Mid-Winter Conditions - finally

INTRODUCTION (Data below updated to 3/9)
       5-7" of new snow last weekend, and skiing is great. Weather this weekend will hover around freezing with maybe a bit of new snow, but not much sun in the forecast.  Next week could see some warmer temperatures, but for now, come ski it while you can.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
         All sections skiable and broken out. All hazards are fully covered.  Still somewhat thin at the start of the trail to McKenzie Pond from McKenzie Pond Road,  but that's the only caveat to the Jackrabbit report.
         
        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: 15km 
          New snow:  2"  Packed Base Depth: 5-7"   Off Track 12-14"  
          New Snow last 72 hours: 2"
          Surface Conditions: Packed  powder
          Remarks: Entire system open with track set on all 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: 15
         New snow:  2"  Packed Base Depth: 3-4"  Off track: 7-10" 
          New snow past 72 hours: 2"
          Remarks: 

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
         https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/nordic-sliding-centers/conditions   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed:  55  Track Set: 55 
          New snow: 1"   Packed Base Depth: 8-9"  Off track: 10-12" 
          New snow past 72 hours: 1"
          Surface Conditions:    Packed powder 
         Remarks:   NCAA Collegiate Championships 3/9 and 3/11. All competitions are on the competition trails, so all "legacy" trails (the only ones suitable for actual 'recreational' skiing) are open for all. A bit of maneuvering required to go from the lodge to those trails, but entirely doable and volunteer stewards will guide you. And the races are fun to watch with competitors who were recently racing in the World Nordic Championships in Planica, Slovenia are also racing here. 

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
          https://trailhub.org/ts/AJqsdStcVzW7Mjrr4MJh  518-327-6241
           Km Open: 40   20 km of set track   
           New Snow: 1"  Packed Base Depth: 12-15"  Off track: 15-20" 
           New snow past 72 hours:  1"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed  powder
​           Remarks:   Jenkins Mt. Backcountry Ski Zone is again open. Use requires a helmet and skins for climbing.
                                    Wider trails groomed and track-set with the big groomer. Narrower trails also groomed.

            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  7  Track set: 5 km 
           New Snow:    1"  
           New snow past 72 hours: 1"
           Surface Conditions:  Lower trails groomed with track set in most places. Upper trails still ungroomed but skiable.
​           Remarks:

           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   
           New Snow: 1"     Base Depth:3-4"   Off track: ?  
           New snow past 72 hours:  1"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​           Remarks:  

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                 Snow depth at Lake Colden:  46" as per DEC's Thursday, 3/9 report. 
                5-6' 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 all other backcountry terrain, and good traction will be needed where there is ice under the new snow.. 

WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: Finally, enough cover to be at least skiable on the hiking trail section, but a few obstacles still exist on the hiking trail portion.  Otherwise, great conditions to the top of the ski trail.

MARCY TRAIL:  Maybe still a bit marginal up as far as "50-meter" bridge, but good skiing from there to Indian Falls and beyond. 

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable starting at the Toll House. A few thin areas on the lower parts, and icy at the Wilmington Turn, but otherwise covered edge to edge all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable with finally all rocks fully covered. All trees have now been cleared.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ: Skiable, and finally a viable, shorter option to the Truck Trail.  

AVALANCHE PASS: Skiable all the way to Lake Colden, an finally true mid-winter conditions. 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. Only a few rocks close to Marcy Dam 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 are in good shape for those preferring not to cross the pond. One downed tree on the initial hills, but otherwise the trail is clear.

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL: The parking lot has been plowed so far this winter. Local Forest Ranger says it has continued to be plowed.  Skiing is close to perfect to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Very skiable on the truck trail to Fish Pond along with the side trails. Lakes are  skiable as well, May be some intermittent areas of slush, but no recent report..  

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Skiable 

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS:  Good cover and broken out to the ponds  A few spots have been plowed for parking. Please register if you ski there to help justify continued plowing.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Near perfect conditions on that ski. And final "open house" this weekend, March 11-12.

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: 5-6" of packed base at the gate, and skiable to the lake. No vehicular traffic as of 3/8, but that could change.