| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Lafayette, South Twin Mountain, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Skookumchuck Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, bushwhack, Lincoln Brook Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, bushwhack, Twinway, Gale River Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, May 20, 2016 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at Skookumchuck and Gale River trailheads. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings were relatively easy rock hops (sometimes wet with showers on Thursday), including those of Lincoln Brook and Franconia Brook. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Skookumchuck, Franconia Ridge, and the two sections of Garfield Ridge we traveled were in good shape. The northern section of Lincoln Brook (beyond the path to Owl's Head) had a few stepovers and was sometimes muddy, but was in remarkable shape considering the mess it was 5 years ago when I first did it. The sections of Franconia Brook and Twinway, and all of Gale River Trail were in great shape. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one heading up South Twin, and several on Gale River Trail, all enjoying this spectacular Friday. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Very few seen, none on Thursday, a few on Friday. Once we stopped in the Gale River lot, the black flies swarmed... so higher elevations are good, low elevations not so much. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
A pair of sunglasses on Gale River Road (between Gale River and Garfield trailheads), used them on the hike, would be glad to return them if they're yours. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Really got into the wildness with this overnight. Ascended Skookumchuck and Garfield Ridge to Lafayette on Thursday, with showers to the north and south. Dropped down off of Truman into the top of Lincoln Slide, and descended to Lincoln Brook Trail. Mostly walked in the brook bed (wet, cold feet), occasionally skirting around bits in the woods, until taking to the woods to the north of the brook, just before hitting Lincoln Brook. Did an out and back to the path up to Owl's Head (Jake needed redlining bits), then went up over the height of land to 13 Falls for the night (no caretaker yet). Friday saw us hike a ways down Franconia Brook Trail, then we hooked on to the rail grade leading up into Redrock Ravine. Once off the grade, we followed the brook bed (which was mostly dry) and some off and on herd paths up to Bear Pond. From the pond, we whacked around the nose of the ridge that leads south from the Twinway, into the other lobe of the ravine, and climbed the western of the two 1994 vintage slides. The going was loose in part, solid in others, and mostly dry. From the top of the slide, we whacked through thick, steep woods, until hitting the Twinway 0.1 miles later. Decent going over South Twin and down to the hut, off and on ice and monorail, same for the top bit of Gale River Trail. Carried traction but never used it. Thanks to Jake and Sam for a memorable trip through the Pemi! |
|
 | Name: |
Bill Robichaud |
|
 | E-Mail: |
bill.robichaud@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2016-05-20 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
