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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Garfield, NH
Trails
Trails: Gale River Trail, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, December 9, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Space for about 6 cars. Additional cars could park off of the sides of the parking area. Parking lot was icy and rutted, so a smaller vehicle without AWD may have some issues getting in/out. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Water crossings are not completely bridged yet, but were still easy to cross. Ice was pretty thick and we used our trekking poles to test it before placing weight. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There are a few blowdowns in the last few switchbacks on Garfield Trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: No pups seen today! Did see an adorable mink and lots of signs of moose though! 
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: It was a gorgeous day on Garfield. We only saw a group of two other people.

Monorail is stable, but if you step off of it you will posthole (but only to your ankle or so). Our snowshoes came along for the ride. Microspikes aren't a bad idea for the more icy sections of trail. Speaking of ice, there are beautiful ice formations on the trees from about 3500' on. Luckily, the trees are not currently weighed down and bending over the trail.

The final stretch on Garfield Ridge Trail is very icy and slippery. Traction is strongly recommended here. It does not look like anyone has continued onto Garfield Campsite for quite a while. The trail going east was not broken out at all.

Gale River Loop Road is unfortunately a bit of a mess right now. It required more concentration than most of the actual hiking trail.  
Name
Name: Erin Reynolds 
E-Mail
E-Mail: erincreynolds@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-12-10 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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