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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Garfield, NH
Trails
Trails: Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Twin Brook Trail, Gale River Trail, Gale River Road
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I parked at the Mount Garfield trailhead, where there was plenty of parking.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Very easy rock hops on Mt Garfield Trail and Franconia Brook Trail.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There are blowdowns on all of the trails mentioned. The largest ones have already been delimbed. The only actual obstructions were on Franconia Brook Trail, just below the tedious and endless green slimy rock area (if you have hiked this you will definitely know EXACTLY what I am referring to LOL!). I didn’t see anything that I wouldn’t personally take care of with my Silky Saw and now that I have met Zippy I know that I am a bit wimpy with what I will attempt with my Silky Saw, so if I can do it anyone can. ;) I additionally note that Twin Brook Trail should be renamed Paper Birch Cemetery Trail - wowza, it’s definitely carnage in the middle section!! The only sad trail sign, that I saw, was the FPA sign on Twin Brook below the Frost junction - that one is laying on the ground now propped up against a tree.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: None today. I didn’t actually see a single soul until the Galehead Hut.  
Bugs
Bugs: Yay for rain and wind keeping that problem to a minimum!!  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing today.  
 
Comments
Comments: Route: Garfield summit (Mt Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail (GRT)), to Thirteen Falls (GRT, Franconia Brook), to Galehead Hut (Twin Brook), to the car (GRT, Gale River Trail and road walk). I wasn’t planning to go to the Garfield summit but the rain had stopped and the sun was trying to break through the clouds, when I got to the GRT junction, so I took a chance that there would be view-bagging opportunities. And wow did it pay off with some of the very best undercast that I have ever seen! Photos are on IG. Franconia Brook Trail had tedious footing, and the rain didn’t help. I took a banana peel fall that was really hilarious - my foot slid down a green slimy rock and I flew up in the air and landed flat on my backpack. I was unharmed and everything in my backpack is in one piece, yay. It took me a few minutes to find one of my trekking poles, which had landed about 20’ away. It’s too bad that my Hiking the White Mountain Guide project is solo because this would have been absolutely hilarious to witness!
13 Falls tentsite was a ghost town when I got there at 1045 am, and I had the falls to myself for a quick snack break and some water filtering.
Twin Brook trail would be a trail runners dream - wow, the footing is awesome!
Galehead Hut had a few backpackers taking a break, and ginger spice cake which I very highly recommend! Three of the Hut Croo were speeding up the Gale River Trail when I was headed down. They each had massive, wooden packs on their backs and they were acting like those packs weighed nothing. Let me tel you THAT made me feel old and infirm!!  
Name
Name: Bikecamphikegirl 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2023-06-15 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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