UPDATED TO 5:00 PM , Saturday, 11/30

If you live here, you know what happened. The snow stopped as of Friday morning with the Lake Placid area managing to pick up 3-4" of heavy, wet snow over the course of Thanksgiving day with maybe another half-inch since then. Tupper Lake has benefitted from 4-6" of lake effect snow, so those trails are groomed and offering likely the best groomed skiing in the area. No current report from the Paul Smith's VIC, but they could have also benefitted from some lake effect snow.  Temperatures will remain cold over the weekend, and chill even more through the end of next week, so if you can't get out this weekend, it will still be white next weekend.

As for what's skiable, the Whiteface Highway will, of course, be the best skiing. Photos below of conditions enjoyed by many on Friday. Upwards of 30 vehicles parked at the Toll House.

Lake Placid golf courses are also be just barely skiable, but you'll probably need Maxiglide or a similar product to prevent clogging given that the snow is wet, the ground isn't frozen, and it is now a bit below freezing.

Other skiing opportunities include 3 km of thin, groomed skiing at ADK's Cascade Welcome Center. Mt. Van Hoevenberg reports that they are still making snow, but are not reporting any trails as open for skiing. 

As for the Marcy Dam Truck Trail, that is skiable. Cover is very thin at the start, but slowly, slowly improves until it is deep enough to cover most rocks as of the crossing of Pelkey Brook at about 2 miles from the register. As of Saturday evening, the barriers are not in place, and there are tire tracks on the road to South Meadow. Eight inches of snow at ADK Loj, but the hiking trail would be a poor choice to ski.

Farther west, the Fish Pond Truck Trail is also likely skiable, although the big hill two miles in may not have enough cover to permit a fast descent.  And given the pattern of the snowfall, we just have to assume that the Newcomb Lake Road to Camp Santanoni is very skiable.

Those planning on hiking should be prepared with snowshoes if going above about 2,500 feet. As of earlier this week, Lake Colden reported 7" of snow, and that was before Thursday's snow. The rule in the High Peaks is that snowshoes or skis are required when there is 8" or more of snow. Summits will be cold and windy while not offereing much of a view for several more days.

​No lake ice is yet crossable.

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UPDATE 11/27/24
      Cold weather has produced an inch or so more on the Whiteface Highway.  Unfortunately, some vehicular traffic to the summit observatory has made the surface conditions less than optimal.  Still, it's white and you can slide on it; and it's still November, so just deal with it.  
      Lake Colden reports about 7" of snow, so no skiing there just yet, and ice conditions on the lakes are not yet safe. 
      Thanksgiving day may well produce some more significant snow. We'll look for reports on whether others early season favorites like the truck trails will be skiable for later in the weekend.

Since the last report, there has been a wintry mix of precipitation, but the result has been a slight gain of snow on the Whiteface Highway. There is now has thin cover down to the Toll House with over a foot above the 4,000-foot level. Otherwise, no other terrain can be recommended for skiing.

As for hiking, be prepared to need snowshoes above 4,000 feet with good traction required to reach the point where snowshoes are needed. So far, not much snow below 2,000 feet, so the lower trails will remain hikeable without equipment.

The  forecast indicates continued cloudy with chances for more precipitation through the weekend. Some sun on Friday and Saturday, but still some chance of rain nor snow on those days. Also, a slow cooling trend so that high temperatures by the end of the weekend will only be in the low 30s - and obviously much colder on the summits, so be prepared.

UPDATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON
No snow at the Toll House, but an afternoon check found "skiable slush" (which had been skied) starting at the upper end of the initial straight and therefore visible from the Toll House. After a mile or so from the Toll House, there was about 3" of dense, heavy snow on the road. Temperatures tomorrow morning will be below freezing, so surfaces will be somewhat hard and fast. 
Otherwise, there was snow cover at the top of Cascade Pass at 2,000 feet, so the High Peaks may have more snow than Whiteface if one is planning to hike there this weekend. No guess whether the snow will be more than the 8" that requires snowshoe use, but pretty sure that even the Marcy Dam Truck Trail is not yet skiable.  Reports proving me wrong are welcome.

UPDATE, FRIDAY MORNING 11/22:
 An initial look at the peaks indicates snow down to about 3,000 feet. So, nothing at the Toll House on the Whiteface Highway, but there should be something starting about a mile up.  We'll see what we can learn later today, so stay tuned.

While it's still a few days away, there is a good possibility of significant snow at the higher elevations this coming weekend.  The snow could start as early as Thursday and continue into Saturday. Some forecasts are even predicting a foot above 4,000 feet so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, it's worth mentioning that right now most trails above 3,500 feet are virtual river of pure gray ice. Good traction is essential for any high peak hike, and if only a few inches fall, it will be even more treacherous with that ice hidden from view.