About this blog

This blog will serve as archive for stories about backcountry skiing that have been appeared in the Adirondack Explorer newsmagazine or on my Adirondack Outdoor Recreation blog. Click a link and it'll take you to a story about a ski trip, with photos. I'll post new links as they become available. I've also created an Adirondack Backcountry Skiing page on Facebook. I'll post notices of new links there as well. Joining the Facebook page is a good way to stay abreast of new postings here.

Powder to the people

We've got at least 8 inches of fresh snow in Saranac Lake during the storm that started last night. We're still getting light snow at 4:20 p.m. Backcountry trails will be in much better shape. I skied a little mountain outside the village this afternoon. There was so much snow that I couldn't get much speed.

Hays Brook Truck Trail

Skied the Hays Brook Truck Trail today on about eight inches of light, fluffy powder. Except for a few scrapes (no base to speak of), conditions were ideal. Toward the end of the trail there is some blowdown, including one huge tree that must be gone around. Go left when you reach it.

3 more ski trips

We have added links to three more ski trips: Camp Santanoni, Debar Mountain Wild Forest, and the Seven Carries. We're up to 18 total, with more to come.

The good book revised

Click here to read my review of David Goodman's Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast, a revision of his cult classic.The 50 trips include Mount Marcy, Wright Peak, Avalanche Pass, and the Jackrabbit Trail. There also are suggestions for three trips in Johns Brook Valley, including Bennies Brook Slide. Not sure how Adirondack skiers feel about having that appear in a guidebook.

Toll road icy

We're told the Whiteface toll road was icy this past weekend. That's not surprising, given the warm weather in recent days.

But it will snow again, and the road will once more look it did earlier this month.

Click here to see photos of a trip when conditions were better.

Good ski film

Just watched the movie "Steep," about the evolution of extreme skiing in the backcountry. Highly recommend it. Great photography, good interviews, interesting history.