The following Adirondack trails as well as many creeks are flooding or at flood stage:
Ward Brook Trail/Sewards flooded
South end of Avalanche Lake flooded to Lake Colden register
Indian Falls not passable – water waist deep
Indian Pass Brook toward Street & Nye flooded
Water crossing at Ore Bed Lean-To Not Passable
Bushnell Falls crossing to John Brooks Valley is not passable
MAJOR RISE ON SARANAC RIVER: The water at Lake Flower is 22” above the dam and dam will be lowered by 8” tomorrow to relieve the pressure. People are encouraged to stay off the Saranac River.
Given these flood issues and all the water in the woods and the potential damage that will be caused on the trails this week shouldn’t places like the HPW be closed temporarily?
Shoot the chutes!
I wonder if there are people trapped now.
the Sacandaga river is raging ,.,., last weekend at the campsites, a man died tubing down the river, That was a first in my lifetime. Paddlers must be extra cautious approaching obstructions on all the rivers and streams!
Well, there’s going to be some epic canoeing this year – paddlers will be able to go places that would be impossible otherwise. This could be fun if people start arguing over what routes are ‘navigable’ and should have public access.
An earlier news item said some of the mountain biking trails are so wet, people are being asked to stay off them until they have a chance to dry.
On another note, get used to it. One of the consequences of a warmer planet is more moisture in the air, and it has to go somewhere. Weather patterns are shifting; there could easily be a long dry spell as well at some point. All bets are off.
If only there was some kind of ecologically sound, low-impact tourism draw that wasn’t so vulnerable to weather, like too much rain or not enough snow…
Row, row, row your boat gently down the trail.
Larry, like a train service year round ??
Yesterday evening the East Branch of the Ausable at Hulls Falls was simply epic. The river narrows into a chute there and gets propulsed into Colorado-River-like mayhem as it blasts over bedrock. You could feel the ground vibrate. Our own beloved Lost Brook was at maximum spring runoff level, and that was last weekend. Even many so-called stream crossings are potential life and limb right now. I expect some new major slides any time, there’s little doubt in my mind of that.
What an place to live, to inhabit a deep respect for the terrible awe of nature.
What *a place to live.
I am sure that folks will avoid the HPW this week given the damage they can do to the trails and the potential danger. At least I hope they care enough to try something else.
I thought of the slides too. The last large one was in 2013 on Dix so we’re due.
Hey Kevin:
Actually the slide on the NE side of the First Brother from two summers ago should qualify. Its substantial. Have you climbed it? Just below it and 200 yards south along the edge of the First Brother is a boulder field few people know about that has some specimens worthy of Indian Pass, no kidding. Really impressive and a surprise.
Pete
Or maybe Giant, since that huge mud slide/avalanche occurred over 50 years ago.
https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2013/06/50-years-ago-the-1963-giant-mountain-landslide.html
We hiked into Marcy Dam on Wednesday and climbed Colden from the back on Thursday, back to the Dam through Avalanche. It started drizzling around 9 am and the rain picked up later in the afternoon. Cooked dinner in a downpour and it rained hard all night- with a few terrific thunderstorms thrown in. Hardest extended rain I’ve ever experienced up there. Sure enough when we got down to the “dam” on Friday morning it was a raging torrent. Both branches through the old pond were teaming, it was a cascade over the old dam, and it’s a good thing they built the bridge as high as they did- the water wasn’t far down! Looks like they got more rain today too.
Larry Roth says: ” there could easily be a long dry spell as well at some point.”
This is what I’ve been thinking for quite a while now. We’re due for drought conditions eventually. Unless we luck out somehow. History will show that there are cycles of drought and floods in all of the northeast. We should count our blessings as they avail themselves.
Lately our droughts occur in winter and they don’t seem like a drought – at least it doesn’t get a lot of press.
It gets lots of press if you count all the stories about snowmobile trails having no snow and ski areas having to shut down.
Charlie,
I was just thinking – don’t forget NY is coming out of a moderate/severe drought from last year’s growing season. Yin and Yang.
My basement is certainly wishing for a dry spell.