| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Garfield, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There were quite a few cars at the lot at 8am. We took the remaining couple of spaces, plus one across the road, which is quite wide opposite the parking area. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The continuing general dryness makes the crossings just a matter of choosing a path across the all the rocks carefully, as some are wet, maybe slippery, and perhaps loose. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trail is in good shape, without blowdowns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
We saw one, full of energy and having a good time. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
There was a grey stocking hat hanging by the trail going up that last short, steep stretch to the top. I left it there. |
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 | Comments: |
We encountered light showers in the last few miles of the drive in, but that seemed to end as we arrived. As we got on the trail in pack covers & ponchos, most of the drops were off the trees overhead. After a while the ponchos came off, and the hike uphill generated enough heat for just short sleeves, but on the edge of needing a very light layer. There was little wind up top but cool as we layered up and had lunch at the rocks a few feet below the summit. There was absolutely no view of anything more than a couple hundred feet away. Of course, within an hour of descent the sun started shining on us.
This OTHH hike was a 48 first round finish for two of us, something started 26 years ago. Another finished her 2nd round. We had a very nice tailgate party back at the cars.
For those doing Garfield the first time by this route, although the trail is five miles long and gains around 3000 ft, the trail is quite easy going the first two miles, then climbs a bit more steeply but never severely so until the last few hundred yards. Getting up in less than "book time" (4 hours by the fomula) is easy on this trail. Even I beat that by a half hour, and I'm 82, so I didn't feel too shabby about that. |
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 | Name: |
Pappy |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-09-09 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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