| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, bushwhacks, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 17, 2022 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No issues at LW |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
USGS Gauge at EB & L was reading at 720CFS at time of our crossings of 2 & 3 on the way out. Gauge height was 5.31 ft. We used trashbags on them both times by to great success. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
(Trail Maintainer of Lincoln Brook). Trail is wet but waterbars / outflows are working as intended. Surpised to see it in such decent shape (By Lincoln Brook Standards) Team effort took out one smaller stepover. There is a large diameter birch that by wilderness standards could remain in place, its axe worthy, so likely the USFS will take it out during their summer cruise through. Cleaned about 25 waterbars quick and dirty, I know that there are still another 50+ to get to that are under the snow. Will be back in a month or so with the cultivator to do some real cleanup. It also appears that someone had done a little cleanup of some water bars - I thank you. There are some blowdowns on Owl's Head Path as well which the trail snakes around at present. Those will likely disappear too, somehow, when the 3+' of snow is gone... |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
**BEAR ALERT** We treed a bear on the Black Pond 'bushwhack.' Unsure if it was a cub and the mother was around, we did not want to harass it further to find out, so we moved on quickly. |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
I found a happy birthday mylar balloon on Black Pond - let me know if its your birthday and I'll mail it to you. It will however be deflated. So don't get too excited. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
A FINE day in Henry's Woods where had by all. It should be noted we treed a bear on Black Pond BW, closer to the pond. So they are awake! It felt so good to go to my favorite peak! I will comment on conditions on the way out as they wildly differed from the way in. Bare ground on Lincoln Woods, Black Pond, and the entire length of the Black Pond Extension. Rotting sparse rail turns to firmer and more consistent through the few miles of Lincoln Brook Trail travelled. Obvious dropoff in traffic after Brutus. We actually went up a ways because we where gabbing and missed the turn off. The section from crossing 3 to the slide is my next big project out there for the summer, its so wet and has poor drainage. Hoping to add lots and lots of cribbing to try to deter the massive trail creep that was been occuring the last few years. Brutus was a great line. Will have no snow on it soon. On Owl's Head Path you could make a case for something a little more aggressive then hillsound trail crampons - like K10's. There is some serious flows of blue ice buried under about 3" of fresh powder to the height of land and the old summit. It might be negated by warmer temps on the way as well as you'd have more bite. We hit the summit in short order. Lots of fresh pyow pyow on the trees. Felt like winter for a minute, aside from the t shirt I was wearing. Uneventful (the best kind) on the way out. No snow at the trailhead, 3-4' at elevation. Winter is still very much here. Burgers and Beer at Black Mountain to replace the carbs! nom! |
|
 | Name: |
The Teal Goat, Rhockin Rhonda, pickle |
|
 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2022-04-17 |
|
 | 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. |
|
