Warmer, Some new Snow, Then Colder

SNOW UPDATE 2/1/22:  The forecasts for the area are now predicting anywhere from 6-12 inches of snow from the storm that will start Wednesday night and continue into Friday. Temperatures will be warm at the start, and there could even be a brief period of rain, but in any event it will soon change to snow with much colder temperatures by Friday. Below zero Friday night, and a high of only about 10 on Saturday. Low 20s for a high on Sunday. Next week will see temperatures in the mid to upper 20s, but no thaw in sight through the ten day forecast.

INTRODUCTION
        It was a cold weekend with only about an inch of new snow on Sunday night, but it will warmup mid-week with a good possibility for some new snow. Then cooling off to below zero Friday night and a high of about 10 on Saturday, warming to around 20 this coming Sunday. So no significant change to the ski conditions, but still no big thaw - or even any slight bit of rain - in sight.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
          Entire trail is now skiable, and all sections between Keene and Saranac Lake have been broken out. Trail from McKenzie Pond Rd. to the pond is a bit "lumpy', but definitely skiable with just a few rocks and roots yet to be covered. The long descent from the pass to McKenzie Pond has an occasional "speed bump",  but otherwise that whole section is in good shape.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTERS
          CASCADE X-C SKI CENTER:  
          Km Open and Groomed:  10    Track Set:  10
          New snow: 1"   Base Depth: 6"  Off Track 10"
          Surface Conditions:  packed powder
          Remarks:  

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
          Km Open and Groomed:  55 km    Track Set: 45 km
          New snow: 1"   Base Depth: 22" on man-made trails. 6" on natural snow. Off Track: 10"
          Surface Conditions: Packed powder 
         Remarks:  Competition trails regroomed after the weekend races with fresh track set. Set track  on "Legacy" trails is holding up well

​           PAUL SMITHS VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
           Km Open: 35 of 40 km open.  Track set: 20 km
           New Snow:  1'   Base Depth: 12"  Off Track: 17"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​           Remarks: Building staffed Thursday - Sunday. All trails except for Fox Run packed. Track set on the edges of the wider trails. All other trails groomed.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                34" at Lake Colden
                3-4 feet above 4,000 feet
           
WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: Comment on previous post indicated not quite enough snow to be good skiing, and the hiking trail portion is quite rocky.

MARCY TRAIL:  No recent report, but the report on the Wright Peak Ski Trail would indicate that there wouldn't be enough snow to be really skiable until close to or above Indian Falls.        

WHITEFACE HIGHWAY:  Skiable all the way to the Castle.

MARCY DAM TRUCK TRAIL:  Skiable and likely still the better choice for skiing to Marcy Dam. At the trailhead on Adirondak Loj Rd., DEC Rangers do not want any parking on the right side of the plowed turnout. Good parking on the left side, and then there's the road. 

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ:  Finally skiable if still a bit rough. Marcy Brook is crossable above the breached dam.  No need to descend to the bridge over the brook below the dam.

AVALANCHE PASS: Fully skiable.   Avalanche Lake is frozen and crossable, but use caution at the outlet. (If skied from the Meadows Lane/Marcy Dam Truck Trail trailhead, DEC Rangers do not want any parking on the right side of the plowed turnout. Good parking on the left side, and then there's the road.)

CONNERY POND TO WHITEFACE LANDING:  Skiable, but still a bit thin on the hills on the new start. Pond is crossable and is the best access..  

HAYS BROOK TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely very skiable to both Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow.  So far this season, the parking area continues to be plowed. (Yay!)

FISH POND TRUCK TRAIL:  Definitely skiable, and loop back on the ponds now very doable.

RAQUETTE FALLS:  Skiable.  

GULF BROOK ROAD TO BOREAS PONDS: Skiable. Parking area now plowed for 4-5 cars,  Parking on the road is possible - just not ideal. All culverts and bridges have been repaired/replaced. As of late December, one tree down just short of the ponds. If you ski there, please register as that will help justify future plowing.

NEWCOMB LAKE ROAD TO CAMP SANTANONI: Good skiing to Camp Santanoni. Moose Pond trail has some blowdown that may not be removed this winter.

AUSABLE LAKE ROAD:  Fully skiable.  Snowmobile traffic along with the foot traffic.