Hiker walking off trail around a muddy section on Osceola. This common practice causes resource damage and costly repairs. (USDA FOREST SERVICEÂ COURTESY PHOTO)
Hiker walking off trail around a muddy section on Osceola. This common practice causes resource damage and costly repairs. (USDA FOREST SERVICEÂ COURTESY PHOTO)
CAMPTON — The calendar says spring has arrived in the White Mountains. However, New Englanders know there is one more hurdle to get over before hiking gets in full swing — mud season. Mud season is the transitional time between winter and spring when the combination of snow, rain and melt creates very wet conditions. Hiking during this time can have major impacts on trails and fragile ecosystems.
Super saturated soils create deep and wide mud puddles sometimes covering whole sections of trail. These conditions make the trails most susceptible to soil compaction and erosion. Soil compaction reduces the ability for vegetation to grow and the ground to absorb water, causing additional flooding potential. This leads to more erosion exposing rocks and roots.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.