Mud Season question

[Toe Cozy]

I'm looking for a little info/opinion about mud season hiking. I live in VT and have done most of my hiking here. I know that trails are "closed" for mud season. I have some questions about this though:

1. Can someone explain to me why it's okay to hike during non-mud season even though the conditions might be just as muddy as they are now, like after weeks of lots of rain, but not okay during the spring? Is there something different about the conditions? I remember last year in mid-Aug. on the LT the mud was unbelievable and the trail was certainly suffering for it. So, does that mean we shouldn't be out on the trail anytime it's particularly muddy?

2. Do the white mountains have a similar "closed" for mud season order?

 

[David Metsky]

The Whites and Greens are different in this respect, there is no trail closure for mud season in the Whites. In the Greens, anything outside the state parks are voluntary, and it is followed with varying degrees of success.

My guess is that it would impossible to close trails at random times during the year based on weather. In the spring, it is known that the trails get quite muddy, and there's no early vegitation growth to stabilize things. It's the most concentrated time of year and the most "bank for the buck". It's easier to get public awareness of the spring trail closing if it happens once a year, every year.

-dave-

 

[WalksWithBlackflies]

Freeze/thaw cycles contribute to the trail damage during the Spring. Especially true in the small areas that retain the cold longer (under rocks, etc). This has a tendency to loosen the rocks. Foot traffic then dislodges the rock, and trail becomes more suseptable to erosion.

 

[lumberzac]

It’s not so much the mud that is the problem. It’s the walking on the part frozen, part thawed ground that causes the damage. The greatest impact is in high elevations. The majority of all trail erosion happens during the springs freeze thaw cycle.

Like the White Mountains, the Adirondacks don’t close the trails of during mud season, but DEC does recommend hikers to stay away form higher elevations generally from April through May.

 

[Toe Cozy]

arm: TV? I don't care what season it is, mud, stick, bug, in between, there's always a million better things to do than watch TV!

Actually, I can't wait to get out in the canoe with Chip on the Black River in Springfield, VT and enjoy the spring melt waters!!! Woohoo!

 

[dr_wu002]

You can also go to the Catskills during the mud season... supposedly they have much less impact from the mud due to sandy soil and better drainage. I've been planning a nice lengthy return to the Catskills for April-May for a while now. This is my last weekend in the Whites - Garfield w/ "Sidetrip" (West Bond). Maybe you can organize a trip to The Torngats as well?

Good Luck!

-Dr. wu

 

[forestgnome]

Closed trails for mud season?

Glad I live in the White Mountains.

Tomorrow is going to be beautiful out there!