Out and About PHOTO BY JIM FRANCO
Mud, muck & monorails A Be aware of spring hiking conditions in the Adirondacks
nyone who has hiked the Adirondacks Mountains is aware they are known for a few things: miles and miles of fantastic trails, spectacular views, thousands of picturesque lakes and streams and waterfalls, and … mud. Spring brings the annual mud season to the ADKs, and with it comes the annual state Department of Environmental Conservation mud advisory asking all hikers to hold off hiking above 2,500 feet until the trails have had a chance to dry out and harden up a bit.
by
Jim Franco
While there are parts of the 6.1 million-acre park where mud season runs from before the snow fully melts to after
14 Family Now — May 2022
it falls again, this time of year it is particularly bad in all areas. Hikers can do the most damage when the trails are wet, and particularly if they succumb to temptation and walk off the trail into the woods to avoid the really muddy spots. Really muddy by Adirondack standards is relative to none other, and there are some spots where you can go mid-calf in muck if you happen to slip off a log or a rock.
“Hikers are advised to avoid high elevation trails for the duration of the muddy trail advisory for several reasons: sliding boots destroy trail tread, damage surrounding vegetation, and erode thin soils to cause washouts; rotten snow and monorails are a safety hazard even with proper equipment; and high elevation and
