| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Galehead Mountain, Mt. Garfield, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Loop Road, Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail, Garfield Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 11, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of cars at Mt Garfield Trail parking lot |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings ice/snow-bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Many blowdowns on Garfield Ridge Trail |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Backpacking trip on the loop: Gale River Trail - Galehead - Garfield Ridge Trail - (slept at Garfield Ridge Shelter) - Garfield - out via Mt Garfield Trail. With road walks at both ends. Gale River and Mt Garfield trails to the summit were well-trodden, we used a combo of snowshoes and microspikes. The day-trippers almost all used microspikes and that looked fine fine. Garfield Ridge Trail was another story, we broke it out, challenging snowshoes terrain with deep snow, steep areas with snow covering the rocks, and lots of blowdowns. One section needed a tree-grab or ice-ax assist to climb a snow-covered slab. The waterfall on Garfield Ridge Trail just north of the shelter was 50+ feet of ice-bulges, we used crampons, ice-axes, and trees, and it was dicey. Going around it in the woods wasn't any better. Garfield Ridge Shelter was pristine, we broke out the access trail and swept the snow out of the shelter. It's in great shape once you do that. Privy is useable. At least one tent platform also looked easily useable. |
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 | Name: |
Joel |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-01-13 |
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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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