Conditions 12/19/19

With 12/20 updates
INTRODUCTION
              Some light snow Tuesday and Wednesday has made more terrain skiable, but the rougher trails are still not recommended.  The forecast calls for temperatures only in the low teen's for a high on Thursday, but warming up into the low 30s by Sunday.  Monday and Tuesday will continue in the 30s, but no new snow forecast.

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. McKenzie section skiable to the pond, but the big hill is not quite ready.  From Whiteface Inn Lane the first half-mile is rough, but after that it is good to the top of the pass.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed:  5   Km Track Set:  5
          New snow:  4".    Base Depth: 7"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder 
          Remarks:  Restaurant and ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  35    Km Track Set:  20
          New snow:  4".    Base Depth: 6" 
          Surface Conditions:  Packed Powder
          Remarks:  

           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open and Groomed:  30  
           New Snow:   4".    Base Depth: 8"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
           Remarks:

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
            Snowshoes or skis are required in the High Peaks when there is 12" or more of snow on the ground.   There is now 12" at Lake Colden and 2-3 feet at 4,000 feet.  Full winter conditions on any of the higher summits - be prepared. Traction required on any of the exposed summits and on some of the steeper trail sections at lower elevations due to repeated thaw-freeze cycles the past few weeks.

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle, but there may be windblown stretches.

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 10"at the Sheep Meadow.  Some blowdown past the crossing of Hays Brook.  Two of the trees 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, except that there is a report of some downed trees that require caution..

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS:  Definitely skiable, although the parking area had yet to be plowed as of last week. Some culverts washed out in the Halloween storm, but they are crossable and will be more easily negotiated as we get more 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, but just barely at the start under the thick trees.