Adirondack Outdoor Recreation Report: Let the Sliding on Snow Begin!

As she is wont to do, Mother Nature snapped her fingers last week and suddenly Lake Placid slipped into winter. From 55 degrees, high winds, and rain last Wednesday the 1st of December to 2 degrees and 18 inches of measurable snow today, the recent weather rollercoaster has been quite a ride. The end of the rollercoaster delivered the goods, and now the real riding has begun!

The Adirondack skiing and riding season has taken off with a better than average start thanks to the surprise multi-day snow event that left the region with at least a foot and a half of powder snow.

Whiteface Mountain, site of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games alpine events, already has 17 trails open with excellent packed powder conditions. Boasting the greatest vertical drop in the East and famous for its challenging terrain, Whiteface was recently named the Number 1 ski resort in the Eastern United States by Ski Magazine. This week's surprise snowstorm provided a couple of excellent powder days; a real treat any time in the East and certainly worth writing about this early in the season.

Down the road at the Olympic cross-country ski venue Mount Van Hoevenberg, the trails are almost ready for action. Last week's wind storm left downed trees and limbs in its wake which created a great deal of clean-up work for staff. The storm debris has been removed and grooming the new snow to perfection is now underway. Mount Van Hoevenberg is scheduled to open this Friday, December 10. In order to give my readers a full report and fulfill my duties as an outdoor recreation specialist, it was necessary to conduct first-hand research and reconnaissance on the trail conditions. I am happy to report the trails at Mount Van Hoevenberg are in great shape!

Winter has also arrived in the Adirondack backcountry, as we are reminded in a recently issued New York State Department of  Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) advisory. The DEC reminds us, "Visitors to the backcountry of the Adirondack Mountains should be prepared for snow, ice and cold, and use proper equipment. Winter is an opportune time to take advantage of all that the Adirondack Park has to offer, however, the season can also present troublesome -- even perilous -- conditions to the unprepared."

Obviously, sliding on snow options abound in the Adirondacks these days. Visit my blog, Adirondack Lifestyle, for current, first-hand experienced Adirondack ski conditions. The time is nigh - if you enjoy playing outside in the winter, a perfect day awaits you in the Adirondacks! 

All content and photographs property of and used with permission from Joann Sandone Reed and Adirondack Lifestyle.