NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Garnet Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I parked at a plowed spot at the jct of Wallace Hill Rd and Upper Valley Rd. I tried going up Wallace Hill Rd from the south (center of Franconia) but it was unplowed and the road was closed. As others have noted, Upper Valley Rd has been developed and there are private property signs clearly posted at the end of the road not making that approach feasible. In fact, the private property signs began to appear shortly after where I parked. Garnet Mountain Drive is signed as a private road as well so that approach probably wouldn’t work either. I noted a few other spots to park on my drive in South Rd but they’d likely be longer hikes with more elevation. I also poked around Lewis Rd but didn’t like my options there. Where I *think* others park and discuss the field and such to ascend to Garnet is not plowed so I would’ve been forced to park much further down the road (where the land on the Garnet Mtn side is posted), then walk back to this field to ascend the peak. Probably should’ve just done that but wanted to try my luck on the west side of the mountain. My FWD car without snow tires struggled getting up the steep south side of Lewis Hill Rd. Upper Valley Rd was a little iffy too. All other roads were fine for FWD.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Unpacked Powder 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: N/A  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Sure, so long as you’re damn careful with them near the private property.  
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None 
 
Comments
Comments: Day 66, Peak 59. 2nd hike of the day after Bronson Hill. A cloudy but very warm (upper 30s) day. Though windy, this hike was more sheltered from the wind which was appreciated :)

From my car, I crossed the street and entered the woods. No private property signs here though there was a single pink ribbon on a tree. I climbed up, briefly through some thicker stuff to an open area with a nice but very cloudy view toward Cannon. There was a bench here. I continued upward, now hitting some younger growth and prickly bushes to around the summit of the 1960ft knob southwest of the summit. I ran into a road here which seemed promising until it took me to a line of private property signs. There is a house directly in the col between this SW knob and Garnet Mtn. Figuring that if I went to the right I’d just hit more posted land since that was the direction of the road, I went left instead. Unfortunately, the posted land continued for much longer than I figured this direction. I descended about 0.2mi and just over a 100ft before the postings stopped. There were footprints here that continued most of the way to the summit.

When I came to the end of the posted land, I banged a right and began ascending, more or less following the footprints I ran into earlier which mostly followed alongside the posted land in the direction of the summit. Took a straight line (west) to the summit generally ascending at a moderate grade. Hardwoods for awhile then transitioning to softwoods. The summit area is pretty flat and has lots of short pine trees. I could see the jar from a distance though it looked like I’d get covered in snow from the pine trees getting there. I weaved my way over and noted that the other side of the mountain was all hardwoods unlike this side; interesting. I signed in and returned but lost my footprints and ran a little south of my track toward the posted land again. To my surprise, a cabin was being built here rather close to the summit. I was actually very close to it on my ascent as well though I didn’t see it. I quickly linked back up with my footprints and followed them the rest of the way out.

Only a few inches of snow. Not enough for snowshoes at the time. I’m pretty sure I wore microspikes the entire way though I’m not sure there was any ice that warranted them. The hike was about 2.25mi with around 600ft of gain taking me 1hr45min though it could’ve been done much quicker. Not sure if this makes it a more attractive route or not compared to what others have done.  
Name
Name: Liam Cooney  
E-Mail
E-Mail: liamcooney96@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-01-09 
Link
Link: https:// 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved