Conditions 1/7/21

Fish Pond and weather update as of Saturday evening, 1/9"

Fish Pond definitely very skiable with a nice skied-in, unwalked-upon track the entire way.  

Weather will warm to around freezing for a few days later in the week, but will cool to the upper 20s as of next Saturday.  So, the good news is that there is no "January Thaw" insight, but the bad news is that there is no new snow in sight.  The conditions reported below will likely be unchanged for the next week or so.  Next full update when there is a major change in conditions - whenever that happens.

UPDATE THURSDAY EVENING 1/7:  Now 11" at Lake Colden, but still very marginal ski conditions getting there. Snowshoes or skis still strongly recommended for travel there  More snow up high, so snowshoes pretty much mandatory for any High Peaks.  Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden now reported as "frozen", so safe to cross.

INITIAL REPORT:  We definitely still have "early season" conditions, but quite a bit of terrain will be skiable for the weekend.  The weekend weather will be sunny with highs in the mid-20s.  Then next week warms to around freezing by Wednesday.  No significant new snow in the forecast.  

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
        Best skiing is Whiteface Inn Lane to the top of the pass. Old Mt. Road section is skiable, but there are still rocks to avoid.  Very thin starting in from McKenzie Pond Rd., but perhaps skiable closer to the pond. Peninsula Section of the Jackrabbit Trail barely skiable with many rocks and routes to avoid.  Peninsula Road, however, very skiable for a short out and back ski.

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

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  11    Km Track Set: 4 km
          New snow:      Base Depth: 12" on man-made trails. 3" on natural snow. Off Track 5"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
         Remarks: The 4km of set track is on the more challenging racing trails where there is man-made snow.. 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open and Groomed:  40  
           New Snow:      Base Depth: 8"
           Surface Conditions:  packed powder
       Remarks:  All trails groomed. So far, no track has been set

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
           Still not enough snow that snowshoes are required per regulation, but they should be carried and used at the higher elevations, or anywhere one is leaving a deep print.  No current report on snow depth atLake Colden, but we may get one by Friday.

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable.  The larger rocks are still visible. Use caution as there are many rocks that are merely "disguised."  

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Not skiable. 

AVALANCHE PASS: Past Marcy Dam it is reported as "passable" on skis through to Avalanche Lake.  Last report was that the ice on Avalanche Lake was not safe tocross.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable with caution.  Hills at the start are very thin, and there are rocks showing in other places. Maintain control on all downhills. Hills at the start past the summer parking area can be avoided by skiing across Connery Pond. Look for the Connery Pond Access sign just before the summer parking.  Once at the pond, ski at a magnetic bearing of 350 degrees to reach the best exit from the lake to the trail
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HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow with 10" of snow at the Sheep Meadow.   Parking area has been plowed.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, although caution still needed on the big hills two miles in.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  No report, but not likely yet skiable al the way to the falls.  Plowing ends one mile from the parking area at the Corey's Road gate (now closed), but vehicles are being driven that far.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Parking area is not being plowed this winter, but for now most vehicles can access the parking area.  Tracks broken to the ponds, but not yet onto the surface of the ponds. Washed out culvert at 1/2 mile is an obstacle, but can be negotiated without removing  ones skis.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing, although still thin. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Sufficient cover even at the start under the thick hemlocks.  Some snowmobile traffic, but a good skied-in track along the edge for a good part of the way to the Lower Lake.