| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, bushwhack, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owls Head Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, July 20, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only two easy water crossings rock hopable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail to Black Pond is well marked and maintained. Lincoln Brook trail is in poor condition. Closer to the side trail lots of blowdowns, mud pits, flooded trail sections. Side trail to summit does have small cairns in places to aid in navigation. It also has blowdowns. There is a herd path past the old summit to the new summit. New summit is marked by a large cairn. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None of any consequence - bug shirt probably helped |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
My hiking friend Steve and I had both been to the summit before in summer and winter but not since they moved it to a higher knob on the ridge. Plus we wanted to try the bushwhack from Black Pond that we had done in the winter with no problems.
The original plan was to hike to Black Pond, bushwhack to the Lincoln Brook trail to cut out two potentially challenging stream crossings (Franconia Brook and first Lincoln Brook crossing). Then we would hike the Lincoln Brook trail to a spot I had camped at 19 years ago very close to the side trail to the summit. But the ranger indicated that they were patrolling the trail periodically to make sure people were camping at least 200 feet from the trail or stream. Where I had camped did not meet that requirement Moreover he said that it was quite wet in that whole area. The ranger also warned us about the minimally maintained Lincoln Brook trail and side trail to Owl's head. But he also mentioned a herd path that had been established from Black Pond to the Lincoln Brook trail.
So after a quick lunch we backpacked to Black Pond. This is beautiful area and we took numerous photos both going and coming back. I had plotted a .8 mile bushwhack slightly different than the usual route that follows magnetic north. We started out with that bearing climbing and slabbing a hill but soon found after about .4 miles that the going was bit tough so we dropped down a short ways and lo and behold found the herd path that was easy to follow and within a short time reached the Lincoln Brook trail right where it crosses the stream but on the side we wanted be on. After hiking a short ways on the Lincoln Brook trail we decided to look for a campsite so headed off 200 feet away from the stream. We found a spot after a short search and set up our tent and dropped some of our gear. It was now 2:30p so decided to go for the summit and have a more relaxing short trip out.
Well, the ranger was right. Sections of the Lincoln Brook trail are a trail maintainers nightmare (see above). The unmaintained side trail to the summit was well marked with two 2 foot cairns. But now the "fun" really started. We hit the slide at what seemed like the hottest part of the day. A good portion of the slide is fully exposed to the sun. It was VERY steep - an understatement - You are climbing roughly 1400 feet in .8 miles to the ridge over scree and unstable rock. A third of the steep climb is among the trees but still very steep. Once you get to the ridge you follow a herd path past the old summit to the new one. We reached the new summit at 5 pm. Going down was as challenging as up. After descending back to the Lincoln Brook trail we stopped at the first stream crossing to filter water and start rehydrating. We got back to camp for a late supper. The next morning we packed up and headed back the way we came. We took the herd path which seemed easy to follow and continued beyond where we had found it on the way in. Unfortunately after .5 miles it just seemed to disappear. So out came the compass and eventually we reached the pond. Took more photos then headed back to visitor center stopping on the way to wash up in the east branch of the Pemi river.
I wouldn't advise trying to do this trip all in one day at this time of year. Even doing the bushwhack it is about 8 miles one way from the visitor center to the Owls Head summit. This mileage includes the additional couple tenths of a mile to the new summit and what you save by taking the bushwhack. The ranger indicated that some folks camp just north of Black pond off the herd path then attempt the summit on the second day.
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 | Name: |
Dexhiker |
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 | E-Mail: |
dexpcdoc@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-07-21 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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