| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, January 13, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking area just before the Gale River bridge on Rt.3 is plowed but put your spikes on before you get out and try to stand up. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
On first large crossing, went upstream about a tenth and found bridge on logging road. After crossing bridge, logging road immediately popped back onto trail.
On second crossing, I tried the same tactic, but after a couple tenths found a log to shimmy across on.
On the return trip, I decided to try out this crossing with garbage bags trick. (I love ideas that sound crazy and work!!) For a first try, it didn't go too bad. I accidently made a couple small holes in the bags during the crossing, so a cup or so got in, but I was 98% dry and I didn't waste a half hour walking the stream bank. So will try to find more durable bags for next attempt. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Cut out a couple medium stepovers, and a small one. Still a couple left. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Not great conditions, but certainly do-able if you need Garfield.
It was beater spikes all the way today. If they weren't beater spikes already, they will be when you get done.
Road walk is 1.2 miles each way, add 300ft elevation. You'll go over 4 bridges before you reach the trailhead, crunching on hardpack and frozen footsteps. First part of trail is bare, but soft organics. Once past the water crossings, you start getting into the spring conditions, often the trail resembles a small shallow brook. You'll be picking through rocks, sometimes there's ice between them, other times water, other times just dirt. It was probably 4 miles in before the snow cover got stable, and then you were picking your way thru 3' deep post holes, primarily on the outer edges of the monorail. What snow there was was hard and supportive, so spikes stayed on and snowshoes went for a ride today. The wind was really howling for awhile there, so when I got to the last .2 steeps, I put crampons on before climbing it (to avoid gear change in the wind). Turns out could have spiked it pretty easily and the wind was calm when I got on top. So if you don't hear wind when you get to that .2, it's because there actually isn't any. I think it I just got the timing perfect, because the wind was howling again later on the descent. No views today, all socked in. That spooky frozen foundation up there looks like something out of a sci fi movie. #29 for the old man. Previous reports greatly appreciated. |
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 | Name: |
Steve Marion |
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 | E-Mail: |
swampfoxsteve@gmail |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-01-13 |
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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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