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Ski Trail Conditions
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Conditions 1/31/21

1/31/2021

3 Comments

 
​INTRODUCTION

        No major accumulation of snow since the big storm two weeks ago, but the Lake Placid area has picked up another 6-8" of light snow in a succession of light flurries.   This makes for very nice surfaces pretty much everywhere.  Skis or snowshoes are now required by regulation for travel in the High Peaks. In other areas they are needed and should be used.       

        After the very cold temperatures Friday and Saturday, Sunday warmed into the teens; and Monday's high will be near 20. The big news is that we now have some more significant snow forecast for Tuesday, 4-8" possible. This may be enough to make some rougher terrain including the Marcy trail fully skiable.  Stay tuned.

             So far, the forecast doesn't call for a big drop in temperatures after the storm with highs in the 20s, warming to 30 by the end of the week, then a bit cooler over the coming weekend.


JACKRABBIT TRAIL

          Entire trail is now skiable.  Both the Old Mt. Road and McKenzie Pass sections have been broken out.   Paul Smiths section has great cover, but no reports of what stretches have been broken out.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed: 15km      Track Set: 10 km 
          New snow: 2" last 48hrs     Base Depth: 9"  Off Track 15"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
          Remarks:  Ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  54km    Track Set: 53 km
          New snow: 2" last 48 hrs     Base Depth: 12" on man-made trails. 9" on natural snow. Off Track 15"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
         Remarks: 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           40 km Open.  Most all trails groomed, many with set track. 
           New Snow: 3" -24 hours      Base Depth: 15"
           Surface Conditions:  packed powder
           Remarks: 
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
           With this snow, pretty much everything is now skiable, and skis or snowshoes are now required by regulation for travel in the High Peaks.  In other areas they are needed and should be used.  Avalanche Pass definitely skiable, although still a few rocks to avoid between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp. Avalanche Lake is crossable.  Wright Peak Ski Trail skiable, but approach on the hiking trail still rocky.  Marcy trail still likely somewhat rough for the first 1.5 mi. up to the bridge, but skiable cover beyond.  Whales Tail Ski Trail also reported in good shape.

                  Reports indicate that lakes that had been good skiing before all the heavy, wet new snow now are compromised with slush under the snow.  This problem may improve with the very cold weather this weekend, but for now no lake crossing can be assumed to be free of slush.  (You won't fall through, but you'll have very wet feet and iced up skis.)

Snow Depth at Lake Colden:   27"     Snow Depth at 4,000 feet (est.):  4-5 feet.
 
WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and still a better choice than the hiking trail.  

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Skiable.  Old Marcy Dam approach has some water, but is the better approach.  Current hiking trail has some roots showing, but the bypass after the long bridge is in good shape 

AVALANCHE PASS: Skiable through to Avalanche Lake.  Avalanche Lake is frozen crossable.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable. Hills just past the summer parking are improved with the new snow. Connery Pond no longer skiable due to slush under the snow.
​
HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.   Parking area was plowed after the first storm.  We can hope that happens again

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, but loop back on the ponds likely not recommended to the above-mentioned slush condition.  

RAQUETTE FALLS:  No report, but should be skiable to the falls without having to walk down both "Hemlock Hill" and the final switchbacks.  Plowing ends one mile from the parking area at the Corey's Road gate (now closed), but vehicles were being driven that far before the latest snow.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Parking area is now being plowed!  Washed out culvert at 1/2 mile is a bit of an obstacle, but can be easily negotiated on skis, and there is at least some old track broken to the ponds.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing to both Camp Santanoni and Moose Pond. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Fully skiable.  Some snowmobile traffic along with the foot traffic.  
3 Comments
Tony Charles
1/31/2021 06:18:02 pm

Skied the entire “Floodwood Loop” and conditions were excellent, however the “backside” from Fish Creek Campground back to Floodwood Road is still quite squirrelly due to the blowdown from years ago. It really would be a great ski if the DEC would clean that up. There’s still flagging out there to mark sections. It’s a shame because there are always tracks out there so it’s getting use. It’s getting grown in with hobble bush and balsam saplings. It’s kind of a rough go. A BETA project? As far as ponds and slush- I crossed Middle Pond lengthwise and slush under snow was not an issue.

Reply
Josh Wilson
2/1/2021 08:06:19 am

Hey Tony Charles - thanks for the report. Not sure exactly what trails are included in your Floodwood Loop, but our trail crew spent some time clearing all the old blowdown on the Little Square Pond trail between Floodwood Rd and Fish Creek in June, as well as the southern half of the Otter Hollow trail. For 2021 we have secured some grant funding from Franklin County to support increased maintenance work in the Fish Creek, Rollins Pond and Deer Pond area. Will be looking for volunteers and hopefully establish some new trail adopters in that zone under our DEC volunteer stewardship agreement.

Reply
Tony Charles
2/1/2021 12:40:42 pm

Josh,

I’d be happy to help. The section I’m referring to would be from Fish Creek Campground heading back north to Floodwood Road now with blue disks (old snowmobile route) that skirts along Follensby Clear, then Horseshoe, then between Little Polliwog and Polliwog before coming to Middle Pond. I would say the first 2-2.5 miles of that section in the direction I described needs work. The section you mentioned was in nice shape!




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    Trail Conditions 101

    ​Trail condition reports are posted frequently during the ski season.  The Adirondack backcountry can be a hard place to predict with weather and trail conditions that often change rapidly.  We can't offer the same detailed descriptions of trail conditions as groomed nordic centers. 

    Always plan ahead for your outing, be prepared with proper clothing, equipment, maps and emergency supplies, and check local weather conditions as well before departing on your trip.

    Maps - don't leave home with them!

    For trails in the High Peaks Wilderness area, we recommend purchasing the High Peaks Adirondack Trail Map from the Adirondack Mountain Club.  

    For trails outside of the High Peaks area, we recommend purchasing the Lake Placid & Saranac Lake Winter Trails Map from Green Goat Maps, which covers the Jackrabbit Ski Trail and other adjacent ski touring opportunities.

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BARKEATER TRAILS ALLIANCE (BETA)
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P.O. Box 843 - ​Lake Placid, NY 12946

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  • Home
  • About
    • WHO WE ARE
    • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Community Partners
    • Contact Us
    • Gallery
  • Donate
  • Bike Trails
    • Ride With Gratitude
    • Wilmington >
      • Flume Trails
      • Hardy Road (Beaver Brook)
      • Three Sisters (Quaker Mountain)
    • Lake Placid >
      • Lussi Trails
      • Loggers Loops
      • Craig Wood Trails
    • Saranac Lake >
      • Dewey Mountain
      • Mount Pisgah
      • Fowler's Crossing
    • Elizabethtown >
      • Otis Mountain
      • Blueberry Hill
    • Keene
    • electric MTBs
  • Ski Trails
    • Jackrabbit Ski Trail >
      • State of the Jackrabbit
      • Lake Clear JCT to Pauls Smith's VIC
      • Saranac Lake to McKenzie Pond Road
      • McKenzie Pond Road to Whiteface Inn
      • Whiteface Inn to Mirror Lake
      • Mirror Lake to ADK Cascade Trails
      • ADK Cascade Trails to Keene
    • Conditions
  • events
    • Wilmington MTB Festival
    • Ski Movie Fundraiser
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    • Ski to Swim Party
    • JACKRABBIT RALLY >
      • Jackrabbit Rally 2023
    • Annual Meeting
  • Volunteer
  • Blog
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