Conditions 3/13-14

3/13/2021

After three days of bright sun and temperatures in the 50s, a cold front has cooled things off. A dusting to maybe an inch of new snow fell, although isolated pockets may have picked up more. However, ski conditions will be very fast and icy, so a hike with good traction aids is probably the best choice for an activity this weekend.

There is still a good base at the groomed x-c centers, and those are a really the only possibility for skiing this weekend. Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Cascade, and Paul Smiths all have complete cover, but grooming will take time, so don't expect everything to be skiable first thing Saturday morning.

It will remain cold through Monday (highs only around 20), but will warm to the 40s by the middle of the week. Some additional snow possible on Sunday night, but not likely enough to improve the skiing.

3 Comments

Tony C

3/14/2021 09:06:28 pm

It goes to show, you don’t ever know... The ski to Marcy Dam by way of the Truck Trail was quite good. Anywhere between 2-4” of fresh on top depending on where the wind left it. Today was well worth it.

Tony Goodwin

3/15/2021 09:52:48 pm

Tony, I ski each trail and look for snow, but so far I have not found more than an inch of new snow. But thanks for the report on the truck trail as I guess I just looked in the wrong places..

Tony C

3/16/2021 06:46:31 am

I’m hoping my post did not come off as disrespectful or argumentative in any way. I should have put “it goes to show, you don’t ever know” in quotes and cite Jerome Garcia and Robert Hunter, as that is a lyric from a Grateful Dead song “Deal”, about gambling, which I did Sunday, by going out and skiing based on the information available and the likely poor conditions. It turned out better than I imagined and hence, had the song in my head for 7-1/2 miles that day! I appreciate every effort you folks make to report conditions. I got lucky, and the wind helped the surface conditions where I was. Another skier said he encountered “mid winter conditions” on the Avalanche Pass trail Sunday.

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.

Ski Trail Conditions