Cooler temperatures, but not much new snow

UPDATE FRIDAY EVENING 1/26:
It rained on and off, mostly on, for about six hours on Friday up to about noon. Still something white on the ground everywhere,  but not much else good to say about the conditions. The groomed centers will have some tough evaluating to do tomorrow about what, or even whether,  to open.  We won't try to stay on top of that situation, so use the contact information on the reports below if you plan to ski at any of the centers.

Otherwise, maybe just pick up a subscription to Ski and Snowboard Live (https://skiandsnowboard.live/) and watch the World Cup sprints from Goms, Switzerland - where today it was also raining, but promised to be sunny tomorrow.

INTRODUCTION

The temperatures will be moderating over the weekend, but still some rain possible on Friday before temperatures only poke above freezing on Saturday, and then only reach freezing on Sunday . High on Monday will be low 20s, but back to highs in the upper 20s the rest of the week.  So far we haven't lost too much of the nice snow that we had accumulated, but unfortunately not much chance of any significant new snow to go one our base. In the absence of much new snow, Mt. Van Hoevenberg will surely be able to groom up their competition trails, and Paul Smiths should be able to do the same on most of their system.  Cascade will likely have to evaluate how aggressive their grooming can be. In any event, it doesn't seem that the backcountry will be very skiable - except for the gentlest terrain.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
         All sections remain covered, but surfaces will be frozen and fast once the temperature drops. Comments on the previous report reminded us of the logging ongoing between White Pine Camp and Jones Pond roads.

GROOMED CENTERS

        ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER)
         https://adk.org/cascade-welcome-center/   518-837-5047
           Km Open and Groomed:  ?  Track Set: ?  
          New snow:    Packed Base Depth: 3"   Off Track:5"   
          New Snow last 72 hours: 
          Surface Conditions: Wet powder
          Remarks: Closed to skiing on Thursday due to warm conditions. Hope to be open again with cooler temperatures  on the weekend. Fischer light backcountry waxable skis on sale for $50.00
Remember that Cascade is now owned by the Adirondack Mt. Club. Ski shop open as usual, and ADK members  ski free. 

         SCOTTS COBBLE NORDIC CENTER - NEW
         10 km of groomed trails on Craig Wood Golf Course - rentals, lessons operated by High Peaks Cyclery. Trail fee of $15/day - $10/half-day. Residents of the Tri-Lakes area ski for free (Donations appreciated)       scottscobblenordic.com.
518-523-9811 or 518-523-3742

          KM Open and Groomed:  ?   Track Set: ?
         New snow:    Packed Base Depth:    Off track:   
          New snow past 72 hours: 
          Surface conditions:     Wer Powder       
          Remarks: No current report

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed: 38  Track Set: 5 km  
          New snow:    Packed Base Depth: 15" on manmade snow, 2-3" on Legacy trails   Off track:  5"
          New snow past 72 hours: 
          Surface Conditions:  Wet powder and groomed granular  
         Remarks:  Legacy trails on X-C side open except for Porter plus most trails on the biathlon side. No set track on any legacy trails.

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 25    Track Set: On most trails.   
           New Snow:   Packed Base Depth:  3"  Off track: 5" 
           New snow past 72 hours:  
           Surface Conditions:   Wet Powder
​           Remarks:  No current report, but enough base that the trails should remain skiable  Esker Loop still has a caution symbol.

            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open: 10  Track set: 5 km
           New Snow:      
           New snow past 72 hours: 
           Surface Conditions:  wet powder
           Remarks: Lower trails have good cover and mostly track-set before the snow. Upper trails ungroomed but very skiable .

           TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS
           https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/  518-359-8370
            Km Open: 10   Track set:    no mentiion
           New Snow:  ?   Base Depth: 5"    Off track: 6-8"   
           New snow past 72 hours:  ?
           Surface Conditions:  Powder
​           Remarks:  The system has been groomed, but no recent grooming due to warm conditions. Free Maxiglide in the sign-in booth.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS: (Reports below do not reflect the expected icy surfaces as the temperatures cool.)

                 Snow depth at Lake Colden:  31" as of DEC's Thursday, 1/25 report. 
                
                Skis or snowshoes are required by regulation in the High Peaks when the snow depth is  8" or above. Not now required at trailheads, but skis or snowshoes now required for those venturing to higher terrain. All storms to date have been definitely elevation-dependent, so expect much greater snow depth above 3,000 feet. And above 4,000 feet expect 5-6' since the earlier snow did not melt at that elevation.

WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL:  No report, but still not likely skiable until above the hiking trail portion.

MARCY TRAIL:  Now reported as thin until just above 50-meter bridge. Skiable from there to Indian Falls and beyond.

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable starting at the Toll House. Some windblown sections on the usual turns.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable to Marcy Dam, but there may still be a few rocks that are not fully covered.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ: Not skiable.    

AVALANCHE PASS:  Now skiable. Some rocks still to dodge between Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp. Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden now being crossed. On Avalanche Lake be aware of possible thin ice at the outlet.  If in doubt, go to the right shore a few yards before the outlet and use the foot bridge to cross.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable. Outlet to the pond is still not fully frozen, but some have found a way to cross the pond rather than skiing the bypass around the private land.

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL: Parking lot has been plowed so far this winter.  Some trees down from an earlier windstorm, but not a real problem, and otherwise good skiing, and gentle enough to be a possible alternative with icy conditions.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable to Fish Pond.  No current report on the lakes, but the ice is good as long as there is no slush underneath the snow.  

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Skiable with caution. No plowing beyond the end of the town road. This adds about a mile each way to the ski.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS:  Good cover to the ponds.  No spots had been plowed for parking as of 1/22. Please register if you ski there to help justify continued plowing.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Near perfect conditions on that ski, and gentle enough to be a good alternative once the temperature drops. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: Very skiable before the thaw, but now snowmobile tracks by Ausable Club workers will make it quite hard and fast.