Outlook:

Conditions are spectacularly good in the northern areas, and much better than usual for this time of the season in the day-trip drive radius.

The mid-week Nor’easter freshened up the trails in various places up the Hudson valley, and dumped a fair amount in VT and MA. Many centers VT and western MA are reporting their best conditions of the month. Osceola is calling for snow dancers to get decaffeinated coffee from here on. If you can take the weekend, book something up in the ‘dacks or VT, it should be gorgeous.

If you are locked into a day-ski, daytime temps will be in the 30s through Friday, so things should remain skiable!

Guesstimates for weekend of March 10

Day trip range*:

Fahnestock Winter Park, Carmel NY
1 hr 15′ drive (mid-Hudson region)
Open

High Point Cross Country Ski Center, Sussex NJ
1-1/2 hr drive (NW NJ)
Open

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz NY
2-1/2 hr drive (mid-Hudson region)
2/9/18 report
Open for day skiers

Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson NY
2-1/2 hr drive (mid-Hudson area)
Groomed this week

Mountain Trails Cross Country Ski Center, Tannersville NY
3 hr drive (Catskills)
Expect to be open this weekend

Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area, Petersburg NY
3 hr drive (Troy region)
Open

Canterbury Farm Nordic Center, Becket MA
3 hr drive (western MA I-90 corridor)
Open

Early start day trip, or a 36-hour getaway*:

Maple Corner Farm, Blandford MA
3+ hr hr drive (southwestern MA south of I-90 corridor)
Open

Prospect Mountain, Woodford VT
3-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
Open

Notchview Reservation, Windsor MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, Rt 9 corridor)
Open

Northfield Mountain Cross Country Ski Area, Northfield MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, northwestern MA)
Closed

Stump Sprouts Ski Touring and Guest Lodge, Charlemont MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, off Rt 2)
Check back on the weekend

Brattleboro Outing Club, Brattleboro VT
3-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
3/15/18 report
Base 1 – 10″
33 KM Open
10 KM groomed

Weston Ski Track, Weston MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Boston area)
3/15/18 report
15 KM Open

If you can stay a night or two*:

Gore Mountain Nordic Center, Johnsburg NY
4 hr drive (southern Adirondacks)
3/15/18 report
Most trails open

Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center, Northville NY
4 hr drive (Albany region)
3/15/18 report
Base 16 – 26″
47 KM open
35 KM groomed and trackset

Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center, Grafton VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
3/15/18 report
Base 24″,
11 KM groomed and trackset

Timber Creek Cross Country Ski Center, West Dover VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
3/13/18
Base 26″
Open

Viking Nordic Center, Londonderry VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
3/14/18 report
Closed Wednesdays
Classic skiing recommended

Garnet Hill Lodge XC Ski Center, North River NY
4-1/2 hr drive (southern Adirondacks)
3/15/18 report
52 KM open and groomed

Okemo Valley Nordic Center, Okemo VT
4-1/2 hr drive (central VT)
3/15/18 report
12 of 12 trails open
21 KM groomed and trackset

Wild Wings Ski Touring Center, Peru VT
4-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
3/15/18 report
25 KM open and groomed

Cascade Cross Country Center, Lake Placid NY
5 hr drive (High Peaks region)
3/15/18 report
Base 5 – 6″
15 KM groomed and trackset

Olympic Sports Complex at Mt Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid NY
5 hr drive (High Peaks region)
3/15/18 report
Base 16″
50 KM groomed

Osceola Tug Hill Cross Country Ski Center, NY
5 hr drive (northern NY)
3/15/18 report
Base 8″
16″ received last 24 hrs
40 KM classic
40 KM skating

Mountaintop Inn & Resort, Chittenden VT
5 hr drive (central VT)
3/15/18 report
Base 4 – 24″
9″ received last 24 hrs
57 KM open

Rikert Nordic Center, Ripton VT
5 hr drive (central VT)
3/15/18 report
Base 10 – 18″
8″ received last 24 hrs
43 KM open
35 KM groomed and trackset

(* All drive time estimates based on leaving uptown Manhattan. Current conditions reports from snocountry.com, trailhub.org, ski area website reports, and some general detective work)

 

Outlook:

A few inches in NY, with greater amounts eastward toward MA and RI through Tuesday morning. The storm will hug the NE coastline bringing potentially 7 – 8″ of snow to Boston and Maine. See the infographic below.

The places that were open this weekend will likely be open midweek, and it just depends on grooming and sun exposure as to whether conditions stay good for the next weekend.

Midweek bets for a day trip:

Fahnestock

High Point

Minnewaska

Mohonk

Pineridge

Canterbury Farms

The infographic:

Outlook:

Given the forecast for significant snowfall (see the infographic below) across the area, it’s safe to start making some predictions for the weekend.

