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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Garfield, NH
Trails
Trails: Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, January 3, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Gale River Road closed/gated. Winter lot was not plowed, but with only a couple of inches of snow and no large snowbank, it was accessible today. Found a spot early, but it filled up. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None of the main crossings were fully ice bridged, but all 2-3 (depending upon how you count the first one) were rock hoppable with care. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Took out a few minor blowdowns. A few leaners/stepovers remain. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Gale River Road had a couple of inches of snow on top of what looked to be plenty of black ice. The snow had a decent moisture content to it, so one could generally bareboot without slipping on the ice. Nevertheless, barebooting (which I did for this stretch) was more work than it would have been to use snowshoes or skis.

The Garfield Trail had only an inch of snow on the initial softwood ridge (as is often the case in winter for this stretch). Initially 2-3 inches of powder once down off the ridge. I barebooted up to 2,500 feet, at which point I was spinning my wheels too much (and Microspikes would have been vexing due to snowballing from the moisture, as I saw with others later in the day). It was generally okay snowshoeing up to around 4,000 feet (some rocks, some seeps, some slush, but generally 3-4 inches of powder), around which point snowshoes were ideal. Had one Microspiker asking about brands models, while another was expressing regret that they hadn't brought their snowshoes. A few folks brought and were using snowshoes. Prior to the junction, there were areas where the powder was 6-8" deep with a frozen base underneath.

The steeps up Garfield Ridge were fine with snowshoes this morning before the bareboot brigades arrived. Snowshoes kept the new snow packed in place, so any underlying ice was not an issue. If my packed track survived, it would set up overnight and be a good base for future users. Who knows what this will look like by the end of the day with people slip-sliding and buttsliding with bareboots and spikes.

Quiet ascent with an early start (summit to myself with a nice northern undercast), but lots of folks ascending later in the morning. Sunny start, but clouds built in by lunchtime. A little bit of wind up top, but otherwise fairly moderate temperatures. Hopefully we'll have real winter snowpack/conditions soon.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-01-03 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
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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