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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Twin Mountain, South Twin Mountain, Galehead Mountain, Mt. Garfield, NH
Trails
Trails: Herd path, North Twin Trail, North Twin Spur, Twinway, Frost Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Garfield Trail, Gale River Road
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, March 7, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Gale River Road closed. We parked at Gale River side where Garfield Trial comes out - it is not freshly plowed but manageable with plenty of space. There was one car there when we parked, none when we left. We then got a ride to the end of Little River Road - we saw one car pull in as we took off. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The herd path avoids the first two crossings on North Twin Trail and the third crossing is well bridged. No issues with water anywhere else, everything on Garfield is bridged. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A blowdown on North Twin Trail and a few things on Garfield Ridge, nothing that isn't easily avoidable. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Well, we have done it! 48 mountains in 1 winter - a big goal! We got a later start than planned as the taxi had another pick up before us. We started out on a fresh trail. We used microspikes from the start, everything is in great shape. The Twins summits were very windy when we were there but the clarity was excellent today! There is some drifting between the two, but nothing major as long as you stayed on the hard pack to the best of your ability. We descended South Twin with no issues, it is also in great shape. From the hut to Galehead was a little wind blown, but still in great shape. When we reached the junction of Gale River and Garfield Ridge we switched to snowshoes. This section of trail has been traveled and you can clearly see the trail however, it is by no means packed out or a sidewalk like the majority of conditions we saw today. Apart from the taxing terrain after a long trek in there were no issues. It does not look like anyone has been to the campsite recently or over the ridge to Franconia Range (Twin Brook Trail and Franconia Brook Trail also look untouched). But, once hitting the junction with Garfield Trail you can tell a significant difference in use, we were once again on a sidewalk. The summit was extremely windy which didn't allow us to celebrate for long. We switched back to microspikes and headed out on Garfield Trail which is in excellent shape. Towards the end, around the river crossings, it gets icy, but with the spikes we had no issues. The road is snowmobile packed for a small section and then the final road walk is a hiker monorail. It was an incredible day to finish on with beautiful weather and wonderful conditions. Now... what shall be our next goal?!  
Name
Name: A & A 
E-Mail
E-Mail: annieo23@comcast.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-03-07 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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