| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Twin Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Twinway |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, November 18, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Gate was still open. Expect this to change in the coming days, if it hasn't already. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There's been a lot of water draining off the mountains lately. As such, the wider water crossings are going to slow you down a fair bit. Obviously, be careful to stay dry -- avoid hypothermia. In all areas once things start going upward, there's enough snow that if the temps are warm, you'll be dealing with slush, effectively making "water crossing" a term indicating a mile-long slog through wet muck. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are in good shape. All bog bridges felt solid and appeared to be in good repair. Lower down, the Gale River Trail was muddy to the point where trail erosion could be a real issue. If anyone from the AMC is reading this, bog bridge or some strategically placed rocks would be pretty huge. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Oddly, yes! I spied a few flying insects here and there, and on the way out, maybe half a dozen moths. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
I'd hoped to get South and North Twin, and on the way out, Galehead. But wow, things happen sometimes. The trail was a slushy mess in all areas where it wasn't an endless mud puddle. The one nice spot was near the very beginning -- there was some slippery mud under leaves, that made the trail slightly greasy in spots, but otherwise, the way going was fine for the first mile or so. Everywhere else, all the way to the summit, was a hot mess. Mud was deep enough most places where you could easily lose a shoe, and in way too many places, it spanned the width of the trail, and then some. Climbing up the Twinway, the slush was enough to make you think at least twice with each step. Forward progress was slowed significantly enough that my day's goals were modulated. It's OK, I can come back.
In fairness to the mountain, I ascended South Twin into a cloud, and the scene on the summit was pretty sublime, appearing almost in black and white. I love it when it does that, and for some reason, it's an experience that (for me, at least) is unique to South Twin.
On the plus side, the gate was still open. No kidding, I turned back onto US 3 on my drive home, and the skies opened up before I'd even gone a tenth of a mile down the road. If I had a road walk at the end of my hike, I'd certainly have been drenched. So I can't say fortune didn't shine on me at all.
Due to issues with my computer, the usual trip report on my blog will be delayed by a couple days. Stay tuned. |
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 | Name: |
Protean Wanderer |
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 | E-Mail: |
hiker@proteanwanderer.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-11-19 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.proteanwanderer.com |
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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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