A promising start to the week, but ski it while you can

UPDATES 12/24&25:
We did manage to pick up the promised 3-5" of new light snow on Monday night. This should allow more terrain to be opened at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Dewey Mt., and Scotts Cobble.  (The other groomed centers were all pretty much fully open already.) And now most of the Jackrabbit Trail will also be skiable, although the report on McKenzie Pass down to the Pond and out to the road indicated that it's skiable, but just barely.
Based on the other two comments on this report, we were too pessimistic about Avalanche Pass. Sounds as though there are still a few obstacles, but doable getting to the good conditions up on the pass. 
​And while not directly ski-related, the Garden parking in Keene Valley is plowed and sanded. The hiking trail is not yet skiable.
As of Thursday, 12/26 it appears there is no new snow coming, just a slow melt starting on Saturday. Next update on Monday or Tuesday 12/30-31 when we can assess what is still skiable after two days of 40 degrees and rain. Sorry!

INTRODUCTION
The ski centers made good use of the 2-4" of light snow that fell on Thursday, and now we can look forward to another 3-5" on Monday night into Tuesday. The trend in the forecast is downward as far as snowfall is concerned, so we'll just have to wait until tomorrow to see how much actually falls.
After three cold days and nights, Tuesday through Thursday will be in the 20s with sunshine Christmas day and Thursday. Sunshine continues for Friday and Saturday with temperatures inching into the 30s. Then Sunday threatens some rain with a high of 40. Continued warm on the following Monday, but no additional rain. It doesn't appear, at least this far from those forecasts, that we will lose much of the snow, but the surface conditions will not be quite as good.
JACKRABBIT TRAIL
The smoother sections such as River Road to the Lake Placid Club and Craig Wood to Birdsong Lane remain skiable. Also some of the Paul Smiths section between the VIC and south of Rt, 86. Lumber operations will likely prevent a through ski to Lake Clear Jct.  
The  Old Mountain Road is now skiable although the rougher sections still demand caution as not all rocks are fully covered. No report on the new section north of Scotts Cobble.
McKenzie Pass section is skiable from Whiteface Inn Lane, and good as one approaches the lean-to. According to one comment on this report the descent to McKenzie Pond was skiable but was "lumpy" with early season hazards such as rocks and water bars. 

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:  15  Track Set: Approx. 15 
          New snow: 5"  Packed Base Depth: 5"   Off Track: 8"   
          New Snow last 72 hours: 7"
          Surface Conditions: Packed powder on hardpack with still a few thin spots.
          Remarks: All trails open.

         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: 8  Track Set: not yet 
         New snow:  1"   Packed Base Depth:  2"   Off track: 3"  
          New snow past 72 hours:  4"
          Surface conditions:  Packed powder with thin spots  and some areas blown clear    
          Remarks:  
          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed: 40  Track Set: 5km  
          New snow:  5"  Packed Base Depth:  5" on Legacy trails   Off track: 8" 
          New snow past 72 hours:  7"
          Surface Conditions:   Packed powder with now fewer thin spots. Good coverage on 2 km of competition trails
         Remarks:  Most Legacy trails on south side (a.k.a. cross-country side) open, but not Porter Mt. Some trails on the north side of the road (a.k.a. biathlon side) but not Perimeter or Three Trails. 

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 30 km  Track Set: none reported    
           New Snow:  5" Packed Base Depth: 6"   Off track:  10" 
           New snow past 72 hours:  8"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder. Considerable grooming as of Monday, but not on some of the narrower trails. 
​           Remarks:  There is now a current online report, but a phone call might be best to determine the exact conditions.
            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  5  Track set: none
           New Snow:  1"  Packed Base Depth:   Off Track:  
           New snow past 72 hours: 3"
           Surface Conditions: 
           Remarks: Lower trails  open with thin spots.

           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:  3"   Base Depth:  6"    Off track: 10"   
           New snow past 72 hours: 5" 
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​        Remarks:  The system mostly held a good base. The entire system has been groomed and remains the best groomed skiing in the area. 

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS
Most of the popular backcountry skis managed to hold some base and benefited from Friday's snow. Caution still advised as not all hazards are fully covered. The new snow will be light, so be aware that those hazards may just be better disguised while still being dangerous. Thursday, 12/26 report from Lake Colden says 25" at the cabin.

Whiteface Highway: As has been the case for nearly a month, the highway is fully covered.

Marcy Dam, Truck Trail: Skiable with thin spots for the first two miles. Rocks disguised but not covered. Meadows Lane now blocked off for the winter. Park on the left to leave room for ranger vehicles with snowmobile trailers in the event of an emergency. 
Fish Pond Truck Trail: Also skiable although the hill at two miles will require caution. Lake ice may be safe after the cold weather this past weekend, but definitely make your own assessment for the alternate return.
Hays Brook Truck Trail: Definitely skiable to both the Sheep Meadow and Grass Pond. The only problem is that so far the Hays Brook parking has not been plowed, so 4WD is essential for that trailhead. 
Newcomb Lake Road: As usual, the best skiing. No report on the road to Moose Pond. There is good cover, but there may be downed trees. 
Gulf Brook Road to Boreas Ponds: As of the afternoon of 12/25, no parking has been plowed and no ski tracks heading in. We'll try to convince North Hudson that this is a resource they should support with at least a bit of plowing, but no guarantees. UPDATE:  Two communications on 12/25 and 12/27 with North Hudson unfortunately seem to indicate no plowing of that parking this winter.
Avalanche Pass: Now skiable past Marcy Dam thanks to Monday's new snow. Lake Colden now has 25" of snow.  Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are crossable. Caution is always advised near the outlet to Avalanche Lake. If in doubt, take to the trail on the west side about 50 yards before the outlet and cross on the bridge. 
​Ausable Lake Road: According to a report on this page, it required about 1/2 mile of walking past the gate, and then a further bit of walking to ski to the lake. The new snow should make it all skiable.
Wright Peak Ski Trail:  ​See comment below. We can expect these conditions to continue until we have considerably more snow.
Mt. Marcy Ski Trail: Similar conditions to Wright Peak being very bony up to 50-meter bridge and up the steep just above, but then good cover the rest of the way.