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Entries from May 20th, 2016

Fête de la Reine 2016 – Régions sauvages des Adirondacks

May 20th, 2016 · No Comments · Adirondack News

BIENVENUE A NOS VISITEURS CANADIENS

NYSDEC LogoLe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation accueille chaleureusement nos amis canadiens qui passent le week-end de la fête de la Reine à s’amuser dans les régions sauvages des Adirondacks. Nous vous offrons les informations suivantes pour vous assurer un séjour agréable et sûr pendant vos excursions de camping, de randonnée, de pagayer et de bâteau. Pour de plus amples renseignements, consultez Adirondack Backcountry Information


RISQUE DE FEU: modéré (sauf pour la région High Peaks où le risque est faible).

TERRAINS DE CAMPING: Tous les terrains de camping DEC sont ouverts.

VOIES D’ACCES: Les voies d’accès dans les régions sauvages sont souvent très rugueuses. Un véhicule 4X4 est recommandé. La majorité des voies d’accès sont ouvertes. Veuillez consulter le lien au-dessus pour savoir quelles voies/routes sont fermées.

RAMPES DE MISE A L’EAU: Toutes les rampes DEC sont ouvertes et les docks sont installés.

STATIONNEMENT/CAMPING: Le parking aux points de départ aussi bien que les terrains de camping intérieurs dans les régions sauvages des Eastern High Peaks, Dix Mountain et Giant Mountain sont souvent occupés à pleine capacité. Les visiteurs sont donc conseillés de faire des projets convenables (y compris de considérer un séjour dans d’autres régions des Adirondacks).

AVIS DE CONDITIONS BOUEUSES: Afin de protéger la flore et les sentiers qui sont très susceptibles au printemps, les randonneurs sont priés d’éviter les sentiers au-dessus de 2500 pieds de hauteur. La randonnée provoque des érosions très sévères sur les sentiers et endommagent la végétation. Les pistes raides, mouillés et boueuses sont aussi extrêmement glissantes. Pendant cette « saison de boue » les randonneurs sont conseillés de se servir des sentiers aux altitudes plus basses. More: DEC Alerts Hikers of Muddy Trail Conditions in The High Peaks

BOITES RESISTANTS AUX OURS: Les règles du DEC exigent que les campeurs qui passent la nuit dans le Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Area gardent leurs provisions dans une boîte résistante aux ours. En général, tous les campeurs sont conseillés de se servir de ces boîtes partout dans les Adirondacks.

POUR SE PROTÉGER CONTRE LES PIQURES D’INSECTES: Les mouches noires et les moustiques sont présentes. Pour éviter les piqûres, il est suggéré de :

  • Porter des vêtements de couleur pâle.
  • Porter un pantalon et une chemise à manches longues; rentrer la chemise dans le pantalon.
  • Fermer les manches au poignet.
  • Rentrer les bas du pantalon dans les chaussettes.
  • Apporter une moustiquaire pour la tête
    Utiliser un produit contre les insectes qui contient du « DEET »

ÉTAT DES EAUX: Le niveau des eaux est plutôt basse pour le printemps; les températures sont froides. Ceux qui font du kayak, du canöe, et du bâteau sont fortement conseillés de porter constamment un gilet de sauvetage.

FERMETURES DE VOIES D’ESCALADE (dû à la nidification des faucons pèlerins) :

  • Chapel Pond : Toutes les voies sur Lower et Upper Washbowl Cliffs.
  • Wilmington Notch : Toutes les voies sur Moss Cliff et Labor Day Wall.
  • Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain : Toutes les voies d’escalade sur la Main Face sont fermées sauf pour les voies entre et comprenant « Opposition » et « A Womb With A View ».
  • Crane Mountain: Toutes les voies dans Amphitheater sur Black Arches Wall.
  • Shelving Rock Mountain : Toutes les voies sur Big Wall et Jackass Buttress.

Nous vous souhaitons un séjour agréable dans les Adirondacks

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Victoria Weekend 2016 – Adirondack Backcountry Notice

May 20th, 2016 · No Comments · Adirondack News

Greetings to Our Canadian Friends

NYSDEC LogoThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation welcomes our Canadian friends who are celebrating the Victoria Day Holiday Weekend by visiting and recreating on the lands and waters of the Adirondack backcountry.


This information is provided to help you have a safe and enjoyable experience while you hike, camp, boat and paddle. Adirondack Backcountry Information provides more details.

FIRE DANGER: MODERATE, except in the High Peaks where it is Low

CAMPGROUNDS: All DEC campgrounds are open for the season.

SEASONAL ACCESS ROADS: Seasonal access roads used to access the backcountry can be rough, the use of 4-wheel drive pickup trucks, SUVs and other high clearance motor vehicles is recommended. Most seasonal access roads are open. Check the Adirondack Backcountry Information web pages using the link above for the few closed roads.

