As winter begrudgingly, and in many cases, unpredictably gives way to spring, local experts caution that it is one of the most precarious times of the year to take to the trails, especially higher elevation routes that comprise some of the most popular trails locally.

Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) Communications Director Sara Cook said that looks can be deceiving, especially for people visiting from further away.

“There may not be any snow on the ground in people’s backyards where they are right now,” she said. “But up in the High Peaks, we definitely still have feet of snow on the summits.”

ADK’s High Peaks Information Center offers some of the most up-to-date reports sourced from first-hand accounts from the backcountry. Sam Fairchild, who was staffing the center Monday afternoon, said there is still between 4 to 6 feet of snow at the highest summit levels.

Fairchild added that the snow’s quality is precarious. Rapidly-fluctuating temperatures have resulted in an unstable snowpack that is more prone to slide, as well as causing some hikers to sink down, even while wearing snowshoes.

“It’s going to be some of that pretty unstable, kind of rotting snow,” he said. “Definitely still going to need those snowshoes or skis. It’s going to be super post-hole prone.”

Cook added that the snow composition can take on differing characteristics by the hour, meaning that hikers may endure very different trail conditions than what they started with.

“Even though the mornings might be cold and frozen, as temperatures warm throughout the day, that gets slushy or softer,” she said.

At lower elevations, Fairchild said it was a potpourri of conditions.

“You see everything from muddy trails, standing water, slippery ice … as well as deep snow,” he said.

Fairchild warned people to be especially careful in planning — and potentially reconsidering — attempting any routes that have water crossings, which he said are running high and prone to sudden changes.

“A lot of places are seeing some flooding and the drainages that we have here in the High Peaks are especially quick-rising with the rain that we just got,” he said. “A lot of the water crossings are going to be blown out or maybe even impassable right now.”

One ominous harbinger of water danger, Cook said, is Johns Brook Lane, which services “The Garden,” a popular trailhead in Keene Valley. The access road sustained significant damage from high waters on Monday and is temporarily closed as a result. She said it will likely take several days for the road to be repaired.

“Even just getting (to these trails) is not recommended — or possible — right now,” she said of The Garden.

Cook and Fairchild recommended that people thinking of venturing into the High Peaks consider lower elevation trails instead, as well as hikes outside of the Adirondacks, where trails have had more of a chance to melt and drain their snowpack, resulting in a relatively safer route.

For those who do plan to head into the backcountry, Fairchild said plan ahead and prepare for cold weather.

“You should still be prepared for hypothermic conditions,” he said. “Pack like you would for a full-on winter hike. Something I always do is to take enough gear that would allow me to survive the night should something happen. I take a stove, a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad — everything like that.”

He added that snowshoes or skis — which are required by state law to be worn in the High Peaks Wilderness if the snow depth on the side of the trail is greater than 8 inches — are still needed, even if there isn’t much snow at the trailhead.

“There might not be enough snow for snowshoes at the very start of your hike,” he said. “But then as you get up high, there’s going to be lots of snow.”

For more information on safety tips, visit adk.org.