| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Lafayette, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Skookumchuck Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, October 28, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room at the large trailhead lot off US 3 today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Up high, closer to treeline, there are some erosion issues happening. A few minor blowdowns scattered about. On the way down I met the volunteer maintainer who was out doing some fall cleanup. Great rock work on the lower half of the trail with stone steps and stepping stones in all the right places. Thank you! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
How to get up on Franconia/Garfield Ridge without encountering tons of people -- don't go to the principal summits. ;)
This was my first time on Skook and I really enjoyed this trail. Gorgeous forests the whole way and the walk alongside Skookumchuck Brook is lovely. Lots of nice cascades in the brook today. This route was mostly dry, but there was some water and mud around. Starting around the first alpine zone sign, small patches of black ice began to appear and continued all the way to the summit. All were avoidable today, but winter is coming. Above treeline there were also some small areas of rime ice.
North Lafayette is super with a completely open summit and views in all directions. I watched a helicopter making runs to and from Greenleaf Hut; looked like it was being put to bed for the winter. I could hear people over on Lafayette, but only passed one other hiker and his dog all day. Very quiet on this route. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-10-28 |
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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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