Are You Ready for Late-Fall Adventures?
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR LATE-FALL ADVENTURES?
The fall foliage season has ended and we are now in the fall it's-beginning-to-feel-a-lot-like-winter season, but there is no reason we have to curtail our outdoor activities as long as we prepare ourselves accordingly. Weather-wise, November can be all over the place, with the possibility of some warm sunny days but some brisk and breezy days are also highly likely. December weather, especially in the Adirondacks, takes a big step toward winter. So, whether you plan to hike, paddle, or ski, now is the time to plan and prepare for the possibilities.
In Albany last year, 45% (27.9”) of the seasonal snowfall fell in December, most of it at the beginning of the month. Whereas, in the central Adirondacks, Indian Lake received close to average snowfalls, with 22.4” in December, 30.1” in January, and 28.5” in February. This year, winter has already fired off some early warning shots with a coating of snow in late October, which quickly melted in lower elevations but hung around at higher elevations.
In most circumstances, higher elevations mean cooler temperatures, usually dropping around 5 degrees every 1,000 feet of elevation gained. So, while the temperature might be comfortable in the valley, mountain weather will likely be colder, especially as you venture into alpine ecosystems with less cover from the wind.
With over 2 months to go, there has already been a yearly record amount of rescues by rangers in Regions 5 and 6, which encompass the Adirondack Park and surrounding areas. This corresponds to an increase in the number of folks participating in outdoor recreation. Most commonly, the rescues involved injured hikers or lost hikers – many of these incidents were preventable had the hikers planned and prepared appropriately. With colder weather, the probability for error becomes greater and the consequences more dire.
Keep in mind that fall is also hunting season. Northern Zone (basically, north of Saratoga Springs and NY Route 29) deer hunting season has begun and lasts through December 6th, and Southern Zone season goes from November 21st through December 13th. During this time it is best to wear bright colors, preferably blaze orange – the same goes for your dog too. Note also that snowmobiles are not allowed on state land until these hunting seasons are over.
One should avoid wearing cotton clothing whenever perspiration or any other kind of water is involved since cotton has no insulative properties when wet and consequently it can suck the heat right out of you. Dressing in layers gives you the ability to minimize sweating and regulate your body heat. Gaiters keep snow and debris from entering your boots, plus they keep the legs of your pants from getting wet. I seldom go out without at least 4 pairs of gloves and mittens – they can be mixed and matched to keep my fingers warm and I will have some backups if a pair gets wet.
There are several items that should be in your pack year-round, often referred to as the “10 Essentials” - a whistle, map, compass, water, food/snacks, extra socks and warm clothing, rain/wind gear, headlamp plus extra batteries, 1st aid kit, knife (utility tool or Swiss Army have useful extras), toilet paper, a zip bag for trash (including used toilet paper), space blanket, fire-starting kit, and some duct tape for repairs in the field (I also bring some wire and a couple of hose clamps). A GPS can be beneficial but one should still bring a paper map and compass. Cellphones can be helpful in an emergency but service is spotty in the backcountry and batteries do run down, so a phone should not be depended upon as a substitute for poor planning and preparation. Until things change, bring some sanitizer and a mask to wear whenever you can't maintain a good distance from others.
A vacuum flask of hot chocolate or tea can be just the ticket with lunch in cool weather. When you stop for a break, you will be more comfortable if you throw on some warmer clothing before you get cold – don't wait until you are cold before doing so. Chemical hand and toe warmers are inexpensive and come in handy to warm up the extremities – most will last for 6 or more hours – that's cheap insurance. Bring an insulated pad to sit on during breaks.
Newly-fallen leaves or snow can obscure the foot tread on trails and make the way less obvious – one needs to pay more overall attention en route. The leaves can also be slippery, especially when wet. Hiking poles are recommended for stability, plus they will help save your knees in the long term, especially when going downhill. If temperatures have recently dropped below freezing, ice could have formed in the trail, so the use of trail crampons, not quite as aggressive as full-on ice crampons and often referred to as microspikes these days, is highly recommended for those times. Kahtoola MICROspikes started this trend, Hillsound Trail Crampons have become favorites of many High Peaks hikers and Black Diamond has also come forth with some offerings in this vein ($60-$80); Yaktrax & Stablicers are not aggressive enough for hilly terrain.
The better informed you are, the better the experience. Check guidebooks for route descriptions and what to look out for before you head out. For the price of a restaurant dinner, a guidebook, written by someone who has done more research on the subject than most anyone, provides a great long-term investment and still outdoes most everything you can find out online. For the Adirondacks, there are two series of guidebooks: the Discover series and the series by the Adirondack Mountain Club – both are great for hiking information - the Discover books do add more off-trail and paddling destinations though. The NYSDEC website is the best online resource for what to bring and for the rules and regulations that pertain to the area you plan to visit – backcountry conditions for the Adirondacks (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html) and Catskills (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/108207.html) are updated there by Thursday evening on a weekly basis. According to a recent survey, Alltrails has become the most popular source of info for many Adirondack hikers these days but I find it often has errors and lacks detail, so I tend to think of it as a supplementary source rather than a primary source of information.
Check your gear for wear and tear before leaving the house. Look over your boots to make sure the soles are not delaminating, check the straps on your snowshoes, and look over your skis for any weaknesses. You certainly don't want to be 5 miles out and have something break on you.
Late fall can still be attractive to some paddlers but I only recommend it for those who have advanced self and assisted rescue skills, a good comprehension of cold water survival and to those who wear a dry or wet suit. I have a thinking process which I call “3 Good Reasons” which I go through before deciding to paddle – if I can think of 3 good reasons not to paddle then I should do something land-based. For example, I once went to Cedar River Flow in early December and started out from Wakely Dam in my solo canoe. When I got out into the main part of the flow the wind was blowing fairly hard and was not making things easy. The water was very cold, I was paddling by myself and the wind was a problem – 3 good reasons not to continue, so I turned around and went for a hike instead.
It's not a good thing to spend too much time on one's butt, so do your homework, assemble the proper gear and clothing and get out and enjoy some fresh air.
V
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