All the snow we were promised!

UPDATE 3/3/22
      Conditions will remain as reported below through Saturday, but now Sunday will see rain and temperatures in the 50s. No new snow afterward as Monday will continue with some rain and a high of  40. Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the mid-30s for highs. Next update after Sunday's rain.

UPDATE 3/1/ 22

     Comments on the Marcy report confirm the original prediction.  Still not enough for steep but otherwise skiable trails. 

     Updated forecast has near freezing temperatures on Wednesday, but colder Thursday and Friday.  No significant new snow. Then warming back to freezing on Saturday with highs in the 40s on Sunday and Monday.  

INTRODUCTION

       On Friday we picked up 10-14" of very light powder, and this has pretty much everything back in good shape.  The only exceptions may be the hiking trail portion of the Wright Peak Ski Trail and the Marcy trail due to this snow being so light.
Temperatures are now predicted to remain below freezing through the coming week with a few additional chances for more snow. So it may be March, but the season is hardly over.   Sunday is predicted to be windy, so neither the Whiteface Highway nor any lake crossings will be the best choice, but they will be skiable.

             Otherwise, expect that all the popular routes will be broken out by the end of the day on Saturday.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
          Entire trail again skiable. 
          NOTE: Skiers starting from Rock and River in Keene should only park in the spots designated for skiers. Do not park in spots reserved for Rock and River guests. If all trailhead spots are taken, park in the overflow lot.

        CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed:  10    Track Set:  10
          New snow: 8"   Base Depth: 8"  Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions: Packed powder 
          Remarks:  

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  35 km    Track Set: 35 km
          New snow: 10"   Base Depth: 20" on man-made trails. 10" on natural snow. Off Track: 20"
          Surface Conditions: Packed powder 
         Remarks:  Competition trails have been groomed along with the lower, flatter trails on the cross-country side and all of the biathlon side. East Mountain, Porter, and High Notch not groomed - at least not yet.

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open: 30 km.  Track set: ?? 
           New Snow:  22"   Base Depth: 12"  Off Track: 18"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​           Remarks: 10" on Friday, 8" on Sunday, 4" on Wednesday night.  All very light powder so it has settled, but still the best conditions being reported anywhere.  Live music and hot food this weekend 3/5-6.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                45" at Lake Colden (estimate) 
                6-7 feet above 4,000 feet 
                Skis or snowshoes required by regulation in the High Peaks and needed in all other areas.
           
WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: No report, but hiking trail portion may not have quite enough new snow to again be skiable.

MARCY TRAIL:  Phelps Brook above Marcy Dam and Marcy Brook at Indian Falls definitely "went out", in the last thaw and have not refrozen. Both crossings are difficult. Additionally, this very light snow has not completely covered the rocks on the lower part of the trail. 

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Cover all the way to the Castle, but there will be some bare spots given the wind.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable and every rock fully covered.  Nice skied-in track once past the junction with the trail to Mt. Van Hoevenberg. GENERAL NOTE: At the trailhead on Adirondak Loj Rd., DEC Rangers do not want any parking on the right side of the plowed turnout. Good parking on the left side, and then there's the road. 

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Covered and skiable, but the truck trail is still the better choice because the unbridged crossing on the old Marcy Dam Trail is not easily crossable, and the first mile of the hiking trail is not that much fun to ski with still marginal cover.  

AVALANCHE PASS:  Skiable again. Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden remain frozen and crossable, but outlet of Avalanche Lake definitely a problem as someone has gone through the ice.  Take trail on right side a few yards before the outlet and cross on the bridge.  GENERAL NOTE: If skied from the Meadows Lane/Marcy Dam Truck Trail trailhead, DEC Rangers do not want any parking on the right side of the plowed turnout. Good parking on the left side, and then there's the road.) 

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING: Good cover again. Pond is crossable, and avoids the hills at the start. 

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.  So far this season, the parking area continues to be plowed even after the recent storms.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable.  No report on the ponds.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Skiable with the new snow.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Definitely skiable. Parking area now seems to be regularly plowed for 4-5 cars,  Parking on the road is possible - just not ideal. All culverts and bridges have been repaired/replaced. As of late December, one tree down just short of the ponds. If you ski there, please register as that will help justify future plowing.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Skiable to Camp Santanoni. Moose Pond trail has some blowdown that may not be removed this winter. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: Skiable