| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Twin Mountain, North Twin Mountain, Galehead Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Beaver Brook XC ski trail, Gale River Road, Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Twinway, North Twin Spur, Frost Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 28, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Beaver Brook XC ski lot was plowed but very icy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Not fully ice bridged, but close. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I recollect one duck under on the XC ski trail and a duck under on Gale River Trail, as well as some blowdown in the col between the Twins that could make navigation tricky this winter. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Very little snow down low - only an inch or two from the parking lot until just past the viewpoint on the Gale River Trail. Way too bony for snowshoes at this elevation today, but there is enough snow filled into the rocks/roots that it could be snowshoed with a moderate storm.
I put snowshoes on a tenth or so above the Gale River Trail viewpoint (and wore them all the way back to this point with no issue), when the snowpack quickly went from a few inches to over a foot. Up on the ridges, it was closer to 2 to 3 feet. The few other folks seen were Microspiking, but unfortunately installing some new postholes between the Twins (quite a few knee deep). Only encountered a few blue ice patches - one tricky one on Twinway and a couple minor ones on North Twin Spur. Twinway snowpack has filled in nicely, permitting good snowshoeing.
Frost Trail had a couple of short bony/icy patches, but I found the longer span of snowshoe traction to be better than having to monkey around the woods in Microspikes.
There is a trough established heading west on Garfield Ridge, as well as north on North Twin, but neither appeared to be as packed out as this out and back route.
Somewhat mild temperatures today, probably hovering in the 30s. A touch of cold wind on South and North Twin, but not enough to move you around. Summits were initially in the clouds to start, but cleared as the afternoon progressed. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-12-28 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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