The Not So Merry Skier's Christmas 12/24

Temperatures have already reached the mid 40s as of mid-morning with even warmer temperatures this evening and tomorrow.  Rain, heavy at times, is predicted for this evening, so no chance of any snow surviving here in the Keene-Lake Placid-Saranac Lake area.  Reports from those hiking above 3,500 feet this past week indicated only 4-6", so even that may disappear before it turns colder.  Christmas night and into Saturday will see temperatures cooling to more normal levels for late December, but unfortunately only a few snow showers are predicted.  Monday will again be in the 30s, but it will again be a bit colder than normal Tuesday and Wednesday. But still no significant snow in the forecast.

So, with the cool down, all the water will turn to ice on the trails, and good traction (Microspikes at a minimum) will be needed - sometimes right from the trailhead.  Areas to the south of here that received two or more feet of snow, should still have some cover; but only the groomed centers will be able to provide decent surfaces for skiing.  We'll check as of Saturday what Garnet Hill and Lapland Lake will be able to offer as well as whether the man-made snow at Mt. Van Hoevenberg has held up to the thaw.  

So skiers, I guess all we can hope for is that Christmas 2020 is the last bad thing to happen in this otherwise not so good year.  Here's to better 2021!