| 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, herd path, Franconia Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, June 13, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Lincoln Woods parking area. This large, paved lot is a fee lot ($5 a day or WMNF pass). Bathrooms, well stocked and clean. This area is also plowed after winter storms. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
See notes below |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
All trails are good for dogs. Smaller breeds may need some help crossing the water on Lincoln Brook. |
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 | Bugs: |
Oh yes. Flying, biting. DEET only excites them… |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Lincoln Woods > Black Pond trl > Black Pond herd path > Lincoln Brook > Brutus herd path up to summit and back > Lincoln Brook > Franconia Brook > Lincoln Woods > end.
Lincoln Woods: flat, fast. No mud. Busy.
Black Pond trail: well blazed in yellow. Good grade. Minor mud just before the pond.
Black Pond herd path: this is still an unofficial trail so be prepared. It is fairly straight forward to follow. Lots of mud, esp around the pond. Today I found that it only saves a mile, but avoids the first two water crossings on Lincoln Brook. So, it’s a very useful path in snowy and spring seasons. Otherwise, I advocate for Lincoln Brook trail.
Lincoln Brook trail: not blazed. Footbed simple to follow. Some shallow mud where there is always mud. Well maintained. The water crossings were no issue today but I will discuss them as coming from the Brutus bushwhack moving towards Franconia Brook:
1. “Just After the Brutus:” no issue using protruding rocks. Water levels normal. Multiple courses available.
2. “The One I Always Struggle With:” no issue. Easy crossing.
3. “The One Just Past the Junction with Black Pond Herd Path:” oh. I forgot how wide this one is. Dry route found using a convoluted route on protruding rocks. Slick rocks, mind you. Slick.
4. “Dang! I Didn’t Remember This One But I Do Now:” wide. Frustrating crossing for those looking to keep feet dry. I think you could come up with a route on rocks. But, I caution, ALL rocks are slick. I was super hot and I do not care about wet feet. So I just went into the drink, avoiding choke points and walked (or rather slip/slid) through the water.
In any case, water levels benign.
Brutus herd path: fairly easy to follow. It is still off trail so…. Very steep but negotiable today. No mud.
Franconia Brook: not blazed. Very simple to follow. Very little mud. Very nice trail. I just love this trail. Well maintained.
Once back at the Lincoln Woods jct, I stopped to contemplate crossing the East Branch to access the Pemi East trail. I was kind of at a point that I could not bear walking back down Lincoln Woods. Again. I followed a herd path next to the Pemi Wilderness kiosk for a bit. I could tell it was taking me to the East Branch of the Pemi, but I couldn’t be sure if it was taking me to the safe crossing point. Then the path peetered out and began traversing a ridge that was steeply situated above the river. Since I nearly bit it, and went for an unintended white water ride when I crossed in a deep area of that river last summer, I elected to just suck it up and go back down Lincoln Woods. Again.
Instagram link below |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-06-13 |
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 | Link: |
 https://remi.hikes.576 |
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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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