Cold, but that's how it should be

INTRODUCTION
Friday started below zero, but warmed up to the low teens. Saturday will be equally cold to start, but then warm up as well. Sunday will be warmer still and Monday may even see some mixed precipitation before it cools back down for the rest of the week. Since last week's thaw, we have picked up 4-6" of nice fluffy snow, so surface conditions are again quite good. Still quite a bit of blowdown yet to be cleared from the backcountry trails, so caution is still required.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
In general, every section of the Jackrabbit Trail has enough cover to be skied, but trees may be still down on some sections.
McKenzie Pass Section: Fully skiable from Whiteface Inn Lane to the top of the pass, and the hill down to McKenzie Pond is skiable with care. Then thin but skiable out  to the road. 
Old Mountain Road Section: Skiable and now fully cleared of blowdown. The new start that bypasses Rock and River has been finished. Park on the left at the bottom of the field to access this new start.
Paul Smiths Section: Trail skiable from the VIC to Rt. 86. South of Rt. 86, all blowdown had been cleared, but there may be more new that hasn't.  There apparently won't be any logging on the trail this winter. Some flooded sections on the section under the power line, but this cold week should have frozen the ice enough that they are no longer an issue.  
Other sections:  Craig Wood to Birdsong Lane skiable and cleared of blowdown. The new section around Scotts Cobble is also in good shape and cleared of blowdown. Good skiing behind the guardrail to reach Mountain Lane, and the new trail to the top of the hill is covered and clear. 

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: 15  Track Set: none yet, but maybe by Saturday, 12/27
          Remarks:  
          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed: 15  Track Set: 5  
         Remarks: Competition loops plus 10km of Legacy trails open with some set track. Over 100 trees cleared to date, but more must be cleared to get more trails open.
​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 30 km  Track Set: 20 km 
           Remarks:  Good cover with much fresh grooming reported.
            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  10   Track set: ?
             Remarks: Lower mountain trails groomed with maybe some set track. Upper mountain closed

           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 reports fresh grooming with 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 12/24,  report from Lake Colden says the snow depth at the cabin is  19".  Now 3-4 feet of snow with deeper drifts at 4,000 feet.  Most lake ice is now crossable, but as always use care around inlets and outlets. Still some slush problems possible. 
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: There is good cover all the way to  the landing. Ice on the pond is an alternative, but no report on slush, and the outlet must be given a wide berth. No report on any blowdown.
Marcy Dam, Truck Trail:  Skiable all the way to Marcy Dam. 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. Again, no report on blowdown.
Hays Brook Truck Trail: Definitely skiable to both the Sheep Meadow and Grass Pond. There may be new blowdown after the earlier clearing thanks to work by BETA and DEC rangers. Parking lot has not been plowed.  BETA will again reach out to the Town of Brighton to try and arrange for regular plowing. 
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.  Gate now closed for the winter. Plowing for parking unlikely.
​Raquette Falls: Earlier reported to be skiable with caution on the "hemlock hill" descent on the way in as well as the switchback descent to the falls at the end, so probably again good.. 
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: Was 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. No report on whether the plowing has ended.
Wright Peak Ski Trail:  Not likely  skiable up to the divergence from the hiking trail
Mt. Marcy Ski Trail:  Plenty of  snow  above Indian Falls, and enough to be at least passable right from Marcy Dam.