| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, 13 Falls, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Bike path, herd paths, Skookumchuck Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Twin Brook Trail, Frost Trail, Gale River Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 21, 2012 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Spotted at Gale River lot, then parked at Gov. Gallen Bridge lot. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All were rock hoppable. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Plan B due to higher winds and worse forecast than expected.
Last minute decision while spotting to try the old Skook Trail. Parked at Gallen Bridge lot (not particularly big, but plenty of room first thing in the morning), then took the bike path north to the Skook crossing. Saw an obvious herdpath down the embankment to the northeast side of the brook, but then it disappeared...pushed through open woods to an old snowmobile trail, then found the old trail just above it, which then made its way down to the brook. Good going all the way up to the current route.
Wet, slippery rock on Garfield Ridge Trail. Both of us took falls. Normal cascade of water down the trail below Garfield camp site made for slow going.
Upper Franconia Brook Trail was also slow going, due to wet rocks and plenty of mud and running water. Camp sites caretaker setup closed for year.
Twin Brook Trail was okay down low, but monotonous higher up with less than savory footing in places. Decided to skip Galehead, as it wasn't needed and light rain was starting. Galehead Hut boarded up for winter.
Garfield Ridge Trail from there to Gale River Trail was much nicer than I remember it (still not an awesome trail, don't get me wrong), thanks to some newish rock staircases.
Gale River reroute was a mudpit. There were a few more rock features installed since my last trip on it last December, but still pretty mucky going.
Pretty much all of the leaves in the area of this hike are down. No snow or ice encountered. Thank you to Bryan for humoring this shameless redlining hike. |
|
 | Name: |
rocket21 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2012-10-21 |
|
 | 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. |
|
