Great Conditions for the Coming Weekend! (until Sunday)

Weather update 2/11/22:
      Temperatures late Thursday ended up rising to around 40 in all areas, with similar temperatures now predicted for Friday. It will continue warm into Saturday, so we will still be enjoying soft surfaces on a very good base. Unfortunately, Sunday will see hard and fast conditions unless we somehow pick up a few inches of snow with the approaching cold front. The cold continues through Monday, bit moderates for Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Unfortunately, the National Weather Service now predicts a continued warming to the 40s on Thursday with rain a possibility.  Given that even a shorter-term forecast yesterday didn't prove to be exactly accurate, the forecast for next week may change.  Stay tuned...

     Meanwhile, we're looking at two days of good conditions, so get out and ski. 

INTRODUCTION

       This week has seen a few hours of temperatures above freezing since Tuesday, but nothing that has really affected the powder surfaces. Temperatures will be at or just above freezing through Saturday, but then much colder on Sunday and into the first part of next week. Temperatures will again rise to around freezing on Wednesday next week, but then return to the 20s, so still no thaw in sight.

Some reports indicate that the additional snow from last week's storm has further weighted down the ice on ponds, which has resulted in slush under the snow. Avalanche Lake does not have any slush, but there is some slush under the snow on Lake Colden. This likely means that the St. Regis Canoe Area now also has that condition, so be aware of the possibility.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
          Entire trail is, of course, now skiable and all sections have been broken out.

        CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed:  10    Track Set:  10
          New snow: 1"   Base Depth: 10"  Off Track 20"
          Surface Conditions:  packed powder
          Remarks:  

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  55 km    Track Set: 55 km
          New snow: 10"   Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 10" on natural snow. Off Track: 20"
          Surface Conditions: Packed powder 
         Remarks:  Most track re-set as of Wednesday, 2/9

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open: 30 of 40 km open.  Track set: 20 km
           New Snow:  1"   Base Depth: 15"  Off Track: 24"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​           Remarks: Building staffed Thursday - Sunday except it will be closed this coming Saturday due to Saranac Lake Winter Carnival parade day. All trails except for Fox Run packed. Track will be set on the edges of the wider trails. All other trails groomed.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                45" at Lake Colden 
                5-6 feet above 4,000 feet 
                Skis or snowshoes definitely required by regulation in the High Peaks and needed in all other areas.
           
WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: Definitely enough snow on the higher sections. Hiking trail portion could still be a little rough.  Send reports

MARCY TRAIL:  Definitely enough snow to be skiable. Still a few rocks to avoid in the stretch above Marcy Dam, but after the "50-meter" bridge the conditions are good.

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable and finally every single rock is fully covered. At the trailhead on Adirondak Loj Rd., DEC Rangers do not want any parking on the right side of the plowed turnout. Good parking on the left side, and then there's the road. 

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Finally skiable. Marcy Brook is crossable above the breached dam.  No need to descend to the bridge over the brook below the dam.

AVALANCHE PASS: Fully skiable and well broken out.   Avalanche Lake is frozen and crossable, Outlet not a problem this year. (If skied from the Meadows Lane/Marcy Dam Truck Trail trailhead, DEC Rangers do not want any parking on the right side of the plowed turnout. Good parking on the left side, and then there's the road.) As noted above, the new snow has caused some slush to form under the snow on Lake Colden.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable, Pond is crossable and is the best access..  

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.  So far this season, the parking area continues to be plowed. (Yay!). But no word yet on plowing after this storm.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and loop back on the ponds now very doable, except that, as noted above, the new snow may have caused some slush to form under the snow.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Skiable.  

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Skiable. Parking area has previously been plowed for 4-5 cars,  Parking on the road is possible - just not ideal. All culverts and bridges have been repaired/replaced. As of late December, one tree down just short of the ponds. If you ski there, please register as that will help justify future plowing.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing to Camp Santanoni. Moose Pond trail has some blowdown that may not be removed this winter. Confirmation via comment below that the trail has been broken out to Camp Santanoni.

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Fully skiable.  Snowmobile traffic along with the foot traffic.