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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Twin Mountain, South Twin Mountain, Galehead Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Herd paths, Haystack Road, North Twin Trail, North Twin Spur, Twinway, Frost Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Gale River Trail, Gale River Road, Beaver Brook XC ski trails
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 23, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of room at Beaver Brook, husband car spotted us at the end of Little River road, saw 4-5 cars parked across from Seven Dwarfs Motel  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No major issues biggest ones solidly bridged, however some small seeps down low on North Twin trail and Gale River trail have open areas or areas where a barebooter punched through 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Handful of duckunders throughout including a large annoying one on Gale River about a half mile from the ridge, overall nothing crazy for this time of year 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Maddie had a great day - no specific issues for winter hardy dogs 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Barebooted for about 100 feet (to just past the bridge off Little River road where the owners kindly request hikers not wear traction), then snowshoes the rest of the day - trails were all well broken but not consolidated with plenty of sticky snow in the middle of the day.

The newer herd path to Little Haystack road was easy to find - after crossing the bridge, bear left on the snowmobile trail and look for a broken out herd path on the left maybe 100 yards down - this brings you to the road and eventually to the North Twin trailhead.

Snow started getting sticky on the steeps approaching North Twin with the sun and warm temps - followed a track where one hiker switched out of snowshoes before the steep sections (???) and seemed to have a much harder time after as evidenced by divots and significant sliding. Snow started becoming less sticky once in the trees headed down the Twinway, still a bit of an uneven track but still a good cruise down. Uneventful trip to Galehead and out Gale River trail - it was downright balmy sitting on the porch at the hut for a quick break. Saw ski and snowshoe tracks headed up Fire Warden's trail, a few sets of snowshoe prints towards Guyot that were at least a few days old, no sign of recent use on Twin Brook trail and a few sets of snowshoe tracks towards Garfield on the ridge trail. Saw about a dozen other people, fortunately everyone was wearing snowshoes (thank you!!) - if doing these peaks this week wear snowshoes or stay home, anything less will destroy the trails with the warmer weather (plus you'll start to punch through at some crossings), and there's more snow in the forecast later this week. Perfect day for these peaks - thanks Maddie for an awesome day.  
Name
Name: Hikes with Maddie 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-02-23 
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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