DEC Contact: David Winchell | David.Winchell@dec.ny,gov | (518) 897-1248
May 05, 2016
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DEC ALERTS HIKERS OF MUDDY TRAIL CONDITIONS IN THE HIGH PEAKSHikers Should Temporarily Avoid High Elevation Trails in the Adirondacks |
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As a new season of outdoor hiking and recreation on public lands in the Adirondacks approaches the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) urges hikers to be cautious and postpone hikes on trails above 2,500 feet until high elevation trails have dried and hardened. Spring conditions arrived early and are present throughout the State and the lower elevations of the Adirondacks. However, backcountry trails in the higher elevations are still covered in slowly melting ice. These often steep trails become a mix of ice and mud making them slippery and vulnerable to erosion by hikers as the ice melts and frost leaves the ground. DEC asks hikers to help avoid damage to hiking trails and sensitive high elevation vegetation by avoiding trails above 2,500 feet, particularly high elevation trails in the Dix, Giant, and High Peaks Wilderness Areas in the northern Adirondacks. Please avoid the following trails until trail conditions improve:
Hikers are advised to only use trails at lower elevations as they usually dry soon after snowmelt and traverse deeper, less erosive soils DEC suggests the following alternative trails for hiking, subject to weather conditions:
A full list of recommended mud season hikes can be found on DEC’s website at (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9163.html). DEC’s website also contains information on trail conditions in the Adirondacks at (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html). |
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