Continued mostly great conditions, and the crust from last week's storm has been somehwat mitigated by new snow and some warm temperatures that "softened and blended" that hard crust with the new snow. Still, best skiing is on trails that were well broken out before last Tuesday, and have received good use since then. The skiing there is good, but quite a bit faster when the icy crust component is factored in.  Trails in this category include the popular sections of the Jackrabbit Trail and the trails leading away from ADK Loj. More specific reports (as we know them) are reported below.    

            Coming weekend weather looks good, although, high temperatures will be above freezing  Friday, Saturday on Sunday. This will mean somewhat icy conditions each morning. A slight warming trend forecast for next week, but no major thaw that will diminish the snowpack we have..
 
JACKRABBIT TRAIL

          Entire trail is skiable, and all sections between Keene and Saranac Lake have ben broken out well enough that the crust is not an issue.  Paul Smiths section has great cover, and at least the White Pine Road to VIC section has been broken out. Those skiing the Old Mountain Road starting from Rock and River in Keene should use the "Additional Parking" area on the right just before the lodge.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed: 15km      Track Set: 10 km 
          New snow: 2" last 48hrs     Base Depth: 15"  Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder.
          Remarks:  Ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  54km    Track Set: 53 km
          New snow: 2" last 48 hrs     Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 15" on natural snow. Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder
         Remarks: 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           40 km Open.  Most all trails groomed, many with set track. 
           New Snow: 2" -72 hours      Base Depth: 20"
           Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder
           Remarks: 

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                33" at Lake Colden
                5+feet above 4,000 feet
           With this snow, pretty much everything is now skiable, and skis or snowshoes are now required by regulation for travel in the High Peaks.  In other areas they are needed and should be used.  Avalanche Pass definitely skiable, and most rocks to avoid between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp are now covered. Avalanche Lake is crossable.  Wright Peak Ski Trail skiable, although the crust is still an issue up high. The approach to the Wright Peak Ski Trail on the hiking trail now much improved.  Marcy trail now totally skiable, but again with the above cautions.  

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable. Still a better choice than the hiking trail as far as surface conditions go, but over a mile longer than the Loj approach.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Skiable.  Old Marcy Dam approach is the better start, but both approaches are skiable.  

AVALANCHE PASS: Broken out and skiable through to Avalanche Lake.  Avalanche Lake is frozen crossable.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable cover, but the crust may still be a problem. .
​
HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.   As of 2/19, parking area continues to be plowed. (Yay!)

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and loop back on the ponds now very doable.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Fully skiable.  "Official" plowing ends one mile from the parking area at the Corey's Road gate (now closed), but the road and trailhead parking are being plowed.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Parking area is still being plowed, although not after the last few inches of new snow!  Washed out culvert at 1/2 mile is a bit of an obstacle, but can be easily negotiated on skis, and there is track broken to the ponds. Crust may be a problem at the more "southern" location.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing to both Camp Santanoni and Moose Pond. Crust could be an issue, but no reports so far

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Fully skiable.  Some snowmobile traffic along with the foot traffic.  

​INTRODUCTION

          Continued mostly great conditions but crust from Tuesday's storm has created problems east and south of Saranac Lake. On trails that were well broken out before Tuesday, and have received good use since then, the skiing is good, but quite a bit faster when the icy crust component is factored in.  Trails in this category include the popular sections of the Jackrabbit Trail and the trails leading away from ADK Loj. More specific reports (as we know them) are reported below.    

            Weekend weather looks good. High temperatures in the mid 20s and an additional inch or so of snow on Saturday.  Sunny on Sunday.  A slight warming trend next week, but no major thaw.
 
JACKRABBIT TRAIL

          Entire trail is skiable, and all sections between Keene and Saranac Lake have ben broken out well enough that the crust is not an issue.  Paul Smiths section has great cover, but no reports of what stretches have been broken out. Those skiing the Old Mountain Road starting from Rock and River in Keene should use the "Additional Parking" area on the right just before the lodge.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed: 15km      Track Set: 10 km 
          New snow: 2" last 48hrs     Base Depth: 15"  Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder.
          Remarks:  Ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  54km    Track Set: 53 km
          New snow: 2" last 48 hrs     Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 15" on natural snow. Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder
         Remarks: 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           40 km Open.  Most all trails groomed, many with set track. 
           New Snow: 2" -72 hours      Base Depth: 20"
           Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder
           Remarks: 

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
           With this snow, pretty much everything is now skiable, and skis or snowshoes are now required by regulation for travel in the High Peaks.  In other areas they are needed and should be used.  Avalanche Pass definitely skiable, and most rocks to avoid between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp are now covered. Avalanche Lake is crossable.  Wright Peak Ski Trail skiable, and approach on the hiking trail now much improved.  Marcy trail now totally skiable.  Whales Tail Ski Trail broken out earlier, but no reports since the icing event on Tuesday.

                 Random notes from the field: 1) Botheration Pond Loop is skiable despite the loss of the 55-foot bridge over the East Branch of the Sacandaga Riveras snow on top of ice makes an easy crossing. 2)  Southern approach to Hoffman Notch is difficult due to no bridge over the West Branch of Trout Brook.  Northern approach is fine.

