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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Owl's Head, NH
Trails
Trails: Lincoln Woods Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path, herd path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking available when I arrived at 10 am. Note: they have blocked off some spots for planned tree trimming on 5/26/22. There was a volunteer at the cabin at the Lincoln Woods Trailhead.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Water was not flowing hard enough to knock you down but I brought water shoes and a light weight towel and changed my boots out at all six water crossings. Two crossings on Franconia Brook are pretty tame. The next two crossings on Lincoln Brook are more significant, a bit of mind over matter with the cold water, very careful stepping, submerged up to my thighs for a short period. The next two crossings before Owls Head Path are more narrow than the last two but the trails on either side of brook are very obvious.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Lincoln Woods very dry. Franconia Brook and Lincoln Brook Trails mostly good, occasional patches of mud with walk arounds. Lincoln Brook pretty wet about 3/4ths way t OH. Owl's Head Path super steep but dry where it mattered on open faced areas. Variety of step overs, walk arounds, duck-unders here and there.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Some in the P lot headed elsewhere but none to OH.  
Bugs
Bugs: Yes, mosquitos and black flies; sprayed an bandana and wore it around my neck, moving fast enough most of the time for them not to bother.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: This hike was like a triathlon for me: hiking, wading, and camping. My rock hopping skills are dodgy at best and the next rock always seems just a bit to far away to risk going for it. So, I planned on getting wet and highly recommend solid water shoes to cross, especially the middle two crossings on Lincoln Brook Trail.
Great views from the slide going up.... and up and up.
Saw one person on the way down from the summit, then opted for Brutus coming down as that felt safer than going back down the slide.
Hiked for another hour after getting back to Lincoln Brook trail, then set up remote camp site for the night and let the water lull me to sleep.
On my way out, I kept my water shoes on between the two Lincoln Brook crossings and then again between the two crossings on Franconia Brook.
Hiked out in the am with a side trip to both the beaver pond (just a bit further north from junction with Lincoln Brook and Franconia Brook) and to Franconia Falls (beautiful in the sun, really roaring).
#43 for me and #43 in height measurement for the 4000 footers.  
Name
Name: KittE 
E-Mail
E-Mail: aelkinson@outlook.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-05-25 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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