Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, bushwhack, Lincoln Brook Trail, bushwhack, Owl's Head Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 4, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Lincoln Brook was crossable with a lot of thought and care, but it may be daunting for some. The water was running pretty well and there were no clear ice bridges. I used the ice bulges that were forming but were still slushy on top with running water over them - they were solid enough underneath. (The downstream edge of an ice bulge is always thicker than the upstream edge, and you can tell with a good hard poke with the pole if it is a good bet.) I used snowshoes to help distribute weight on the ice better, but I had to step into the water a bit during the crossing, and I also broke a couple of chunks of ice off. Another group of four turned back and did not cross. I think that at this point, if several people cross, you are bound to knock off more chunks of ice, making it more difficult to cross again on the way back. After another couple days of cold the ice bridges should be more solid and the crossing will be easier. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Black Pond trail had some ice under a dusting of snow. From Black Pond to Lincoln Brook crossing is tracked out - just a few inches of snow anyway.
Lincoln Brook Trail is not too bad - much of the water is frozen and snow has started to fill in some of the holes, making it less annoying than it can be - it's pretty easy to move at a decent pace. Brutus has NO ICE! - just bare ground covered in powder, ranging from a couple inches down low to maybe a foot up high. Microspikes lower down (to bite into the frozen dirt beneath the snow) and snowshoes up high where the snow is deeper. The ridge top has drifts in places. Except for the difficult brook crossing, it was pretty good going overall. |
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 | Name: |
umsaskis |
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 | E-Mail: |
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 | Date Submitted: |
2025-01-05 |
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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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