Unfortunately the utility companies seem to have been caught a bit flat-footed last weekend, and many in the downstate suburbs are still without power and may remain so till this coming weekend. To those who have been without power for five days, aside from my sympathies all I can say is: at least skiing would warm you up.

The below are based on best-guess and current info on websites.

Guesstimates for weekend of March 10

Day trip range*:

Fahnestock Winter Park, Carmel NY
1 hr 15′ drive (mid-Hudson region)
Opening will be contingent on having power restored (Con Ed, are you listening?)

High Point Cross Country Ski Center, Sussex NJ
1-1/2 hr drive (NW NJ)
Open

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz NY
2-1/2 hr drive (mid-Hudson region)
2/9/18 report
Open for day skiers

Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson NY
2-1/2 hr drive (mid-Hudson area)
Groomed last Sunday

Mountain Trails Cross Country Ski Center, Tannersville NY
3 hr drive (Catskills)
Expect to be open this weekend

Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area, Petersburg NY
3 hr drive (Troy region)
Open

Canterbury Farm Nordic Center, Becket MA
3 hr drive (western MA I-90 corridor)
Will open if they get predicted snowfall accumulation

Early start day trip, or a 36-hour getaway*:

Maple Corner Farm, Blandford MA
3+ hr hr drive (southwestern MA south of I-90 corridor)
Will open if they get predicted snowfall accumulation

Prospect Mountain, Woodford VT
3-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
Open (nb: they could get 18″ of snow on top of the existing base. Conditions will probably be awesome this weekend)

Notchview Reservation, Windsor MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, Rt 9 corridor)
Open
[from their website] “looking fabulous”

Northfield Mountain Cross Country Ski Area, Northfield MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, northwestern MA)
Will open if they get predicted snowfall accumulation

Stump Sprouts Ski Touring and Guest Lodge, Charlemont MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, off Rt 2)
Lodge guests only

Brattleboro Outing Club, Brattleboro VT
3-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
3/7/18 report
Base 0 – 6″
28KM Open
4 KM groomed

Weston Ski Track, Weston MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Boston area)
Closed for skiing

If you can stay a night or two*:

Gore Mountain Nordic Center, Johnsburg NY
4 hr drive (southern Adirondacks)
3/7/18 report
Most trails open

Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center, Northville NY
4 hr drive (Albany region)
3/7/18 report
Base 12 – 24″
45 KM  open, classic skiing recommended

Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center, Grafton VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
3/7/18 report
Base 2″,
9 KM groomed

Timber Creek Cross Country Ski Center, West Dover VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
No report since 3/3/18

Viking Nordic Center, Londonderry VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
Closed Wednesdays, expect to be open

Garnet Hill Lodge XC Ski Center, North River NY
4-1/2 hr drive (southern Adirondacks)
3/7/18 report
Base 1 – 5″
30 KM open and groomed
Hoping for more snow

Okemo Valley Nordic Center, Okemo VT
4-1/2 hr drive (central VT)
3/7/18 report
3 of 12 trails open
0 KM groomed

Wild Wings Ski Touring Center, Peru VT
4-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
3/7/18 report
Open (Crusty surface, forecast up to 20″ of snow today)

Cascade Cross Country Center, Lake Placid NY
5 hr drive (High Peaks region)
3/7/18 report
Base 5 – 6″ , loose granular
3 KM open and groomed

Olympic Sports Complex at Mt Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid NY
5 hr drive (High Peaks region)
3/7/18 report
Base 5″
50 KM groomed

Osceola Tug Hill Cross Country Ski Center, NY
5 hr drive (northern NY)
3/7/18 report
Base 8″
2.5″ received last 24 hrs. 3 – 6″ forecast
40 KM classic
40 KM skating

Mountaintop Inn & Resort, Chittenden VT
5 hr drive (central VT)
3/7/18 report
Base 4 – 24″
5″ received last 24 hrs
12 KM open

Rikert Nordic Center, Ripton VT
5 hr drive (central VT)
3/7/18 report
25 KM Open
5 KM Groomed
(currently snowing lightly)

(* All drive time estimates based on leaving uptown Manhattan. Current conditions reports from snocountry.com, trailhub.org, ski area website reports, and some general detective work)

The infographic:

So this is what we’re in for- major snowfall across NY southern tier, western CT and MA. Forecasted accumulations taper off towards the Adirondacks and mid-central VT.

The good news is that the max and min temperatures for the next few days will fluctuate above and below freezing, so rather than just melting continuously, the snow will refreeze and be groomable. Meaning that conditions for the weekend should be great for spring skiing.

Friday night:

Fahnestock received 10 – 12” of snow! Yay- the bad news is there’s a lot of debris and the power is out at the park buildings. They may be able to open tomorrow afternoon.

High Point has received six inches of snow and will be open Saturday.

