| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, bushwhack, Lincoln Brook Trail, bushwhack, Owl's Head Path |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 23, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plowed and lots of room. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All solidly bridged |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Off the grid hiking is hazardous to tall hikers! I kept getting poked, stabbed and slowed down by countless branches in the path. But the trail was so beautifully packed down by about 16 hikers (most with snowshoes) that it was super-easy. Even the steep Brutus bushwhack was grippy enough for me to go up in snowshoes without using poles (I hate them). If you have snowshoes please WEAR THEM up & down the bushwhack! |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One husky but she was a growler so no treat. It was her loss! |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
I was definitely the last one to leave the lot at 9:45. I figured it would take 7:15 round trip with firm trail conditions. They were even better than expected. Wore spikes until the base of the summit bushwhack, which I reached in 2 hours 20 minutes. Switched to snowshoes and started up the steep ravine. Not bad for about .4 miles but then it gets darn steep for the next .6 then levels out as it gains the main ridge. The summit is about .6 further through dozens of twists & turns and several false summits. Then all of a sudden the trail ends on a tiny knob with no views so you know you've made it! Total time from lot to summit 3:30. It didn't seem like 9 miles but other hikers with GPS confirmed it. Kept snowshoes on for the trip back down and the steep descent was very taxing but no missteps and I never buttslide because hard descents are part of the joy. Nice soft powder all the way back down and even kept snowshoes on for the last 2.6 of the Wilderness Trail. But I couldn't wait to get across the suspension bridge and back to the car which I reached at 4:15. There were still 8 hikers well behind me that I passed on the way up, all reasonably strong but I hope they had headlamps. |
|
 | Name: |
swamibob |
|
 | E-Mail: |
hynoskyb@aol.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-02-23 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
