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We got 6-8 inches of snow in Saranac Lake this week. Anybody know what the backcountry ski conditions are like? I am interested especially in the Marcy trail, Wright Peak, & the Teardrop and Skyline trails in VT. But any info welcome.

Are there gray jays around Marcy Dam? I thought you would find them only at high elevations or in lowland boreal habitat. Lots of chickadees at the dam, of course.

That's depressing, but thanks, Joe.

Yes, I'm aware of that link, but thanks anyway. I'm looking for reports from people who have skied or snowshoed the trails since Monday's snowfall. Apparently, Lake Placid did not get nearly as much snow as Saranac Lake, even though the two are only 10 miles apart, so conditions probably are...

Tony Goodwin's online report on backcountry conditions says: "Raquette Falls is again skiable with 8" of new snow." There may be a few inches more by the weekend.

Any backcountry ski reports in the Adirondacks since Monday night's storm? In particular, I'm wondering if Marcy is good skiing. Also, how much snow fell in Blue Mountain region? Info about other areas also appreciated.

Marshall's 14-peak hike (all but one > 4,000 feet) set a record for elevation gain in the Adirondacks, but it did not last long. Herbert Malcolm broke it more than once. He once climbed 25,000+ feet in a day, ending by going up and down Noonmark two or three times. Malcolm also set records in...

How much snow is needed to ski the Thunderbolt?

Wakely tower For those interested in the Wakely tower: In the draft Unit Management Plan for the Blue Ridge Wilderness, DEC is proposing to restore the fire tower, cabin and wooden heliport on Wakely. There will be a public meeting on the UMP at the Adk Museum at 6 p.m. Feb. 7. Public comments...

To those who own the BD or Bibler bivy--is the underside made of different (more durable) material than the top side? As to the Botha bag, how does it differ from a bivy? How much do they cost? Where can they be purchased?

Thanks for the replies. From what I gather, here and elsewhere, the Black Diamond/Bibler bivy gets good reviews. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find out much about the MontBell bivy. It may be the better product, but I haven't found anyone who has used it.

I am planning to buy a lightweight bivy sack (under 1 lb.) to stuff in my pack as an emergency shelter. Two I have been looking at are the Black Diamond (or Bibler) Winter Bivy and the MontBell Sleeping Bag Cover. Both are made with high-tech "breathable" fabrics--Nextec's Epic in the case of...

I'm from the Adks but thinking of doing some backcountry skiing in VT this week. In VT, two trips that interest me are the Teardrop and the Skyline trails. Can anyone tell me what conditions are like on these trails and other places after the recent rain? If conditions are not good, are they any...

I heard Utica got a foot of snow. Did this much fall anywhere in the Adirondacks (perhaps in the Old Forge area)? I'm trying to find out what backcountry skiing conditions are like.

In Saranac Lake, we have only 2-3 inches on the ground at the moment. I doubt that Pharaoh Lake Wilderness has more.

Thanks, again. Especially to Mark for the detailed response and those links. I may climb the Friday slide sometime next spring or summer. I'll check in then to see if anybody's game to join me.

Thanks for the information. If anybody knows of others, please post them. I may hit you up for more details when I get ready to hike some of these routes. I won't be doing them right away.

Are there slides that can be climbed in the Catskills similar to those in the Adirondacks? Or any kind of rock scrambles?

Cougar on video The Border Patrol in northern Vermont recently captured what appeared to be a cougar on a surveillance camera. Read all about it.

Anybody been up Cascade/Porter in the past few days? I'm wondering if you need to bring snowshoes for the higher elevations.