| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, herd path, bushwhack, Garfield Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 11, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Gale River Road is still gated, but is snow free and firm/dry. Winter lot on US 3 still had a few spots left this afternoon, though one person almost blocked everyone in with a very poor job parking (only a few inches of clearance for everyone to get out). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossing one rocks were a few inches submerged, so we took the herd path to the snowmobile trail bridge. We then took the second bridge and bushwhack along the shore back to the trail, but it was unnecessary in hindsight, as the upper crossing was rock hoppable. The top (minor/boulder) crossing was also hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Took out one blowdown. Good sized blowdown remains near the snowmobile trail junction. Lots of unmitigated running water/erosion from failed waterbars/gullying/trail creep/etc. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Lots of human excrement, toilet paper, and baby wipes emerging on the side of the trail from lazy Microspikers over the winter. Unfortunately, dogs tend to eat/roll in this. Really gross situation that could be avoided if people just went off trail to do their business. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few random flies, but nothing of note yet. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Gale River Road walk was bare/firm/mid-summer condition.
Garfield Trail started off snow free/dry. A little mud once down on the roadbed, but then fairly dry again until reaching the gullies. Annoying mud/running water in places from the actively gullying/creeping trail due to lack of drainage.
Monorail started around 2,600 feet in elevation, but disappeared around the ridge/PUD at 3,000 feet (somewhat southern exposure to the descent, as well as running water/etc. Consistent snowpack emerged soon thereafter. Snowshoes went on at 3,400 feet and stayed on until the summit (moved faster with less effort (much better grip than Microspikes) and left the monorail in better shape). Snowpack was generally 2 feet deep with a fairly stable monorail (crumbling in a few undermined places from barebooters; snowshoes didn't posthole at all), increasing to 3 feet above the abandoned Garfield Pond trail (getting softer as the sun hit it).
Full snowpack up the short Garfield Ridge Trail segment to the summit, currently all snow without monorail or ice. Short stretch from Garfield Ridge to the summit was bare ledge. Apparently a barebooter took a wrong turn and ended up in a bit of a pickle in the deep snow (got lost, cellphone died when they called for help, etc.), but eventually made it out with assistance of their friends this afternoon.
Much nicer day than had been forecast a few days ago. Felt like summer for the first 4ish miles. Not as warm as yesterday, but still short sleeve shirt weather whilst moving. Hazier views than yesterday, but still nice. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-04-11 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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