Garfield Pond, Mt. Garfield, Galehead Mountain - Gale River Road, FR117, Garfield Trail, herd path, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail, Gale River Trail - 6-26-2016

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Garfield Pond, Mt. Garfield, Galehead Mountain, NH

	Trails:	Gale River Road, FR117, Garfield Trail, herd path, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail, Gale River Trail

	Date of Hike:	Sunday, June 26, 2016

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Parked at the Gale River Trail lot, which was maybe 1/2-full at 8AM. It slightly overflowed onto the side of the road by the afternoon.

	Surface Conditions:	Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

	Recommended Equipment:

	Water Crossing Notes:	Water levels are very low right now, so the one crossing I did on the Garfield Trail (skipped one due to using FR117) and the one Gale River Trail crossing were trivial.

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	The main trails are in pretty solid shape. There is one 8-10" leaner on the Garfield Trail just above the bottom switchback, not really an issue though. Garfield Ridge Trail is what it always is, no obstructions other than the usual rock fest on the Garfield summit cone. Gale River Trail is in good shape, and the reroute from a few years ago was bone-dry, so either that finally has set up, or it is just because it is so darn dry out there!

	Dog-Related Notes:	I actually only saw a single dog on this hike. No water along the ridge, so bring extra for your canine friend.

	Bugs:	The black flies were pretty terrible atop Garfield and at the ledges near the top of East Garfield Ridge. In the woods, they were mostly a non-issue, especially if moving. A few deer flies were out and about at the hut.

	Lost and Found:


	Comments:	My first time doing this combo solo, so I decided to check out FR117, as it can be used to short-cut the road walk. From Gale River Road to the first logging landing where the road turns was wide open and easy walking. From the landing (which had a propane tank farm on one side, staging area for the hut maybe?), the traverse towards the Garfield Trail is getting rather overgrown with young saplings and the occasional raspberry bush. Below the second landing, where the road turns right (downhill) and enters the woods over to the Garfield Trail was easy cruising again, with an occasional blowdown to climb over. All in all, not a bad way to shorten the day, my estimate is that it cuts off close to 1 mile versus doing the road walk, though it looks to be less than that on topos. One at the upper switchbacks on the Garfield Trail, I decided to check out Garfield Pond. The old trail corridor is obvious and aside from a few very brief overgrown spots, is easily followed to the shore of the pond. This is a neat spot, very cool. From the pond, I followed faint herd paths/straight-up bushwhacked around to the Lafayette side, where near the Garfield Ridge Trail there are tons of beaten campsites and herd paths. I've only been on this side of the Garfield Ridge Trail once before, nearly 16 years ago, so I didn't remember all the ledges and scrambles between the pond and the summit cone, but boy those were a workout! Only a couple people at the summit, but only minimal breeze and the black flies were pretty terrible, both swarming and biting, so I didn't hang out too long. The descent of the summit cone to the Franconia Brook junction was obnoxious as this section always is; along the way I checked out the Garfield Shelter, so nice to see that people are respecting the sign asking to NOT carve into the logs of the new shelter. After the roller-coaster section where I encountered the first day-hikers of the day, I arrived at a nearly deserted hut! A nice break was taken here on the porch before the short climb to Galehead's summit and the long, but fairly easy walk out. Surprisingly quiet on the trails on this hike overall, and until the afternoon the number of backpackers (mostly weekenders and AT section-hikers) grossly out-numbered the number of day-hikers. I think I saw at most 40 people on the whole hike, all scattered about, and most near the hut and on the Gale River Trail heading up for the night as I headed out. Considering it was a sunny summer weekend day along the AT, that's pretty darn quiet. Apparently everyone hikes on Saturdays only.

	Name:	madmattd

	E-Mail:

	Date Submitted:	2016-06-27

	Link:	https://
		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.