Mount Garfield

Trail: Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“Pick your poison - start early to avoid the heat and have no views or start later and deal with the heat to have the views. I chose the former and still was drenched by mile 2. The trail was mostly dry but the rocks were sweaty due to the humidity. Higher up I had hoped for a breeze but didn't get much of one. The climb to the summit also had some areas of slick rocks but the summit itself was basically dry but totally socked in. I bumped into several people I knew which was great. This completed my single season summer and my 7th consecutive single season. Clearly I have no marketable skills other than walking uphill and downhill. All and all this was an incredible day!”

Trail: Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“While the water crossings were easy, there were a couple of muddy spots (no standing water), and the rocks on the upper half of the climb were wet and somewhat slick. Plenty of folks out hiking today, and the views from the summit were spectacular. This was my first time up Garfield, and it is now among my favorites!”

Trail: North Twin Trail, Fire Warden's Trail, Lend-A-Hand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Lincoln Woods Trail, Osseo Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, North Twin Spur

Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“This extension of the conventional Pemi Loop was a hike I had planned for some time as a buildup to an endurance race, and the Lincoln Woods closure did not interfere with the route. Starting from the North Twin trailhead, this starts with Hale via the Fire Warden's Trail, makes a quick detour to Zealand Falls Hut, then heads up the Twinway to the Zeacliff outlook, Zealand, and the Bonds. The Bondcliff Trail marks the entry point to the standard Pemi Loop, which is then followed to the Osseo Trail (Lincoln Woods Trail is closed immediately south of this intersection), and across Franconia Ridge and Garfield Ridge. This is a formidable amount of climbing in the second half of the hike, and the South Twin ascent after 37.6 miles was the coup de grace. Trail conditions were excellent for the endeavor, with largely dry rocks, even on some of the typically wet sections of the Garfield Ridge Trail. The Bondcliff Trail had its typical muddy sections, but most of these could be avoided. The wettest segment of trail might have been the narrow corridor of the North Twin Spur. Most of the trails were unusually quiet for the Sunday of 4th of July weekend, but the Lincoln Woods closure and my civil twilight start had a lot to do with that. I encountered a number of friendly hikers between Zealand Falls Hut and Mt. Bond, and almost no one until miles later between Mt. Flume and Mt. Liberty. Though I was there around mid to late-afternoon, the number of hikers between Little Haystack and Mt. Lafayette was moderate rather than excessive. There were a few trail runners, all headed in the opposite direction, undoubtedly with similarly creative itineraries. Views were spectacular, and lower temperature and humidity made this endeavor much more pleasant than it would have been a few days earlier. Overall hike statistics: 44.0 miles, 14,050' gain, 18:20 elapsed time. Full details on Unnecessary Climb!”