| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Still plenty of room left at 7am at LW lot on the Kanc; maybe half full or so. But this was midweek, post-Labor Day. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The two after the Black Pond Trail Extension/bushwhack were easy rock hops. Even the one where the BP bushwhack ends would have been easy, as there has been so little rain. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Everything along the way was in pretty decent shape. See comments below. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The Black Pond "extension" now is an easily followed herd path, starting from the north end of the pond. There first is one spot just after turning a bit easterly as though to go around the pond where some earlier foot traffic heading off to the left seemed evident. This was blocked by a few pieces of blowdown, the usual "no, not here" indication. A very short way after that the clearing suggested continuing straight ahead, but again some brush across that said otherwise, and that's where the well-established herd path is seen heading off to the left (northerly again).
Just after the last LB crossing is where the "Brutus Bushwhack" heads off and immediately up the side of OH. Others in the group of four wanted to take that, so we did. While much of that trip up to where it intersects with the usual OH side trail still is in decent shape and seems typical of many narrow trails in the woods, although generally steep, there is a short stretch where it goes straight up the "fall line." This stretch is so steep that foot traffic has eroded the path badly, leaving little but very thin soil/tree debris and small rocks, many of which were loose. I suspect it won't take too much in the way of heavy rain downpours to gully this stretch badly, and others likely will just begin a new herd path around it, which ultimately will suffer the same fate. On the descent, two of us went down the usual rock slide route, loose rock and treacherous footing. This does take longer and requires extreme caution. |
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 | Name: |
Pappy |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-09-17 |
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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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