Downes Brook

[bikehikeskifish]

Anyone have experience or current knowledge of Downes Brook Trail right now? Thinking of looping Tripyramids and Sleepers this weekend. I am concerned about exiting this way and the 10 stream crossings which may be dangerous or impassable at high water. The USGS Saco River gauge is running 90%+ right now.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[TJsName]

I did it at lower water in the fall a couple of years ago and only the first few crossings were significant - the trails follows the east side of the brook for a long stretch in the middle. At high water you definitely would have to get your feet wet on those lower ones (unless some work was done). Of course, if you come out that way you might already have wet feet anyway. If the crossings are bad you could always whack east/northeast up to the UNH trail - I recall it being mostly hardwoods, but I don't recall the thickness of it. Depending on the route it might add 200-600 vertical. You could also whack up to FR511 on the west side of the brook and take that back to the Kanc and do a short road walk. Lots of options!

 

[DayTrip]

Agree with TJsName. I did this hike going up Downes Brook and going over Sleepers to Tripyramids on 11/1/2014 and the first 4-6 crossings are indeed pretty difficult if the water is up. According to my notes these were the gage levels the day I did: Bearcamp 68 cfs; Saco (Bartlett) 155 cfs; East Pemi 250 cfs. I didn't struggle to make any of the crossings that day but even at these water levels I had to carefully pick a line across the rocks. And I also remember thinking if the rocks were icy they'd be tough because they were rounded, not flat. And if I remember right bushwhacking the first few crossings might be problematic in places because of feeding brooks.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Saco/Bartlett is 811, Bearcamp is 519. Probably better when there is more snow and things are bridged. Or, just go over Whiteface and Passaconaway instead.

Tim

 

[DayTrip]

Wow. I'd say unless you're part of that hiking club that carries canoes up and down the mountains a postponement is in order.

 

[TJsName]

It's not that far from the parking lot to the first crossing - you could run up and take a peek before you start hiking. If it's not doable in the morning you have your answer. The highs will be around freezing, so the brook might rise some during the day, but the snow pack is so low it likely won't be much. Looking at the gauges, they aren't showing the typical rise/fall despite temperatures going above and below freezing, which was much more noticeable the first week of March (at least on the Bear Camp - the effect is more muddled on the Saco). Looking at the Bear Camp gauge the day I did it it (9/4/13) was at ~300 in the morning and dropped a bit in the afternoon (it was a couple days after a rain storm). Hope that helps.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

I thought about doing that until the rest of the plan fell apart and we're no longer considering this route

Tim