~ Useful Links ~
- Emergency phone number: DEC Dispatch: 833-NYS-RANGERS (833-697-7264).
If you have an emergency where a forest ranger is needed, call 911 and ask for DEC Forest Ranger assistance or call DEC Dispatch directly. Though there is no cell service in many places we go, DEC can often ping a phone to determine its location, helping rangers and emergency services to respond quickly, so it can be worthwhile to carry your cellphone on outings. - Wilderness First Aid & Survival
Each participant in a Canes outing should carry a first aid kit with basic supplies and an emergency kit that would enable him or her to survive a night out, including a flashlight, knife, fire starting tools and an emergency mylar blanket. Here is a useful link to wilderness first aid basics. Wilderness first aid training courses are offered by the Red Cross. Survival info is available on many websites.
Hiking on hot and humid days can be dangerous, leading to heat stroke. While heat exhaustion can be countered by hydration and rest, heat stroke cannot be successfully treated in the backcountry and can be fatal. As a guideline, experts say to avoid hiking when the predicted heat index approaches 105. - Adirondack Backcountry Conditions
Conditions of trails, bridges and parking are updated by DEC weekly at Adirondack Backcountry Conditions and Adirondack backcountry info by region - Black Fly Season & Bites
This blog article lays out the essential facts on black flies, their bites and treatments. Other articles on the website describe the author's favorite Adirondack and Catskill hikes. - Current Weather Conditions
NYS Mesonet is a network of weather stations across the state that measure temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, pressure, solar radiation, snow depth, and soil information. - Weather Forecast
The National Weather Service publishes 7-day forecasts for any location in the Northeast (and the entire US). To select a location, find the map on our default forecast page. You can zoom or drag the map and then click on the location of interest to get the forecast. The link to the Forecast Discussion under Additional Forecasts and Information will provide detailed information about temperature, rainfall, snowfall and winds for the area that includes the selected location. - Air Quality
Wild fires in Canada and the western US can cause hazy skies and may also affect ground-level air quality. If smoke from wildfires is confined to higher altitudes in the atmosphere, skies appear hazy, but the air that people breathe near the surface is not tainted. When smoke is unable to lift and remains closer to the surface, air quality issues arise. AirNow reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), a color-coded index designed to communicate whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy for you. AQI for Adks - Winter Precipitation
The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center publishes a map showing probability of winter precipitation over the next 24, 48, and 72 hours. - Mountain Summit Forecasts
The National Weather Service publishes short-term weather forecasts for mountain summits in NY and Vermont, including hourly forecasts of temperature, wind chill, precipitation and sky cover. - NY Hunting Seasons
DEC publishes links with full information about all the rules and season dates for hunting in NY as well as maps. - Vermont Hunting Seasons
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department publishes season dates for hunting in Vermont - NY Topo Map
An interactive topo map. Select the layer you want, such as landscape, trails or backroads, and then zoom the map. It is also searchable by place name throughout the US. - First Wilderness Heritage Corridor
Hiking, biking, canoeing, history and culture in Warren and nearby Hamilton counties. - NY Water Levels
All stream gages in New York State.
