| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Galehead Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Beaver Brook XC ski trail, bushwhack, Gale River North Road (FR25), South Gale River Road (FR92), Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, April 5, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Park at Beaver Brook Picnic Area parking lot on US Rte 3. Take cross country ski trail to VERY short bushwhack (marked with a sign) to Gale River North Road FR25 to South Gale River Road (FR92) to Gale River Trail trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Countless water crossings,- some snow bridged, mostly open. All easy to cross as hop overs, walk through on rocks, or walk through. No deep water. Snow bridges have and are breaking down, no doubt accelerated by booters. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Didn't see a sign for Frost Trail to Galehead summit.
Route needs brushing, especially at higher elevations, and especially the Frost Trail.
Several trees laying on or leaning across trails that need removal. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Only issue might be some water crossings where rocks are ice covered |
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 | Bugs: |
One Spider |
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 | Lost and Found: |
1 Broken off red snowshoe crampon tooth from my MSR.
1 Broken off red snowshoe crampon tooth frozen into ice (not mine) |
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|
 | Comments: |
Clear sky, becoming progressively overcast later. Low temp we measured before dawn was 13dF, rising to high 30s later.
Started in the dark, snow was very firm and crunchy. MICROspikes would have worked the whole way, we used snowshoes (forgot spikes) and they worked fine also. Some of the route on Beaver Brook cross country ski trail was snow or ice patches or low snow or ice monorail.
We saw very few postholes and the trails did not look "rototilled" by booters. Higher up where snow is deeper, there is a snowshoe trench up to Galehead Hut, but no trench down low.
Initial route had little snow with mostly bare ground, some snow patches, some sections of monorail, a lot of leaves. FR25 and FR92 were mostly down to bare gravel. Soon after the Gale River Trail trailhead, nearly continuous snow appeared on the trail. The many water crossings were all easily and quickly crossed, water was low. No technically difficult portions of the route.
Sign for Garfield Ridge Trail where it meets Gale River Trail was nearly buried in snow.
Portions of Frost Trail would not be obvious as to location if it was first time on it.
A mated pair of Grey Jays at the Galehead Hut waiting for human food. Didn't see any other wildlife and no evidence of moose being around.
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 | Name: |
Ice |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-04-06 |
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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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