| 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, January 15, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Winter lot is...well, typical winter lot. Easily navigable in AWD. There were FWD cars in the lot, but I don't know that I'd have wanted to try to park a FWD in there. Five corners was plowed. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The water crossings are now almost fully bridged. There are a couple of modest step-overs of flowing water, but the ice on either side is solid. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are a couple of large blowdowns on the Gale River Loop Road, all of which can easily be stepped over. There is one minor blowdown on the Mt. Garfield Trail. You can step over it, or you can easily get around it by walking to the right. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One today, named Ammonoosuc :) She appeared to be enjoying herself |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
A cold, almost totally windless, bluebird day on Garfield. From the winter trailhead until about 3,000', maybe a bit more, we were in spikes. The road walk and the initial part of the Mt. Garfield Trail could be bare-booted, but the rocks are covered. You won't turn sharp spikes into rock spikes, so I think spikes are most useful. Starting around 3,000' or so, the trail gets a bit softer. You won't posthole if you stay right on the track, but if you step off of it at all, you will. We switched to snowshoes at this point to be good trail stewards, though others on the summit were in spikes. Dealer's choice, I'd say--a case could be made for either. From the Mt. Garfield/Garfield Ridge Trail junction to the summit, it's packed snow with some major butt-sliding tracks that have not yet iced over. We had snowshoes on and saw others with spikes; I think the people with snowshoes on found this section of trail easier than those with spikes on, but it's doable in either. Crampons not currently needed, but could well be needed if there's a freeze/thaw cycle soon. Get after it--the trail was basically perfect today! |
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 | Name: |
GoBlue |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-15 |
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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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