| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 29, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The lot at the Garfield end of Gale River Road didn't appear to have been plowed at all this winter, or at least not in a long time. A rather large ice berm blocks the entrance too. I parked at 5 Corners 1/4 mile up Rt. 3. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Everything is still solidly bridged-for now. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A couple large blowdowns in the switchbacks that will need work eventually. For now they are only minor nuisances but will be more so as the snow level drops. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Should be a good one for them. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Calendar winter may be over, but its still wintery in the mountains. A good 4-5 foot snow pack up high. The small ridge near the summer lot is mostly down to bare ground with some ice mixed in. I was able to bareboot to the first crossing, then put the snowshoes on until back to the small ridge near the trailhead. Of the others I saw, 2 were in snowshoes (spent the night at the shelter), 1 was skinning up on skis, and 2 were spiking it up. Lots of evidence of skiers having a ball on the descent yesterday, I think they had the right idea as sledding wasn't working well for me, too gentle a grade. The 2 'spikers were causing only minor damage on their ascent, but I suspect with the warming temps that they made much more of a mess on the way down. Not sure what shape the trail will freeze back into.
I was first up and enjoyed great trail conditions for the ascent. The 2 guys that spent the night at the Garfield Shelter said that finding the shelter was an adventure as they never found the sign (likely buried). I didn't think to ask what Garfield Ridge Trail heading to Galehead looked like. No sign of traffic to Lafayette from the summit. A beautiful day on the summit, 15F with 5mph winds (gusts to 10) on the summit, not a cloud in sight. I had the top to myself thanks to an early start and fast ascent, and actually didn't see anyone until the barebooters at the shelter 1/4-mile sign on my descent. Not sure where everyone was on this gorgeous day. A fast exit hike meant an early return home, yeay! |
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 | Name: |
madmattd |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-03-29 |
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 | Link: |
 https://mattshikes.blogspot.com |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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