| 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: |
Thursday, April 10, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Gale River Road closed. Small parking area on Gale River Loop road is accessible (though muddy/slushy). No trouble parking. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Slush |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Both major crossings still bridged... minor brook crossing between the two open but easily rock-hoppable. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Several blowdowns at beginning of trail (along the little ridge). A few that you need to go around, a couple to duck under. Rest of the trail fairly clear other than a few other duck-under trees. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Kirby had a great time - trail was solid enough to hold her 75-lb weight (except for a couple of minor postholes midway). |
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 | Bugs: |
Not even a snowflea to be seen. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Beautiful, sunny day for a good snowshoe! Meant to start early, but had a few things come up so ended up parking the car at the "crack of noon". 1.2 miles to summer trailhead were well-packed, though a bit slushy. First half mile of trail proper were a mixture of bare ground and ice - minor traction was good to have here. Once the trail met the original logging road route, snow depth became deeper and deeper. Switched to snowshoes at the first stream crossing and stuck with them to the top. 50+ degree day was making the snow quite soft. At the junction of the Garfield Ridge trail, snow was 3 feet deep on either side of the trail. Last pitch to the top was crusty and no trouble with snowshoe crampons. Hit the bare summit rocks at 3PM... wind was whipping a bit, but the bright sunshine and cool lenticulars floating around the Presidential range made for a nice relaxing lunch in the sun behind the foundation. Layered up for the only time of the day... the rest of the ascent/decent was done in short sleeves. Left summit at 4PM, did small bushwhack on abandoned Garfield Pond loop trail to check out the views from the pond. Back to car by 6:30 - snowshoes stayed on until I reached the bridges. |
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 | Name: |
NeoAkela |
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 | E-Mail: |
neoakela@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-04-10 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.whitemountainimages.org |
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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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