Mount Garfield trip report:

Mount Garfield hike via the Garfield Trail.
Trip Leader: Andrew Yue

Hikers: 
Fred Lee, 
David Von Stroh,
Anthony Paris, 
Andrew Yue

On Friday evening February 22nd, all 4 hikers met at Andrew's place to go over gear and 
pack.  At 3am the group departed Boston heading up I-93 north towards the Franconia 
Notch in a brand new Stratus from Thrifty Rental.  

Making only one gas stop in Lincoln, we headed towards the Gale River Loop Road.  After 
exiting I-93, we shortly discovered that the 1.2 miles to the trailhead on the Gale River 
Loop Road was actually closed in the winter adding an additional 1.2 miles each way.  We 
parked in a small lot off the road and began to pack, unpack, pack, unpack, etc.  It was 
around 5:30am and the sun was just beginning to show as we discovered a shortage of 
headlamps.  But after procrastinating enough packing, we headed off towards Garfield 
around 6am.

30 minutes later we hit the trailhead (which was exciting) and headed up the 5.0 miles to the 
summit.  Taking a few breaks along the way, we enjoyed the peace and quiet from 
Boston's busy noises as we crossed a few brooks and a silent snowmobile trail.  We 
made good time and planned for a break at the Burnt Knoll.  However, as that area now has 
new tree growth in it we missed it barely noting the increasingly better views and finally 
regrouped at the switchbacks for a longer snack break and to rehydrate.

This break was well needed as some of the group members were getting tired as we 
already reached the 4 mile mark.  After the break, another 15 minute hike brought us to the 
trail junction where we found some other hikers had set up camp.  Heading up to the 
summit, we realized the trail had yet to be broken so we stopped to don our rented 
Sherpa snowshoes as the other hikers passed us.  A brief but steep 5 minute hike brought 
us the the cone and summit of Garfield where there was a very strong and gusty wind 
blowing to around 40-50mph.  The views from the summit were gorgeous despite the high 
cold front clouds coming in.  We could see gorgeous views of Franconia and clear views of 
Washington and the rest of the Presidentials.

After playing around the summit for a bit, we descended back below treeline and headed 
down a very steep and powdery Garfield Trail in hopes of hitting the Garfield campsite for 
lunch.  Slipping and skiing down in snowshoes most of the way, the travelled the 0.2 mi 
from the trail junction to not find the campsite.  Andrew followed the arrow in the campsite 
sign for about 5 minutes breaking waist deep snow (in snow shoes) to no avail.  It was very 
difficult distinguishing the trail in such deep snow [Ironically it should be noted that after 
looking at pictures of the real site, the building is huge and there are 6 tent platforms, we 
really should have never missed the site].  

Not really knowing what we were to find (though expecting at least a lean-to, the group 
headed back up to the trail junction step-kicking in the slippery powdery snow.  Though 
contemplating a hike-back as the cold and storm started to come in, the group decided to 
break at the other hiker's camp and setup the stove.  With an hour break of hot oatmeal, hot 
water, and of course hot soup, the now well fed group headed back down the 5.0 miles to 
the car. (actually 6.2)

Anthony and Andrew hit a nice fast pace and kept it up and waited for Fred and Dave at the 
trailhead about 1.5-2 hours later.  On the way down we noticed some very large "cat" tracks 
and we speculated it to be some large mountain cat of some kind.  It was fun following the 
tracks for awhile, but by now the group was tired.

We finally reached the car as it was beginning to get dark.  We decided to race home to 
Boston ahead of the impending storm though not having slept in 24 hours and just hiking 
13.2 miles proved to be a challenge, even after 4 liters of Mountain Dew.

The drive home proved to be just as exciting as the snow (slush) covered highway created 
several bumper to bumper hold ups in traffic as many cars spun out of control.  Slowly 
though, the group made it through the snowy slush as it turned to downpour into Boston 
and safely made it home.