Mt. Garfield via US 3, Gale River Road (west end), Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 7, 2009
Trail Conditions: Packed powder
Special Equipment Required: Snowshoes
Comments:
Winter parking area at Gale River Road (west) closed. Parking at junction of Trudeau Road and US 3 plowed for perhaps 8 vehicles.
US 3 shoulders wide enough for easy road walk.
Gale River Road had a well packed, single file track - barebootable.
First three bridges (heading in from US 3) have washed out abutments (actual bridges appear to be fine). All three have herd paths leading over completely snowbridged water crossings. For future reference (if snowbridges melt), first two bridges can be bypassed by bushwhacking along the west shore of the Gale River - mostly hardwood by the looks of it.
Forth bridge (part of the snowmobile trail) is fine.
Garfield Trail was fairly well packed all the way to the Garfield Ridge Trail (though a moose postholed part of it). All significant water crossings have snowbridges of some sort. A few blowdowns that will need chainsaw work perhaps, but easily avoided. Trail could be barebooted, but snowshoes or skis probably a better idea.
Garfield Ridge Trail to Mt. Garfield summit was fairly well packed, though snowshoes would be a good idea.
No sign of any recent use of Garfield Ridge Trail eastbound or westbound, though some skiers planned to ski over to the campsite (eastbound).
Your name: rocket21
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 7, 2009
Trail Conditions: Packed powder
Special Equipment Required: Snowshoes
Comments:
Winter parking area at Gale River Road (west) closed. Parking at junction of Trudeau Road and US 3 plowed for perhaps 8 vehicles.
US 3 shoulders wide enough for easy road walk.
Gale River Road had a well packed, single file track - barebootable.
First three bridges (heading in from US 3) have washed out abutments (actual bridges appear to be fine). All three have herd paths leading over completely snowbridged water crossings. For future reference (if snowbridges melt), first two bridges can be bypassed by bushwhacking along the west shore of the Gale River - mostly hardwood by the looks of it.
Forth bridge (part of the snowmobile trail) is fine.
Garfield Trail was fairly well packed all the way to the Garfield Ridge Trail (though a moose postholed part of it). All significant water crossings have snowbridges of some sort. A few blowdowns that will need chainsaw work perhaps, but easily avoided. Trail could be barebooted, but snowshoes or skis probably a better idea.
Garfield Ridge Trail to Mt. Garfield summit was fairly well packed, though snowshoes would be a good idea.
No sign of any recent use of Garfield Ridge Trail eastbound or westbound, though some skiers planned to ski over to the campsite (eastbound).
Your name: rocket21
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
