Flake by flake, it's beginning to look like winter!

INTRODUCTION 
      While we still have a way to go to get to true mid-winter conditions, we have continued to pick up an inch or two here an there; and this has begun to add up. Furthermore, Wednesday night and Thursday will see some more significant snow, but   so far no credible estimates of anything more than 3-4 more inches. Best news is that there is finally no thaw in sight. Better late than never, winter is really here - at least for now. 

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
         All sections can now be skied, but caution is still required as the base on most sections is thin enough that rocks and roots present periodic hazards. Especially thin is the start of the trail to McKenzie Pond from McKenzie Pond Road.  That section has been skied, but periodic roots - especially under the thickest firs - remain an obstacle. Once at the old road one mile in, the cover is sufficient. The rest of the trail. McKenzie Pond to Whiteface Inn Lane is good skiing.
         The Old Mountain Road section is good skiing with just a few areas where water in the trail requires a bit of maneuvering to avoid.


        ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER)
         https://adk.org/cascade-welcome-center/   518-837-5047
           Km Open and Groomed: 15    Track Set: 12km 
          New snow: 1-2"   Base Depth: 3-4"   Off Track 5-6"  
          New Snow last 72 hours: 2-3"
          Surface Conditions: Packed  powder
          Remarks: Entire system open with track set on most trails.
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. Free for residents of the Tri-Lakes area. $15/day, $10/half-day for others. 
.        scottscobblenordic.com
          KM Open and Groomed: 15    Track Set: 12
          Remarks: All loops covered and packed. Track-set on most trails 

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
         https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/nordic-sliding-centers/conditions   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed:  ?  Track Set: ? 
          New snow: 1-2"    Base Depth: 3-4"  Off track: 4-6" 
          New snow past 72 hours: 1-2""
          Surface Conditions:    ? 
         Remarks: Turns out very little grooming on Monday, 1/23 due to FISU clean-up. Today, Tuesday, the website conditions page is down, and no one answers the phone. Fortunately, there is great skiing elsewhere.

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
          https://trailhub.org/ts/AJqsdStcVzW7Mjrr4MJh  518-327-6241
           Km Open: 35   Track set: 20   
           New Snow: 2-3"  Base Depth: 5-6"  Off track: 8-10" 
           New snow past 72 hours:  3"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​           Remarks:  Most of the trails are now open and groomed, offering the most amount of groomed skiing in the area.   Jenkins Mt. Backcountry Ski Zone remains closed until more snow.

            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  5  Track set:  ?
           New Snow:    Base Depth: 3"  Off track: 5"?  
           New snow past 72 hours: 3"
           Surface Conditions:  Groomed wet powder
​           Remarks: Lower mountain now open

           TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS
           https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/  518-359-8370
            Km Open:      Track set:   
           New Snow:     Base Depth:   Off track:  
           New snow past 72 hours: 3
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​           Remarks: Again open with nice conditions on the golf course.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                 Snow depth at Lake Colden:  18" (estimated based on 12" last Thursday before the new snow))
                3-4' above 4,000 feet 
                Skis or snowshoes are required by regulation in the High Peaks as the snow depth is now well above the 8" threshold. Snowshoes still advisable on other higher terrain, and good traction will be needed where there is ice under the new snow.. 

WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: Still enough cover to be skiable above the hiking trail,  but still not enough to get there and back on skis. 

MARCY TRAIL:  No specific ski report, but likely still pretty marginal up as far as Indian Falls. (One online report indicated that hikers bare-booted as far as Indian Falls. They probably shouldn't have done that, but it is an indication of still somewhat thin cover. Photos from the group showed more snow above, but the signs at the junction of the Slant Rock Trail are still well above the snow level. 

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable starting at the Toll House. Usual thin areas likely covered as this wet snow fell without any significant wind.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable, but still with caution. Not all rocks are fully covered. Also, some blowdown in the trail. One requires a careful step to get over. Another requires a short detour to get around.  All others only partially block the trail.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Not really skiable. 

AVALANCHE PASS:  Finally skiable all the way to Lake Colden. Ice on Avalanche Lake crossable, but use caution at the outlet. If in doubt, take the trail on the west (right) side about 50 yds. before the actual outlet and use the bridge to cross the outlet. Still some rocks to avoid on the way to Avalanche Camp.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Conditions are good to Whiteface Landing, and one can now cross the pond to avoid the initial hills. Those first hills still need a bit more snow - but are still negotiable on skis. Reportedly, all but one of the downed trees have been cut out, and that one should be taken out by Wednesday evening.

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL: The parking lot has been plowed. All blowdown has been cut through. Thanks to those who did that work. A good base remained before the new snow, so skiing is close to perfect to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable, but no report on the lakes. 

RAQUETTE FALLS:  No specific report, but it should be skiable with caution on any downhill under thick hemlocks that have blocked the snow.

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS:  Good skiing with the new snow.  A few spots have been plowed for parking.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Last week, the local Forest Ranger reported 4-5" of new snow and said the skiing is "fantastic". Would be even better than that now. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: 3-4" of packed base at the gate, and again skiable to the lake, but vehicular traffic may make the skiing a bit less enjoyable..