skiing the Taconics

hike53 · 02-05-2017, 09:40 AM

Not really the place to ask, but.... Has anyone got any info on Snow Depths in the Petersburgh Pass/Mt Raimer area?

fvrwld · 02-05-2017, 07:50 PM

My partner hiked in the Southern Taconics last week. He thinks it is unlikely that there is enough snow to ski.

Tabe · 02-05-2017, 09:13 PM

How was Snowy?

hike53 · 02-06-2017, 09:19 AM

It did not get as much snow as other spots did. But enough to make for a good day. The slide was a little icy, however in the trees was good. Sacandaga east branch trail to Siamese Ponds was much better.

stripperguy · 02-08-2017, 09:25 AM

From 2 years ago, when the snow was good... this drainage had some pitch to it...

stripperguy · 11-17-2018, 05:09 PM

Surprisingly good today...
5" of slop at home, 13" of honest to God powder at higher elevations in the Taconics
Skied alone, so only have photos of my tracks!!
A little dense and sun crusted at lower elevations, higher up couldn't even make a snowball.
PM for details...

TrailBlaser · 11-18-2018, 03:21 PM

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

bluequill · 11-18-2018, 06:25 PM

Plenty of powder in the eastern HP.

Wish I could ski it!

stripperguy · 11-19-2018, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluequill

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.

stripperguy · 11-28-2018, 04:31 PM

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 · 01-19-2021, 09:27 AM

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.

TCD · 01-19-2021, 09:47 AM

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.

Huezee · 01-20-2021, 05:16 PM

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

SpencerVT · 01-22-2021, 10:54 AM

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!

stripperguy · 02-01-2021, 09:27 AM

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...

Huezee · 02-04-2021, 01:38 PM

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

stripperguy · 02-07-2021, 05:55 PM

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 · 02-08-2021, 04:21 PM

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

Huezee · 02-16-2021, 02:11 PM

Great conditions this past weekend!

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

stripperguy · 02-16-2021, 03:38 PM

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...

02-05-2017, 09:40 AM	#1
hike53 Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 47	skiing the Taconics Not really the place to ask, but.... Has anyone got any info on Snow Depths in the Petersburgh Pass/Mt Raimer area?

02-05-2017, 07:50 PM	#2
fvrwld Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: West Sand Lake, NY Posts: 2,220	My partner hiked in the Southern Taconics last week. He thinks it is unlikely that there is enough snow to ski. __________________ “One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.” ~ Aldo Leopold

02-06-2017, 09:19 AM	#4
hike53 Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 47	Snowy It did not get as much snow as other spots did. But enough to make for a good day. The slide was a little icy, however in the trees was good. Sacandaga east branch trail to Siamese Ponds was much better.

11-18-2018, 03:21 PM	#7
TrailBlaser Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Brewster, NY Posts: 362	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 __________________ "Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world." John Muir

01-19-2021, 09:27 AM	#11
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,754	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. Last edited by stripperguy; 01-19-2021 at 10:28 AM.. Reason: Added elevation info

02-05-2017, 09:13 PM	#3
Tabe Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Queensbury Posts: 154	How was Snowy?

02-08-2017, 09:25 AM	#5
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,754	From 2 years ago, when the snow was good... this drainage had some pitch to it...

11-17-2018, 05:09 PM	#6
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,754	Surprisingly good today... 5" of slop at home, 13" of honest to God powder at higher elevations in the Taconics Skied alone, so only have photos of my tracks!! A little dense and sun crusted at lower elevations, higher up couldn't even make a snowball. PM for details...

11-18-2018, 06:25 PM	#8
bluequill Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Keene Posts: 835	Plenty of powder in the eastern HP. Wish I could ski it!

11-28-2018, 04:31 PM	#10
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,754	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

01-19-2021, 09:47 AM	#12
TCD Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,895	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.

01-20-2021, 05:16 PM	#13
Huezee Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 10	Nice! I went out after the last major storm but I've been waiting for a little more snow after the thaws.

01-22-2021, 10:54 AM	#14
SpencerVT Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Brattleboro, Vermont Posts: 150	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! __________________ Spencer Bigfoot

02-01-2021, 09:27 AM	#15
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,754	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...

02-04-2021, 01:38 PM	#16
Huezee Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 10	Hoping Friday's (predicted) rain event is more of a snow event

02-07-2021, 05:55 PM	#17
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,754	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! Last edited by stripperguy; 02-08-2021 at 09:01 PM.. Reason: years not tears!

02-08-2021, 04:21 PM	#18
Huezee Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 10	Lot was full this past Saturday morning. I imagine it will be worse this weekend.

02-16-2021, 02:11 PM	#19
Huezee Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 10	Great conditions this past weekend! I made a trail map using the old trail maps from NELSAP.

02-16-2021, 03:38 PM	#20
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,754	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... Last edited by stripperguy; 02-16-2021 at 04:49 PM..

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