| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 14, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The winter parking lot is plowed now that some awesome person removed part of the blowdown right at that entrance to Gale River Loop Road. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The main and smaller water crossings are partially ice bridged and held up to foot traffic all day. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Wowza, folks, though there are only two minor blowdowns on the Mt Garfield Trail, the Gale River Loop Road took quite a beating. Someone cut a one-lane road access through the one that was blocking cars feom getting to the winter parking lot that we use for the Garfield hike. That was awesome and is much appreciated. However there are 5 more impressive blowdowns obstructing the road between the winter parking and the Mt Garfield trailhead. And there is honestly the largest blowdown that I have ever seen right at the gate opposite Trudeau Road (the other end of Gale River Road - where you would drive to go to the Gale River Trail trailhead.). Oh. My. Stars. That is an impressive blowdown. I don’t think that that one can be zippified (though I have been wrong about that assumption before). |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
We saw a half dozen today and they were on a mission with their trail running humans!! |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
We were surprised by the number of cars at the trailhead when we got there. We barebooted/microspiked the road walk as the snow cover is thin. Snowshoes were needed starting at the main water crossing, and we wore them until returning to that point. We saw a group of two (in snowshoes), and then a group of 6 humans with 6 dogs. That large group was running in those awesome narrow running snowshoes. Then we saw two more people, also in snowshoes. After we summited, as we were descending, I am sorry to tell you that there were two postholios chopping up everyone’s fine work. There are some gnarly deep postholes, particularly on the upper section of the Mt Garfield Trail. Sigh.
Snowshoes are absolutely the right footwear. It’s not a consolidated base. Postholes freeze and make the trails dangerous.
Happily the crust misery from last week is a thing of the past.
It was snowing while we were hiking, and it was absolutely beautiful in the trees. We had partial views from the summit, and less wind than the forecast. AA and RS and I had a blast!! |
|
 | Name: |
Bikecamphikegirl |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-14 |
|
 | 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. |
|
