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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Galehead Mountain, Mt. Garfield, NH
Trails
Trails: Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Garfield Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 23, 2010
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Gale River Road (east) open.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Going up Gale River Trail, the 1st water crossing was tough without taking off shoes. We went downriver about 100 ft and found a rock-hoppable path via small island in middle. 2ns crossing easy with trees layed over water. Poles mandatory. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Well, its early, there are many blowdowns and some huge trees to remove. I'm sure AMC will be on it. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Bugs were bad at parking lot, fine once we got moving until up on the wet Garfield Ridge trail where we served up a smorgasborg to biting flies. Uncle Bens helped, but I need sweat-proof bug juice. surprised we had no ticks as we had to bushwack quite a lot, TG for small favors. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Left Gale River trailhead at 8:00am, Gale River trail was very enjoyable except for tricky 1st water crossing. Great listening to the river nearly all the way up. Galehead hut in fantastic shape, refreshed our water supply and boogied up to Galehead summit in about 10 minutes, or so it seemed. Nice view from the outlook, but the wooded summit is forgettable. Back to hut and enjoyed pb&j's on porch in the sun and had nice convo with a couple from Boston area. Many Canadians hiking today, must be due to their holiday weekend. Got to use what little French I know!
Quite a slog over Garfield Ridge trail toward Garfield, wet, muddy, snowy, lots of up/down, but after the Garfield Ridge campsite you are rewarded with a unique climb up a rock waterfall! The water has taken over the trail and, I can say that after 42 of the 48 peaks, that I have not run into a chance to get splashed by a waterfall as I climbed. Kay still can't believe it, it was just really fun, and cool water splashing on us felt great on the very hot day!
We buzzed up through the traffic to Garfield summit and enjoyed one of the finest views that the WMV has to offer. Spectacular views all around, too bad we had to share with at least 25 other people.
No drama on the descent down to our spot car at Garfield Trailhead except for the 2 mountain-bikers behind us. We heard their sqealing disc breaks before we saw them, Kay thought it was turkeys, and although I don't know the bikers, it might be that she was right! LOL, kidding if you guys are reading this! They both sincerely apologized for all the racket as we let them by and marveled at their skill and bravado.
Hit the spot car at Garfield trailhead at almost 5:30pm, a full day walking but nice to have a cold Longboard in the cooler for a reward.  
Name
Name: Hikin Ike & Kay 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2010-05-24 
Link
Link: https:// 
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