skiing the Taconics

[Huezee]

Finally bought a new set of poles after 18 years (I have my trusty pair of Scott World Cup SLs with BD powder baskets) and now our weather looks blah. Sorry for the jinx. Hoping for one more storm to give us a last shot for the season. Otherwise I may have to head up to the High Peaks.

[stripperguy]

Too bad about today’s weather
Everyone got rain so there will be a breakable (barely) crust until there’s more powder or until everything corns up
Brawnyman and I spent a full day breaking the crust at plattekill and a few dudes kept following our tracks. After we were pretty well spent we asked the guys to break crust for a while. They said they would love to, but didn’t have the ability or the legs!! But they did thank us for the free rides...

[Huezee]

Great conditions this past weekend!


I made a trail map using the old trail maps from NELSAP.

[Huezee]

Lot was full this past Saturday morning. I imagine it will be worse this weekend.

[stripperguy]

Skied Taconics again on Feb 4th...stale 12" powder, insane base, tree lines were best.
Saw one other dude.
With more snow in the forecast and continued cold weather, if ever any of you are planning some BC turns, now is the time! Some of the best conditions in many years!

[Huezee]

Hoping Friday's (predicted) rain event is more of a snow event

[stripperguy]

Ok, I’ve been three times now in the last two weeks.
Three feet on the ground with a little over a foot of perfect powder. Virgin lines through the trees, Barbie and Ken sized bumps on the popular trails, fantastic skiing. Only the biggest deadfalls can be seen, all the rocks and ledges long buried.
And what!? Maybe another two feet on the way!!! What a great ski season so far...

[SpencerVT]

There is some good snow at high elevations down there. I want to do the Berlin Mountain Williams College ski trail again, that thing is so fun!

[Huezee]

Nice! I went out after the last major storm but I've been waiting for a little more snow after the thaws.

[TCD]

Nice!

Up here in Keene at about 2300' the surface was nice powder; no crust layer but a bit heavier underneath. Maybe 10" of cover; not quite enough to cover the rough spots, but still fun to ski.

[stripperguy]

Skied the Taconics this past Sunday afternoon
Saw two other people, one on teles, the other on snowshoes. Very few tracks.
At home in colonie we have a four inch crusty cover, in the Taconics there was 18” of fantastic base with 4-5” powder over a breakable crust. I was surprised at the snow depth although the breakable crust required more effort than I signed up for...
Still a good day to be out on the snow.

Edit to add: I was skiing between 1,800 and 2,600 elevation.

[stripperguy]

A beautiful day today...a minimum of 20" on the ground, the top 12 or 14" nice, light, powder. Snowed the whole time, extremely good skiing.
Take a look

[stripperguy]

Plenty of powder in the eastern HP.

Wish I could ski it!

The problem with early season BC skiing is the lack of base. Some spots need a couple feet to safely ski it, so much deadfall.
It's not even an issue of catching a ski under something, bindings are pretty reliable these days...The concern is what do you hit after (or as) you're falling!
A buddy of my snapped off his whole elbow hitting a barely covered boulder after a fall.

[bluequill]

Plenty of powder in the eastern HP.

Wish I could ski it!

[TrailBlaser]

A bit off topic, but has anyone snowshoed any sections AT in N.Y.? I am interested in some sections that would be good for a beginner. Thanks