H
HikerBob
Guest
It's been over a month since my last hike. Flu and other health issues have kept me down. For a 'get back into it' hike I decided to hit the Gale River Trail and go for South Twin if I was feeling up to it or Galehead at the very least.
Well, I knew both ends of the loop road were gated but could see no obvious legal parking spot at the east end. Rather than risk a ticket I backtracked to the west end (or is that north and south?) and found plenty of space - I was first there. Is there legal parking at the other end?
I had decided to save Garfield for my last NH 4k but it seemed fate wanted me to take a stab at it today. No service on my phone so I couldn't update the 'worriers' on my change of plan, but I'm a cautious hiker and knew others from VFTT had planned on going up today so figured someone would know where I was once they caught up and overtook me.
Headed up the gated (but perfectly drivable!) forest road at around 7:30 with a temperature of 1.5* F. After a short while something kept bugging me under my nose. Booger? Nope - turned out my current facial hair fad had grown a Turnbillesque snotsicle! The temperature steadilly rose as the day went on, reaching a balmy 25* at one point, so this was a passing annoyance.
Once on the Garfield Trail the going was much prettier. Just a dusting of snow over icy patches to begin with then increasing amounts of snow as the trek wore on.
The stream crossings were somewhat unnerving but actually pretty easy. Not fully bridged there was a deep, rushing channel about a foot or so wide edged by ice shelves. Poles were useful for sounding out the ice which was quite strong right to the edges. No wet feet.
Onward and upward. Snow cover was up to a couple of inches but bare-booting was still OK. There were many, many tracks from small to medium sized critters but mine were the first boots since the last snowfall. Then, I was puzzled to see what appeared to be fresh boot tracks ahead of me.
Turns out they were recent moose tracks. It appeared the moose had been working its way down the trail, stepping off here and there for a quick munch. Whether as a result of my approach, or just a whim it seems as though the moose did a 180 and headed back up the trail and off into the forest.
It was about this time that I was caught up to by a speedier group (every one is speedier) of four who decided now was the time to don snowshoes. I carried on a little further bare-booting but after they whizzed by I decided it was snowshoe time for me also.
As I was fiddling with the shoes three more hikers caught up. I asked if they were the VFTTers and they said they had checked out the site before heading up. Sorry guys, didn't get your names and don't know if you post or not. They barebooted a few yards ahead and then they too stopped to put shoes on. I passed them by and fully expected them to catch me in no time. I actually got a quite a way, into the switchbacks, before they caught up.
So, two groups ahead of me as I huffed and puffed my way on. The trail is not that demanding but I always have trouble on the up and having just recovered from a nasty bout of flu my breathing was less efficient than normal.
I met the speedy group heading down and they said I was a few tenths off of the Ridge Trail Junction.
I had set myself a turn around time of 12:30pm which I would push out to 1pm should it be a close thing. I don't mind hiking out under headlamp but would prefer not to.
I made it to the Ridge Trail junction at 12:53. I knew the final push to the summit was short but demanding and also knew I would not make it by my latest turn around time of 1pm. The fact that I had also planned on Garfield being my final 4k decided the matter. I would head down.
I don't have the same breathing problems going down so kept up a good pace. I kept the snowshoes on until arriving at the section that follows a small stream bed although I could have ditched them a little earlier.
When I reached the trickiest stream crossing I found that there had been some additional melting during the day and my orginal route across now looked far to risky. I followed the other groups tracks downstream a short way to where the stream widened a little and there were more rocks and solid ice. No problem getting across there.
The sun, which had barely crested the ridge all day, was now getting quite low and the shafts of light through the forest gave everything a warm glow. It was a very pleasant hike out through the lower part of the trail.
Back at the forest road and a quick munch, slurp and adjustment to socks and lacings then it was the final slog back to the car. Seemed to be further on the way out and tired limbs and aching joints wished for the trudge to be done.
As I rounded the last curve and saw the gate I whipped out the keys and hit the remote starter. A chirp announced that the warming process had begun.
The matter of the recent car break-ins crossed my mind but I found everything to be in order and as I was unloading myself into the car a 'Law Enforcement' (that's what it said on the side) SUV pulled in and stayed long enough to decide I was harmless before moving on.
