Officials listed several Adirondack trails impacted by snowmelt
New York officials have issued a public warning that warm temperatures and rain have created dangerous conditions throughout the Adirondacks and Catskills.
Describing current conditions throughout both regions as “intense, severe, and dynamic,” New York Department of Environmental Conservation officials said many key winter routes are now impassable due to washed out bridges, thawed water crossings, and flooding.
They advised the public to exercise an abundance of caution when recreating in the Adirondack and Catskill backcountry areas, including the High Peaks Wilderness Area, and consider alternative plans or adjust travel dates.
Earlier this week, officials said the Calamity Brook Trail, the high-water bridge 1.8 miles from the Flowed Lands, was washed out by snowmelt and is now impassable. Combined with the closure of the Avalanche Pass Trail, the Calamity Brook bridge being out means access to the Flowed Lands area will be more difficult for the remainder of the winter.
In addition to the Calamity Brook crossing, several other bridges have been damaged, including the Cold Brook Bridge near Lake Colden.
Officials said other major river crossings without bridges are now open water crossings and should not be attempted except with extreme caution and the willingness to turn around.
They said many alternative routes will also have high water crossing challenges, including the two crossings of the Opalescent River on the East River Trail and the crossing of the Opalescent River on the Lake Arnold Trail before the junction with the Feldspar Trail. The Cold Brook Pass Trail between the Indian Pass Trail and Lake Colden has not been maintained by DEC in over a decade and is not a viable option for these conditions given water crossings on the Indian Pass Trail.
Even navigable trails present hazards, as compacted snow may appear to be a solid surface but often leads to post holing or sinking through to the ground level. This can happen with boots, skis, and even snowshoes. DEC staff said they have encountered up to two feet of standing water on frozen lake surfaces, damage to high water bridge crossings, and snow slides on steep terrain.
Water crossing conditions can change dramatically throughout the day, especially on warm and rainy days. A passable stream at the start of a hike can quickly become a life-threatening crossing on the way out. The East Branch of the Neversink River in the town of Denning, Ulster County, has been quick to rise and fall.
In the DEC’s weekly Adirondack Outdoor Recreation Bulletin, officials listed the following trails as being impacted by snowmelt:
- The Round Pond Trail to Dix, crossing of the North Fork of the Boquet River.
- The Phelps Trail, crossing of Johns Brook above Bushnell Falls.
- The Mr. Van Ski Trail crossing of South Meadow Brook.
- The Van-Hovenberg Trail to Marcy Crossing of Phelps Brook above Marcy Dam and at Indian Falls.
- The Lake Arnold Trail crossing of the Opalescent River (floating bog bridges).
- The Herd Paths to Street and Nye Mountains, crossing Indian Pass Brook.
- The Indian Pass Trail (north and south) crossings of Indian Pass Brooks.
- The Calamity Brook Trail crossing at the High Water Bridge, over Calamity Brook.
- The East River Trail crossing the Opalescent River before Allen Mountain Trail Junction and also outlet of Flowed Lands.
- The Northville Placid Trail crossing of Seward Brook near the Ouluska Lean-to.
- Smaller Crossings: Dozens of smaller brooks and streams that are easily negotiated or covered in the winter can be opened up in these conditions and add a layer of difficulty and extend the length of trips, please plan accordingly.
