Conditions 1/10/21

INTRODUCTION 

       Sunday, 1/9, saw some freezing rain and temperatures above freezing for 5-6 hours. No significant loss of snow, but with only the barest dusting of new snow, surface conditions are pretty hard and fast. Best skiing will be at the groomed center until we pick up several inches of new snow. The immediate forecast calls for very cold weather on Tuesday, in the 20s Wednesday and Thursday, and then highs only in the teens through the coming weekend.  So far, no mention of any significant new snow - at least until next week.

            So, until it snows it looks like either Mt. Van Hoevenberg or Paul Smith's VIC.  But we're haven't lost any of the base that we have ever so slowly built up over the past few weeks. 

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:       Track Set:  
          New snow:     Base Depth:   Off Track 
          Surface Conditions:  
          Remarks:  Ski shop open, but no grooming

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  40 km    Track Set: 5 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. Track set on man-made snow loops only

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open: 30 of 40km open.  
           New Snow:       Base Depth: 5-6" 
           Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular
​           Remarks: Building staffed Thursday - Sunday.
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                19" at Lake Colden
                2-3 feet above 4,000 feet
           
        Icy surfaces everywhere. 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 no all rocks are fully covered. 

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Not yet 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.