Jon Hamm, left, and Kevin Tuthill of Vermontville gear up for a cross-country ski on the Lake Placid section of the Adirondack Rail Trail on Monday, Jan. 8. (News photo — Oliver Reil)

LAKE PLACID — The snow is finally here after snow dumped on the region Sunday, Jan. 7, and cross-country skiers were hitting the trails earlier this week before rain from another storm melted some of the accumulation Tuesday night. Yet, with another snow-maker forecast for this holiday weekend, those looking for a Nordic adventure in the forest may be in luck.

While many big downhill ski mountains boast natural, high-elevation snow and the ability to make what they don’t have, most cross-country trails in the Adirondacks don’t have the same luxury. These trails rely on natural snow, and are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Ski conditions are always variable at the start of winter, and this year is no exception.

On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the Adirondack Mountain Club’s High Peaks Information Center clerk Nate Fischer reported that the previous night’s heavy rain and wind brought the backcountry trails near the Adirondak Loj property at Heart Lake from 4 inches down to one. What’s left is slushy and icy.

“The conditions down low are not ideal,” he said.

The High Peaks are the only likely sources of good snow from the trails radiating from the Adirondak Loj trailheads, but complete backcountry conditions were not available.

Scotts Cobble Nordic Center is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 9. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

Fischer expected that some people might come to ski this holiday weekend and, if not, at least to snowshoe.

The trails at ADK’s Cascade Welcome Center on state Route 73 were all closed Wednesday. The rain turned everything to slush, according to clerk Alli Brunner. With some potential snow in the forecast, weekenders may get lucky, but it was hard to say as of press time.

“It really depends on if we get enough snow to make it skiable,” Brunner said.

In Lake Placid, the Scotts Cobble Nordic Center — open on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with fresh snow — was closed on Wednesday following the bad weather. The trails are located on the Craig Wood Golf Course.

“We’re hopeful for the weekend,” Scotts Cobble Manager Dan Pope said.

The sign at the Whiteface Club and Resort is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 9. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

Still, he remained concerned for the weekend, as opening lay squarely on the shoulders of the weather. If the forecast stays true and the snow comes, they will open.

“Right now we’re on a holding pattern,” he said.

Just down the road, Mount Van Hoevenberg was open on Wednesday, but its skiable trails were limited. On Tuesday, 34 of those were open and covered with snow, but after Tuesday’s torrent, just under four remained, thanks to snow-making capabilities in its stadium area. The venue is operated by the state Olympic Regional Development Authority.

“The skiing there is quite good,” said Mount Van Hoevenberg’s Sport and Event Coordinator Kris Cheney Seymour, who reported that the average base depth of the manufactured snow is 2.5 feet.

This weekend, Mount Van Hoevenberg will be hosting an Eastern Cup Biathlon Race and Clarkson University’s home ski race, all on the manufactured snow.

A trailhead for the Craig Wood trail system is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 9. This is part of the Jackrabbit Trail. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

Cheney Seymour said he had “his fingers crossed” for more snow this weekend so that skiers can get out in the trees.

The trails at the Whiteface Club and Resort Nordic Center in Lake Placid were open and groomed as of Wednesday, though a bit wet. The trails are located on the resort’s golf course.

“I don’t have any concern,” Whiteface Club and Resort Nordic Center operator Perry Babcock said.

Going into the weekend, potential snow gives hope for improvement.

“We expect to be in pretty great condition once we get a little bit more snow,” Babcock said.

A Jackrabbit Trail marker is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 9. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

Operators of the Dewey Mountain Recreation Center in Saranac Lake canceled all Wednesday programs.

“Yesterday was great, today’s less than great,” Groomer Matt Snizek said Wednesday.

The trails were “soupy and slushy”, but Snizek was hopeful that they would freeze overnight. For the most part, no one is skiing in an effort to keep the trails rut-free.

Across the Tri-Lakes at the Paul Smith’s College VIC, trails are in decent shape, Steward Annie Woods reported Wednesday.

“We still have a pretty good base layer on most of our trails,” she said.

A sign at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 9. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

With that base layer, Woods reported that any snow this weekend would make for great skiing.

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Free Community Trails

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In Tupper Lake, the James C. Frenette Sr. Recreational Trails were “fair” on Tuesday, according to Recreation Director Laura LaBarge. At the time of interview, she had yet to see what Tuesday night’s weather had done to the trails.

“I’m thinking it’s going to be pretty messy,” she said.

LaBarge was hopeful for a bit of snow on Wednesday for a hard pack on Thursday, but Adirondack weather is always subject to change.

Not far from Keene, the Champlain Area Trails network, largely concentrated between Willsboro and Elizabethtown, is open. Not all of the trails are ideal for skiing, but the ones that are seemed to be skiable as of Wednesday.

“They’re all in pretty good skiing shape,” said Executive Director Chris Maron.

The director cited the Bass Lake and Moose Mountain trails as likely snow-holders, as they are at higher elevations.

Many of the trails in this network see very little traffic, so cross-country skiers may be breaking trail. Even on the upcoming holiday weekend, Maron doesn’t expect any congestion.

“I don’t think there will be big crowds,” he said.

On the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid, Site Manager Brendan Mills reported that much of the snow has washed away, even leaving bare spots on the trails.

The community trails at Henry’s Woods and Heaven Hill on Bear Cub Lane, the Peninsula Nature Trails and the Adirondack Rail Trail are other free and open trail networks near Lake Placid. State-owned Forest Preserve land is also open to backcountry and cross-country skiing, the Jackrabbit Trail is a popular choice.

Running from Keene to Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and through to Paul Smiths, the Jackrabbit is a 50-kilometer, 31-mile backcountry trail. As of Monday, the Barkeater Trails Alliance reported that though much of the trail was covered with snow, some rough spots were still exposed, necessitating extra caution.

The trailhead for Henry's Woods on Bear Cub Lane in Lake Placid is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 9. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

The Heaven Hill trail system sign on Bear Cub Lane in Lake Placid is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 9. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

The entrance to the Adirondack Rail Trail on Station Street in Lake Placid is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 9. (News photo — Andy Flynn)