Hurricane Irene washed out many popular hiking spots. (NASA / flickr)
Feels like late September outside the windows of Compass Points Media‘s headquarters in southern Pennsylvania; the inevitable calm after Hurricane Irene whipped the northeast coast and flooded New England with devastating results.
As of this Monday night writing, Irene can be blamed for 27 deaths and petrifying images of wrathful ocean waves and muddy rivers washing away bridges and roadways.
The hurricane also wreaked havoc with hiking destinations, from Virginia northward.
Vermont sustained serious flooding, from a deluge that swamped Brattleboro to rivers choked with mud and debris. The Green Mountain Club posted the following warning on its website about the Green Mountain National Forest:
The club asked people to please heed state warnings to avoid driving today. If you do decide to hike, do not attempt to ford high water.
Check out the Green Mountain Club’s list of trail conditions in Vermont, including information about blowdowns and road closures near places like Camels Hump.
The Appalachian Mountain Club reported bridges out, severe erosion and blowdowns on the trails leading to their popular backcountry huts in the White Mountain National Forest, N.H. Check out their list here if you plan to backpack in New Hampshire for Labor Day weekend.
Hurricane Irene also lashed New York’s Adirondack Mountains, prompting major closures operated by the Adirondack Mountain Club:
Because of storm damage, the Adirondak Loj and the Johns Brook Lodge are inaccessible. ADK’s headquarters in Lake George is closed. If you need to contact ADK, please call 518-449-3870. ADK is also urging people to stay out of the Adirondack backcountry until further notice. Water levels are high and many trail bridges have washed out.
Southward in Virginia, Shenandoah National Park officials did not discourage hikers from exploring the famous Blue Ridge park, but they did advise caution when camping. The storm created plenty of blowdowns and potential tree falls, so make sure you look up before choosing a campsite.
One the great promises of hiking is that the mountains and the trails will recover thanks to time and the thousands of volunteers who work to maintain the pathways. Give it some time, and we’ll be back enjoying the outdoors.
