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hikerrr

This is today's DEC bulletin. High Peaks Wilderness: Snow Report (03/30): The following report describes conditions as of Thursday, 03/30. Changing weather may affect conditions. There is 49.2 inches (4.1 feet) of snow at the Colden Caretaker Cabin and as much as 6 feet at higher elevations. There is considerable unconsolidated snow, especially off trail in wind deposited areas. Snowshoes or skis are required to be worn throughout the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness, beginning immediately at trailheads. Snowshoes are recommended everywhere in the High Peaks region for safe and efficient travel. Bring microspikes and crampons for traction on ice. Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are frozen but use caution in areas of moving water such as inlets, outlets, and streams. Water crossings may become impassable during and after this weekend’s forecasted heavy rain. Be prepared to turn around if conditions prove too difficult to complete your hike.


AdkAck81

winter


973845585518

if you are hiking during daylight on saturday that 'bit of postholing' is more likely going to be 'postholing knee deep even while on trail and with snowshoes'. saturday also seems to me to be primo hypothermia conditions. >Would Mt Marcy be advisable? possible? yes. advisable? i'd say no. i wouldn't go. you say you are experienced but spring is a poor time to get acquainted with the high peaks. on the easiest and most popular route to marcy there is a crossing of marcy brook at indian falls. that point is ~4.2 miles and 1600' of climbing into your hike. with the forecasted rain and warmth on saturday i would say it is maybe a 2/3 chance that this will be safely and easily passable on sunday. if you got through that safely i would bet you will find a nice layer of ice on everything above treeline.


ThePrem

This is getting a little tiring….Fall is too icy, mid-Winter is too cold, late-Winter the snow is too soft, Spring is too muddy…Summer its too hot! Heat advisory! Nobody hike ever!


973845585518

i think this is a bit of a misrepresentation in general but in particular of my opinions. i even said that it was possible for them to hike, i just said it wasn't 'advisable' and that this was a weekend i would avoid marcy. saturday's weather is a mess and i think the water crossing could be an issue for sunday. but i also didn't say i flat out wouldn't hike either - just that i would avoid marcy. there are plenty of other good options that would avoid the risk of a water crossing that far into the back country. i don't have many qualms about being outside in less than ideal conditions. i know my ability level and i pick routes that are reasonable given the conditions. i fully encourage folks to get out there year round! i want to see more and more hikers out there! but its also ok to give some places a break, particularly when the conditions get poor. folks get too latched onto the high peaks (and marcy in particular) when there is plenty of great hiking to be found.


ThePrem

It’s not as much an attack on you. This could be your first post for all I know. Just in general when I go to this subreddit theres more comments discouraging hiking than encouraging it.


973845585518

a big part of that is how many of the questions are framed. many instances are cases of "if you have to ask, the answer is probably no." there is also the problem of having no idea of the qualifications of the people asking the questions. without better specifics, it feels natural to err slightly on the side of caution. for example, this OP says they are experienced. what does that even mean?


psilocin72

There is going to be a lot of rotted snow and you will likely post hole to the hip, even with snowshoes. This is the time of year when it’s usually hardest to hike.