| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 27, 2013 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Gale River Road closed. Plenty of room just by the gate, there is hardly any snow on the ground and no snowbank at all. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No problem. The first person in today used the bushwhack to the snowmobile bridge and the rest of us followed. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Baxter had a great day and he met Pepper on the trail today. He is turning into a really good hiker |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Conditions are really varied and it is hard to know what to carry. I used microspikes for the road walk, which is a sheet of ice covered with a dusting of powder snow. The trail has no base to it at all. It begins as a dusting of snow with bare ground under. Then the ice starts with a dusting of snow. Then the powdery snow gets deeper and the ice gets more frequent and the microspikes don't really work because there is too much snow. I was carrying my crampons because I have been up Garfield in the winter and have encountered very scary ice on the steep section just before the summit. I was expecting to find that again today. But the Garfield ridge trail has a lot of snow on it, but no base underneath except ice. I put my crampons on about 4 miles into the hike and wore them until about 3 miles from the car. They worked really well, but there were a few spots that you had to watch your foot placement as there are still rocks around. They were the best choice for me for today. Met some fellow hikers Pepper and Me and Silverfox and Val C when Baxter and I were heading down. |
|
 | Name: |
CINDERSMOM |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2013-12-27 |
|
 | 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. |
|
