President's Weekend Report (updated 2/17)

2/17 Update:
    Great conditions everywhere, but ski it today as Tuesday is predicted to have a "wintry mix" including some rain before it again becomes quite cold for the end of the week.  Pretty much all popular ski routes are in great shape and broken out.
         Raquette Falls is finally good skiing 
         Boreas Pond parking is plowed, and at least some has been broken out. 
      All X-C centers are in full operation, and no races at Mt. Van Hoevenberg to curtail the skiing there.

INTRODUCTION
       Thanks to last Friday's 12-18" of snow, we definitely have good cover everywhere.  Unfortunately, three days of above freezing temperatures have put a crust on the unbroken areas, and a glaze on those sections that have been broken out.  Today, Thursday, we have started out with some freezing rain, although it is supposed to change to snow with up to 3" by the end of the day.  Tomorrow, Friday, will be quite cold with high temperatures only in the single digits.  Saturday will start very cold, but warm to the mid-20s.  Sunday will be near 30, and then early next week will be a bit warmer before cooling off by the end of the week.  So, given the temperature "rollercoaster", the best surface conditions will beat the groomed centers, but pretty much anywhere will have good cover.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
        Finally good cover from end to end.  Today the downhills will be quite fast until the new snow covers up the glazed surfaces.  All sections have been broken out since last week's storm.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed: 15   KmTrack Set: 15
          New snow:  1".    Base Depth: 10"  Off Track 20"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder and hardpack
          Remarks:  Restaurant and ski shop open

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  45    Km Track Set: 45
          New snow:  1".    Base Depth: 10"  off Track 20"
          Surface Conditions:  Packed powder and hardpack
          Remarks: Groomed and tracked everything except the outer loop of the Ladies 5 km. Williams College Winter Carnival X-C Races Friday and Saturday morning on the biathlon side,
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           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open and Groomed:  37  
           New Snow:   1".    Base Depth: 25"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder with a glaze of ice
       Remarks:  All trails groomed.  Most track-set 

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
            Snowshoes or skis are now required in the High Peaks.  There is 36" at Lake Colden and 4-5 feet at 4,000 feet. 

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Finally enough snow to truly cover all the rocks. Broken out as of last weekend.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Definitely skiable, but the hills will be very fast.

AVALANCHE PASS:  Finally, no rocks to dodge above marcy Dam. Pass is in good shape.  Lake ice on Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden is being crossed. Be cautious around all inlets and outlets - especially the outlet to Avalanche Lake where the safest course is to exit on the western shore and cross the outlet on the bridge.

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Finally fully covered.
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HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow,   Blowdown past the crossing of Hays Brook now reportedly cleared.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely fully covered from the parking area.  

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: No report on whether the parking areas has been plowed, or if it has been broken out, but definitely enough cover to east the crossing of the washed out culverts.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing as always. Moose Pond Trail also has good cover, but there is an undetermined amount of  uncleared blowdown.

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Plenty of cover, but the combination of warm days, cold nights, and snowmobile traffic makes the surface less than ideal for skiing.