Mount Garfield | February 6, 2021

by Willin Uncategorizedon Posted on

Peak: Garfield
Trails: Gale River Road, Garfield Trail
Mileage: 12.16
Elevation Gain: 3,267
Weather: Overall good conditions throughout the hike. Plenty of sun and occasional clouds. More specifically, 22(F), felt like 13(F) with the wind and a little bit colder at the summit. Was not as drastic a wind/temperature swing at the summit as anticipated.
Ground Conditions: After reading a report earlier this week, we decided to have a go at Garfield knowing it wasn’t perfectly broken out. With only a few folks ahead of us, Katie and I did the best we could with Snowshoes to pack it down some more. Stepping off trail to give people space was doable with the snowshoes, but still one could sink in a ways by stepping off of the trail. It was a little perplexing seeing so many pairs of snowshoes carried above 4,000 feet given the conditions, but hey it’s a free country. On the way down, the trail conditions varied quite a bit as we passed groups coming up.
Notes: Another great winter hike! Saw plenty of happy people enjoying the trail hiking, two people skiing it, and only one dog today! Katie and I got a clear Garfield summit, but Franconia ridge was a little socked in. On the road

Map & Strava Details
NETC Report

Photos

Looking out in the direction of the Twins as we near the summit!
A photo from the start. That day we followed the road up which had a set of tracks for pedestrians as well as a set of ski tracks until we hit the area where snowmobiles were going.
A photo of the soft trail for anyone curious what it looked like this day!
Looking up towards the summit – the last steep bits before the summit.
A tidy breakout early in the day!
Katie on her way up!
Looking up at some snow still clinging to the upper portions of the trees.
Getting closer to the summit of Garfield!
Looking back down the GRT with a hint of twin in the back ground.
Katie coming up the last bits of climbing!
A photo of Katie from near the summit of Garfiel.
Looking up to the cement square!
Views were limited when looking over to the Franconia ridge.
Low vis shot of Galehead, Twinway, the hut is somewhere out there.
The square!
Franconia Ridge was a little socked in that day!
Heading back to the car!

2 Comments

  1. Dan Morris
    February 7, 2021 @ 1:39 PM

    Great pictures, Will! We met yesterday on the summit. I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s day by asking why they would carry their snowshoes, but I completely agree – just wear them and help consolidate the monorail! Nice meeting you and great trail report!

    – Dan