BOAT LAUNCHES: All DEC boat launches are open and docks are installed.

HIGH USAGE LEVELS: Trailhead parking lots and interior campsites will often fill to capacity in the Eastern High Peaks, Dix Mountain and Giant Mountain Wildernesses. Plan accordingly and seek backcountry recreation in other areas of the Adirondacks.

MUDDY TRAIL ADVISORY: Hikers are advised to avoid trails above 2,500 feet in the High Peaks Region to protect the trails and surrounding vegetation which are very vulnerable at this time of year. Hikers can cause severe erosion of trails and significant damage to vegetation. Steep, wet and muddy trails are also very slippery. Hikers are asked use low and mid-elevation trails at this time. More: DEC Alerts Hikers of Muddy Trail Conditions in The High Peaks

BITING INSECTS: Black Flies & Mosquitoes are present minimize the nuisance of biting insects by:

  • Wearing light colored long sleeve shirts and long pants
  • Tucking shirts into pants, buttoning or banding sleeves at the wrist, and tucking pant legs into socks.
  • Pack a head net to wear when insects are thick.
  • Use an insect repellant with DEET, follow label directions.

WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are below average level for spring. Water temperatures are cool. Paddlers and boaters are encouraged to wear Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs, aka life jackets) at all times while on the water.

BEAR RESISTANT CANISTERS: The use of bear-resistant canisters by overnight users in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness and is encouraged throughout the Adirondacks.

ROCK CLIMBING ROUTE CLOSURES: Due to nesting Peregrine Falcons the following routes are closed:

  • Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain – All routes on the Main Face, except for the climbing routes between and including “Opposition” and “A Womb with a View”.
  • Chapel Pond – All routes on Lower Washbowl Cliffs.
  • Wilmington Notch – All routes on Moss Cliff and Labor Day Wall.
  • Crane Mountain – All routes within the Amphitheater on the Black Arches Wall.
  • Shelving Rock Mountain, Lake George – All routes on the Big Wall and Jackass Buttress.

Enjoy your visit to the Adirondacks!

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DEC Alerts Hikers of Muddy Trail Conditions in The High Peaks

May 5th, 2016 · No Comments · Adirondack News

Hikers Should Temporarily Avoid High Elevation Trails in the Adirondacks

NYSDEC LogoAs a new season of outdoor hiking and recreation on public lands in the Adirondacks approaches the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) urges hikers to be cautious and postpone hikes on trails above 2,500 feet until high elevation trails have dried and hardened.



Spring conditions arrived early and are present throughout the State and the lower elevations of the Adirondacks. However, backcountry trails in the higher elevations are still covered in slowly melting ice. These often steep trails become a mix of ice and mud making them slippery and vulnerable to erosion by hikers as the ice melts and frost leaves the ground.

DEC asks hikers to help avoid damage to hiking trails and sensitive high elevation vegetation by avoiding trails above 2,500 feet, particularly high elevation trails in the Dix, Giant, and High Peaks Wilderness Areas in the northern Adirondacks. Please avoid the following trails until trail conditions improve:

  • High Peaks Wilderness Area – all trails above 2,500 feet; where wet, muddy, snow conditions still prevail, specifically: Algonquin, Colden, Feldspar, Gothics, Indian Pass, Lake Arnold Cross-Over, Marcy, Marcy Dam – Avalanche – Lake Colden which is extremely wet, Phelps Trail above John Brook Lodge, Range Trail, Skylight, Wright and all “trail-less” peaks.
  • Dix Mountain Wilderness Area – all trails above Elk Lake and Round Pond
  • Giant Mountain Wilderness Area – all trails above Giant’s Washbowl, “the Cobbles,” and Owls Head.

Hikers are advised to only use trails at lower elevations as they usually dry soon after snowmelt and traverse deeper, less erosive soils DEC suggests the following alternative trails for hiking, subject to weather conditions:

High Peaks Wilderness:

  • Ampersand Mountain
  • Owls Head
  • Mt. VanHoevenberg
  • Mt. Jo

Giant Mt. Wilderness:

  • Giant’s Washbowl
  • Roaring Brook Falls
  • Owl’s Head Lookout

Hurricane Mountain Wilderness

  • The Crows
  • Hurricane Mtn from Rt 9N

Jay Mountain Wilderness

  • Jay Mtn

McKenzie Mt. Wilderness:

  • Baker Mountain
  • Haystack Mountain
  • McKenzie Mountain

Saranac Lakes Wild Forest:

  • Panther Mountain
  • Scarface Mountain
  • Floodwood Mountain

A full list of recommended mud season hikes can be found on DEC’s website. DEC’s website also contains information on trail conditions in the Adirondacks.

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