Cold Weekend, but Snow on Monday

INTRODUCTION 

                 No real change in conditions since the last report, but once we get past a cold weekend, there is hope for some significant new snow.  National Weather Service just says 90% chance of snow on Monday while Weather Underground predicts 8" for the Lake Placid area. We'll see, but until then the best skiing will be at the groomed centers. Ungroomed trails are still pretty fast with an icy crust due to last Sunday's warm temperatures and freezing rain. Nevertheless, Newcomb Lake Road and Hays Brook Truck Trail are gentle enough to be skiable.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL

          Entire trail has at least minimal cover for skiing, but is not recommended until we pick up more snow. 

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed:   5    Track Set:  
          New snow:     Base Depth: 3"  Off Track 5"
          Surface Conditions:  groomed granular
          Remarks:  Ski shop open.

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  40 km    Track Set: 30 km
          New snow:         Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 3" on natural snow. Off Track: 5"
          Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular 
         Remarks:  17 of 27 trails open including Porter Mt. Loops. Some rough spots on the legacy trails, but overall skiable. Fresh track set on man-made snow loops only. Older set track on most legacy trails.

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open: 30 of 40km open.  Track set: 7 km
           New Snow:       Base Depth: 5-6"  Off Track: 10"
           Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular
​           Remarks: Building staffed Thursday - Sunday. Track set on the wider trails where the large groomer can be used. Narrower trails groomed, but no track set.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                19" at Lake Colden
                2-3 feet above 4,000 feet
           
        Icy surfaces everywhere, but the gentlest terrain is skiable. Otherwise, reports below are what will be skiable with 3 or more inches of new snow - whenever that happens.

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable with caution as not all rocks are fully covered. 

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Not yet recommended as skiable. 

AVALANCHE PASS: Not yet skiable   Avalanche Lake is frozen and crossable, but use caution at the outlet.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Just barely skiable cover, All downed trees removed.

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.  So far this season, the parking area continues to be plowed. (Yay!)

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

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Probably not yet skiable.  

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Parking area not being plowed, so far this season. All culverts and bridges have been repaired/replaced. As of late December, one tree down just short of the ponds.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing to Camp Santanoni. Moose Pond trail has some blowdown that may not be removed this winter.

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