The Adirondack High Peaks seen from St. Regis Mountain. (Wikimedia Photo)

The Adirondack High Peaks seen from St. Regis Mountain. (Wikimedia Photo)

Hikers in New York will be asked to avoid high elevation trails again this spring. But it will likely be earlier and for a shorter period than other years.

Each spring, New York Department of Environmental Conservation officials ask hikers to avoid trails over 3,000 feet for several weeks because of muddy conditions and to prevent damage to vegetation and soft ground. The past several years, the DEC has issued that advisory in mid-May and it has lasted until early- to mid-June.

But because of this year’s rather tame winter, David Winchell, a spokesman for the DEC, says this year’s advisory will likely be issued earlier and could be shorter than previous years. Vermont officials recently issued a similar advisory to avoid high elevation trails a month earlier than they normally do.

Winchell says there is still plenty of snow in the high elevations, but that the DEC expects to issue the advisory in the coming weeks. However, he says, that could certainly change depending on the weather. Unexpectedly cold weather could delay the advisory, and a wet spring could extend it. The decision, he says, will be based on the conditions observed by forest rangers, backcountry caretakers and summit stewards.