Flume, Liberty and Owl's Head, July 7th 2007

[timmus]

Saturday morning I got dropped at the trailhead for Flume Slide trail, and I didn’t know what to expect for the day. I knew I had about 18 miles to reach my car at the Lincoln Woods trailhead, I had four +4000 ft to climb, three slides to travel and at least one bushwhack to go through.

Going up the Flume Slide trail was pretty slippery because wet. As I started to get views my mind got lighter, and I enjoyed my loneliness, mostly because it was my choice. I kinda needed a solo trip, just to see what level are my skills this summer. The summit of Flume was very nice but cold. Mostly cloudy, no rain and some views. I didn’t stay long, because when you can see Franconia Ridge in front of you, really, you just want to be there ASAP !

At the junction with Liberty Spring Trail I had the pleasure of seeing a mother grouse (not sure if I have the right bird here) with five little yellow chicks ! That was awesome; they never got scared of me so I took pictures until I was satisfied.

At that point I didn’t know if I would really go all the way to the Lincoln Slide or if I would backtrack from Liberty and bushwhack down to the Lincoln Brook trail. It seemed pretty open, and it was definitely shorter that way. But as soon as I stepped on the top of Liberty, I knew… There was no way I was turning my back to an alpine zone walk on Franconia ridge. From Little Haystack to summit of Lincoln I was smiling up to the ears, three years past since my last visit here and frankly I missed the place.

The Lincoln Slide was easy to spot, but I took a bad decision and exit the trail too fast. I ended up in some thick small spruces, and lost twenty minutes pushing like I never did before. Boy that was ugly ! Plus I was wearing shorts, because I didn’t expect getting into this. I finally got on the Slide and took a nice break. I could hear people talking on the ridge, and realized it was mostly French I could hear…

What a pleasant walk down on Lincoln Slide. The views of the Bonds were great, plus my final goal right in my face. As soon as I couldn’t stay on the brook anymore, I entered the woods on my right, went up a little and found mostly open woods ( just as Frodo told me ) . The rain started just as I reached the Lincoln Brook Trail. I headed south and took a break at the beginning of the Owl’s head herd path. All day I was sceptic about having enough energy left to climb this one, but seriously, being so close and not go for it ????!!!!

I got up the slide and I could hear the thunderstorm coming. I went as fast as possible, passed a group of 4, and they told me what I already knew about the true summit. I went up, took pictures of the two cairns and ran down (well maybe not on the slide). I was very glad to be done with the climbing. I knew there was a shortcut from the second crossing to Black Pond, so when I saw some kind of an herd path I decided to go for it. BIG MISTAKE !! I lost the herd path after 10 minutes, went probably too far west, and ended up I don’t know where, stuck between swampy areas, thick spruces and blowdowns everywhere ! It was pouring rain, getting dark (it was 6:30pm), and I had no GPS/friends to get me out of there. I knew the Lincoln Brook was somewhere on my left, so I followed my compass toward east and forgot about Black Pond. I was lucky the water level was low, so it was easy to walk on the river bank. I reached the Franconia Falls trail and felt really good seeing tourists. I changed for a dry shirt, put my gore-tex and walked the 2.6 remaining miles very fast. I was singing and whistling so I didn’t think about my scratches/swollen foot/ soaked and heavy pack/ hungry stomach/tired body. The only thing I had in my mind was the cold beer waiting for me at camp !

Motabobo had left my car and a nice congrats note in the parking lot, and I almost cried of joy when I got there. What a trip ! 13 hours of intense hiking. I am glad I did it but I realized I still have a lot to learn when it comes to off-trail navigation.

Pictures will be online soon.

 

[Chip]

Hurray ! That took determination. Congratulations.

I've run out of Green Squares (what's up with all the great trip reports ?) but I owe you one.

 

[dr_wu002]

Cool Trip! The easiest way back, I think, is to walk the trail to the . Instead of the last big Lincoln Brook Crossing , hang right and follow the brook. You'll almost immediately pick up what some people call the "Fisherman's Route" or something like that. It's a clearly defined herd path/trail that passes a lot of campsites. Occasionally it peters out but it always reappears a few seconds later... just stay along the brook and you'll always find the trail easily again. Eventually the herd trail merges with the Franconia Falls Trail. It's easier than bushwhacking back to Black Pond (except winter when you just follow your tracks) which you have to sort of pick up, accurately, in a somewhat nondescript area.

