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Astro on the AT 2018

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    • My last option to complete the full section from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch passed. Car is loaded and I'm hoping for an 11:00 departure for Hartland VT then onto the Gale River Trailhead tomorrow morning.

      I'll take lots of pictures on the trail up to Galehead.
      Trudgin' along the AT since 2003. Completed Sections: Springer Mountain to Clingmans Dome and Max Patch NC to Gorham NH

      "The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard
    • StalkingTortoise wrote:

      My last option to complete the full section from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch passed. Car is loaded and I'm hoping for an 11:00 departure for Hartland VT then onto the Gale River Trailhead tomorrow morning.

      I'll take lots of pictures on the trail up to Galehead.
      As best I have been able to research so far it starts off mild, but picks up in difficulty as you get closer to the AT.
      Have a great time and I have you have good weather.
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Thanks. Ended up doing the red-eye drive to NH. At McDonald's in Lincoln for carb loading before I hit the trailhead.
      Trudgin' along the AT since 2003. Completed Sections: Springer Mountain to Clingmans Dome and Max Patch NC to Gorham NH

      "The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard
    • Gale River Trail Guide

      The trailhead for the Gale River Trail is about 1.4 miles off of Route 3 via a gravel forest service road. Lots of parking on a Thursday morning but not a spot to be found on Saturday afternoon.



      Mile 1:
      Imagine walking on a treadmill set at a 5% incline through a nice deciduous forest.


      Mile 2:
      Add in some rocks and mud. Sometimes the incline goes up to 7%.


      Mile 3:
      After crossing a bog bridge, the trail actually descends for a few tenths. Some of those feet you have been slowly gaining are being taken away. After crossing the next bog bridge, the ascent continues at 10%. There's actually a view along the Gale River.


      Mile 4:
      The ascent increases to a 15% incline. You think you must be getting close to the AT but a descending hiker informs you that you will know when you get to 'real' climb.

      The real climb:
      Rock stairs. New Jersey has the 'Stairway to Heaven'. The Gale River Trail has the 'Stairway from Hell'.


      Took me 2 hours & 45 minutes to reach the AT. The kids in the Galehead Hut Croo do it in 2 hours with 60 pounds of perishable foods on their packboards.
      Trudgin' along the AT since 2003. Completed Sections: Springer Mountain to Clingmans Dome and Max Patch NC to Gorham NH

      "The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard

      The post was edited 1 time, last by StalkingTortoise ().

    • Had a scare last night. Went out to my garage in the dark to quickly grab something out of a vehicle while wearing Crocs. Did not see a wet spot and slipped/flew through the air and landed on my right side. My knee was bent back, but my hip took the brunt of the fall. Only thing going through my mind then was had I just destroyed all the progress of my surgery and rehab. Wife had me take 4 ibuprofen, ice knee, and went to bed. :S

      Fortunately I had a PT rehab appointment this morning and he checked things out and then put me through an hour exercises, so no damage done. :thumbup:
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Glad to hear it wasn't any worse than it was. :/

      Since I'm also reviewing ways to get back up to Franconia Ridge, may I offer a suggestion?

      What about taking the Old Bridle Path (shuttle stop) or Greenleaf Trail (both 2.7 miles) to the Greenleaf Hut, then continuing on 1.1 miles to the summit of Lafayette? Granted, you'll have to re-trace your steps on the AT from Lafayette to the Garfield Ridge Shelter (3.9 miles), but you might get those views that you missed the first time. In my humble opinion, this would be easier than hiking up the Gale River Trail and backtracking the 2.1 miles to Garfield Ridge Shelter (4.2 miles total). My buddy Sox didn't have many kind things to say about those 2.1 miles. Then again, he didn't much care for the waterfall descent before the Garfield Ridge Shelter either.

      If you're already looking at using the huts through Pinkham Notch, add Greenleaf to the schedule and have fun!
      Trudgin' along the AT since 2003. Completed Sections: Springer Mountain to Clingmans Dome and Max Patch NC to Gorham NH

      "The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard
    • Astro wrote:

      Had a scare last night. Went out to my garage in the dark to quickly grab something out of a vehicle while wearing Crocs. Did not see a wet spot and slipped/flew through the air and landed on my right side. My knee was bent back, but my hip took the brunt of the fall. Only thing going through my mind then was had I just destroyed all the progress of my surgery and rehab. Wife had me take 4 ibuprofen, ice knee, and went to bed. :S

      Fortunately I had a PT rehab appointment this morning and he checked things out and then put me through an hour exercises, so no damage done. :thumbup:
      Glad to hear that you're OK.
      I hope you don't wind up sore over the next few days.
    • StalkingTortoise wrote:

      Glad to hear it wasn't any worse than it was. :/

      Since I'm also reviewing ways to get back up to Franconia Ridge, may I offer a suggestion?

      What about taking the Old Bridle Path (shuttle stop) or Greenleaf Trail (both 2.7 miles) to the Greenleaf Hut, then continuing on 1.1 miles to the summit of Lafayette? Granted, you'll have to re-trace your steps on the AT from Lafayette to the Garfield Ridge Shelter (3.9 miles), but you might get those views that you missed the first time. In my humble opinion, this would be easier than hiking up the Gale River Trail and backtracking the 2.1 miles to Garfield Ridge Shelter (4.2 miles total). My buddy Sox didn't have many kind things to say about those 2.1 miles. Then again, he didn't much care for the waterfall descent before the Garfield Ridge Shelter either.

      If you're already looking at using the huts through Pinkham Notch, add Greenleaf to the schedule and have fun!
      Thanks I will look into those other options. Weather that day might end up being the deciding factor. Also good to know and understand your options ahead of time. :)
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Officially released from Physical Therapy Monday this week, although still doing things daily at home and 3 days a week at the gym. Final check up with surgeon Thursday. Walking more on flat sevices now with goal of hitting the Ozark Highland Trail on my Winter Break. :thumbup:
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • I haven't been on the Caf in about 3 months so I started this thread from the beginning and am glad I did to get to reread some of Astro's trip report. Finished up the rest of his trip report and saw all his great pictures as well as the great pictures that DB posted and Stalking Tortoise's as well. Great job guys! Thanks so much for us cyber hikers.
    • Trillium wrote:

      I haven't been on the Caf in about 3 months so I started this thread from the beginning and am glad I did to get to reread some of Astro's trip report. Finished up the rest of his trip report and saw all his great pictures as well as the great pictures that DB posted and Stalking Tortoise's as well. Great job guys! Thanks so much for us cyber hikers.
      I will be back next summer to hopefully finish the AT. :)
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General