Also on this trip

Trails Used

Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, spur, Frost Trail, Gale River Trail, Gale River Rd

Trail Conditions

Notes

FOT 48! Lots of folks out as expected. 38 @ the start but it warmed up quickly. Dry to start really fast to the top, love this trail. Lots of folks on top @ 9, windy cool but views were amazing. Lingered longer than I planned then across the ridge. Careful down the waterfall, not too bad just slow. Mud in all the usual spots, more than 3 weeks ago. Once again went right by West Peak spur. Up to East great views as always. Puds seem to get easier the more I do them. The last .6 miles to hut always kick my ass. Dropped pack at hut for quick trip to top. Great spot for the flag, just off summit in open area, it could be seen from the hut….so cool. Was planning on South & North Twin but I was past my turnaround time & really wasn’t feeling it. Quick down Gale River, this trail too is made for speed. Lots of roadside parking here too. Quick walk to car to end a perfect weather day.

Parking

Lot full many in road @ 6:45. Parking past the bridge & around the corner @ 4

Water Crossings

Levels low no issues

Wildlife

Flyers on Gale River just annoying

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Mt Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Twinway, Bondcliff Trail, spur

Trail Conditions

Notes

Day 1 of a planned 3 day trip. Garfield Ridge trail is a nice gradual climb, dry low but slippery rocks the higher I got. Final push was not as bad as I remembered, windy cool, socked in for the most part. Found a spot out of the wind for lunch, solo for a while. Planned on staying at the campsite due to rain forecasted. Got an updated forecast from a Nobo while filtering water, no rain until much later! I decided to go to Guyot instead with favorable forecast. Very slow down the waterfall, very wet thru here. Hit East Peak but still can’t find West. Seems like I get into a zone & walk right past it. Water up at hut, not many here, sun was out so I could see what lies ahead. Climb up to South, brutal as always! Love the Twinway, 1 step over and I think a leaner but no issues. Lots of minor mud though. Guyot was busier than I hoped but still had a platform solo.

Parking

Garfield lot was full @ 7:15 roadside parked with 2 others

Water Crossings

Either dry or running low

Wildlife

Black flies on Garfield and biting

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Appalachian trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

After hiking The Rangeley Six Pack it was a great pleasure to get back to a well maintained and used trail. Main difference here as was less wild life and more people. The hard part of the hike was the heat wave which when you reach west peak becomes easier to deal with and once at east peak a well deserved break with a windy breeze was great.

Parking

Plenty of parking for a day in the middle of the week.

Water Crossings

A few small ones at the beginning stage

Also on this trip

Trails Used

ATV Road, Logging Roads, bushwhack

Trail Conditions

Notes

A FINE day in the forest was had. I finally got to join twinkletoes on a hike! We departed Brown Road and made quick work of very good condition logging roads, even finding a large piece of chagga along the way. We also where treated to a Scarlet Tanager who flew in front of us and landed on a tree, and we all took a few moments to check eachother out. Amazing! There is a really nice log yard at about 2350 with a commanding view of the North Country and some really inviting ledges on Goback. We continued and followed the road which turns more into an ATV track above here, it braids and we followed it towards East. There is a lot of younger (non nut slapping) wood in here, and prior reports dub this area as 'thick' - I do not agree. I found this summit to be a pretty pleasant one! Plenty of moose activity, no treasure. We did pack out the old summit pb jar that was on ground and obviously not in use. We trended in a north easterly fashion along the broad summit, then dropping into the col and ascending Stratford in a general SW direction. We did find some moose bones in the col, it looks like a scavenger had dragged off a leg from a carcass at some point. We did find some more, mossed over, bones as well - perhaps this was two moose by their relative vintage and moss coverage. The thickest part of the hike was the 25' to the summit of East East, following a moose path, there is a false HoL, drops, and comes back up. I actually thought I missed the summit but turned around to have a jar staring at me. We opted to utilize the drainage due north of the summit as our egress, this worked well. One minor diving board cliff band that was easily avoided. Around 4 hours for the 6.5 miles. A good chunk of time was devoted to exploring the area for treasure and looking/listening for birds. Why be in a rush on such a beautiful spring day - one would be bereft if they didn't try and enjoy it!

Parking

We parked on Brown Road in Stratford. Traditionally I have seen parking here at the last telephone pole (my flagging for a large pothole was still there 2+ years later). However the road is 'open' to continue further. In years past, there has been a saw horse and signage at the last telephone pole on Brown Road for mud season for locals only. It was open. We parked past the last house (through the field, to the left, up a little bit before the road makes a hard 90. We parked here out of the way. The road was still wet and driving up the 100 feet, through a deeper water bar, uphill, to get to the log yard seemed to be pushing our luck to save one minute. We did pass two folks on the road, both waved. Teapot, as usual, gated.

Water Crossings

Nothing of note on this, even after a lot of rain