DEC warns of Avalanche risk in High Peaks Wilderness
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos sent out the advisory Friday as crowds of tourists flocked to the High Peaks region for President’s Week, a favorite time of year annually for vacationers.
“Recent storms have resulted in a significant amount of new snow, and we expect an increase in temperatures and the number of recreational enthusiasts visiting the High Peaks to snowshoe, cross-country ski, and enjoy the pristine surroundings,” Seggos said. “We are cautioning anyone planning to traverse backcountry slides and other avalanche-prone terrain in the High Peaks to be extremely careful and be prepared for avalanche conditions.”
The DEC reports that the Adirondacks have received approximately 18 to 26 inches of new snow through the past two weeks on top of a previous snowpack that has distinct layers formed by rain, melting and fluctuating temperatures.
Combined with high winds, the DEC reports snows depths are deeper on leeward slopes or areas of snow deposits, such as gullies, and depths in the mountains range from 32 to 46 inches.
The DEC is warning recreationists that snow layers may be reactive to the added stresses of the recent snows, creating conditions conducive to avalanches.
The advisory also warned that avalanche prone terrain is found on mountains throughout other areas in the Adirondacks, singling out Snow Mountain in Hamilton County.
“Avalanche danger increases during and immediately after major snowfalls and during thaws,” the DEC wrote. “The forecast for this weekend is for mostly sunny and partly sunny skies with temperatures climbing into the 40s. While this weather is appealing to outdoor enthusiasts, it also increases the danger of avalanches.
Avalanches do occur in New York and can have dire consequences. One person was killed and five people were injured in an avalanche while they were skiing a slide on Wright Peak in the High Peaks region in February 2000.
DEC recommended several precautions when traveling in avalanche prone terrain, including for cross-country skiers and snowshoers to stay on trails and away from steep slopes on summits, for recreationists to dig multiple snow pits to conduct stability tests, to never ski, board, or climb with someone above or below and to ski and ride near trees — not in the center of slides or other open areas. They also recommended for those in the backcountry to carry a shovel, probes and a transceiver with fresh batteries.
Adirondack Mountain Club Wilderness Trip Leader Tyler Socash has been in numerous places throughout the backcountry as snow fell this week, and he cautioned about avalanche danger on Twitter.
“Heavy snowfall in the Adirondacks plus warm weather this weekend equals (to) be mindful of slide avalanches,” Socash wrote.
Longtime Adirondack backcountry skier Ron Konowitz of Keene also took to social media this week to caution hikers about the possibilities of avalanches this weekend. On the popular Aspiring Adirondack 46ers Facebook group, Konowitz replied to a post asking about trail conditions to Mount Marcy. Writing Thursday morning at 9 a.m., he said the state’s tallest mountain said had been deluged with eight to 10 feet of snow at the summit base.
“Four feet of powder in the last 10 days with 80 mile-per-hour winds on Monday,” Konowitz wrote. “Most of the trail markers above 3,500 feet are buried now.”
He added that he anticipated there would be many backcountry skiers in the High Peaks this weekend, but described the conditions as “an expert-only, tight” ski descent.
“Be aware the snowpack on open summits (and) open bowls,” he wrote, “and slides have some funky avalanche prone characteristics right now!”