                 Between the earlier cold weather and the new snow, most lakes no longer have problems with slush.  Still, no guarantees-carry a scraper.
Snow Depth at Lake Colden:  34"     Snow Depth at 4,000 feet (est.):  5-6 feet.
 
WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable. A  better choice than the hiking trail as far as surface conditions go, but over a mile longer than the Loj approach.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Skiable.  Old Marcy Dam approach is the better start, but both approaches are skiable.  

AVALANCHE PASS: Broken out and skiable through to Avalanche Lake.  Avalanche Lake is frozen crossable.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable cover, but reports indicate not much fun due to the crust. .
​
HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.   As of 2/19, parking area continues to be plowed. (Yay!)

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and loop back on the ponds now very doable.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Fully skiable.  "Official" plowing ends one mile from the parking area at the Corey's Road gate (now closed), but the road and trailhead parking are being plowed.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Parking area is now being plowed!  Washed out culvert at 1/2 mile is a bit of an obstacle, but can be easily negotiated on skis, and there is track broken to the ponds. Crust may be a problem at the more "southern" location.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing to both Camp Santanoni and Moose Pond. Crust could be an issue, but no reports so far

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Fully skiable.  Some snowmobile traffic along with the foot traffic.  

Snow depth (33"at Lake Colden and 5' at 4,00 feet) is not an issue as far as skiing goes, but surface conditions are not quite as nice as we would like due to the rain and sleet that fell at the end of Tuesday's storm.  The snow depth is sufficient to make it mandatory to be wearing skis or snowshoes anywhere in the High Peaks, and they should be worn elsewhere.

Because of the rain/sleet on Tuesday, there is now a breakable crust on most, if not all, of the areas where we report. Any travel on areas that had not been previously broken out will now be very difficult due to the crust. Most of the trails reported on below had been broken out before Tuesday's storm, but the surfaces are now a very fast loose granular with crusty deep snow on the side.  As long as one can stay in the broken track, no problem; but a ski out of the broken track will be very problematic.  The ski route to Avalanche Pass had been broken out wide, so plenty of room to maneuver there (metal-edged skis preferred), but trails with lesser hills that earlier didn't require turning or at least snowplowing will be a problem now that the loose granular surfaces will result in increased speed.

We apologize for this somewhat "generic" report, but we don't yet have reports from all of the trails aside from the ever-popular Avalanche Pass trail.

The weekend weather will start out with some light snow and temperatures in the low 20s.  We expect a warming trend into next week with some additional light snow and temperatures warming to mid-30s.  Mercifully, so far no rain in sight.

ADDITIONAL TUESDAY EVENING UPDATE
      While only a bit or rain in Keene, and temperatures in the mid-30s; initial reports from ADK Loj and at higher elevations indicate even warmer temperatures and more rain.  Not a good way for this storm to end; and we'll wait for additional reports on the higher surface conditions.  The brief warming and rain will not affect the overall snow depth.     

In the end, we only picked up another 4-5" of somewhat dense snow. There was some mixing of sleet with the snow, and one report from Newcomb said there was a light crust on the snow.  So, not ideal surface conditions, but the trail breaking won't be a difficult as it would have been had we received the full promised 10".  

     Even before this storm, the DEC had issued an avalanche warning, and this heavy new snow creates another potentially unstable layer.  There is no avalanche danger on any of the routes whose conditions we report on, but any slide skiing should not be approached without a great deal of caution.

     Otherwise, the conditions reported below remain essentially unchanged - just with a few more inches on top of what was already there.   

INTRODUCTION

          Continued great conditions.  Glad to see so many getting out and enjoying the good snow.  Definitely much colder Friday and Saturday with highs only around 10, and below zero at night. Warming to 15 on Sunday, and then close to 20 for highs into next week. Some additional light snow predicted, but for now, nothing that will require any serious new trail breaking on the routes that have already been skied. 

JACKRABBIT TRAIL

          Entire trail is skiable, and all sections between Keene and Saranac Lake have ben broken out.  Paul Smiths section has great cover, but no reports of what stretches have been broken out. Those skiing the Old Mountain Road starting from Rock and River in Keene should use the "Additional Parking" area on the right just before the lodge.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed: 15km      Track Set: 10 km 
          New snow: 2" last 48hrs     Base Depth: 15"  Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
          Remarks:  Ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  54km    Track Set: 53 km
          New snow: 2" last 48 hrs     Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 15" on natural snow. Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
         Remarks: 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           40 km Open.  Most all trails groomed, many with set track. 
           New Snow: 2" -72 hours      Base Depth: 20"
           Surface Conditions:  packed powder
           Remarks: 

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
           With this snow, pretty much everything is now skiable, and skis or snowshoes are now required by regulation for travel in the High Peaks.  In other areas they are needed and should be used.  Avalanche Pass definitely skiable, and most rocks to avoid between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp are now covered. Avalanche Lake is crossable.  Wright Peak Ski Trail skiable, and approach on the hiking trail now much improved.  Marcy trail now totally skiable.  Whales Tail Ski Trail also reported in good shape and broken out.

