Thanksgiving weekend report

FURTHER UPDATE 11/27/22:  Just to add that Sunday has seen temperatures mid to upper 40s with rain starting mid-afternoon.  Whatever might have been skiable on Saturday isn't likely skiable now. The exception would be the man-made trails at Van Ho - at least for those who are looking for a good "vertical ascent" workout.

UPDATE 11/26/22:  Continued warm weather since Thursday has shrunk any available skiing. Mt. Van Hoevenberg has at least 1.5 km of their "World Cup" trails open on man-made snow, although the full trail report shows the Flatlander network as still skaible - well maybe....  Paul Smith's VIC still has three trails totaling 4 km skiable, but that may not last through the day. Forecast is for more rain on Sunday afternoon and night. Cooler on Monday with maybe a bit of snow, but warm again on Wednesday with more rain possible. Oh well, nice while it lasted.
​Next report likely not until we see some useful improvement.

INTRODUCTION
      Given the forecast for warmer conditions through the weekend, conditions will be changing - sometimes rapidly - but not likely for the better. While the higher summits will see some more snow, the forecast for the lower elevations calls for temperatures in the low 40s Thursday through Sunday with at least light rain on Friday and Sunday. The temperatures will again drop starting on Monday, but too late to "salvage" the weekend.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
         Still very thin cover, but section from River Road to the Lake Placid Club Golf Course is skiable as is the Peninsula section - except for the first few hills in from Simply Gourmet/Dack Shack. 
              The good news going forward is that a collective effort by BETA and several adjoining landowners has solved the landowner problem on the connection between Craig Wood Golf Course and ADK's Cascade Welcome Center.

        CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          ADK'S CASCADE WELCOME CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed: 5   Track Set: 0  
          New snow:    Base Depth:  2-3"  Off Track 3-4" 
          New Snow last 72 hours: 1"
          Surface Conditions: packed powder
          Remarks:  Working to improve their base, but now open on a few trails. Remember, Cascade is now owned by the Adirondack Mt. Club. Ski shop open as usual, and ADK members will ski free once their trails are open.

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  7   Track Set: 2 
          New snow:    Base Depth: 2" Off track: 3-4"
          New snow past 72 hours: 1"
          Surface Conditions:  packed powder
         Remarks: Officially open on 5 km of the flattest terrain plus 2 km of the "world cup" trails, which are also track-set. Other terrain is skiable but rough.

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open:  Approximately 15  Track set:  
           New Snow:     Base Depth: 3-4" Off track: 4-5"
           New snow past 72 hours: 1" 
           Surface Conditions:  packed powder
​           Remarks: Working on packing to improve the base, but most of the gentler terrain is skiable.

            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
            Km Open:    Track set:  
           New Snow:     Base Depth: 2-3" Off track: 3-4"
           New snow past 72 hours: 1" 
           Surface Conditions:  
​           Remarks: Some trails have been rolled, but not officially open yet.

           TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS
            Km Open:  Approximately   Track set:  
           New Snow:     Base Depth:  Off track: 
           New snow past 72 hours: 
           Surface Conditions:  packed powder
​           Remarks: Their Facebook page didn't provide any specifics for snow depth, but the photos make these free, groomed trails appear to be the best skiing available. The report does note that the snow will be sticky as conditions warm, but there is Maxiglide in the sign-in box.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                 Snow depth at Lake Colden:  5"  
                8-12" above 4,000 feet 
                Given the snow on the higher summits, skis or snowshoes are now required above 4,000 ft. by regulation in the High Peaks. Good traction is essential for most any trails to even the lower summits.
           
WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: No skiing yet.

MARCY TRAIL:  Not yet skiable. 

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Cover all the way from the Toll House to the Castle. 2-3" at the Toll House, 6-8" at the top. A few short stretches have less cover due to wind on Wednesday, but every stretch is covered edge to edge

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Just barely skiable. Winter barriers not up as of Thursday, 11/17, so some vehicular traffic on the first mile.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Not skiable

AVALANCHE PASS:  Not skiable 

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING: Not skiable

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Just barely skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.  Too little snow to gauge whether the winter plowing of last year will continue.

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Probably skiable up to the first big climb, but, not reports.  

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Not skiable

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Gate is closed, but there is still some vehicular traffic. Perhaps doable on skis, but not recommended.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: 2-3" of dense snow is all it takes to make this classic ski skiable. Some thinner spots, but they are easily avoidable. Considerable foot traffic as far as the Moose Pond junction, but a skied-in track for much of that distance on the edges. Just ski tracks and very nice skiing from there to Newcomb Lake.

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: Skiable, but very thin for the first 1/2 mile. Some ski tracks.