UPDATE 2/6/23: Additional minor updates. Still warm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We'll post the local weekend conditions on Wednesday, 2/8.
UPDATE 2/5/23: The extreme cold is behind us, and snow conditions remain pretty much the same as reported below. Near or slightly above freezing temperatures will be the norm through Wednesday with a chance of light snow. Thursday and Friday will see temperatures near 40 and a chance of some light rain, grading to light snow in the evenings. So far, no major thaw in sight as it cools again by Saturday. Next update on Wednesday, 2/8, when we have a better idea of just how warm it might be at the end of the week along with a better idea of weather for the coming weekend. INTRODUCTION No new snow this past week, so conditions underfoot remain about the same. What will change for Friday and Saturday is very cold temperatures (Friday's will be -10 in Lake Placid, then just above zero on Saturday), but warming to around freezing on Sunday followed by highs above freezing for the rest of the week. No significant new snow predicted during the week, but not likely any melting either with temperatures only slightly above freezing. JACKRABBIT TRAIL All sections can now be skied, and most, if not all hazards are fully covered. Still somewhat thin is the start of the trail to McKenzie Pond from McKenzie Pond Road, and there may still be exposed roots under the thickest trees. The rest of the trail, McKenzie Pond to Whiteface Inn Lane, is good skiing. The Old Mountain Road section is also good skiing with just a few areas where water in the trail requires a bit of maneuvering to avoid. 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: Packed Base Depth: 6--8" Off Track 8-10" New Snow last 72 hours: Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: Entire system open with track set on most 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 Remarks: Fully open. MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG: https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/nordic-sliding-centers/conditions 518-523-2811 Km Open and Groomed: 50 Track Set: 45 New snow: Packed Base Depth: 6-8" Off track: 8-10" New snow past 72 hours: Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: All track-set except the Ladies 5km. PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER: https://trailhub.org/ts/AJqsdStcVzW7Mjrr4MJh 518-327-6241 Km Open: 40 30 km of set track New Snow: Packed Base Depth: 8-10" Off track: 12-15" New snow past 72 hours: Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: Jenkins Mt. Backcountry Ski Zone is again open. Use requires a helmet and skins for climbing. DEWEY MOUNTAIN: https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter 518-891-2697 Km Open: 5 Track set: New Snow: New snow past 72 hours Surface Conditions: Groomed powder Remarks: Lower mountain now open. Upper mountain open but not groomed TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/ 518-359-8370 Km Open: Track set: New Snow: 1" Base Depth: Off track: New snow past 72 hours: Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: Again open with nice conditions. BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS: Snow depth at Lake Colden: 30" as of Thursday's (2/2) DEC report 4-5' 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 other higher terrain, and good traction will be needed where there is ice under the new snow.. WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: Still enough cover to be skiable above the hiking trail, but probably still not enough to get there and back on skis. (Comment below says it's 'doable but adventurous'. Choose your own level of 'adventure' but the skiing above the hiking trail is good.) MARCY TRAIL: No specific ski report, but still marginal up as far as Indian Falls. Good skiing above Indian Falls. WHITEFACE HIGHWAY: Skiable starting at the Toll House. Usual thin areas likely covered as previous wet snow fell without any significant wind. MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL: Skiable, but still with caution. Most, but not all, rocks are fully covered. Also, some blowdown in the trail. One can now be mostly skied over. Another requires a short detour to get around. All others only partially block the trail. HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ: Skiable finally, but the Truck Trail would still be the better choice. AVALANCHE PASS: Finally skiable all the way to Lake Colden, but still not at true mid-winter conditions as a few rocks are still exposed and there are dips for stream crossings. 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. Still some rocks 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 finally 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. All blowdown has been cut through. Thanks to those who did that work. 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, but some intermittent areas of slush have reappeared as of Monday, 2/6. RAQUETTE FALLS: No specific report, but it should be skiable with caution on any downhill under thick hemlocks that have blocked the snow. GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Good skiing with the new snow. A few spots have been plowed for parking. NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Near perfect conditions on that ski. AUSABLE LAKE ROAD: 3-4" of packed base at the gate, and again skiable to the lake, but vehicular traffic does make the skiing a bit less enjoyable..
2 Comments
Daniel McCue
2/5/2023 07:38:24 pm
Sunday 5th skiid Pharoah Lake trail. 2/3 of the way in there is a bridge out that makes final 1.3 miles to Pharoah Lake itself impassable. However there is a great view at the turnaround. Overall mediocre conditions, lots of bare boot hikers and dog walkers along with crusty snow and icy conditions. Definitely needs a substantial snow to improve conditions
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James Neu
2/6/2023 10:27:42 am
Anyone ski Marcy in the last few days? Is it worth doing?
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Trail Conditions 101Trail condition reports are posted frequently during the ski season. The Adirondack backcountry can be a hard place to predict with weather and trail conditions that often change rapidly. We can't offer the same detailed descriptions of trail conditions as groomed nordic centers. Archives
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