Conditions 12-6 - 12/8

INTRODUCTION
     Update, Friday evening:  The snow continued to fall today, so at least 3" of additional light snow.  This is good news, but without any significant base on the rougher trails one must recognize that the rocks are merely "disguised", not actually "covered".
         Some light snow Thursday and Friday has made more terrain skiable, but the rougher trails are still not recommended.  The forecast calls for temperatures only in the low 20's for a high on Saturday, but warming up into the low 30s on Sunday.  Monday and Tuesday will see some rain and temperatures near 40, but it cools down later in the week.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
        Only the smoother sections are really skiable just yet.  Specifically, the Craig Wood to River Rd. and River Rd. to the Lake Placid Club can be recommended.  Old Mt. Rd. up from Keene to the top of the pass definitely skiable with some care as not all the rocks are covered. Lake Placid side of the old Mt. Road has some rough going including wet areas. The Peninsula section is also skiable with care. The rest needs more snow.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed:  15   Km Track Set:  15
          New snow:  4".    Base Depth: 3"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder 
          Remarks:  Restaurant and ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  40    Km Track Set:  30
          New snow:  3".    Base Depth: 3-4" 
          Surface Conditions:  Packed Powder
          Remarks:  Ladies 5km not open due to construction.

           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open and Groomed:  30  (report says "light" grooming)
           New Snow:   4".    Base Depth: 4-5"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
           Remarks:

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
            Snowshoes not yet required to be used in the High Peaks, but there is enough snow that they should be used if there is 6" or more.  The regulatory requirement for snowshoes is now 12".  Full winter conditions on any of the higher summits, and traction just about mandatory for any steeper trail due to thaw earlier this week followed by a freeze.

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 skiable.

AVALANCHE PASS:  Not yet skiable past Marcy Dam.  Lake ice on Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden is being crossed. Be cautious around all inlets and outlets - especially the outlet to Avalanche Lake where the safest course is to exit on the western shore and cross the outlet on the bridge.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Not yet skiable

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow with 15"at the Sheep Meadow.  Some blowdown past the crossing of Hays Brook.  Two are a bit of an effort to get around, but they don't detract from the overall experience.  Use caution on the steep hill that descends to Hays Brook.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable from the parking area.  No report on the condition of the big hill two miles in from the register.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS:  Definitely skiable, although the parking area has yet to be plowed. Some culverts washed out in the Halloween storm, but they are crossable and will be more easily negotiated as we get ore snow.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI:  Definitely skiable.  Moose Pond Trail also has good cover, but there may be uncleared blowdown.

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Skiable.  No vehicular traffic, and so far no snowmobile traffic; but that could change next week.