| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Hawthorne Falls, Mt. Garfield, Garfield Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Trail, bushwhack, Garfield Ridge Trail, bushwhack, Garfield Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 21, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Room to park at the trailheads on the Gale River Loop Road, campsites along road looked full |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock hop-able |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Ugly new Coma signs have replaced the old AMC logo trailhead signs |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
why not |
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 | Bugs: |
very few, quite pleasant, guess they don't like the heat either |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
It was a hot one! I left my car at the Garfield Trailhead and I rode with Adam to the Gale River Trail. We hiked a couple miles and when we crossed the first serious brook, the West Fork North Branch Gale River, we followed its banks into the woods. We stuck to the east side of the brook since there are sections that seem like they could have been the old trail from long ago but probably our imaginations. Bushwhacking was pretty good, few tight places but some crazy rocks covered with moss here and there. The brook bed just got more wonderful the higher we followed it, big wide open granite slabs, cool views up to Flat Mt's cliffs, small falls and plenty of lovely cascades but when we reached the Hawthorne Falls it was a Wow moment. We were actually on almost to the top of the falls and then backtracked to gain access to the brook. Water was at a level that was great for allowing us to get right up to the pool at the foot of the falls on dry ledge. We went swimming and it was refreshing. Higher water levels and we wouldn't have been able to hang out right in the middle of the brook bed. We we decided to continue to whack up stream and stayed east of the drainage and followed my compass to hit the Garfield Ridge Trail. While on top of Mt. Garfield the clouds cleared right before our eyes and we got big vista of the whole Pemi and beyond, super lucky. We descended to the Garfield Pond and bushwhacked/herd path around the east side of the pond all the way to intersect the Garfield Trail. |
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 | Name: |
Nordic Gal, Teal Goat |
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 | E-Mail: |
amybike@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-07-22 |
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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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