South Twin Mountain

Trail: Beaver Brook XC ski trail, Gale River Road, Gale River Trail

Conditions: Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush

“The hike started off as expected with mashed potato snow and lots of wet areas. Shortly after leaving the parking lot, we knew snowshoes were the best bet for the slushy conditions. The first crossing close to the start of Gale River Trail took some time because none of the snow bridges were supportive and the water was deep. We found a log further upstream, lengthened our poles and made it across. After hiking close to 3 miles, two other hikers were heading back and told us they were not able to cross the next river crossing. One of them broke through up to his knee and was soaked. We decided to continue to check it out. There was nothing solid to step on, and the water was deep. We were assuming that the earlier hikers managed to cross before the temperature warmed up and snow bridges turned to slush. We wandered downstream to search for a spot, but no luck. I had trash bags with me, and as we were standing there, discussing options, some ice up stream gave way like a dam letting go, and there was a flash flood running downstream toward us! We ran up the riverbank just in time as a wall of brown water rushed downstream. It was now a brown raging river. There was no way anyone was crossing this river anytime soon. My immediate thought was how will the hikers get back later in the day, if the water doesn’t recede? Were they doing a traverse or out and back? Too much melting too fast. Be careful out there. Sue, Mary, and Rich may not have a summit to check off today for March, but we are safe to tell our story. Don’t underestimate the power of water.”

Trail: Little River Road, herd path, Haystack Road, North Twin Trail, North Twin Spur, Twinway, Frost Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Gale River Trail, Gale River Road, Beaver Brook XC ski trails

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky

“A mixed bag today. Firm base throughout with different surface conditions depending on elevation and orientation. N Twin Spur was drifted throughout. We followed the general trace of the trail straying in several areas. Avoid the Spruce traps we found about two tenths from the south summit. The Frost Trail was a minefield of snow bombs as the sun warmed the area in the early afternoon. Snowshoes went on at the Little River crossing and stayed on all the way to the car park at Beaver Brook Rec Area. There was evidence of bare booters from the day before with some post holes but they were easily avoided.”

Trail: Beaver Brook XC ski trail, Gale River Road, Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Twinway

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes

“Braved the ice storm to make a run at South Twin, and was rewarded with blue skies and punishes with some tough trail conditions! The perfect warm weather led to a heaping side of mashed potatoes once the sun popped up, wreaking havoc with the 5-6 inches of new snow on trail. Snowshoes door to door for hubby, and 90% for me (I had a freak out in the open sections of the AT up to South when my snowshoes started glissading backwards, and switched to K-10s for the remainder of the spur ascent and descent). Although we were the only two peeps on Gale River Trail and the AT, we managed to stamp out a solid trail below treeline, and make decent work of the drifts above treeline. Trail from Hut to Galehead is unbroken, and the drifts are significant. Trail up Twinway was drifted over the last .3 miles, and there are some serious spruce traps, so be careful. At one point I tried going around the trees on Twinway instead of between the two narrow ones…next thing I knew, I was BD and clinging to the tree like a stripper and my feet were dangling in the hole 😳 The THINGS I yelled into the Rocky Talkie to let George know I was in trouble 🤣 Hoping folks can take advantage of the conditions and fully broken out trail before the warmer temps and rain come in! #213/576 #44/W48”