DEC warns to steer clear of High Peaks

Steep trails can be dangerous due to thick ice and snow

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is urging hikers to avoid trails above 2,500 feet elevation until they have dried out and hardened later in the spring.

As snow and ice continue to melt at high elevations, steep trails can be dangerous for hikers due to thick ice and deep snow. Additionally, the thin soils found at higher elevations are susceptible to erosion and sensitive alpine vegetation can be easily damaged by foot traffic. Despite recent warm weather, high elevation trails are still covered in melting ice and snow, and conditions are likely to worsen this week with forecasts of 5-10 inches of wet snow in the Adirondacks on Thursday.

As well as erosion and poor footing, hikers on higher elevation trails will face flooding streams. While some of these stream crossings are easy in the summer, they can be very hazardous this time of year due to their power and cold temperatures.

Areas that DEC is urging people to avoid include trails above 2,500 feet in the Adirondacks’ Giant and High Dix wilderness areas as well as Algonquin, Colden, and Gothics mountains.

Also, the Feldspar, Indian Pass, Lake Arnold Cross-over, Marcy, Marcy Dam-avalanche-lake Colden areas are extremely wet.

Other areas to avoid include the Phelps Trail above Johns Brook Lodge, Range Trail, Skylight, Wright, all “trailless” peaks, and all trails above Elk Lake and Round Pond as well as the higher spots in the Mckenzie Mountain wilderness, Esther, Moose and Mckenzie mountains as well as the

Sentinel Range and Pitchoff Mountain. DEC is urging hikers to postpone hikes at those places until further notice to protect the trail system. Until conditions improve, hikers are encouraged to explore lower elevation trails close to home and enjoy other forms of recreation.

DEC maintains a website with a list of hikes in the Adirondacks below 2,500 feet. And hikers can check the Adirondack Backcountry Information web pages for weekly updates on backcountry conditions and seasonal recreation information for the Adirondacks.