OldMan
New member
Still on vacation time I decided another winter summit was in my future. Since the forecast was for partly sunny but high winds I decided on Mt Garfield since the trail is sheltered all the way to the summit and I would only have to endure the wind for the last 100 yards or so. The drive up proved to be the most dangerous part of the day. I passed (slowly) the state police helping 2 cars that spun out on I93 between exit 30 and 31. The road was very slick with black ice from a dusting of snow overnight. The roads remained very slippery all the way through the notch and down RT3. I had planned to park at Trudeau Road but with the melt we had on Wednesday and the subsequent freeze it didn’t look safe to park there. I was worried I might get stuck so I turned around and parked in the plowed out area on RT3 about 0.4 miles west of the Gail River Loop Road. I had the pullout all to myself. I geared up and was underway by 8:00am.
The hike down the Gail River Loop Road went by quickly. I had put on my snowshoes right away and was glad I did. In several places the recent melt/freeze resulted in the trail loosing its base and I was breaking through, even in snowshoes. The ice bridges were still intact, although I carefully probed ahead with my poles before stepping across.
I arrived at the summer trailhead in about 40 minutes. This trail was almost bare in places. The tracks from previous hikers were still present with just a dusting of snow at the lower elevations.
As I slowly climbed the snow got a bit deeper, 1 to 2 inches in places. On the upper section of the Garfield Trail there were some good size drifts covering the trail and the Garfield Ridge Trail was completely snow covered. I layered up at the Garfield Ridge Trail for the final push to the summit.
The weather which was supposed to be partly sunny today apparently did not include Mt Garfield. I arrived at the summit around noon. It was very windy and no views to be seen. The wind was strong enough to warrant careful foot and pole placement to maintain my balance. I took a quick summit photo before retreating back below tree line to enjoy my lunch.
About 45 minutes after leaving the summit, the sky clears. I pondered for a few minutes about taking heading back up to the summit for some photos but given the distance I still had to hike out I decided to keep going down. At one point looking up at the blue sky I was struck by the contrast of the frost on birch trees. It made for a great picture.
The rest of the hike out went by quickly and I was back at my car by 3:00. I was sorry I didn’t start an hour later so I could have enjoyed the views from Mt Garfield but still it was a most enjoyable hike.
Garmin GPS: 13.2 miles, 4325 ascent, 1.9mph average
The hike down the Gail River Loop Road went by quickly. I had put on my snowshoes right away and was glad I did. In several places the recent melt/freeze resulted in the trail loosing its base and I was breaking through, even in snowshoes. The ice bridges were still intact, although I carefully probed ahead with my poles before stepping across.
I arrived at the summer trailhead in about 40 minutes. This trail was almost bare in places. The tracks from previous hikers were still present with just a dusting of snow at the lower elevations.
As I slowly climbed the snow got a bit deeper, 1 to 2 inches in places. On the upper section of the Garfield Trail there were some good size drifts covering the trail and the Garfield Ridge Trail was completely snow covered. I layered up at the Garfield Ridge Trail for the final push to the summit.
The weather which was supposed to be partly sunny today apparently did not include Mt Garfield. I arrived at the summit around noon. It was very windy and no views to be seen. The wind was strong enough to warrant careful foot and pole placement to maintain my balance. I took a quick summit photo before retreating back below tree line to enjoy my lunch.
About 45 minutes after leaving the summit, the sky clears. I pondered for a few minutes about taking heading back up to the summit for some photos but given the distance I still had to hike out I decided to keep going down. At one point looking up at the blue sky I was struck by the contrast of the frost on birch trees. It made for a great picture.
The rest of the hike out went by quickly and I was back at my car by 3:00. I was sorry I didn’t start an hour later so I could have enjoyed the views from Mt Garfield but still it was a most enjoyable hike.
Garmin GPS: 13.2 miles, 4325 ascent, 1.9mph average
