Hello!
Back again with another hike recap of my recent hike to Mt. Garfield and Galehead!
As I sit here writing this post it’s Tuesday evening and it doesn’t feel like this hike was four days ago. It also doesn’t feel like I hiked Sunday (Flat Mountain Pond Trail) or yesterday (Twins, Bonds, Zealand – recap on this one to come!), or that anything else I did this past week/weekend happened. My brain has been in mega creator/entrepreneur mode which = laser focus on that “side” of my life and time seems to feel a little different. Yet, the hikes did in-fact happen. I guess I can thank the blog a little more this week for helping my brain recall the fun time spent in the woods.
The hike: Garfield and Galehead via Mt. Garfield Trail > Garfield Ridge Trail > Frost Trail > Gale River Trail
Miles: 13.9 with car spot
Vert: ~4.610ft (according to my Garmin watch)
For starters, I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of these mountains. That said – changing up routes, peak combinations, adding in new trails, and hiking throughout each season is definitely welcomed. While I would like to hike out West and outside of the US, the White Mountains will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m mentioning this because it’s a question a get asked fairly regularly – “don’t you get sick of hiking the same thing”… no, because it’s always different.
This hike was much different than the other two times I’ve hiked Galehead and Garfield this summer (neither of which were the route I took this day!). The primary difference? SNOW, ice, and cold.
The hike up to Garfield summit went by fairly quickly. I expected to see more people than the amount I actually saw just based off the parking lot. Also a sign of the changing seasons, the trails are less busy than a couple weeks ago.
Approaching the summit there was a little bit of ice on the section between the junction with Garfield Ridge Trail/Mount Garfield Trail and the summit. Totally fine without any form of traction – but will be soon a slightly different story I think. The wind was blowing on the summit, but once you got out of it the sunshine made the temperature feel warmer than it probably was.
The trail between Garfield and Galehead is rather steep and awkward footing for the first section, with a little ice and more water from recent rain it was careful going for a bit. The trickiest part were some of the sloped slabs as you near the junction with Gale River Trail, but again, manageable with care. The last time I was on this section of trail was during my pemi loop last month and it had considerably more water/mud this time around.
Galehead was one of the first 4K’s I ever hiked, but that day was combined with the Twins. I don’t have a preference of which mountain(s) to combine with it – though I still have many many more combinations in my future. One hike I’d like to do is a traverse from Lincoln Woods to Gale River: take Lincoln woods and the bushwack’s to Owl’s, then over to Galehead taking Lincoln Brook and Twin Brook Trails, and then out via Gale River… sounds fun!
It has been a strange Summer/Fall with the huts being closed until later than usual and then the reduced amenities and now being closed early. In reality more like strange year.
From the hut up to Galehead is a quick 0.4 miles on the Frost Trail with a lovely lookout spot about halfway up. The lookout is great as the summit is not the most exciting, and it provided a view (that I didn’t get a picture of, whoopsies) of a rather frosty looking South Twin!
From here the hike back to the hut was equally quick. Taking a snack break on the hut porch was nice as the sunshine was shining directly on it and very warm! I’m not someone who loves or does well with cold, so the warm sunshine is always welcomed.
Heading down Gale River Trail from the hut is a little rocky at first, but then a nice casual walk out which is both welcomed and sometimes monotonous. Though it sure is pretty with the foliage right now and I love the little side trail down to Gale River probably 1.5 miles down 🙂
Another hike for the multiple projects I’m working on… but honestly just more for my own mind/body.
“Life is not something that “has” meaning – it’s something we give meaning to. You don’t “end up” with a meaningful life, you create it.”
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