| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Galehead Mountain, South Twin Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Road, Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail, Twinway |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 19, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Five Corners in the sandy pullout beside Trudeau Road and Route 3. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossing of tributaries of the Gale River on rocks some of which were submerged. Take care on snow/ice near the brooks as they may give way. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails in good condition. One tree across Gale River Trail just uphill from the clearing overlooking the Gale River (the one with the big rock). At today's snow depth the tree can be straddled. The diameter is about 8-10". Smaller trees leaning in to Garfield Ridge Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None today. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few flying but not a problem this early in the season. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found one LL Bean snowshoe. Brought it out of the woods to the trailhead kiosk on fire road 92. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Boots without traction were fine for the fire roads and the beginning of the Gale River Trail. Used microspikes when the trail was mostly snow covered but I was crushing through the weak monorail. Switched to snowshoes and gaiters for breaking the trail on the relocated section of the Gale River Trail. This avoided crossing Gale Brook. The crossings of the tributary brooks was not too difficult although one can't rely on the snow/ice bridges. The monorail was firmer in the upper portions of the Gale Brook headwall and higher elevations although postholingoccured often if one strays from the trail midline. There was running water on the Gale Brook Trail at the lower reaches of the snow line.
Saw one group of three hikers who were hiking the North Twin, South Twin, Galehead loop. Otherwise there was nobody in the area. A great 360 degree view from South Twin with peaks from Maine to Vermont visible. Rock ledges bare at South Twin summit and by the Galehead Hut. There are two large plastic tanks by the start of the Frost Trail. Perhaps a septic system to be installed at the hut? |
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 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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 | E-Mail: |
WAUMBEK at Roadrunner dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-04-19 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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