just enough new snow to make a difference

UPDATE 1/16/26:  With a bit more colder snow on top of the wet snow Wednesday night and cold temperatures, conditions have generally improved from the report below. With warmer temps on Saturday, it will be a great weekend to get out. 

INTRODUCTION
The warm spell has ended with 2-3" of new wet snow as of Thursday evening. We had hoped the first snow would be wet so that it would stick to the crust underneath. Now we can hope for the inch or two of new lighter snow predicted for tonight into tomorrow.  Friday will be cold, but Saturday and Sunday will see temperatures in the upper 20s before it really cools off Monday-Wednesday. 

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
Every section of the Jackrabbit Trail has enough cover to be skied, and all trees that would pose any problem have been cleared..
McKenzie Pass Section: Fully skiable from Whiteface Inn Lane to the top of the pass. The hill down to McKenzie Pond is skiable with care as it is still a bit thin and any new snow may have become crusty. Then  skiable out  to the road. Coming in from McKenzie Pond Rd., it is discouragingly thin for the first 100 yards, and somewhat better after that, but still a bit icy. All trees from Whiteface Inn Lane to McKenzie Pond Rd. (including to side trail to McKenzie Pond) have been cleared as of 1/3 and again the next week. (Thank you Jim and Jennie Sausville.)
Old Mountain Road Section: Skiable with beautiful powder surfaces. Use the new start that bypasses Rock and River.  Park on the left at the bottom of the field to access this new start. No recent report on any slush on the beaver pond on the Lake Placid side. It may still be slushy, but probably the thaw/freeze cycle and the new snow have solved that problem.
Paul Smiths Section: Trail skiable from the VIC to Rt. 86. South of Rt. 86, there are still two trees down, but the comment below says they are easy to negotiate.  There apparently won't be any logging on the trail this winter. Some flooded sections on the section under the power line may again have slush on top of the ice, but the ice is safe.
Other sections:  Craig Wood to Birdsong Lane skiable and cleared of blowdown. The new section around Scotts Cobble is also in good shape and cleared of blowdown. Good skiing behind the guardrail to reach Mountain Lane, and the new trail to the top of the hill is covered and clear. 
 River Road to the Lake Placid Club golf courses also has good cover and should be free of blowdown

GROOMED CENTER  

        SCOTTS COBBLE NORDIC CENTER
         15 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: 15  Track Set: 10
          Remarks:  Grooming as of Thursday. Fischer ski demo day on Saturday. Great chance to see if you ant to upgrade your equipment.
          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed: 40  Track Set:   30
         Remarks: 6 km of Competition loops plus 34km of Legacy trails open with some set track where snow depth is sufficient.  
           
​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 30 km  Track Set: 20 
           Remarks: All trails open. No grooming on Thursday, but should be able to groom once the snow has settled and dried out. Good skiing this weekend.
             DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  10   Track set: 8
             Remarks: Lower and Upper Mountain trails groomed. Lower trails with  track set.
           TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS
           https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/  518-359-8370
            Km Open: 10   Track set:   10
            Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​        Remarks:  No specifics on snowfall or overall snow depth, but their Facebook page shows ample snow and fresh grooming as of 1/15. 

          ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER) 
Unfortunately, not operating this winter with its long-term status yet to be determined.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS
Winter conditions regarding temperatures and snow depth sufficient to require skis or snowshoes.  Wednesday 1/14,  report from Lake Colden says the snow depth at the cabin is 34".  Now 4-5 feet of snow with deeper drifts at 4,000 feet.  Most lake ice is now crossable, but as always use care around inlets and outlets - especially on Avalanche Lake where it is best to exit the ice to the right about 50 yards before the outlet and use the bridge.  
Whiteface Highway:  The highway is definitely skiable but before this new snow there were several sections that were either narrow or totally bare given the high winds and warm temperatures. The new, wet snow should have stuck to the bare sections, but use caution as not every spot that looks white will have the same depth of coverage.
Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing: There is good cover all the way to  the landing. Ice on the pond is an alternative, but  no report on any slush after the thaw, and the outlet must always be given a wide berth. No report on any blowdown.
Marcy Dam, Truck Trail:  Skiable all the way to Marcy Dam. Meadows Lane now blocked off for the winter. Park on the left to leave room for ranger vehicles with snowmobile trailers in the event of an emergency. 
Fish Pond Truck Trail:   Great skiing all the way to Fish Pond. Again, no report on blowdown.
Hays Brook Truck Trail: Definitely skiable to both the Sheep Meadow and Grass Pond. There may be new blowdown after the earlier clearing thanks to work by BETA and DEC rangers. As of 12/30, the parking lot had  been plowed and the skiing is reported to be excellent. We hope the plowing continues for this popular ski, and we welcome reports.
Newcomb Lake Road: As usual, the best skiing with nearly a foot of snow in Newcomb.  The side road to Moose Pond would also have good cover and has been skied with, apparently no difficult blowdown to negotiate
Gulf Brook Road to Boreas Ponds: Adequate coverage with 4-5" at Blue ridge Rd.   Some plowing for parking reported at the highway, but no plowing of the main lot.
​Raquette Falls: No current report, but should still be good.
Avalanche Pass: Officially still closed due to the July landslide. Apparently now enough snow to be skiable. There is also a yet to be determined amount of avalanche danger from the new slide. Reported good conditions on the Calamity Brook Trail from Upper Works to Flowed Lands.
 ​Ausable Lake Road: Was being plowed "for maintenance" up to Christmas. Plowing has ended, but the cover is still very thin for most of the first mile or so, and especially thin under the hemlocks just past the gate. After that, very good skiing.
Wright Peak Ski Trail:  Not likely  skiable up to the divergence from the hiking trail
Mt. Marcy Ski Trail:  Plenty of  snow  above Indian Falls, and enough to be at least passable right from Marcy Dam.