| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Brook Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, herd path, Owl's Head Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, December 28, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was the third card in the lot this morning, cant imagine why |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water crossing 1, no problem. Water Crossing 2 (referred to in a few prior reports as the first) was fine and rock hoppable too. Crossing three I found crossing about 50' upstream, with garbage bags. No issues with then, feet where dry. You can also bushwhack up stream about 0.1 and the stream splits, so there is two littler crossings. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
(Trail Maintainer Lincoln Brook). This was sort of a trip to get in and see how bad the trail was post storm. Much to my surprise, it faired very well. The three spots around where the railroad line enters from camp 10 are not too bad, they are wet even in a drought, but all this water helped identify the problem spots. The trail has some minor erosion in a handful of places, mainly due to Lincoln Brook popping its banks. I tried to fix tone water bar as best I could. One has catastrophically failed but thankfully there was another 50' away. Cleared about 30 waterbars, all where flowing just needed a little more love. Noted several projects for next year! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
several out today |
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 | Bugs: |
About two scores of tourons, in their finest fashion. My favorites where the guy in sneakers, shorts, and a patriots hat in the driving rain, 2.5 miles in, the woman with knee high super furry boots that looked as though she skinned a dozen animals to achieve said look, and the ground length not-so-white-anymore down coat. 10 out of 10 for all of you! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
There is one sock on on Brutus. |
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|
 | Comments: |
A FINE May day in December in Henry's Woods. I needed 12/28 for calendar day, and having beta for two great sources in the last two days, I just had to go get it. Thankfully having good beta from the last few days, I had no issues on any water crossings (though the third did require trash bags, no issues rock hopping. I didn't trust ice). There is pretty much no snow until just before Brutus Rock at 3460 or so. Spikes on in this immediate area, and stayed on until when the trail hooks 90 at the river in the drainage at about 2900. Figured I would use the spikes for the mud, too. There is virtually no snow on the ridge, going by the tree wells, less than 12". Got a nice view of Bondcliff. The cairn has either moved or been dismantled since my last visit. Likely the latter. A light rain all day picked up on my way out but wasn't anything to worry about. According to thermometer was 39 when I got back down from Brutus. WORST DECEMBER EVER. Saw no one all day, unsurprisingly, until LW. Also of note, quite the oddity, I heard what I thought was a train whistle no less than three times. It could have been an owl, that's the only thing I can come up with. Weird stuff happens alone nine miles in, I guess. Got back to the truck and Hiker Ed had left me a present. Fire was going in the USFS Ranger Station, so I popped in to enjoy that for a bit. |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-28 |
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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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