This is probably the most dangerous time of year to venture up even the gentlest of the Adirondack mountains. As we learned recently, it can be the most deadly time as well.

Hua Davis, 61, of Wilmington, Delaware, was an avid and experienced Adirondack hiker, wonderfully fit, but she died of hypothermia this weekend on a solo hike up MacNaughton Mountain.

Spring is beginning roughly a month earlier than average, so the conditions on our peaks are what one might expect to see around the first week of April. That means treacherous ice, a lot of it, and snow of all kinds, some of it especially heavy and wet. Conditions vary depending on each spot’s elevation and exposure, plus the constantly changing weather.

That means one needs to pack extra gear – including microspikes, snowshoes, fire-starting tools and some kind of bivy sack – and plan to go much slower, expending more energy per mile, than one would otherwise. One must plan for the worst, as Don Mellor of Lake Placid, the dean of Adirondack rock and ice climbers, demonstrated in a feature story we ran on page A1 March 1.

“I’m alive because I’m a very negative thinker,” Mellor said after scaling a 75-foot rock face covered with ice. “I always figure something is going to go wrong, so I always have a backup plan.”

On other other end of the spectrum are outdoors people like Ms. Davis. Friends and others who encountered Ms. Davis said she typically hiked with a bare minimum of gear, preferring to travel light. Some may see that as a choice of hiking style or even philosophy, and in summer conditions, we can appreciate that. But in winter, it’s a staggering risk.

Ms. Davis was found dead wearing sneakers and fleece sweatpants rather than winter boots, long underwear and water-resistant pants. She had almost no emergency supplies. Better clothing and supplies would almost certainly have saved her life.

So would better judgment. Any solo hike in winter is generally a bad idea, especially one deep in the backcountry like the 15-mile round trip Ms. Davis chose. If you break your ankle on ice, for example, how would you get out?

MacNaughton was a particularly unsafe mountain to scale solo in winter. This 4,000-footer has a reputation as one of the more challenging of Adirondack peaks. There is no marked trail, just hard-to-find herd paths. Many who attempt it have to bushwhack at least partway through dense evergreens, an exhausting chore. Google “MacNaughton Mountain hike,” and the first thing that comes up is an account on www.lakeplacid.com that calls it “relentless and demanding” and “not for the light-hearted.” It recommends hiring a guide.

And that’s in summer. A winter snowshoeing report for MacNaughton on www.lakeplacid.com says, “Highly consider a larger group for this hike, minimum of two of course, but 4-8 would be best for breaking trail.”

Several private blogs tell of MacNaughton’s challenges as well.

These warnings aren’t just for newbies and tourists; they’re for expert hikers as well. Overconfidence can be fatal.

We don’t pretend to know everything about Ms. Davis’ situation, but given the facts, one cannot help conclude she was ill prepared for the strenuous challenge she took on. We hate to speak ill of a regular visitor to our area who was, by all accounts, brimming with positive energy and goodwill, but we must caution people to not follow her example.

Plan ahead, be prepared, and remember that the conditions on Adirondack mountain trails are different than those in your backyard. The state Department of Environmental Conservation updates its Adirondack trail information online every week at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html.

And if the going gets tough, don’t be afraid to turn around. At Keene’s Mountainfest in January, Geoff Tabin, who has scaled the highest peak on each of the seven continents, gave this advice: “Getting to the summit is optional; getting back is not.”

—

Be prepared for winter conditions

–

By the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

–

Know

* Your own physical capabilities, knowledge of backcountry recreation and skill level

* The distance you plan to travel and the terrain and conditions you will encounter

Check (before entering the backcountry)

* With the local forest ranger for current information

* Snow depths

* Current weather conditions and short-term forecast

Wear

* Winter boots

* Waterproof outer wear

* Layers of non-cotton clothing

* Fleece or wool hat

* Gloves or mittens

* Sunglasses (if sunny)

Carry

* Map and compass – know how to use them and use them!

* Snowshoes or skis

* Crampons, spikes or traction devices

* Flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries

* Pocket knife or other multi-tool device

* Plenty of food and water

Pack

* Extra clothes and socks

* Gaiters

* Sunscreen

* Bivy sack or space blankets in case you need to spend the night in woods

* Fire starter supplies: waterproof matches, butane lighter, candles, starter material, etc.

Always inform someone of your itinerary and when you expect to return.