| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Hawthorne Falls (attempt), Mt. Garfield, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Trail, bushwhack, Garfield Ridge Trail, abandoned trail, Garfield Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 10, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Gale River Trailhead nearly full at 8am this morning. Garfield Trailhead had cars all up and down the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
all were rock-hoppable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
no issues |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Did this loop as a bike-spot - left my bike at Garfield Trailhead. VERY slippery above about 3000' due to light coating of snow - YAY - Winter is on its way!!!!
This was my first attempt at finding Hawthorne Falls - didn't find it but did find Little Hawthorne Falls and many BEAUTIFUL cascades along the way. I took Gale River Trail up to about 2200' at the river crossing at the end of the Gale River Trail re-route. From there, I bushwhacked up the east side of the stream finding many beautiful cascades and small waterfalls. Occasionally I came upon the old trail but it was so obscured with rotted blowdowns and large rocks with deep holes that I had to keep cutting uphill from the stream to make any headway at all. There were MANY very tight spindly areas with thick trees and I made little progress.
Around 3000' I kept coming to many small streams and I took the wrong route thinking I was on the main stream but I was not. I had a good sense of where the main falls were but I could not get close to that area - everything was REALLY slick with icy wet logs and rocks, so I missed the main falls :(
I then went to the summit of Garfield and down towards Garfield Pond, poked around the old shelter site and took the old trail on the north side of the pond and headed for the Garfield Trail which was an easy jog back to my bike. NOTE: the old trail (not sure of its name) near Garfield Pond has many large pools that require bushwacking around, especially near the outlet of the pond. Very brushy in spots but easy enough to follow.
A fine day out there for exploring!!!!! Tremendous views and fabulous foliage as well as white-capped nearby peaks!!!! |
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 | Name: |
Becca Munroe |
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 | E-Mail: |
beccahiker@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-10-10 |
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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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