Conditions 2/11/21

INTRODUCTION

          Continued great conditions.  Glad to see so many getting out and enjoying the good snow.  Definitely much colder Friday and Saturday with highs only around 10, and below zero at night. Warming to 15 on Sunday, and then close to 20 for highs into next week. Some additional light snow predicted, but for now, nothing that will require any serious new trail breaking on the routes that have already been skied. 

JACKRABBIT TRAIL

          Entire trail is skiable, and all sections between Keene and Saranac Lake have ben broken out.  Paul Smiths section has great cover, but no reports of what stretches have been broken out. Those skiing the Old Mountain Road starting from Rock and River in Keene should use the "Additional Parking" area on the right just before the lodge.

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: 15"  Off Track 18"
          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: 22" on man-made trails. 15" on natural snow. Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
         Remarks: 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           40 km Open.  Most all trails groomed, many with set track. 
           New Snow: 2" -72 hours      Base Depth: 20"
           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, and most rocks to avoid between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp are now covered. Avalanche Lake is crossable.  Wright Peak Ski Trail skiable, and approach on the hiking trail now much improved.  Marcy trail now totally skiable.  Whales Tail Ski Trail also reported in good shape and broken out.

                 Random notes from the field: 1) Botheration Pond Loop is skiable despite the loss of the 55-foot bridge over the East Branch of the Sacandaga Riveras snow on top of ice makes an easy crossing. 2)  Southern approach to Hoffman Notch is difficult due to no bridge over the West Branch of Trout Brook.  Northern approach is fine.

                 Between the earlier cold weather and the new snow, most lakes no longer have problems with slush.  Still, no guarantees-carry a scraper.
Snow Depth at Lake Colden:  33"     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. A  better choice than the hiking trail as far as surface conditions go, but over a mile longer than the Loj approach.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Skiable.  Old Marcy Dam approach is the better start, but both approaches are skiable.  

AVALANCHE PASS: Broken out and 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 again skiable with the new snow.
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HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.   Parking area continues to be plowed. 

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and loop back on the ponds now very doable.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Fully skiable.  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 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.