Where to ski near Lake Placid?

[William V. Holden]

Anywhere in the Daks still holding snow?

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I smell Willy bait.

[JohnF]

Resort or backcountry? I hear both is good.

http://www.adkbcski.com/

[JohnF]

Trap Dike was skied this month.

http://www.adkbcski.com/trap-dike/

[freeheelwilly]

I smell Willy bait.

Yeah, so clumsily presented too. Sorta pathetic. Wonder if this guy is yet another fragment of climbhoser's shattered, on-line personality.

Some buddies skied the Trap Dike a week ago today. Pretty sketch off the summit I guess but not bad once you were in. Frankly, there's better stuff than that for less effort.

[BillyFromTheHills]

So any suggestions for the guy?

[Todd Eastman]

Any idiot can ski the slides, it the uber-thick sub-alpine krumholtz and dense forest that is the real deal...

[aqua toque]

... the uber-thick sub-alpine krumholtz and dense forest that is the real deal...

You just like saying "krumholtz".

[freeheelwilly]

Any idiot can ski the slides, it the uber-thick sub-alpine krumholtz and dense forest that is the real deal...

Not all slides are the same. But you're right, some are pretty tame but still a lot of fun. Others are pretty sketchy and cliff out. And bashing through krumholtz always sucks.

[whitehonky]

You just like saying "krumholtz".

I'm thinking he more likes typing krumholtz. With or without an egg on his head.

[William V. Holden]

Any idiot I am. Looking for more XCD related skiing. Trap Dike is over my head. Backcountry preferred. I don't much go for the resort crowd. Thanks for the recs.

[JohnF]

Just pointing out the if the Trap Dike can be skied in April there is plenty of snow. Check out the backside of Gore.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I've always had an issue with Krumholtz after not getting the question right on an ecology 201 test in 1984, but I've always have known what it was since. out here in Utah in stays covered by snow most of the ski season but in the western Uinta's can be a nasty bush whacking problem in the summer.

[William V. Holden]

Just pointing out the if the Trap Dike can be skied in April there is plenty of snow. Check out the backside of Gore.

Any tips on Gore? I'm visiting family. Not an area expert. Thanks.

[MikeK]

Any tips on Gore? I'm visiting family. Not an area expert. Thanks.

Not sure how much snow will be on the backside of Gore but here is a map:

http://crosscountryskinewyork.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/02082011-13th-Lake-to-North-Creek-trail-system.pdf

Best access point is 13th lake road via Garnet Hill Lodge:

http://www.garnet-hill.com/

Raymond brook is really popular, as is botheration pond.

No idea how much snow is out there. Was going to head out this weekend but ended up in the ER again on Friday... facking kidney stone!

This year was pretty poor. Everytime I was at Siamese Ponds this year there wasn't sh*t for snow. They got a couple good dumps in February and March but I had relegated myself to skiing in the western part of the park.

Near Placid, in the High Peaks Wilderness there are all sorts of good tours. None are boring IMO but lots of times they can be pretty packed out due to all the SS travel. I don't go to the High Peaks very often. It's more a peakbaggers paradise. Klondike would be a good XCD challenge:

http://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/klondike-is-skiers-gold

Again conditions may be rocky now.

I'd love to ski Whales tail and Wright, you probably could if you are a good skier and have some decent technique. They are dedicated ski trails and aren't really steep but kind of narrow. A lot of people are ever more doing those types of tours with AT gear (and it looks really fun). For an intermediate skier it is probably more of a survival mode - one of the reasons I haven't skied them.

There is also a dedicated ski trail to the former Marcy Dam, the Marcy Dam Truck Trail - it's probably full of rocks right now.

Other options are Jackrabbit trail:

http://www.jackrabbittrail.org/conditions.html

This goes from Saranac Lake, thru Placid almost all the way to Keene. Supposedly conditions are still good. I was planning on skiing some portion today... I'm guessing this weekend would probably be the last shot.

Another option is the Whiteface Toll Rd. Last I read it was still skiable although it's showing some asphalt now.

If you plan on coming back to ADKs to do more XCD type tours I'd recommend picking up one of Tony Goodwin's books.

http://www.amazon.com/Tony-Goodwin/e/B001JOU0Z6

They don't outline many of the tours in Siamese Ponds or the High Peaks but it is a good reference.

If you do want to ski slides your best bet would be to go to the Mountaineer in Keene Valley:

http://www.mountaineer.com/

They have rental gear and could put you in contact with a guide or direct you to some terrain you could handle on your own.

Have fun. The ADKs are great, just hasn't been the best snow year IMO.

Also if you do come back - usually the western region has more reliable snow due to the lake, although the ski trails tend to be a bit mellower. There are some really difficult XCD tours that one could do if you are looking for a challenge but they are marked as hiking trails and not ski trails.

A number of mountains are skiable as well, such as Blue Mountain nearly in the center of the park. The hiking trail up blue is not recommended to ski but there is a truck trail that heads up the north western side that is. There is debate whether or not it is really legal... some of it crosses private land I believe. Many people do ski it though.

P.S. Willy is a dik. He won't tell you anything helpful without ridiculing you first. Being a resident inside the blue line he should know all this and more... but he's too paranoid people are trying to troll him. Either that or he is trying to troll me.

Any idiot I am. Looking for more XCD related skiing. Trap Dike is over my head. Backcountry preferred. I don't much go for the resort crowd. Thanks for the recs.

Sounds exactly like something I would say. And if you aren't an area expert how do you know about the Trap Dike and nothing else?

If this a FHW alter ego, then fack off.

P.P.S. Fack you Willy. If I lived in CO I'd probably not know half of this stuff.

P.P.P.S. That paranoid prick thinks I'm someone else on this forum trying to troll him if you missed that.