Wednesday Update:  As of noon, temperatures have risen into the 40s, which has reduced the golf course skiing, but the other opportunities described below should retain their cover. it will however be fast and icy once the temperatures fall on Thursday night with no guarantee of how much new snow we will pick up. Next update Friday evening.

Not much change in the conditions over the past few days, and it appears the warm up predicted for today, Tuesday, and Wednesday will not significantly reduce the snow we already have on the ground. When it cools off on Thursday, be prepared for some fast, icy surfaces unless the predicted lake effect snow manages to reach as far as the Tri-Lakes and the High Peaks. 
So, ski what has been reported earlier while it is soft, and tune in again on Friday to see what new snow has fallen.  Definitely cold with highs only in the upper 20s on Saturday, so be well prepared for any ventures to the higher summits.  And yes, there is enough snow above the 2,500 to 3,000 foot line where snowshoes are required per regulation in the High Peaks Wilderness and needed for safety and trail condition preservation elsewhere. 

UPDATE 11/22/25:
      It did warm up briefly on Friday, but theperatures have fallen back by Saturday morning with no significant loss of snow. Surfaces will be a bit faster than earlier, but not likely glare ice.  In addition to the opportunities reported below, the Fish Pond Truck Trail is now skiable at least as far as the hills at about two miles from the register. Maybe skiable beyond. And Whiteface Inn to the lean-to and top of the pass is possible, although there may be more rocks showing after Friday's brief thaw. 
      Looking ahead, a bit more snow on Sunday before temperatures again rise above freezing, but no more than mid-40s, Tuesday-Thursday. Cooler by Friday, so we're looking at the best Thanksgiving weekend skiing in many years. Let's hope it's even better by Christmas.

UPDATE 11/18/25:
     So far, we can report the following:
          1)  The Whiteface Highway remains in great shape.
          2) There is enough snow in the Paul Smiths area that the Hayes Brook Truck Trail
 is in good shape and very skiable. Some blowdown, but a report below indicate it can be negotiated. Stay on the truck trail and just be careful on the descent to Hayes Brook on the return from the Sheep Meadow.
        3) No direct report from Newcomb, but the video indicates 8" in Newcomb, which is enough for the Newcomb Lake Road to be skiable.
      4) The Marcy Dam Truck Trail has enough snow (4-6") to be skiable to the dam, but the rocks are not fully covered, which significantly reduces the "fun factor" on any of the downhills. You can be tripped up by one rock and could then fall on another rock - not fun. Better to choose Hayes  Brook or the Whiteface Highway.
          The forecast unfortunately includes some rain on Friday before it drops back to around freezing for the coming weekend. No prediction on how much rain, at what elevation, or how it will ultimately affect the skiing. 
           Finally, for those contemplating hiking this weekend, it is full-on winter above about 3,500 feet which requires snowshoes - not just  because of the regulation of that requirement at 8" of snow  but because you are safer traveling with them on your feet. And summit conditions will likely require face masks if it is windy.
      
If you live here, you know it snowed. The actual amounts are very elevation dependent with barely three inches at the Keene end of the Jackrabbit Trail to a report of a foot at the end of Averyville Rd. in Lake Placid.  It will thus require a day or two of checking the popular early season opportunities to have a reasonably accurate report for the coming weekend, but suffice it to say there will be more than the Whiteface Highway for skiing this week and weekend, although the Highway will, of course, continue to be good. 

There will be a slight warming trend toward the end of the week and not much sunshine in the forecast; but surface conditions should not be affected.

After Friday's meltdown, it has turned around and there is again snow starting at the Toll House on the Highway. 2-3" at the Toll House as of Tuesday grading to about 6-8" by the Lake Placid Turn at 4,000 feet. Beyond that, wind will have made the cover uneven, but hopefully covered up much of the ice on the final stretch to the Castle.

The forecast for the week does not call for any valley temperatures higher than the 30s, so the coming weekend will be good as will be some golf course skiing in Lake Placid. 

UPDATE SATURDAY PM: Actual conditions experienced today were worse than expected. Needed to walk about two miles to the 3,300-foot level before there was any continuous snow. Photo shows the 3,300-foot sign with snow at the right bend above. By the Lake Placid Turn, it was fully covered with 4-6". Wilmington Turn mostly blown clear (it was fully covered two days ago) with a report of nothing but ice above the Wilmington Turn. Oh well, it's only early November and next week could still bring conditions back to where they were earlier this week..

As of 8:30 Saturday morning it appears that the front that came through last night had warmer temperatures than expected - especially above 2,000 feet where we had assumed it would remain below freezing even as valley temperatures rose into the upper 40s.  So, not much snow at the Toll House, but there will still be snow higher up with likely less than a mile of walking.  We'll check it out and issue an update later today.  Meanwhile, the forecast still looks good for whatever snow we do have to stick around through next week.

​And this definitely ends any golf course skiing in Lake Placid.