Snowshoe Requirements

[mad151]

Could anyone point me in the direction to find out the DEC rule on snowshoe requirements in the high peaks? Are they required on certain trails? Under specific trail conditions? Certain times of the year?

Thanks for your help.....

[Willie]

6 NYCRR 190.13(f)(3)(vii)

[Dick]

Could anyone point me in the direction to find out the DEC rule on snowshoe requirements in the high peaks? Are they required on certain trails? Under specific trail conditions? Certain times of the year?

Thanks for your help.....

Welcome to the forum, mad151!

The regs are here. about snowshoeing, it says: "Snowshoes or skis are required to be used in the Eastern High Peaks. Regulation requires that snowshoes or skis be used wherever snow cover is 8 inches or deeper." Note that this reg is for the EASTERN High Peaks region.

Dick

[redhawk]

Welcome to the forum, mad151!

The regs are here. about snowshoeing, it says: "Snowshoes or skis are required to be used in the Eastern High Peaks. Regulation requires that snowshoes or skis be used wherever snow cover is 8 inches or deeper." Note that this reg is for the EASTERN High Peaks region.

Dick

However if you hike in the Western High peaks or in the Adirondacks, or any other mountains with snow eight inches or more deep it is possible to get tired, stranded and Die, even if the regulations allow you to do that.

in other words, be safe not stupid.

[twochordcool]

How could you die?

[Neil]

How could you die?

The same way everyone dies: lack of oxygen to the brain.
Naturely, the physiological events leading to that unhappy event may vary considerably from one case to the next.

[redhawk]

How could you die?

By getting wet and exhausted from Post Holing and then suffering from Hyperthermia and freezing to death.

Basically the way most people die in the woods, greatly under estimating nature and greatly over estimating their skills.

Most people who die in the woods had no intention of doing so.

[Trailpatrol]

... it is possible to get tired, stranded and Die, even if the regulations allow you to do that.

in other words, be safe not stupid.

Not very subtle, Hawk, but I like it.

'shoe safe,
Hans

[redhawk]

Not very subtle, Hawk, but I like it.

'shoe safe,
Hans

I was standing in the "Blunt" line when they handed out the "subtle". Guess I must have missed out.

Does it really show that much???

[trent]

Hi, I'm going necrothread here...

In regards to the snowshoe/ski requirements, if there is more than 8" of snow but the trail is hard packed and you're not at all post-holeing, as long as you have them with you is that okay or are you required to be wearing them at the time? Say the was in the Eastern high peaks.

What about not in that region and say Giant Mountain Wilderness?

I understand the intent of the rules and of course have snowshoes with me in the winter. Not trying to get out of anything, just trying to be realistic. Would a ranger expect you to be wearing them on a hard packed icy trail if you happen to be wearing a different traction device such as crampons or micro spikes instead?

[Alpine1]

I don't think there's a blanket answer to the question. Partially it'll depend on how the initial meeting with said Ranger goes. If your snowshoes are strapped to your pack and lets say your wearing crampons on a fairly icy section of trail and don't come across as arrogant I'd like to think things would be ok. Same scenario deep in the backcountry and you don't have snowshoes with you I think he'll not be nearly as receptive. All this is said with the idea that 8" or more snow is on the ground in the High Peaks region.

[Bill I.]

The current regulation is specific to the High Peaks Wilderness:

§190.13 Wilderness Areas in the Adirondack Park
f. Miscellaneous restrictions.
3. In the High Peaks Wilderness Area, no person shall:
vii. fail to possess and use skis or snowshoes when the terrain is snow-covered with eight or more inches of snow;

There was an expectation when §190.13 was written that it might be expanded/adapted to other areas, including Dix and Giant, but that has never materialized. You may find DEC signs at other trailheads elsewhere in the park requiring skis or snowshoes, but in my observation it's not much of an issue outside the High Peaks region until March and April (when suburbanites come up to the Adirondacks expecting spring conditions and wildflowers, only to find lots of snow).

There was an incident several years ago (recorded somewhere in the depths of this forum's archives) where an individual gave a ranger some attitude over snowshoes at the Heart Lake trailhead; even by his own version of the story, the hiker's handling of the situation was wrong on several levels. That incident culminated in an appearance at the town court.

So yeah, if you choose not to wear snowshoes in the High Peaks and encounter a ranger, don't be a dick about it, but do expect to get a warning. It will almost certainly end there.

[DSettahr]

Many of the High Peaks regulations were intended to eventually be applied to other wilderness areas as well, including the group size limitations.

[l'oiseau]

Many of the High Peaks regulations were intended to eventually be applied to other wilderness areas as well, including the group size limitations.

As they should be, they make sense for the most part.

The fire ban is my only opposition - but there are some areas that could certainly benefit from it... either that or closing and relocating campsites.

[Justin]

There was an incident several years ago (recorded somewhere in the depths of this forum's archives) where an individual gave a ranger some attitude over snowshoes at the Heart Lake trailhead; even by his own version of the story, the hiker's handling of the situation was wrong on several levels. That incident culminated in an appearance at the town court.

http://adkforum.com/showthread.

and

http://www.adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=8829

Both have been closed for discussion