| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owlshead, Mt. Martha, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Owl's Head Trail, Martha's Mile |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 19, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for six or eight cars at Owl's Head trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The single significant crossing is easily rock-hopped. (There's a crossing right at the trailhead too, also easily rock-hopped, but it can be avoided entirely by bearing left and going over a culvert.) |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One blowdown, a white birch, that's easily stepped over. A couple of small lift-up canes are bending over the trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
This is an excellent hike for dogs, with the caveat that the short but difficult scramble just below Owl's Head summit on the Mt. Martha side could be problematic for many dogs; be ready to assist. Also, the Owl's Head Trail crosses water just three times, at 1,600', 1,850' and 2,200', with the upper two locations not reliable during dry spells. There's no water at the summit of either Owl's Head or Martha and none between. Plan to carry extra, especially on hot, muggy days. |
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 | Bugs: |
Black flies bothersome but not intolerable below 2,800'; they are fewer above 2,800'. A few mosquitoes now too. And along the way we walked into a cloud of no-see-ems. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
In the first three-quarters of a mile from the trailhead there are several places on the trail with significant mud, some of which is difficult to avoid. After the brook crossing at one mile, mud isn't an issue.
Footbed is generally good, excellent in some places. The footbed along Martha's Mile is a carpet -- what a pleasure this short trail is.
Though neither this Owl's Head nor Mt. Martha are 4Ks, the climb from the Owl's Head side offers a good little workout. From the brook crossing to the summit the trail climbs more than 1,600 feet in 1.4 miles, and the steep grade is relieved only very occasionally by short, less steep sections. The final 200 elevation feet to the summit encourage especially heavy breathing.
But the outstanding views of the Presidentials from the Owl's Head summit, especially, make the ascent very much worthwhile. Sunrise photographers take note: This is where you want to be to shoot pink behind Washington and his brothers.
Trilliums(both kind), trout lily, hobblebush and woodland strawberry are in bloom along the trail.
This was a second off-leash training hike for Josie. I wanted to see how she'd do on the Owl's Head scramble. She needed a couple of tries, but she climbed it without trouble, and she did great without the leash. I think she's ready for prime time.
Everyone must be on the big mountains today. We didn't see anyone along the entire 6.6-mile out-and-back.
Photos to come. |
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 | Name: |
The Feathered Hat |
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 | E-Mail: |
stevebjerklie at yahoo dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-05-19 |
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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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