Post meltdown report

UPDATE 3/23/26:
       Below freezing Monday morning, so it will be frozen surfaces given the wet snow that has fallen recently. Ungroomed areas that still have snow will be marginal until it warms up.
​           No updated report from Mt. Van Hoevenberg as they are probably in (personal) recovery mode after hosting three World Cup races and over 30,000 spectators over the past three days. Going forward at Van Ho, there will be good cover on the competition trails for several weeks to a month, but the Legacy trails only have a few inches on no base.
        The Paul Smiths VIC reports fresh grooming as of Monday, and that is surely the best skiing available today and for the rest of the week.

UPDATE 3/21/26:
      On Friday we picked up 3-5" of heavy, wet snow - heavy enough that previously bare areas may again be skiable.  No specific reports except that the McKenzie Pond Rd. approach to the Jackrabbit Trail is again skiable. And given the cover that survived on the Whiteface Inn Lane side that should be back to good skiing again. 
      Otherwise, Friday was a memorable day at Mt. Van Hoevenberg with about 8,000 fans lining the course to cheer on our recent Olympic medalists, Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden, and Gus Schumacher, in the 10km event. Today's sprint at 1 PM will supposedly be carried live by NBC, which might be better than dealing with heavy wet snow.

Yet again, your usual reporter left some nice conditions here to ski a bit in Norway only to return to mostly bare ground. Maybe I should stay home next year.

EVENT PROMOTION
Nevertheless, there is still some snow out there and we could again see some good new snow return after the  official start of spring.  Meanwhile, this weekend doesn't look to be all that great for skiing, so consider watching the best x-c skiers in the world who will be competing at the World Cup Cross-Country finals at Mt. Van Hoevenberg Friday, Saturday, or Sunday - or perhaps all three. Friday and Sunday will be distance races, but with multiple laps there will be plenty of opportunity to see the racers. Saturday may be the best day since that will be the sprints. Competing in those sprints will be Olympic Silver Medal winner Ben Ogden along with another American, Gus Schumacher, who teamed up with Ben to take silver in the Team Sprint at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Sunday will be significant in that it will culminate with the presentation of the crystal globes for the best overall performances in the season that started back in November.  American Jessie Diggins, who has announced her retirement, will truly go out on top as she has already wrapped up the Distance World Cup along with enjoying a comfortable lead in the Overall Crystal Globe standings. This will truly be a memorable day for American cross-country skiing. 

Tickets are $20 for adults for one day or $40 for all three days. Teens and seniors are $10/day and $20/for three. Those 12 and under are free. The best link I've found to purchase tickets is here: tinyurl.com/5t4xsxks

CONDITIONS INTRODUCTION
Despite a bit of new snow today, Tuesday, conditions are limited. The weather through the coming weekend will be mostly cloudy with temperatures upper 30s to 40 and some chance of rain or snow each day.  The high winds on Tuesday mean that there could be new trees down, so keep that in mind on any fast downhills, and report any you find on the Jackrabbit Trail so we can be ready if it snows again. 

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
Unfortunately, not much of the trail can be recommended at the moment.
McKenzie Pass Section: higher section still has snow and could be good with a bit of new. A check of the trailhead today determined that there is still reasonably good cover right from the road. Surface conditions are classic "dust on crust" but with a bit more snow it would be o.k.  The McKenzie Pond Road approach is not skiable.
Other Sections: No current reports.

GROOMED CENTERS  

        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:   Track Set: 
          Remarks:  Closed for now, but ready to reopen if it snows..
          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed:  Track Set:   
         Legacy loops no longer skiable and competition loops are closed for the World Cup. See above.        
 PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 15 km  Track Set: 15 km 
           Remarks: Most wider trails groomed  and set with others still skiable. Best skiing available for the coming weekend.   
             DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  5   Track set: 
             Remarks: Lower trails skiable with caution. Upper trails closed.. 
           TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS
           https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/  518-359-8370
            Km Open:    Track set:   
            Surface Conditions:  
​        Remarks:  No current report

          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 still sufficient to require skis or snowshoes.  Wednesday 3/12  report from Lake Colden says the snow depth at the cabin is 32".  Still 4-5 feet or more of snow with deeper drifts at 4,000 feet.   Lake ice: Use your own judgment, and as always use care around inlets and outlets.    
Whiteface Highway:  The highway should be mostly skiable, but some corners may be bare.
Connery Pond to Whiteface Landing: No current report.
Marcy Dam, Truck Trail:  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.  No current report, but likely not continuous skiing to Marcy Dam.
Fish Pond Truck Trail:   Still skiable cover according to comment from this past weekend.  The ponds for the alternate return are not likely skiable. 
Hays Brook Truck Trail: Still skiable according to a report from last weekend and a more recent comment on this report. 
Newcomb Lake Road: As usual, still good skiing despite the meltdown.   
Gulf Brook Road to Boreas Ponds:  Cover right from Blue Ridge Rd. and it has continued to be plowed.
​Raquette Falls: No current report
Avalanche Pass:  The hiking trail is still officially closed due to the July landslide, but the ski trail is open. (Of course the two join up, but that is how at least some are reporting the situation.) Still skiable once one gets to Marcy Dam. Crossing of Avalanche Lake is now questionable.  Calamity Brook Trail from Upper Works to Flowed Lands, still skiable, but the bridge over Calamity Brook is out and the crossing is likely very difficult. Also, the Opalescent River in Flowed Lands is no longer crossable.
 ​Ausable Lake Road:  No snow at the gate.
Wright Peak Ski Trail:  It was skiable up to the divergence from the hiking trail, but no longer. Good cover remains on the top half.  
Mt. Marcy Ski Trail:  Plenty of  snow past Marcy Dam, but crossing of Phelps Brook just above the dam and the crossing of Marcy Brook at Indian Falls could be difficult.  
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