Along my travels this summer I noticed a cliff along the Southwest side of Mt. Garfield that looks like this:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6-6xenhWqdB2Uwr-mGRqJQ?feat=directlink
This picture is taken from West Bond looking over toward Garfield (I had to zoom in). I had also seen this cliff from Lafayette. The cliff is the face just to the left of center in the picture.
As a fun hike I wanted to check this out. I looked in the forums here and only found one passing reference that the cliffs were inaccessible...now if that isn't reason to hike to them then what is?
I started my trip on Thrusday night in the rain (stayed at Garfield Shelter) and then on Friday morning found myself on the top of Garfield:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/23e-gTa8pjUaQ81wySqjGA?feat=directlink
and had this great view all to myself.
I made my way to the cliffs...not inaccessible, but a tough bushwhack. The cliffs were cool:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IefjyMqG6Oqqu-PEdcF9iA?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nspMwYybF0dOIQC0mGZ7-g?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YFB3QGLEwlStNOUZuckAkw?feat=directlink
They were quite easy to skirt along the bottom and seemed like they would be fun to climb...if you are into that sort of thing.
The bushwhack out was very easy...yes easier than the trail over Garfield and open enough to be called a cake walk. I found a nice waterfall not far from the Franconia Brook Trail and spent the night at 13 Falls....as a side note I photographed 13 waterfalls between the campsite and the Lincoln Brook Crossing of the river west of the tentsite (well I had to count one just East of the tentsite to get 13).
I hiked back via twin Brook up over Galehead, past the hut and down the Gale River Trail...nice trail in the winter. Sure wish I had brought my snowshoes though.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6-6xenhWqdB2Uwr-mGRqJQ?feat=directlink
This picture is taken from West Bond looking over toward Garfield (I had to zoom in). I had also seen this cliff from Lafayette. The cliff is the face just to the left of center in the picture.
As a fun hike I wanted to check this out. I looked in the forums here and only found one passing reference that the cliffs were inaccessible...now if that isn't reason to hike to them then what is?
I started my trip on Thrusday night in the rain (stayed at Garfield Shelter) and then on Friday morning found myself on the top of Garfield:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/23e-gTa8pjUaQ81wySqjGA?feat=directlink
and had this great view all to myself.
I made my way to the cliffs...not inaccessible, but a tough bushwhack. The cliffs were cool:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IefjyMqG6Oqqu-PEdcF9iA?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nspMwYybF0dOIQC0mGZ7-g?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YFB3QGLEwlStNOUZuckAkw?feat=directlink
They were quite easy to skirt along the bottom and seemed like they would be fun to climb...if you are into that sort of thing.
The bushwhack out was very easy...yes easier than the trail over Garfield and open enough to be called a cake walk. I found a nice waterfall not far from the Franconia Brook Trail and spent the night at 13 Falls....as a side note I photographed 13 waterfalls between the campsite and the Lincoln Brook Crossing of the river west of the tentsite (well I had to count one just East of the tentsite to get 13).
I hiked back via twin Brook up over Galehead, past the hut and down the Gale River Trail...nice trail in the winter. Sure wish I had brought my snowshoes though.
