Walk Through Mud

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brand new hiking boot stuck deep in mud

My brand new Vasque’s being used correctly. A muddy boot is a good boot. Always walk directly through mud so as not to widen the trail or trample the plants along its edge.

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Spring is mud season, sure — but mud season also repeats after every rain

Here are three great reasons to always walk directly down the middle of every trail, and especially through any mud puddles or water you find on the trail.

  1. it avoids trampling plants on either side of the trail — some plants are exceptionally slow-growing, so walking down the center of a trail is always an act of environmental conservation
  2. it prevents the widening of trails — which happens so quickly!
  3. muddy boots are a badge of adventure!

Some trails are more prone to getting waterlogged than others. Kaaterskill High Peak is famous for its mud. Up high, both Hunter and Sugarloaf have a lot of squelch.

boggy trail
Boggy section on Hunter
rotting trees
Boggy woods on Sugarloaf

And the trail from Route 23 toward Windham High Peak is another spot where a really beautiful route is beginning to widen in several places because people can’t handle a little ick.

As the folks at @nysdec say, “Walk through, not around, mud and water on trails to avoid trampling vegetation and widening trails.”⁣

It’s also fun!

Stick it to the scolds: return home muddy.

Your comments are welcome here…

Hello, I’m Sean

I write independent hiking content to help hikers like you find amazing hikes in the Catskills, Adirondacks, Gunks, Hudson Highlands, Taconics and beyond.

On social media, I’m @TotalCatskills. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

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