THURSDAY FEBRUARY 3RD UPDATE: Brief thaw moves in accompanied by a little wet weather. Temps are remaining cool so snow loss will occur but not enough to affect this weekends snowshoeing tours. On Friday February 4th we have a Special Weekday Tour and we have space. The next weather update will be posted Friday night after we check it out in person. Weather is predicted to change to snow on Friday, snow and then get cold for the weekend. This will firm up the base and dust the forest with a nice fresh coating of beauty.
Saturday tours are full. Sunday still has space.
Jan 31st Snow Report: Winter continues! More frigid temps and snowfall has left us with a great solid base and snow pack of about 6-12 inches with 10-12 inches of fresher snow on top. This is making for excellent snowshoeing conditions. The forecast predicts cold weather with a day or two of mixed precipitation. The base is comprised of several snowfalls so it will have some durability if a thaw moves through and it rains some. Cold weather trend will likely keep the base and there is snow in forecast. As we all know around here the 32 +/- degree temperatures where it could rain or snow often times brings snow.
The first weekend of February 2022 looks very good with cold and snow moving in Friday to grace the forest with some additional fresh fluff after a brief thaw. At this point we anticipate staying at Swallow Falls. But never fear! – regardless at this point we have our snow stash waiting on the north slope 15 minutes from Swallow Falls. We are VERY CONFIDENT we will be able offer tours through the end of February.
January 29th-30th weekend
Deep Creek Lake Ski Conditions at the Wisp and local State Parks are very good for downhill skiing and cross country skiing.
Keep in mind precautions protecting exposed flesh in sub zero weather. Wind chill chart.
Local Deep Creek Lake Weather Links – Maps and Forecast
We are open for SNOWSHOEING!!!!!
- Our Favorite Deep Creek Lake Weather Service – Accuweather
- Our Excellent Garrett College Weather Station – for superb real time Deep Creek Lake weather observation, data, weather history
- Wisp Ski Area Mountain Snow Report
Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County Highway Webcams
Here’s our how to dress for winter page that can help you decide what you need.
What is a snow stash?
*Snow Stash Pocket: A local gem, off-the-beaten-path spot where the snow lies deep. Over the past 20 years offering snowshoeing trips we have discovered the local geographical locations where the exposure and topography combine to create mini micro climates. I our case, here in Garrett County we are adjacent to the Cranesville Sub Arctic Swamp where you will find a northern arboreal forest plant and annual community similar to the ecology found in far northern Canada. This is caused by a unique geography where the elevation and shape of the mountains creates an extra snowy and cold micro climate. This unique geography and extra cold temperatures is why these plants and animals stayed after the ice age.
We know several fantastic places where there are north facing slopes and protected areas where the snow drifts and lies extra deep. The back country of Swallow Falls is such a place. One 0f our other special areas will hold and maintain a snow pack for weeks after most of the snow has disappeared elsewhere. In fact you can sometimes drive there and see no snow anywhere until you come over the mountain. If we are reporting we are offering tours, we are, regardless if you can’s see ANY snow around where you are staying.
