Submitted by Albinkiiii t3_10xjvh1 in newhampshire
Coming from Oklahoma. I’ve hiked all over the west, and now I want to hike NH, VT, and ME. I’ve heard a lot of notorious mud season, but by May do things usually smooth over? How much will mud season interfere if I stay off the unpaved roads beyond when I go hiking?
I have hiked in NH in every month of the year. May (especially early May) is probably the worst time of the entire year to hike in the White Mountains which I assume is where you're planning to go. The trails will be a mix of mud and rotten monorail. Personally I don't find it enjoyable and tend to stick to lower elevation hikes like the Belknap range in May but it's doable. Just make sure you have microspikes. They're a must that time of year. Also don't plan on being able to use any of the trails around ravines in the presis. Tuckermans will still certainly be closed.
If possible, I would recommend coming during the summer. August/September are the most pleasant months to hike in NH IMO.
Yes. Deceptively dangerous. Do not attempt unless you are serious about hiking and are well versed in survival skills.
This is a bit much.
Really?!?
OP: I live in Oklahoma. (The flattest fucking place in North America with very predictable weather. ) Is it safe for me to hike in NH (one of the muddiest, rocky places in N America with variable weather conditions) in May?
My answer: be fucking careful because some people fuck up this equation and die. ( few people a year.)
Yeah, really.
To be exact ‘well versed in survival skills’. You don’t have to have that skill set to go on a hike in any of those locations in May.
Be careful and it’s deceptive sure. But people here want to make it sound like this guy is summiting Everest in winter.
Its kind of an “if you have to ask you shouldn’t do it” situation. I only saying that OP should be well prepared. People die hiking in NH all the time.
There can be a big change from early May to late May.
In general, I’d say weather should be mild (but that’s not a guarantee) while a lot of trails will be pretty muddy. Some snow will be lingering around at higher elevations too. I’m very much a fair weather hiker and tend to save bigger hikes until after Memorial Day.
If you do hike in May, just make sure to stay on the trail even if it means walking through the mud. A lot of habitat damage happens when enough people step off trail to avoid mud. This is especially true in the alpine zone.
As others have said it will depend on a few factors but in any given year it is completely normal and expected to not just encounter mud, but overflowing streams, ice, and stubborn snowpack. April and May are generally unpleasant for hiking.
The term hiking varies to each person. Also, where exactly are you looking at? Depending where it’s possible to still get an avalanche in areas and feet of snow/tons of runoff. Stay south of Concord and you’ll be fine.
Edit: words
If you’re talking the whites, be prepared for cold/windy/snowy/icy conditions above tree line. The trails will be very muddy and slippery before that elevation.
If you’re talking a nature walk in Southern NH, than it won’t be mud season by mid May, but it will be black fly season which is pretty miserable.
As one who has done a considerable amount of trail maintenance in my life I urge anyone and everyone to be very careful on the trails in April and May, with a preference to avoiding them if possible. Muddy trails are not just an inconvenience to hikers, but are much more susceptible to damage during the spring thaw. Water bars get damaged, pathways wash out, etc.
Others have noted the weather can be variable and there is danger in the woods at that time of year. I don't care if you make a stupid decision and die on a mountain, just don't wreck the trail while you're at it.
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Really depends where and what elevation. You can't really get a generalization around the whole area correct until July.
It’s going to be very dependent on how the weather has been and when the snow melted. It’s usually wet and muddy though. Alternatively, if it’s muddy, water features are usually more impressive so hiking in the mud is often worth it, depending on the trail.
Mays the best time to hike to me.
Bugs? It’s NH use spray, walk fast, and just deal with it lol.
Weathers nice, cool mornings, warm days, long sun hours. Ideal to hiking to me, nothing worse than a 97 degree humid day.
Bring microspikes. Be prepared for changing weather
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Mud and potentially snow. Not to mention black flies. Maybe the worst time to hike.
Lol that must be why it’s the cheapest plane tickets :(
TJsName t1_j7stzio wrote
Possibly. The black flies come out around Mother's Day, and crossings can be swollen with melt water. Really depends and what your are looking to do. If you are flexible there are lots of good options.