In many parts of our region we've been making the most of fairly thin snow cover since our recent melt. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing conditions have improved little by little as we've picked up an inch or two here or there.

But yesterday all of that began to change in dramatic fashion. A huge winter storm, which The Weather Channel is calling Winter Storm Nemo, has delivered some much needed and appreciated powder to our region. The timing seems perfect for the Saranac Lake winter carnival and its full slate of events. Meanwhile Nemo is still churning and busy clobbering places like Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut.

wren Bloomingdale Bog Trail
Wren explores the Bloomingdale Bog Trail covered in fresh, falling snow.

Wren and I took full advantage of the fresh snow as it was falling with a nice ski through Bloomingdale Bog. The bog mat was picturesque as trees and shrubs were topped with white, and we glided along easily on the flat path. We saw no birds or mammals when we were out – they were hunkered down while the snow was falling – but my bird feeders are already active now that the snow has stopped.

Other skiers and snowshoers had the same idea as we did, and we saw several folks along the way. Bloomingdale Bog, is after all, an easy local ski for many folks. With all of this fresh snow, the local trails are going to be excellent for both snowshoeing and cross country skiing, and we will certainly be out on the trail much of the weekend enjoying both of those activities. And I look forward to skiing at Cascade Cross Country Ski Center in the next day or two – their conditions are going to be excellent! There are so many places to explore; I'm not sure which one to choose!

McKenzie Pond - snow
All area trails received a good dose of fresh snow and should be great for exploring on snowshoes or cross country skis. Pictured here is McKenzie Pond along the Jackrabbit Trail.

Truth is every trail is going to be great. This storm has just thrown open the door of opportunity to skiers and snowshoers alike, and I plan to be a regular part of the festivities. And there is more snow forecasted to come next week, meaning conditions will likely improve even more.

The snow is perfect. The sky is blue. All you need to do is lace up your boots, grab your gear and go. There are miles of snowy trails to explore. Maybe I'll see you out there!