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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Galehead Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Gale River Road, Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, December 15, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Half easy (icy, microspikes ideal) Half slushy (snowshoes would be better) 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Easy to find crossing spots, mostly frozen over 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Occasional Blowdowns 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: n/a 
Bugs
Bugs: n/a 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Sunglasses. Owner found! 
 
Comments
Comments: I elected to tackle the trail with microspikes only. A poor choice, as it turned out, due to the temperature, which rose from 33 > 38F. Monorail mostly very stable going up, but easy to posthole to either side. Slight slush factor made it somewhat fatiguing in microspikes. Trail improved for me above 3000 feet (as temps dropped).

Had planned to cut over to Garfield on the ridge trail: quickly abandoned that idea. Trail not well broken in; snowshoes required. Trails (yes, multiple) dead end. Pushed on to Galehead for lunch.

Return trip was hazardous going down, the extra downward pressure of my footfalls on the monorail revealed it was less stable than I'd thought, and I postholed more frequently.

Upon return, the tracks left by the forest ranger vehicle completely covered a portion of Gale Head Road. It turns out that at 38F these treads create a patterned slush that is a nightmare to step through in microspikes. Very difficult walking.

Three years of lucky winter hikes in spikes have ended; henceforth snowshoes will always accompany me.  
Name
Name: Kevin VanderWoude 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kevin.vanderwoude@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-12-16 
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.

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