Cross Country Ski Conditions for the Adirondacks & High Peaks Wilderness

Mt. Van Hoevenberg
Cascade X-C Ski Center
Lake Placid Resort
Whiteface Club

Jackrabbit Trail
Backcountry Conditions
General Remarks
Weather Forecast

As of Tuesday, Mt. Van Hoevenberg reported "best skiing of the season". Wednesday, however, our "thaw of the week" melted much of the new snow, and Van Ho remains closed as of Thursday. Some very light snow falling at 8:30 AM, but no forecast for any "game changing" dump. Looks like cross-country skiers will just have to lower themselves a watch the Super Bowl this weekend. EXCEPT UPDATE: Paul Smiths VIC, now operated by Paul Smiths College, will be charging a $10 trail fee this coming season. As of Thursday, the VIC reports 8km groomed for skating. A 4-6 inch base with a loose, groomed granular surface is clearly the best skiing the area currently offers. NEW GROOMED TERRAIN: Tupper Lake now has 10km of free groomed trails starting at the Country Club and going to Big Tupper Ski Area. No report as of Thursday morning, but we'll check again before the weekend.
Last Updated: February 2, 2012
Mt. Van Hoevenberg X-C Ski Center:
Base:	3-4
Inches of New Snow:
Surface Conditions:	frozen granular and ice
No. of Kilometers Packed & Open:
No. Kilometers Tracked:
Events/Comments:	Closed as of 2/2
Cascade Cross-Country Ski Center:
Base:	3-4
Inches of New Snow:
Surface Conditions:	frozen granular
No. of Kilometers Packed & Open:	10
No. Kilometers Tracked:
Events/Comments:	Next Full Moon Party Saturday, Feb. 4. Skiing starts at 7:30 PM. Narrow, wind-sheltered trails held just enough snow to be able to remain open.
Lake Placid Resort:
Base:
Inches of New Snow:
Surface Conditions:
No. of Kilometers Packed & Open:
No. Kilometers Tracked:
Events/Comments:	Trails groomed periodically. Only open holiday weeks this year.
Whiteface Club:
Base:	2-3
Inches of New Snow:
Surface Conditions:	frozen granular
No. of Kilometers Packed & Open:
No. Kilometers Tracked:
Events/Comments:	Open Wed. - Sun. Weather conditions permitting
Jackrabbit Trail Conditions:
Base:	4-8 inches
Surface Conditions:	frozen granular
No. of Kilometers Open:
Comments:	Cover remains on most sections, but no section can be recommended until we get more snow.
Click here for the Jackrabbit Trail Map
Backcountry Conditions:
Snow Depth at Lake Colden:	20 inches
Snow Depth at 4,000 ft.:	24-20 inches
Surface Conditions:	frozen granular
Comments:	Whiteface Highway has cover (although it will be thin cover on the windblown corners), but will be fast until we get more snow. The only routes that are skiable on these crusty conditions include Newcomb Lake Road to Camp Santanoni, Burn Road at Little Tupper Lake; first two miles of the Fish Pond Truck Trail, and Hayes Brook Truck Trail to the Sheep Meadow. Lake ice on Avalanche and Lake Colden was crossable as was the ice in the St. Regis Canoe Area. Now ice is covered with slush, and when that slush does freeze, caution will still be needed near inlets and outlets. Skis or snowshoes must still be carried for travel in the High Peaks given that deeper snow remain on the higher trails. Meadow Lane, access to the Marcy Dam Truck Trail, closed to vehicles for the winter.
This report is updated by the Adirondack Ski Touring Council (ASTC), a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1986 for the purposes of promoting area cross-country skiing and building and maintaining the Jackrabbit Ski Trail. In recent years, ASTC has expanded its mission to assume winter maintenance of other popular ski trails including the Connery Pond and Hayes Brook Truck Trails plus Marcy and Wright Peak ski trails. ASTC is a 501(c)(3) corporation supported by local businesses and by skier donations. For more information or a map of the Jackrabbit Trail, contact ASTC at P.O. Box 843, Lake Placid, NY 12946 or (518)523-1365 or info@jackrabbittrail.org. Also, ASTC now is on Facebook: http://tiny.cc/oeaww Web site at http://www.jackrabbittrail.org/ Email skiXC@lakeplacid.com for comments & questions.