LET THE TRAILBREAKING BEGIN!

As of Friday morning the entire area has picked up anywhere between 8 and 14 inches of new snow. Even the lesser amount is sufficient to make for perfect conditions for the weekend and next week. This should also be sufficient to make both the Wright Peak and Marcy trails skiable. Reports updated as we learn more.

Saturday will be cold with temperatures only around 10, but low 20s on Sunday, and then upper 20s to low 30s for the rest of the week. So, what could be better than mild temperatures to enjoy this new snow, but no thaw to take it all away.

Some reports that the additional snow has further weighted down the ice on ponds, which has resulted in slush under the snow. No specific reports for Avalanche Lake, Lake Colden, or the St. Regis Canoe Area, but be aware of the possibility.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
          Entire trail is, of course, now skiable,

         First report of a broken out section is the Old Mountain Road section: fully broken out from Rock and River to Mountain Lane, and the ice climbers even used skis on their access, so no post holes.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed:  10    Track Set:  10
          New snow: 10"   Base Depth: 10"  Off Track 20"
          Surface Conditions:  packed powder
          Remarks:  Grooming in progress as of Friday AM

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  55 km    Track Set: 45 km
          New snow: 10"   Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 10" on natural snow. Off Track: 20"
          Surface Conditions: Packed powder 
         Remarks:  All trails except High Notch groomed. Track setting in progress as of Friday AM

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open: 35 of 40 km open.  Track set: 20 km
           New Snow:  12"   Base Depth: 12"  Off Track: 25"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​           Remarks: Building staffed Thursday - Sunday. All trails except for Fox Run packed. Track will be set on the edges of the wider trails. All other trails groomed.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                34" at Lake Colden before the new snow
                3-4 feet above 4,000 feet before the new snow, likely 5-6 feet now
                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 will be 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.   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 may have caused some slush to form under the snow - more likely 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.