Recommendations for a quick weekend trip?
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- Kelly
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I am fearless, because I've been afraid.
I am wise, because I've been foolish.
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- backpacker
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Yvonne by all means start planning for a March trip.
Here’s my experience for March and April: frozen, mud, wet, and frozen, in the morning the temp is still below freezing by mid day it warms enough to make the lower trails muddy, then towards the end it refreezes. Trail conditions at trailhead no snow or very little depending on the winter, around 2000 ft elevation on well used trails you’ll have solid smooth ice, (hence crampons) higher elevations 3 feet of snow or more. The peaks in a normal winter will receive 5 plus feet of snow (more like 8 plus), at any point in the trail you might come across blow down or broken trees from the winter, sometimes the trail is hard to re-find and trail crews have not been out yet. Bugs shouldn’t be a problem yet.
Any place in the western high peaks you’ll need a bear canister for your food and smelly items. You can rent them at the mountaineer in Keen and maybe other places now. As for trail guide’s and topo maps the ADK has the best going you can buy them from the ADK or most book stores and maybe Amazon. You’ll want “ADK High Peaks Region Trail Guide” it comes with a map that covers the book. 1st book on this page book it sells for 19.95
As for weather sites I use NOAA or underground weather I found them to be the closest keep in mind the ranges run in different directions thus the closest town covered may not be correct but will be close.
http://www.wunderground.com/
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
gee no mention about my picture LOL
happy hiking / backpacking and any questions feel free to ask
Here’s my experience for March and April: frozen, mud, wet, and frozen, in the morning the temp is still below freezing by mid day it warms enough to make the lower trails muddy, then towards the end it refreezes. Trail conditions at trailhead no snow or very little depending on the winter, around 2000 ft elevation on well used trails you’ll have solid smooth ice, (hence crampons) higher elevations 3 feet of snow or more. The peaks in a normal winter will receive 5 plus feet of snow (more like 8 plus), at any point in the trail you might come across blow down or broken trees from the winter, sometimes the trail is hard to re-find and trail crews have not been out yet. Bugs shouldn’t be a problem yet.
Any place in the western high peaks you’ll need a bear canister for your food and smelly items. You can rent them at the mountaineer in Keen and maybe other places now. As for trail guide’s and topo maps the ADK has the best going you can buy them from the ADK or most book stores and maybe Amazon. You’ll want “ADK High Peaks Region Trail Guide” it comes with a map that covers the book. 1st book on this page book it sells for 19.95
As for weather sites I use NOAA or underground weather I found them to be the closest keep in mind the ranges run in different directions thus the closest town covered may not be correct but will be close.
http://www.wunderground.com/
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
gee no mention about my picture LOL
happy hiking / backpacking and any questions feel free to ask
- hobkyl
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What picture Jim?
Bear canisters....I believe they are only required in the eastern peaks...not western. Typo? And in March at least...wouldn't be required. Later in spring/summer/fall, yes.
The map in that book is priceless. I have two. I've found the trail descriptions in the book itself confusing, but YMMV.
Bear canisters....I believe they are only required in the eastern peaks...not western. Typo? And in March at least...wouldn't be required. Later in spring/summer/fall, yes.
The map in that book is priceless. I have two. I've found the trail descriptions in the book itself confusing, but YMMV.
- backpacker
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The last sentance in wed's post say's:hobkyl wrote:What picture Jim?
Bear canisters....I believe they are only required in the eastern peaks...not western. Typo? And in March at least...wouldn't be required. Later in spring/summer/fall, yes.
The map in that book is priceless. I have two. I've found the trail descriptions in the book itself confusing, but YMMV.
link to interview on signature lineFor a good look at a winter peak check out picture 20 on my 46er interview
Kyle yes your correct on the typo I ment the Eastern High Peaks.
Bear caisters as stated on the DEC website is:
Thanks Kyle"during the period April 1 through November 30, no overnight camper in the Eastern High Peaks Zone shall fail to use bear-resistant canisters for the storage of all food, food containers, garbage, and toiletries."
- hobkyl
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Ah yes, beautiful! Hopefully I will make it up there this winter.backpacker wrote:For a good look at a winter peak check out picture 20 on my 46er interview
Right now Id be happy just to snowshoe at Mendon Ponds.
- americanhero
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How could I forget to mention your picture?backpacker wrote:
gee no mention about my picture LOL
happy hiking / backpacking and any questions feel free to ask
I really love it, that's exactly what I expect of a winter hike
Just looking at it and I'm getting envious.
I wish we had a little bit more snow so I could at least grab my snowshoes for a few days...
And yeah, thanks again for the book recommendation. I bought it at Eastern Mountain Sports while getting some other stuff. The map is awesome. Exactly what I was looking for
- backpacker
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Thank you Kyle and Yvonne,
That hike to dix's was a good one used everything we had as far as layers and equipment. Started with bare boot and light cloths then went to snowshoes and finally crampons and warmer cloths!
There’s always snow in the dacks and Catskills this time of year it's just a road trip to get their.
Happy hiking and shoeing
forgot,
your welcome on the book/map any other questions feel free to ask.
That hike to dix's was a good one used everything we had as far as layers and equipment. Started with bare boot and light cloths then went to snowshoes and finally crampons and warmer cloths!
There’s always snow in the dacks and Catskills this time of year it's just a road trip to get their.
Happy hiking and shoeing
forgot,
your welcome on the book/map any other questions feel free to ask.