So, didn't take the trail I had intended and didn't bag a peak. But Garfield is still there for when I finish my 4ks and I had a great day out in the woods after my long break. It's not always about making it to the top. Today just being out there was enough.
Bob
Well, I knew both ends of the loop road were gated but could see no obvious legal parking spot at the east end. Rather than risk a ticket I backtracked to the west end (or is that north and south?) and found plenty of space - I was first there. Is there legal parking at the other end?
I had decided to save Garfield for my last NH 4k but it seemed fate wanted me to take a stab at it today. No service on my phone so I couldn't update the 'worriers' on my change of plan, but I'm a cautious hiker and knew others from VFTT had planned on going up today so figured someone would know where I was once they caught up and overtook me.
Headed up the gated (but perfectly drivable!) forest road at around 7:30 with a temperature of 1.5* F. After a short while something kept bugging me under my nose. Booger? Nope - turned out my current facial hair fad had grown a Turnbillesque snotsicle! The temperature steadilly rose as the day went on, reaching a balmy 25* at one point, so this was a passing annoyance.
Once on the Garfield Trail the going was much prettier. Just a dusting of snow over icy patches to begin with then increasing amounts of snow as the trek wore on.
The stream crossings were somewhat unnerving but actually pretty easy. Not fully bridged there was a deep, rushing channel about a foot or so wide edged by ice shelves. Poles were useful for sounding out the ice which was quite strong right to the edges. No wet feet.
Onward and upward. Snow cover was up to a couple of inches but bare-booting was still OK. There were many, many tracks from small to medium sized critters but mine were the first boots since the last snowfall. Then, I was puzzled to see what appeared to be fresh boot tracks ahead of me.
Turns out they were recent moose tracks. It appeared the moose had been working its way down the trail, stepping off here and there for a quick munch. Whether as a result of my approach, or just a whim it seems as though the moose did a 180 and headed back up the trail and off into the forest.
It was about this time that I was caught up to by a speedier group (every one is speedier) of four who decided now was the time to don snowshoes. I carried on a little further bare-booting but after they whizzed by I decided it was snowshoe time for me also.
As I was fiddling with the shoes three more hikers caught up. I asked if they were the VFTTers and they said they had checked out the site before heading up. Sorry guys, didn't get your names and don't know if you post or not. They barebooted a few yards ahead and then they too stopped to put shoes on. I passed them by and fully expected them to catch me in no time. I actually got a quite a way, into the switchbacks, before they caught up.
So, two groups ahead of me as I huffed and puffed my way on. The trail is not that demanding but I always have trouble on the up and having just recovered from a nasty bout of flu my breathing was less efficient than normal.
I met the speedy group heading down and they said I was a few tenths off of the Ridge Trail Junction.
I had set myself a turn around time of 12:30pm which I would push out to 1pm should it be a close thing. I don't mind hiking out under headlamp but would prefer not to.
I made it to the Ridge Trail junction at 12:53. I knew the final push to the summit was short but demanding and also knew I would not make it by my latest turn around time of 1pm. The fact that I had also planned on Garfield being my final 4k decided the matter. I would head down.
I don't have the same breathing problems going down so kept up a good pace. I kept the snowshoes on until arriving at the section that follows a small stream bed although I could have ditched them a little earlier.
When I reached the trickiest stream crossing I found that there had been some additional melting during the day and my orginal route across now looked far to risky. I followed the other groups tracks downstream a short way to where the stream widened a little and there were more rocks and solid ice. No problem getting across there.
The sun, which had barely crested the ridge all day, was now getting quite low and the shafts of light through the forest gave everything a warm glow. It was a very pleasant hike out through the lower part of the trail.
Back at the forest road and a quick munch, slurp and adjustment to socks and lacings then it was the final slog back to the car. Seemed to be further on the way out and tired limbs and aching joints wished for the trudge to be done.
As I rounded the last curve and saw the gate I whipped out the keys and hit the remote starter. A chirp announced that the warming process had begun.
The matter of the recent car break-ins crossed my mind but I found everything to be in order and as I was unloading myself into the car a 'Law Enforcement' (that's what it said on the side) SUV pulled in and stayed long enough to decide I was harmless before moving on.
So, didn't take the trail I had intended and didn't bag a peak. But Garfield is still there for when I finish my 4ks and I had a great day out in the woods after my long break. It's not always about making it to the top. Today just being out there was enough.
Bob
