Winter returns

Quick Saturday afternoon update:
     Mt. Van Hoevenberg is now reporting all trails open and track-set. Dewey Mt. now has groomed most trails. Tupper Lake has groomed their 8" of new snow. The other areas were already reporting full operation. 
      Warmer today than originally predicted (15-20 rather than 10 for a high). Forecast for Sunday says highs in the upper 20s, and then low 30s for the rest of the week with some new snow on Tuesday. We can only hope that these predictions hold up.

​     Ski it while you can!

INTRODUCTION  
      Yes! The forecasts were right and we picked up, depending on location, 6-10" of nice dry snow. All groomed centers are again in full or nearly-full operation with grooming ongoing during the day. Some backcountry trails only had limited base left, but most managed to survive the thaw and are again good skiing. We'll update those reports as we have a chance to check out those trails.

      The DEC has issued an avalanche warning given that this new snow has fallen on a hard, frozen base. and can easily slide off. Beyond that, this report will not specifically assess the danger on any particular  slide.

      Friday and Saturday will be quite cold with overnight temperatures below zero and daytime highs only 10 on Friday and 15 on Saturday. Sunday will be near freezing as will the first days of next week, but so far no thaw in sight
.
JACKRABBIT TRAIL
         All sections can again 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 where there wasn't much base left. We'll pass along reports as the various sections are broken out, but experience as of Thursday afternoon indicates that this light snow is easy for making tracks. As of Thursday afternoon, the Old Mt. Road section has been broken out. Less snow (3-4") on the Lake Placid end, but fully skiable end to end.
         
        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:  7"  Packed Base Depth: 4-6"   Off Track 10-12"  
          New Snow last 72 hours: 7"
          Surface Conditions: Packed  powder
          Remarks: Entire system open with track set or being set on all 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
         New snow:  7"  Packed Base Depth: 3-4"  Off track: 7-10" 
          New snow past 72 hours: 7"
          Remarks: No current report, but the smooth golf course terrain should allow the area to be fully open. 

          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
         https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/nordic-sliding-centers/conditions   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed:  50  Track Set: 30 
          New snow: 7"   Packed Base Depth: 6-8"  Off track: 10-12" 
          New snow past 72 hours: 7"
          Surface Conditions:    Packed powder 
         Remarks: One part of the online report says all trails rolled with track set on the cross-country side and the competition trails.  The trail by trail report indicates only that the biathlon side trails are open but not groomed.  We'll check back later today.  Eastern Collegiate championships on Friday and Saturday. Lake Placid Loppet on Sunday.   

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
          https://trailhub.org/ts/AJqsdStcVzW7Mjrr4MJh  518-327-6241
           Km Open: 40   20 km of set track   
           New Snow: 8-10"  Packed Base Depth: 10-12""  Off track: 15-20" 
           New snow past 72 hours:  8-10"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed  powder
​           Remarks:   Jenkins Mt. Backcountry Ski Zone is again open. Use requires a helmet and skins for climbing.
                                    Wider trails groomed and track-set with the big groomer. Narrower trails being groomed during the day.

            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:    Track set: 
           New Snow:      
           New snow past 72 hours
           Surface Conditions:  Lower trails groomed with track set in most places. Upper trails still ungroomed but skiable.
​           Remarks:

           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: 8"     Base Depth: ?   Off track: ?  
           New snow past 72 hours:  8"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​           Remarks: New snow has been groomed. Good conditions for Saturday's "Brewski" event.

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

                 Snow depth at Lake Colden:  37" as per DEC's Thursday report
                5-6' 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 all other backcountry terrain, and good traction will be needed where there is ice under the new snow.. 

WRIGHT PEAK SKI TRAIL: Again, enough cover to be skiable above the hiking trail,  but probably still not enough to get there and back on skis.  

MARCY TRAIL:  Still likely somewhat 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 caution is still advised as the recent thaw exposed some of the rocks that will not be fully covered by this light snow. Also, some blowdown in the trail. One may again require stepping over. Another requires a short detour to get around.  All others only partially block the trail.

HIKING TRAIL FROM ADK LOJ: Skiable, but the Truck Trail remains the better choice. 

AVALANCHE PASS: 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 so far this winter. Hope that continues.  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 may be present.  

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..