[dmottram]

in reply to: Liberty #55801

@SilentCal wrote:

Let me know when one of your crew is online and I can remove the repeat hikers and you can sign up your own crew.

I tried adding a hiker, the “peaks” page shows open, but when I attempt to add the hiker, the registration page says full…. hmmm.

[dmottram]

in reply to: Liberty #55806

@SilentCal wrote:

Let me know when one of your crew is online and I can remove the repeat hikers and you can sign up your own crew.

I’m online… anytime you want to pull the trigger…

[dmottram]

in reply to: Registration for 2016? #55745

Can we get the folks who signed up on 2 peaks to pick one of them? I have hikers who want to do Liberty with the rest of our group and can’t.

[dmottram]

in reply to: South Twin #55680

Hi all,

I am SO excited to be hiking with you all again as well as meeting some new faces for a very special occasion. Thanks for participating.

There are a couple of options for hiking routes

Option 1

Haystack Rd Parking-North Twin-South Twin-Galehead Hut-Galehead-Galehead Hut- Galehead River Trail – Galehead Parking
Haystack Rd to North Twin – 4.3 Miles via North Twin Trail
North Twin – South Twin – 1.3 Miles via North Twin Spur Trail
Total Book Time 4:25 hours – 5.6 miles

Option 2

Gale River Loop Parking-South Twin
Gale River Loop Parking – Garfield Ridge Trail – 4.0 miles
Garfield River Loop Trail – Galehead Hut – 0.6 Miles
Galehead Hut – South Twin – 0.8 miles
Total Book Time – 5:00 hours – 5.4 miles

Hiking Notes: There are water crossings (multiple on either trail) please be prepared… there are also side trails to avoid some, not all of them.

After the flag ceremony, for those who want to bag another close peak
South Twin – Galehead Hut (maybe some refreshments) – 0.8 miles
Galehead Hut – Galehead Summit – 0.5 Miles
Galehead Summit – Galehead Hut – 0.5 miles
Galehead Hut – Garfield River Loop Trail – 0.8 miles
Garfield River Loop Trail – 4.0 miles
6.6 Miles – 6:00 hours, probably more like 5:30 hours (yes, that means arriving in the dark) PLEASE be sure you bring at least one headlamp and a flashlight, spare batteries would be a good option.

Logisitics
Eric and I are planning on hiking up Option 1, and then doing the optional hike on the way out.
We are going to hit the TH at about 2pm Friday and plan on camping somewhere in the col between N and S Twin (we’re going to play it by ear)

If you come up Option 2, you can descend option 1 or do the optional peak with us.

If you’re going up 1 and coming down 2, or vise versa, we’re hoping that there will be drivers who are willing to help folks get to their cars at the other end if needed.

Planning
If you chose option 1, you should plan on being at the Trailhead NLT 7am to allow enough time to get there. I’d suggest 6:30am
If you chose option 2, you should plan on being at the Trailhead NLT 6:30am to allow enough time to get there. I’d suggest 6:00am

Equipment
4 Poles – I have carriers for each pole, if you see someone carrying one, before or after the ceremony, please take the time to share the load. We can discuss at the summit where to drop them if you get out with them first.

Rope – Likewise I have someone that will be carrying the ropes. If you have a spare coil you could lend/donate please bring it along… you can never have enough. 🙂

Flag – Is being provided by one of the other participants If someone has one that they want to bring along “just in case” that would be great.. You never know what could happen and I like to have a plan B.

Hike safe, and enjoy the day. It’s currently looking like a b-e-a-utiful sort of day.

Dale
Please call or email me if you have any questions.
dtmjr60@hotmail.com
(978) 212-9850

[dmottram]

in reply to: South Twin #55678

Hello all,

Getting excited to do this hike! I hope you are too 🙂 :flag:

I’m waiting to see what the weather is going to do and will make a decision to crash camp somewhere around the S. Twin summit on Friday night (within the rules of course) or if it’s looking like rain, we’ll hike up Friday morning.
If Friday, I plan on stepping off at the N. Twin trailhead at 6am.

We have 4 sections of pole that need to be carried up and down, and it would be nice to share the load among the hikers, both before and after.

If we decide to hike up Friday, I’ll place glow in the dark bands to find us off trail.. we’ll probably head up about 2pm and setup camp before dark (7ish).

Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Dale

[dmottram]

in reply to: South Twin #55676

Anyone who wishes to contact me to discuss details or anything else:

dtmjr60@hotmail.com
or you can call me at (978) 212-9850

[dmottram]

in reply to: Sign Ups are ready to Go! #55660

Getting problems registering… syntax errors

[dmottram]

in reply to: Garfield #55637

I’d like to say that this started out to be one the best days in the fall this could have possibly happened, Bright full sun, with not a cloud in the sky. A day that started with a cool morning that gradually turned to that warm that you feel just enough as you step into the sun light, slipping through dappled leaves of the canopy. Unfortunately, this was not one of those days.
Part of the team met up early in the morning to condense cars, while drove by looking on. We headed north and arrived at Galehead loop approximately 7:45.
We passed around the gear and poles to some of the members and I gave everyone a team shirt, but due to the temperatures, most of them never saw the light of day long.
We hit the trail promptly at 8:00 am and the group strung along a damp trail in a long loose line.
We passed many hikers on their way down, who commented on the brisk wind at the summit. Undaunted, we continued along, mostly slinky hiking.
We arrived at the split just below the summit approximately 11:30 and waited below as we heard the wind howling above us.
The team finally braved the wind and made the final run up to the foundation.
A group of us got the poles together, decided that our big 8×12 flag was going to be too much, as well as the 20′ pole. Dick Bedard brought along a backup flag and we reduced the pole height to 10′. Darin Gagne coordinated the rope work and after a couple of errors, I got the privilege of hauling the flag aloft at 12pm sharp.
We had a moment of silence and the national anthem was played. The wind was whipping so fast that you had to lean in to hear it through the bluetooth speaker.
The rest of the afternoon was spent snapping pictures and hiding behind the foundation for a windbreak.
Some made coffee with their Jetboils, others rotated down to “the cave” just below the summit where it felt 30 degrees warmer.
We had the opportunity to see the Blackhawk make it’s circle around Flume and Liberty and then it disappeared behind the progressing cloud bank. A few minutes later, we saw the NHANG chopper passing just below the summit under the clouds and I managed to capture a couple of shots. We also saw Galehead’s flag above the tree line. Someone had commented that they had also seen Liberty’s flag before the clouds moved in.
At the end of the day, we hastily packed up, spread the load, policed the area and headed down the mountain.
We were off trail about 2 hours, with the last hour in the rain.
A successful hike with a lot of great conversation, participation and the opportunity to remember the tragedy of the day. We celebrate their lives, honor their memories and never forget the sacrifice of those who were there when called to service.
I look forward to hiking next year and hope those on this team will be together again for event.

Thanks to all who participated! :flag:

All of my photos can be found here:
http://cribbageman.smugmug.com/Hiking/FOT48-2014-Mt-Garfield/

I’ll also post a few here. I hope everyone else does the same. Send them to me and I’ll add them to my library.

Dale

[dmottram]

in reply to: Mt. Garfield Plan #55562

:flag:

http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mt-Garfield/forecasts/1372

Please prepare accordingly.
High 43 windchill 36. Chance of showers.

Bring something warm (or some “anti-freeze) (I had an auntie freeze once) 😉

Look forward to seeing you all there.

Dale

[dmottram]

in reply to: Mt. Garfield Plan #55561

:flag: Hi all,

Dick graciously let us use his yard last night to construct the pole. Dick, Darin and I built a 20′ pole which should do the trick for the weekend.

We have two flags, an 8’x12′ which has loaned to us for the event and a 3’x5′ which is for a backup in case we have winds that we can’t handle with the bigger flag.

We’re planning on meeting in the L.L. Bean parking lot in Concord, NH at 6:15am, traveling by convoy(ish) to the trailhead parking. We’ll be stepping off NO LATER than 8am. We’d like to even get going a few minutes before so we’re not a forced march pace 🙂

There are a couple of surprises for the day, so we hope to make this a great time for everyone joining us.

Any questions, please let me know!
Dale

[dmottram]

in reply to: Mt. Garfield Plan #55560

Dick and I discussed a new time to meet for pole construction.
We’ll meet on Monday 9/8 at 5pm to construct the pole segments.
Darin has some ideas relative to joint strength we’ll attempt to implement
I’ll pick up the balance of materials I think we discussed, worse case we’ll need to make a run to the Depot.
:flag:

We have an 8’x12′ flag that is the primary target, if the winds are too strong, we’ll have a 3’x5′ for backup. No sense in going mountain surfing 😆

[dmottram]

in reply to: Mt. Garfield Plan #55558

Hi all,

We have a flag that was loaned to us by the City of Manchester (it’s good to have friends that work for the municipality!)

We met at Milly’s last night and a couple of us are going to meet at Dick Bedard’s on monday to build the pole.

So, we should have what we need other than actually making the hike.

The hike in is expected to be a little bit of a push, but we should arrive at the summit in sufficient time to raise the flag on schedule.

There are some surprises for the event as well!
Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Dale

[dmottram]

in reply to: Mt. Garfield Plan #55557

Hi all,

I’d like to propose that we have a meeting next wednesday August 26th at 6pm at Milly’s Tavern 500 N. Commercial St, Manchester. For anyone that wants to be there to discuss building the pole.

I think I have a source for the flag, if not I’ll buy one.

It’s an open invite, I don’t think anyone necessarily needs to be there to participate in the climb.

We have a full group so there should be plenty of hands to help with the carry.

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