| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, Garfield Ridge - West Peak, Garfield Ridge - East Peak, Galehead Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Gale River Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, bushwhacks, Frost Trail, Gale River Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
3 cars at the Garfield end of Gale River Road loop. Room for about 8 cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All easily rock hopped |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
No snow on Garfield Trail until 3.5 miles in at about elevation 2500 feet. From there to the Garfield summit spikes worked well as the temps were below freezing and the snow was frozen hard.
Garfield Ridge Trail had two older snowshoe tracks and was a bit soft, so I used snowshoes. Without them, I would have been postholing, especially in the sunny areas. The snow pack on the side trips to the Garfield summit outhouse and West and East Garfield Ridge summits was still frozen and hard and supported snowshoes well. GRT near the hut was significantly postholed but mostly hard and frozen. Spikes would be ok unless it's above freezing. Same for Frost Trail.
I bushwacked north and a little west off the Galehead summit and rejoined the Garfield Ridge Trail near the Gale River Trail junction. Snowshoes only for that. Gale River Trail was softening in the early afternoon. I used snowshoes to skirt the worst of the postholes until the snow ran out at 2500 feet and about 3 miles from Gale River Road. The road is dry and snow free.
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 | Name: |
Hiker__Dad |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-17 |
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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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