| 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: |
Saturday, February 20, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Easily accessible parking space for 10+ cars at Gale River Loop Road gate. Couple people parked on Rt. 3, not sure I would do that. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Couple leaners on Mount Garfield Trail, easy limbo under. GRT towards Lafayette has some blowdowns but who goes there? And you're 5' up in the treetops anyhow. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Several dogs. Please pick up after though, jeez! |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Garfield was a popular spot today. Several hikers plus a few skinners/skiers. Road walk in as well as almost the entirety of Mount Garfield Trail is pretty tamped down. I spiked up with zero postholing, but kept the snowshoes on from my GRT excursion for the descent. Saw a few more postholes than on the way up, so the snow may be softening. So, spikes probably fine but bring the shoes.
My real mission was to see what Garfield Ridge Trail was like on the way to Lafayette for a possible Garfield + Franconia Ridge hike Monday. Didn't want to even attempt it if there was 7 feet of snow in that col. Much to my surprise the surface was pretty packed with maybe 2 inches of light powder to floof through on the way down to the col. Pretty much the same conditions down there as far as I went, which was not far beyond the pond. Freakin' carwash in places and it'll be somewhat of a fight, but I expected much worse. Coulda knocked me over with a feather. Or a cedar branch to the face. Brought crampons and an ice axe in case I had to fight my way out but needed neither, just the snowshoes were fine. Maybe we'll see what the _rest_ of the trail is like Monday. |
|
 | Name: |
Muench |
|
 | E-Mail: |
erik.coder@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-02-20 |
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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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