Conditions, Weekend of 3/6-7

Last weekend was quite warm and left us with a hard crust when the temperature dropped.  Fortunately, Monday and Tuesday saw a total of 4-5" to cover up the crust.  Unfortunately, there was no new snow south of the High Peaks, but that still leaves some good terrain for the weekend.  It will stay cold through Sunday, but then warm up each day until Wednesday and Thursday hit 50 with a chance of showers.  Cooling back down to the 30s on Friday.  So, no major meltdown, but we'll just have to wait to see what surfaces are left for next weekend.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL

          Entire trail is skiable, and all sections between Keene and Saranac Lake have been broken out since the new snow earlier this week.  Paul Smiths section also has great cover,.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: 5" last five days     Base Depth: 15"  Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder.
          Remarks:  Ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  54km    Track Set: 53 km
          New snow: 5" last five days.     Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 15" on natural snow. Off Track 18"
          Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder
         Remarks: 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           40 km Open.  Most all trails groomed, many with set track. 
           New Snow:       Base Depth: 20"
           Surface Conditions:  Groomed granular and packed powder
           Remarks: 

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
                33" at Lake Colden
                5+feet above 4,000 feet

           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 and Marcy Ski Trails skiable,  

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable. Still 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 and broken out after the snow earlier this week.
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HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.   As of 2/19, parking area continues to be plowed. (Yay!)

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

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Fully skiable.  "Official" plowing ends one mile from the parking area at the Corey's Road gate (now closed), but the road and trailhead parking are being plowed.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Parking area is still being plowed, although not after the last few inches of new snow!  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. Crust definitely a problem at the more "southern" location.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good cover to both Camp Santanoni and Moose Pond, but surface is mostly crust as no new snow that far south. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Fully skiable, although only about an inch or so of new snow after last weekend's thaw.