Mohonk ski trails are open

Mountain Trails received 24” and is open

Pineridge is assessing whether to open. Received rain and 12” new snow.

Prospect Mountain reports five+ inches of snow Friday, with more on the way.

Notchview received 7” compacted to 5. Will be open Saturday.

Stump Sprouts received 4” at last report, expects 8 – 10” total. Will assess grooming potential Saturday. Call ahead.

Osceola’s gotten four inches so far, on top of a solid base. Expecting a total of 6 – 10”

 

Summary:

Hold on, we’re not quite ready to sing the end of the season for downstaters; a storm coming from the west will dump anywhere from a couple of inches of rain/snow mix to over a foot of snow, from the lower Hudson valley up through upstate New York from the Great Lakes to Albany, with smaller amounts as it crosses to VT and New England. See the updated infographic below.

Prospect Mountain reports seven inches of snow Friday morning, with more on the way. Osceola’s gotten four inches so far, on top of a solid base.

Areas of southern Adirondacks, Tug Hill plateau, and southern VT have been getting by and are looking forward a good snowfall on Friday. Looks like the fat lady has to stay offstage for one more weekend at least.

State of the touring centers:

Day trip range*:

Early start day trip, or a 36-hour getaway*:

Maple Corner Farm, Blandford MA
3+ hr hr drive (southwestern MA I-90 corridor)
2/19/18 report
Closed

Prospect Mountain, Woodford VT
3-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
2/23/18 report
3 – 4″ new snow
Base 1 – 3″
Open (and hoping for snow on Friday)

Notchview Reservation, Windsor MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, Rt 9 corridor)
2/24/18 report
Closed for skiing, too muddy for bikes

Northfield Mountain Cross Country Ski Area, Northfield MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, northwestern MA)
2/23/18 report
Closed

Stump Sprouts Ski Touring and Guest Lodge, Charlemont MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Berkshires, off Rt 2)
2/24/18(??)
Closed for wintersports

Brattleboro Outing Club, Brattleboro VT
3-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
2/24/18(?)
Base 0 – 6″
27KM Open
4 KM Groomed

Weston Ski Track, Weston MA
3-1/2 hr drive (Boston area)
3/1/18 report
1 KM open

If you can stay a night or two*:

Gore Mountain Nordic Center, Johnsburg NY
4 hr drive (southern Adirondacks)
3/1/18 report
Base 5 – 12″, loose granular
4 KM open

Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center, Northville NY
4 hr drive (Albany region)
3/1/18 report
Base 3 – 10″, spring conditions and looking for snow Friday
14 KM  Classic
14 KM  Skating

Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center, Grafton VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
2/23/18 report
Base 1″(!)
11 KM Open
4 KM trackset

Timber Creek Cross Country Ski Center, West Dover VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
3/1/18 report
Base 2 – 10″
70% open (?) Call for info. Hoping for snow Friday

Viking Nordic Center, Londonderry VT
4 hr drive (southern VT)
2/24/18 report
Closed. Hoping for snow Friday

Garnet Hill Lodge XC Ski Center, North River NY
4-1/2 hr drive (southern Adirondacks)
3/1/18 report
Closed for skiing. Hoping for snow Friday and next week.

Okemo Valley Nordic Center, Okemo VT
4-1/2 hr drive (central VT)
3/1/18 report
6 KM Skating (2 of 12 trails)

Wild Wings Ski Touring Center, Peru VT
4-1/2 hr drive (southern VT)
3/1/18 report
Base 3 – 18″, spring conditions
10 KM trackset

Cascade Cross Country Center, Lake Placid NY
5 hr drive (High Peaks region)
3/1/18 report
Base 5 – 6″
3 KM Classic
3 KM Skating

Olympic Sports Complex at Mt Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid NY
5 hr drive (High Peaks region)
3/1/18 report
Base 12″
1 KM Open (mini loop)

Osceola Tug Hill Cross Country Ski Center, NY
5 hr drive (northern NY)
2/23/18 report
Base 4 – 6″, lost half the base b/c overnight temps were above freezing, some challenging icy spots today; expect several inches of snow Friday
40 KM Classic
40 KM Skating

Mountaintop Inn & Resort, Chittenden VT
5 hr drive (central VT)
3/1//18 report
3.5 KM Open
1 KM groomed for skiing

Rikert Nordic Center, Ripton VT
5 hr drive (central VT)
3/1/18 report
11 KM Open
5 KM Groomed

(* All drive time estimates based on leaving uptown Manhattan. Current conditions reports from snocountry.com, trailhub.org, ski area website reports, and some general detective work)

The infographic:

That is some angry looking snowstorm…

.. and it will help put the ski areas back in business for the weekend. There’s another storm possible next week too. But with temps staying above freezing most nights the snow won’t last long. The fat lady is warming up, waiting for her chance to sing out the end of the season: