Best early season skiing in years

INTRODUCTION
Significant snow, 3-6", now predicted for Wednesday, so all conditions reported below will improve. Look for a complete update on Friday.
[And we appreciate all the comments found below as it is nice to know that many are finding these reports to be useful. But let's keep it to just reporting on what we find that adds to the report, and deal with any other issues elsewhere. As for the complaints about bare-booting at Henry's Woods and on the Peninsula, most have just accepted that these in-town trails will be walked on regardless while we remain militant regarding bare-booters on the McKenzie Pass section above Whiteface Inn Lane. 
Finally, I should note that the comment on conditions on the Moose Pond trail appear to refer to the Moose Pond off Rt. 3 between Saranac Lake and Bloomingdale.]
It's been a week of intermittent snow showers with another 1-2" Thursday. Very cold today, Friday, but the weekend looks good with some sun and temperatures in the 20s. While this is a promising start, bear in mind that it is still early with no firm base underneath the nice powder. On the Jackrabbit and the other ungroomed trails, every lump of snow that sticks up should be assumed to be a rock until proven otherwise. 

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
In general, every section of the Jackrabbit Trail has enough cover to be skied, but great caution is still advised on all of the downhills.
McKenzie Pass Section: Fully skiable from Whiteface Inn Lane to the top of the pass. No report on the hill down to McKenzie Pond. Then thin but skiable out  to the road. 
Old Mountain Road Section: Skiable except perhaps for Chimney Hill. The new start that bypasses Rock and River has been finished with three brand-new bridges that the BETA crew, working in some tough weather managed to finish. Park on the left at the bottom of the field to access this new start.
Paul Smiths Section: No current information on conditions or any logging. Reports welcome.  
Other sections:  Craig Wood to Lake Placid Club section is skiable, but the new section around Scotts Cobble still probably needs a bit more snow. 

GROOMED CENTER  

        SCOTTS COBBLE NORDIC CENTER
         15 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: 10  Track Set: none yet
          Remarks:  Still thin, especially on the gravel cart tracks, but otherwise very nice skiing.
          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed: 10  Track Set: none yet  
         Remarks:  Flatlander, North Brook, Innerloopen and East Mt. reported open. So far, the web site does not indicate any of the competition trails are open.

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 20 km  Track Set:  none reported yet 
           Remarks:  
            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  5   Track set: none yet
             Remarks: Lower mountain trails groomed but thin.

           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
            Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​        Remarks:  No specifics on snowfall or overall snow depth, but their Facebook page shows ample snow and set track!

          ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER) 
Unfortunately, not operating this winter with its long-term status yet to be determined.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS
Winter conditions regarding temperatures and snow depth sufficient to require skis or snowshoes.  Wednesday 12/3,  report from Lake Colden says the snow depth at the cabin is  16".  Now 2-3 feet of snow with deeper drifts at 4,000 feet.  No lake ice can yet be considered safe. 

Whiteface Highway: As has been the case for over a month, the highway is fully covered, but still with a few sections that are narrow or bare given the high winds. 
Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing: Not yet skiable.  
Marcy Dam, Truck Trail:  Skiable all the way to Marcy Dam. Still some rocks that are merely "disguised" not covered, but overall good skiing. 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:   Great skiing all the way to Fish Pond. One thin spot at the first right turn on the descent from the top of the big hill at two miles in, but it is obvious and easily avoided. 
Hays Brook Truck Trail: Definitely skiable to both the Sheep Meadow and Grass Pond. Blowdown cleared thanks to work by BETA and DEC rangers. Parking lot has not been plowed, but there has been enough use that it is pretty well packed down.
Newcomb Lake Road: As usual, the best skiing with nearly a foot of snow in Newcomb.  The side road to Moose Pond would also have good cover and has been skied, but no report on whether there is any difficult blowdown to negotiate
Gulf Brook Road to Boreas Ponds: Adequate coverage with 4-5" at Blue ridge Rd.  Some continuing truck travel on the road as of 12/6.
​Raquette Falls: No report and likely too early for this route to be skiable. 
Avalanche Pass: Officially still closed due to the July landslide. There is a passable hiking route, but skiing across the debris field will require more snow than is usually needed to ski the pass. There is also a yet to be determined amount of avalanche danger from the new slide
 ​Ausable Lake Road: Currently being plowed "for maintenance" according to the sign, which also includes an apology for any inconvenience and a promise that the plowing would only last until Christmas. 
Wright Peak Ski Trail:  Not yet skiable
Mt. Marcy Ski Trail:  Probably enough snow to ski above Indian Falls, but from there to Marcy Dam.