This is a sad and cautionary tale about hiking alone in winter conditions, regardless of your age and physical fitness.

The search for 22-year-old Leo DuFour has been reclassified as a “recovery operation” by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation after more than a week of active searching for him.

He apparently was headed for Allen Mountain, perhaps the most difficult of the Adirondack 46 4,000-footers, due to a) length of approach (5 miles on a marked trail); b) another 3-plus miles along an unmarked “herd path,” which can be difficult to find even in summer; and c) the last mile of which is a steep rock slab/slide, which is extremely slippery in “good” conditions, and downright dangerous when covered in ice. There are very good reasons this is often, by choice, the last peak aspiring 46’ers attempt. Even a trip to the summit of much closer, lower Mt. Adams could have proved challenging.

Beyond the difficulty of the approach and ascent, winter snows can easily double the necessary travel time, and can confuse your sense of direction on such a little- or not-traveled, unmarked trail.

A herd path, in snow, untraveled, looks like plain woods — there are no trail markers up on the trees. Especially when trying to follow a herd-path, or otherwise bushwhacking, in winter, safety dictates that you should have at least a group of four, so that if one is injured, two go together for help (and one stays with the victim). At least the two going for help should be able to backtrack, although this could be a problem if it’s snowing heavily.  All should be equipped to spend a night in the snow, in the woods, and have snowshoes and microspikes at the bare minimum. Be ready to tend to your own needs, as your phone may not reach anyone.

If your experience is limited, and companions aren’t available, save the hike for safer summer or early fall completion. The mountain will still be there when you can, more safely.

Bill Thurber

Middlebury

Editor’s note: The writer completed the ADK 46 highest peaks in 2006, and the Northeast 111 (or 115) in early 2009. See more about his hikes on the YouTube channel vtboomer.

The information on the search for Leo DuFour is from the Dec. 9 edition of the Albany Times-Union.