| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, bushwhack, Lincoln Brook Trail, bushwhack, Owls Head Path |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 31, 2020 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lincoln Woods parking lot about 3/4 full at noon; 19 vehicles at 8 pm, the majority with out-of-state plates, presumably from those camping in the Pemi. Rest rooms boarded shut, and no Porta-pots, which likely will lead to a lot of human waste in the woods surrounding the parking lot. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All three crossings on Lincoln Brook Trail rock hoppable, with about 600 cfs on the East Branch USFS gauge in Lincoln. Liberty Brook easiest, unnamed brook easily hopped from site about 50 m upstream along heard path past best hidden campsite in the valley, and on Lincoln Brook someone installed some thin limbs to avoid a big hop, which worked fine with good balance. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Excellent recent efforts on both Lincoln Brook Trail and upper Owl's Head Path. Many thanks! |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Very few today, but I am sure that those few were extraordinarily happy and having a great time. :-) |
|
 | Bugs: |
Hardly any black flies or mosquitoes today (yay!), with the cool temperatures (40s to 30s) providing reprieve. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Very little trash. :-) |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Not much else to add to reports from The Teal Goat and Rocket21 above, whom I met along with another dozen or so on their way out in early afternoon on Lincoln Brook Trail; physical distancing straightforward. Both bushwhacks are very easy to follow now with good treads; probably the steep section of Brutus could use a few short switchbacks to mitigate future erosion. Lincoln Woods Trail and Owl's Head Path have seen some recent excellent TLC; thanks!
As noted earlier, not much snow and ice remain, other than a short stretch of 2-3 ft snow depths near the "new summit," so my microspikes got a free ride on the pack today. This 26th trip to Owl's Head completed my solo, second, and over 60 May grids, and moved my pm grid quest to 68% completion. Now I can focus on reclusive redlining until November, my next month with grid stragglers. |
|
 | Name: |
HFKA Dr D |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2020-06-01 |
|
 | 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. |
|
