| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, Owl's Head, Galehead Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Lincoln Brook Trail, bushwhack, Twin Brook Trail, Frost Trail, Gale River Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, November 21, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Only car at Garfield Tr @5am, 3 cars at Gale River Tr @ 7pm |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing at 13 falls is a hop with poles currently or a low wade, got my shoes wet on the way to Owls Head; kept them dry on the way back. The crossings farther up Lincoln and Franconia Brook Trs from 13 falls are both easy rock hops |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All trails in good condition |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Bugs: |
N/A |
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 | Lost and Found: |
N/A |
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|
 | Comments: |
A long 21 mile day with Liam Cooney to work on our November grids where we started and finished in the dark and saw 3 people all day. 2 on Owls Head summit and 1 coming up Gale River Tr in the dark. Garfield Ridge Tr was a combination of wet/dry tr with minor/signifcant mud in some spots down low and snow/ice creeping in about 3200-3500' and we eventually put on microspikes for the last mile to the jct as it became very icy in some spots but still bony in others. Lots of snow on the summit cone of Garfield above the jct, decreasing below the jct and becoming very spotty below the section where the trail is a waterfall that had some thick ice. Kept the spikes on down to the jct w/Franconia Brook Tr @3200' from which we barebooted the rest of the day. Large patches of ice on the first mile where the trail follows a streambed and dry/wet rock; decently muddy on the flatter mile down to 13 Falls. We went up to 2800' on Lincoln Brook Tr and started whacking uphill until we hit an old logging road that we followed to about 3500' at which point we angled up to the ridge and then followed the herd path from the North knob to the summit. Took a similar route down except we angled farther NE after dropping down off the old logging road to shave a little milage off. Snow reappeared at 3500' on Twin Brook Tr; brought spikes but was able to bareboot up to the summit of Galehead. The section of Garfield Ridge Tr from the hut to Gale River Tr is pretty tricky with several sections of blue/black ice and we carefully barebooted but might want spikes for the last 0.2 to the hut. Gale River Tr has a few patches of ice and some mud but is mostly dry. |
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 | Name: |
Heat Lightning |
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 | E-Mail: |
ecs@mountainlogworks.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-11-21 |
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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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