Hopefully not a final meltdown

UPDATE 3/24/22: While we had no major "heat wave" this week, daytime temperatures were generally in the 40s, so the melting continued. For the coming weekend, only die-hards will be able to find skiable snow, which is still available past Marcy Dam. Paul Smith's VIC now only reports three "caution" trails with the rest closed. Mt. Van Hoevenberg is down to the man-made snow on the competition trails, and those are closed for the weekend's competitions. Cascade is closed for the season. If we somehow end up with a big new dump, we'll report on it, but this could be this season's last report. Let us know if you have appreciated these reports.

UPDATE 3/20/22:  Looks like a week of "spring conditions" but without much sunshine and intermittent chances for either rain or some wet snow. Hard and fast each morning if the temperature is below freezing, but softening during the day. Mt. Van Hoevenberg is down to just the competition trails. Legacy trails are closed. Paul Smith's VIC still has approximately 15 km noted in green (=good), and another 15 km noted as yellow (=caution).  

INTRODUCTION

     Temperatures today, Thursday, will easily hit 60 in the Lake Placid area, so most of last week's snow will be gone. There is still a base that will survive, but not on any south-facing slopes or open areas. Friday will be cloudy and not quite as warm, but Saturday could see as much as 1/2" of rain. Cooler again on Sunday, but still a high near 40. Then it's spring conditions heading into next week with temperatures below freezing at night and above during the day. Hard to predict exactly what will remain skiable a week from now, but another good snowstorm would not be unprecedented. There's always hope.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
          Entire trail no longer skiable.  Old Mt. Road section and McKenzie Pass section up from Whiteface Inn Lane are the only longer sections that remain skiable, but just barely; and may not be by the end of the week. McKenzie Pass section above Whiteface Inn Lane will remain good once one is on the flats leading to the lean-to, but the approach is narrow in spots due to runoff, and there are sections of gray ice on the climb up.
          
        CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  No report on the skiing. Ski shop open
          Km Open and Groomed:      Track Set:  
          New snow:    Base Depth:   Off Track 
          Surface Conditions: Packed powder 
          Remarks:  

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  4 km    Track Set: 4 km
          New snow:    Base Depth: 15" on man-made snow trails. 0-?" on "Legacy"/natural snow trails. Off Track: 0-?
          Surface Conditions: Wet granular       
        Remarks: CLOSED TO PUBLIC SKIING 3/21 - 3/27 DUE TO CONTINENTAL CUP NORDIC COMBINED COMPETITION AND NATIONAL BIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS.  All Legacy (non-competition trails) are closed due to lack of snow. 

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open: 30 km.  Track set: ?? 
           New Snow:     Base Depth: 10"  Off Track: 12"
           Surface Conditions:  Wet granular
​            Remarks: Website shows 15km as good, 15km as needing caution. Some grooming has been done.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                30" at Lake Colden (estimate) 
                5-6 feet above 4,000 feet 
                Skis or snowshoes still required by regulation in the High Peaks and still needed on other higher terrain. Many hiking trails were pure ice before the new snow, and that ice will still be an issue for any travel on mountain trails. 
           
WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: No report, but hiking trail portion likely again not skiable.

MARCY TRAIL:  Phelps Brook above Marcy Dam and Marcy Brook at Indian Falls definitely "went out", in the last thaw and has not refrozen. Both crossings are difficult.  Still some rocks showing going up as far as 5-meter bridge

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Cover all the way to the Castle, but  some bare spots on the windy corners.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable, but hardly ideal. Scant snow on any south-facing hill, some intermittent gray ice , and there are tire tracks from last week's search operation.   GENERAL NOTE: 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:  Covered and marginally skiable past the Algonquin junction. The first mile of the hiking trail is not  skiable. .  

AVALANCHE PASS:  Skiable.  As of Monday, 3/21, both Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden were still crossable, but avoid the outlets of both lakes. Avalanche Pass is still skiable from Marcy Dam up, but the caretaker who came out today indicated he probably wouldn't ski back in the next time. GENERAL NOTE: 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.) 

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING: Given that the hills face south, not recommended.

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.  So far this season, the parking area continues to be plowed even after the recent storms.

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

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Not really skiable. 

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Needs to be checked as the first hill, which faces south, is probably pretty bare. May be skiable after that.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Skiable to Camp Santanoni. Moose Pond trail has some blowdown that may not be removed this winter. 

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: Probably still skiable, but likely very thin at the start.