Mount Marcy, NY — Adirondacks Backcountry Skiing

Feb 9, 2026 | Mount Marcy, Adirondacks, NY • Cold but beautiful weather. Plan was to head up Mount Marcy, but we needed to be back to parking lot before 2.30pm. The days were still short. This one started with deep freeze (-19F) but turned out to be a "Best day ever!" We turned around somewhere under Corkscrew (about 5.5 miles in) to make it back to parking in time. To ski the Van Hoevenberg trail we couldn't wish for better conditions.

*Disclaimer:* At −20°F, most people don't go out. Exposed skin can freeze in minutes and your body can lose heat faster than it can produce it. Before heading out, We discussed watching for early signs of frostbite —numbness, tingling, pale or waxy skin, and hypothermia—shivering, slurred speech, confusion, clumsiness.

*Skylight Mountain Guides* offers backcountry skiing, snowboarding, and hiking in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.
Link: https://skylightmountainguides.com/

*The Tour*
Mount Marcy Summit: 5,343 ft / 1630 m
Distance to Summit: 7 miles / 11.2 km
Vert: 2,200 ft
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/W53yHYrKyU46TE137
Info: https://adk.org/high-peaks-information-center

*My Gear*
Skis: Atomic Backlands 95
Binding: Dynafit Rotation 14
Boots: Dynafit Radical
Skins: Pomoca Tour Pro (green)
Helmet: Mammut Haute Route MIPS
Bag: Ortovox Haute Route 40L

*Chapters*
00:00 Intro
01:00 Trailhead
01:21 Marcy Dam
02:31 Sun at Indian Falls
03:48 The Fairy Tail Trail
06:55 Turn Around
07:17 Skiing Van Hoevenberg Trail
09:47 Skiing by the Phelps Brook
12:11 Marcy Dam
12:39 Return via Whales Tale Trail
13:15 What's next?

Music:
Epidemic Sound