and off, mostly on, for about six hours on Friday up to about noon. Still something white on the ground everywhere,  but not much else good to say about the conditions. The groomed centers will have some tough evaluating to do tomorrow about what, or even whether,  to open.  We won't try to stay on top of that situation, so use the contact information on the reports below if you plan to ski at any of the centers.

Otherwise, maybe just pick up a subscription to Ski and Snowboard Live (https://skiandsnowboard.live/) and watch the World Cup sprints from Goms, Switzerland - where today it was also raining, but promised to be sunny tomorrow.

INTRODUCTION

The temperatures will be moderating over the weekend, but still some rain possible on Friday before temperatures only poke above freezing on Saturday, and then only reach freezing on Sunday . High on Monday will be low 20s, but back to highs in the upper 20s the rest of the week.  So far we haven't lost too much of the nice snow that we had accumulated, but unfortunately not much chance of any significant new snow to go one our base. In the absence of much new snow, Mt. Van Hoevenberg will surely be able to groom up their competition trails, and Paul Smiths should be able to do the same on most of their system.  Cascade will likely have to evaluate how aggressive their grooming can be. In any event, it doesn't seem that the backcountry will be very skiable - except for the gentlest terrain.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
         All sections remain covered, but surfaces will be frozen and fast once the temperature drops. Comments on the previous report reminded us of the logging ongoing between White Pine Camp and Jones Pond roads.

GROOMED CENTERS

        ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER)
         https://adk.org/cascade-welcome-center/   518-837-5047
           Km Open and Groomed:  ?  Track Set: ?  
          New snow:    Packed Base Depth: 3"   Off Track:5"   
          New Snow last 72 hours: 
          Surface Conditions: Wet powder
          Remarks: Closed to skiing on Thursday due to warm conditions. Hope to be open again with cooler temperatures  on the weekend. Fischer light backcountry waxable skis on sale for $50.00
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. Trail fee of $15/day - $10/half-day. Residents of the Tri-Lakes area ski for free (Donations appreciated)       scottscobblenordic.com.
518-523-9811 or 518-523-3742

          KM Open and Groomed:  ?   Track Set: ?
         New snow:    Packed Base Depth:    Off track:   
          New snow past 72 hours: 
          Surface conditions:     Wer Powder       
          Remarks: No current report

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed: 38  Track Set: 5 km  
          New snow:    Packed Base Depth: 15" on manmade snow, 2-3" on Legacy trails   Off track:  5"
          New snow past 72 hours: 
          Surface Conditions:  Wet powder and groomed granular  
         Remarks:  Legacy trails on X-C side open except for Porter plus most trails on the biathlon side. No set track on any legacy trails.

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 25    Track Set: On most trails.   
           New Snow:   Packed Base Depth:  3"  Off track: 5" 
           New snow past 72 hours:  
           Surface Conditions:   Wet Powder
​           Remarks:  No current report, but enough base that the trails should remain skiable  Esker Loop still has a caution symbol.

            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open: 10  Track set: 5 km
           New Snow:      
           New snow past 72 hours: 
           Surface Conditions:  wet powder
           Remarks: Lower trails have good cover and mostly track-set before the snow. Upper trails ungroomed but very skiable .

           TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS
           https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/  518-359-8370
            Km Open: 10   Track set:    no mentiion
           New Snow:  ?   Base Depth: 5"    Off track: 6-8"   
           New snow past 72 hours:  ?
           Surface Conditions:  Powder
​           Remarks:  The system has been groomed, but no recent grooming due to warm conditions. Free Maxiglide in the sign-in booth.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS: (Reports below do not reflect the expected icy surfaces as the temperatures cool.)

                 Snow depth at Lake Colden:  31" as of DEC's Thursday, 1/25 report. 
                
                Skis or snowshoes are required by regulation in the High Peaks when the snow depth is  8" or above. Not now required at trailheads, but skis or snowshoes now required for those venturing to higher terrain. All storms to date have been definitely elevation-dependent, so expect much greater snow depth above 3,000 feet. And above 4,000 feet expect 5-6' since the earlier snow did not melt at that elevation.

WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL:  No report, but still not likely skiable until above the hiking trail portion.

MARCY TRAIL:  Now reported as thin until just above 50-meter bridge. Skiable from there to Indian Falls and beyond.

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable starting at the Toll House. Some windblown sections on the usual turns.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable to Marcy Dam, but there may still be a few rocks that are not fully covered.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ: Not skiable.    

AVALANCHE PASS:  Now skiable. Some rocks still to dodge between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp. Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden now being crossed. On Avalanche Lake be aware of possible thin ice at the outlet.  If in doubt, go to the right shore a few yards before the outlet and use the foot bridge to cross.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable. Outlet to the pond is still not fully frozen, but some have found a way to cross the pond rather than skiing the bypass around the private land.

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL: Parking lot has been plowed so far this winter.  Some trees down from an earlier windstorm, but not a real problem, and otherwise good skiing, and gentle enough to be a possible alternative with icy conditions.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable to Fish Pond.  No current report on the lakes, but the ice is good as long as there is no slush underneath the snow.  

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Skiable with caution. No plowing beyond the end of the town road. This adds about a mile each way to the ski.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS:  Good cover to the ponds.  No spots had been plowed for parking as of 1/22. Please register if you ski there to help justify continued plowing.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Near perfect conditions on that ski, and gentle enough to be a good alternative once the temperature drops. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: Very skiable before the thaw, but now snowmobile tracks by Ausable Club workers will make it quite hard and fast.