Best way to summit Flume, Liberty and Owl's head in one hike.

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timmus

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St-Bruno, Qc. Avatar: At Guyot Shelter
What is the best route to use if I want to get Flume, Libertry and Owl's head in one day ?

I am especially concerned about the eastern slopes of the Franconia Ridge... Any thick stuff up there, any cliffs ?

Precision : No GPS will be used, but basic orienteering skills yes.
 
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While I haven't done it, lots of beta on here regarding Lincoln Slide. I would think that would be the best route.
 
I think you'd have no problems taking the Osseo Trail to Flume, then the Franconia Ridge Trail to N. Lincoln and going down the Lincoln Slide to then bushwhack over to the Lincoln Brook Trail to get Owl's Head and then head back out to Lincoln Woods.

There are plenty of directions for how to do the 'whack: here are some simple ones by JohnS.
 
IMO, The best way to do those 3 peaks (along with Lincoln) in the same hike, is to park at the Lincoln Woods Trailhead, then head up the Wilderness Trail to Osgood, to Franconia Ridge, and just as you pass over Lincoln heading towards Lafayette, head down the Lincoln Slide (you can see where to go in from the summit of Lincoln, and it's only about 50 meters of krumholz). Where the slide starts to funnel into a brook, head left up a short incline and bushwhack down to the Lincoln Woods trail while paralleling the brook (stay up high and away from it and you will have an easy bushwhack down thru mostly open woods).

Once you reach the Lincoln Brook, cross it and head up a short incline to the Lincoln Woods Trail. Follow the trail South for about a mile and you will come across the Owl's Head Slide Trail (marked by a large Cairn along with several other markings). Head up to the summit and back down, then continue following the Lincoln Brook Trail all the way to the Franconia Brook Trail, to the Lincoln Woods Trail and back to the parking lot.

If it is a real hot day, there are numerous places to go for a cold dip :eek:

After the Lincoln Slide, there is an abundance of water along this route, so I would also recommend bringing a filter so you can carry less water and just pump what you need.

With your hiking pace, this hike should take you approximately 12-13 hours RT.

It's a cool hike with lots of diversity and I hope you have some awesome weather when you go! :)
 
Dave is correct, I meant Osseo (which is one sweet trail)... My head is still cloudy from all of those pints of Guinness I drank while over in Ireland... :eek:
 
would agree with the lincoln slide approach

would heading up flume slide make this a bit shorter? (ssuming a car spot) . Not sure, it may or may not.

it would certainly make it more fun! :D

Julie - when you going? I would be interested in maybe joining if your
open to others joining

FWIW - I have been on the lincoln slide before and have a good knowledge of where to drop in - and where the owls head slide is, etc....
 
giggy said:
would heading up flume slide make this a bit shorter? (ssuming a car spot) . Not sure, it may or may not.
I'd suggest going up Osseo Tr. It's a long day trip and Osseo is both a nice route and less wearing. And, of course, it avoids the carspot.

Doug
 
I would suggest that instead of going N 3 miles and up 1000' to go down the Lincoln slide which then puts you N of Owls Head slide, you simply bushwhack down from near Mt Liberty to the Lincoln Brook Trail. I've never done this particular route but I've done a lot of bushwhacks in the area and they're mostly a lot of birch with a little spruce. There is even an old logging RR partway up one of the brooks.

If I'm right, you'll have a new route and an easy trip, if I'm wrong I'll buy you a beer if you come to Spence's bbq :)
 
RoySwkr said:
I would suggest that instead of going N 3 miles and up 1000' to go down the Lincoln slide which then puts you N of Owls Head slide, you simply bushwhack down from near Mt Liberty to the Lincoln Brook Trail. I've never done this particular route but I've done a lot of bushwhacks in the area and they're mostly a lot of birch with a little spruce. There is even an old logging RR partway up one of the brooks.

If I'm right, you'll have a new route and an easy trip, if I'm wrong I'll buy you a beer if you come to Spence's bbq :)

That is what Motabobo suggested to me too, I guess some people here knows what they're talking about when it comes to bushwhacks ;)

If the views are beautiful, I might go all the way to the Lincoln Slide. It looks like such a nice way down. Worst case scenario is that I am too tired to climb Owl's Head and decide to skip it.

As for the beer, I won't be at Spence's BBQ, but I'll take it somehow one day :D
 
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