| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Gale River Road, Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, December 26, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ample parking at 5 corners |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
several, not difficult |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
some minor blowdowns that you can walk around |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
saw 1 very happy German shepherd |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Uneventful hike to Galehead hut, notable only for the varied trail conditions. The Gale river loop road is no/trace snow, and bare-bootable. Once you turn off onto Gale River trail you could continue bare booting but microspikes will be helpful, as much of the trail is/was running water with (sometimes) breakable ice crust, crunchy leaves, and light snow. As you climb a little higher the snow is mostly breakable crust but also sometimes not, I thought I was following the compacted snow left by a previous hiker but sometimes a foot would break through. This only got more annoying as the trail gets steeper. You can critique me for not using snowshoes but the hikers I saw with snowshoes on weren't having a much better time. Coming down I passed several more hikers in snowshoes and their steps had the effect of breaking up the snow into something like powder, so pretty much every trail condition was represented on this hike. Snowshoes are probably the way to go but mainly pray for more snow. |
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 | Name: |
Mike |
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 | E-Mail: |
mpetty3@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-12-27 |
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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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