                 Random notes from the field: 1) Botheration Pond Loop is skiable despite the loss of the 55-foot bridge over the East Branch of the Sacandaga Riveras snow on top of ice makes an easy crossing. 2)  Southern approach to Hoffman Notch is difficult due to no bridge over the West Branch of Trout Brook.  Northern approach is fine.

                 Between the earlier cold weather and the new snow, most lakes no longer have problems with slush.  Still, no guarantees-carry a scraper.
Snow Depth at Lake Colden:  33"     Snow Depth at 4,000 feet (est.):  4-5 feet.
 
WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable. A  better choice than the hiking trail as far as surface conditions go, but over a mile longer than the Loj approach.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Skiable.  Old Marcy Dam approach is the better start, but both approaches are skiable.  

AVALANCHE PASS: Broken out and skiable through to Avalanche Lake.  Avalanche Lake is frozen crossable.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable. Hills just past the summer parking are improved with the new snow. Connery Pond again skiable with the new snow.
​
HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.   Parking area continues to be plowed. 

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and loop back on the ponds now very doable.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Fully skiable.  Plowing ends one mile from the parking area at the Corey's Road gate (now closed), but vehicles were being driven that far before the latest snow.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Parking area is now being plowed!  Washed out culvert at 1/2 mile is a bit of an obstacle, but can be easily negotiated on skis, and there is track broken to the ponds.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing to both Camp Santanoni and Moose Pond. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Fully skiable.  Some snowmobile traffic along with the foot traffic.  

We are now enjoying about the longest stretch of powder conditions most of us can remember.  And these conditions continue through the rest of the week and into the coming weekend. Temperatures will be cold starting on Friday with highs only around 10, and warming only to highs around 15 through the weekend and on Monday, Washington's Birthday.  So, look at the earlier report for the current trail conditions. Beyond the trails already reported as broken out, recent experience out on the trails indicates that most all popular routes have been skied.  So, get out and take advantage of the skiing that we have.   

​INTRODUCTION

        No accumulation of snow since last Tuesday's big storm two weeks ago, but the Lake Placid area now has 2 or more feet of snow on the ground - just as it is supposed to be in mid-winter. This makes for very nice surfaces and conditions pretty much everywhere.  Skis or snowshoes are now required by regulation for travel in the High Peaks. In other areas they are needed and should be used.       

        Temperatures this weekend will remain below freezing, but not too much below, so just about ideal for getting out.  Somewhat cooler going in to next week, but no deep freeze, and more importantly, no thaw in sight.

 JACKRABBIT TRAIL

          Entire trail is now skiable, and all sections between Keene and Saranac Lake have ben broken our.  Paul Smiths section has great cover, but no reports of what stretches have been broken out. Those skiing the Old Mountain Road starting from Rock and River in Keene should use the "Additional Parking" area on the right just before the lodge.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed: 15km      Track Set: 10 km 
          New snow: 12" last 48hrs     Base Depth: 15"  Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
          Remarks:  Ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  54km    Track Set: 53 km
          New snow: 12" last 48 hrs     Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 15" on natural snow. Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
         Remarks: 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           40 km Open.  Most all trails groomed, many with set track. 
           New Snow: 12" -72 hours      Base Depth: 20"
           Surface Conditions:  packed powder
           Remarks: 

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
           With this snow, pretty much everything is now skiable, and skis or snowshoes are now required by regulation for travel in the High Peaks.  In other areas they are needed and should be used.  Avalanche Pass definitely skiable, and most rocks to avoid between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp are now covered. Avalanche Lake is crossable.  Wright Peak Ski Trail skiable, and approach on the hiking trail now much improved.  Marcy trail now totally skiable.  Whales Tail Ski Trail also reported in good shape and broken out

                 Between the earlier cold weather and the new snow, most lakes no longer have problems with slush.  Still, no guarantees-carry a scraper.
Snow Depth at Lake Colden:   27"     Snow Depth at 4,000 feet (est.):  4-5 feet.
 
WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and still a slightly better choice than the hiking trail.  

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Skiable.  Old Marcy Dam approach has some water, but is the better approach.  

AVALANCHE PASS: Broken out and skiable through to Avalanche Lake.  Avalanche Lake is frozen crossable.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable. Hills just past the summer parking are improved with the new snow. Connery Pond again skiable with the new snow.
​
HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.   Parking area continues to be plowed. 

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and loop back on the ponds now very doable.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Fully skiable.  Plowing ends one mile from the parking area at the Corey's Road gate (now closed), but vehicles were being driven that far before the latest snow.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Parking area is now being plowed!  Washed out culvert at 1/2 mile is a bit of an obstacle, but can be easily negotiated on skis, and there is at least some old track broken to the ponds.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing to both Camp Santanoni and Moose Pond. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Fully skiable.  Some snowmobile traffic along with the foot traffic.  

Just a brief report to say that, as of Wednesday morning, the Lake Placid area has received a foot or more of snow.  It's nice powder and will make everything reported in the earlier report below fully skiable.  The only question will be what trails are broken out. We'll report what we know before the weekend.  Happy winter!