Twins, Galehead loop

[Ed'n Lauky]

We did the loop as part of Big Earl's group of at least 12. All the trails were well broken out and most of Earl's group were using snowshoes and packed the trails even more. Even barebooting there was no postholing, however, on the steep uphill slopes of North Twin the MSR traction worked better than microspikes.

All stream crossings are a piece of cake right now. There were blowdowns here and there all along the hike but nothing impassible. The worst of the blowdowns is located on the Galeriver trail not far from the summer trailhead. A herd trail is forming around it.

The major trails connecting with this loop (Garfield Ridge, Twinway towards the Bonds) appeared to be well broken out. The Franconia Brook trail showed no signs of use.

All the trails are very smooth right now. There are no apparent ledges on either North or South Twin. I've never seen the Garfield Ridge and the upper section of the Gale River trail so smooth.

When doing the loop starting from North Twin the big trick can be finding the shortcut to Beaver Brook. When coming out of the summer trailhead you turn right, go to the T and turn left. The first snowmobile trail to the right after that is the shortcut. It comes fairly quickly after you make the left turn.