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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Garfield, Galehead Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail, Gale River Trail, Gale River Road, Beaver Brook XC ski trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, April 1, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: One car at Garfield winter lot, and one at beaver brook x-country ski area 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Water crossings are manageable with care although ice bridges at lower elevations are easily punched through on Mt. Garfield Trail. Crossings on Gale River Trail were easier, for now.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: 2 large blowdowns at the start of Mt. Garfield Trail 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: none 
Bugs
Bugs: none 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: nothing  
 
Comments
Comments: Cold windy day with a firm packed trail this morning. Four of us spiked up to the summit of Mt. Garfield. Very windy summit with partial views. At the junction of GRT 3 of us put our snowshoes and one in our group only wanted to hike one peak for the day and went back.

Garfield Ridge trail was everything I was expecting and more for this time of year. The tread way was firm with a breakable crust, so breaking trail was not difficult but navigation was challenging off and on and slowed us down a bit. Once at the hut with the winds dying down the sun made it feel downright tropical.

Heading up the Frost trail I was distracted by the views from the deeper snow depths and I got off the trail. We made our way back on track and we once again got off trail, and this time my cheat navigation app didn't load but we just pushed on and came in a bit lower from the east. So Don't Follow the maze-like trail we made, or go ahead and follow it but you've been warned. lol, it's really not that bad.

The x-country bushwhack got us to the car but I definitely wouldn't follow that!

All in all great conditions today, love the cold nights to keep things firm. Didn't see any other hikers at all.

Nice seeing Al early on, excellent day out on this navigating adventure with Rick and Billy.  
Name
Name: Rachel 
E-Mail
E-Mail: ball one three one one at yahoo dot com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-04-01 
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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