Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, NH |
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| Trails: |
Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 20, 2023 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Enough room for 6-8 cars, just don't hog the lot. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Piece o' cake although the ice bridges are thinning out. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Left the lot at 10:15 with microspikes on and the 1.2 mile walk on FR92 was a breeze. Carried crampons and snowshoes but never needed them. The start of the trail was pretty bare with a patchy, icy monorail for the first .6 mile. But the ice was hard with a slight crown so if your spikes aren't sharp you will go down. About .2 mile before the first river crossing the trail consolidated into a well-packed footbed. All the crossings were easy and the lower section of the trail had a soft layer on top of a firm base that only got firmer the higher up you went. Once you reach the start of the Burnt Knoll section near the 3-mile mark it's hard & fast all the way to the top. Air temps were in the mid-30s and only a bit cooler at the summit with a steady wind that could push you off the summit if you're not vigilant. Coming down was a breeze and I was the last one down so the trail should stay smooth & be even even grippier as it cools down during the week! Early on I felt sluggish after the river crossings but the total car-to-car time of 4:05 gives me the hope I'm finally rounding into winter shape. Heck, it took 2 months but I'm finally starting to feel like myself with just one month of winter left! No SSW48 this year due to travel obligations but maybe next year I'll give it another go. Saw 4 other hikers today, all coming down as I was heading up. The rain held off so it was a great day! |
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| Name: |
Bob H |
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| E-Mail: |
hynoskyb@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-02-20 |
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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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