BACKCOUNTRY, UPSTATE NEW YORK — Snow and cold weather provide good conditions for winter outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and other backcountry areas. To ensure a safe and enjoyable winter experience, visitors are advised to plan ahead and prepare with proper clothing and equipment for snow, ice and cold.

Snow depths range greatly throughout the Adirondacks, with the deepest snow at higher elevations in the High Peaks region and on mountains over 3,000 feet. Snow depths are thinner in the southeastern and northwestern Adirondacks. Ice is also present on high-elevation trails, as well as on many low-lying trails. Much of the Catskill Mountains are covered in snow, with icy trail conditions.

The DEC recommends that visitors to the backcountry carry snowshoes and trekking poles and use them when snow depths warrant. Snowshoes or skis ease travel on snow and prevent “post-holing,” or the sudden plunge of a leg into the snow, which can ruin trails and cause sudden falls resulting in injuries.

Crampons or other traction devices should be carried for use on icy portions of the trails, including summits and other exposed areas. Check out DEC’s website (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/112826.html) for further details on traction devices.

Although some seasonal access roads remain open, the use of four-wheel-drive vehicles is strongly recommended and many seasonal access roads have transitioned to snowmobile use. Visitors are advised to plan ahead and check local club, county, and state webpages and resources for up-to-date snowmobile trail information.

Backcountry visitors should follow these safety guidelines:

Check the weather before entering the woods. If extreme cold is predicted or the weather is poor, postpone the trip.

Be aware of weather conditions at all times, and if the weather worsens, head out of the woods.

Dress properly in layers of clothing made of wool, fleece, and other non-cotton materials that wick moisture, including a wool or fleece hat, gloves or mittens, wind/rain resistant outerwear and winter boots. Carry a day pack with the following: ice axe, food and water, extra clothing, map and compass, first-aid kit, flashlight/headlamp, sunglasses, sunblock protection, ensolite pads, stove and extra fuel and bivy sack or space blankets. Hypothermia can kill even when temperatures are above freezing. A tiny emergency space blanket can save your life.

Carry plenty of food and water. Eat, drink and rest often. Being tired, hungry, or dehydrated makes outdoor adventurers more susceptible to hypothermia.

Know the terrain and physical capabilities. Remember that it takes more time and energy to travel through snow.

Never travel alone and always inform someone of the intended route and return time.

Challenges common to winter include avalanches, snow squalls, frostbite and thin ice. Except for those who explore and have fun in the backcountry, most people are unlikely to become victims of avalanches. However, almost everyone has experienced a snow squall, which can obliterate vision and create slippery surfaces. Squalls tend to be brief, so stay put if you’re caught in one.

Frostbite is the freezing of living tissues that causes a breakdown of their cell structure. It may affect the extremities after prolonged exposure to temperatures below freezing. Frostbite injury can range from superficial redness of the skin, slight numbness or blisters, to skin discoloration, obstruction of blood flow or blood clots. Rubbing frostbitten skin, once a popular remedy, can cause further damage; don’t do it.

Traveling through snow takes more energy and time than hiking the same distance, especially in freshly fallen snow. Plan trips accordingly. In an emergency call 911. To request forest ranger assistance, call 833/NYS-RANGERS.

DEC’s Adirondack Backcountry Information site at https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html and Catskill Backcountry Information at https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/108207.html provide current trail conditions and other important information to help ensure a safe and enjoyable backcountry winter experience.