Last week or so I was on the Fisherman's Route and we actually saw a lot of people (on the other side) camping and whatnot. It's a pretty well established route, I think.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Frodo]

Well done! Awesome TR! Your on pace to finish the NH48 in fewer hikes than most...

Doesn't Owl's Head look quite small from Mt. Lincoln? Then again, it doesn't seem so small when heading up the slide, and then on, and on...

As for the Black Pond BW, the only herd path that I have seen in that area was the one that is the start of the Franconia Brook BW. It starts just before the 2nd to last water crossing on the way out (Lincoln Brook), and just after where most people head in for the Black Pond BW. Dr. Wu refers to it as the Fisherman's Route. I did it once back in Nov 03 with Stinkyfeet, and it was tough to follow. I don't reccommend either route in Summer or Fall because the trails are definitely faster and easier. I am sorry that I didn't mention this to you, but I didn't think that you were considering any of these routes on your way out.

Anyway, chalk up another awesome adventure!

 

[MichaelJ]

Congrats on a great hike and an excellent adventure! I don't know how I would have felt if I were misplaced off trail like that, so extra kudos on keeping a cool head and ending up right back on the route.

 

[HAMTERO]

"I'm sorry, the group is full."

 

[dr_wu002]

As for the Black Pond BW, the only herd path that I have seen in that area was the one that is the start of the Franconia Brook BW. It starts just before the 2nd to last water crossing on the way out (Lincoln Brook), and just after where most people head in for the Black Pond BW. Dr. Wu refers to it as the Fisherman's Route. I did it once back in Nov 03 with Stinkyfeet, and it was tough to follow. I don't reccommend either route in Summer or Fall because the trails are definitely faster and easier. I am sorry that I didn't mention this to you, but I didn't think that you were considering any of these routes on your way out.

Yeah, in the summer the easiest thing is to probably just walk through the brook and stay on the trail. We did the Fisherman's Route because I was curious about it and maybe it's changed in the past 4 years because it was pretty easy to follow (occasionally you had to punch through to find it again) and fast. I liked walking along the brook though so that was cool. Also, I had Eric with me so the objective usually is "get off the trail as quick as possible"

-Dr. Wu

 

[David Metsky]

"I'm sorry, the group is full."

I noticed that, too.

 

[giggy]

"sorry trip is full" - I will remember that

pretty hardcore. I have to admit, not sure I would do it solo - and I like the solo whacks

funny thing is - I was not far from you on sat. I hiked with my wife and son to fanconia falls, We got back to the car about 5:30pm and then car camped in lincoln - in the rain...... and then rain and more rain........


nice job on this trip.

 

[dr_wu002]

"sorry trip is full" - I will remember that

Hey, sometimes one can even be too much! haha.

-Dr. Wu

 

[timmus]

"sorry trip is full" - I will remember that

pretty hardcore. I have to admit, not sure I would do it solo - and I like the solo whacks

funny thing is - I was not far from you on sat. I hiked with my wife and son to fanconia falls, We got back to the car about 5:30pm and then car camped in lincoln - in the rain...... and then rain and more rain........


nice job on this trip.

Yeah, sorry Giggy, nothing personal

I got on the Franconia Falls Tr around 6:45, that would have been funny to bump into each other. Imagine me rambling about where's the rest of the group !! The thing is that I don't write on Internet boards that I am going on a solo trip, because my mother could read it and get worried.

And the rain, yes, that was bad ! As soon as I hit rte 3 the sky cleared up, and I thought a fire will be going on at camp but when I got there the guys were just anxiously waiting for me, ready to jump in the car and start a search with headlamps Thanks anyway my friends

 

[Peakbagr]

Julie,

Fun to read and brought back a lot of NH memories. Hoping to get back to NH sometime later this year with some friends who want to hike there.
If the grouse let you get that close, musta been a Spruce Grouse. Relatively uncommon nowdays compared to the past, but hikers see them up high sometimes. No fear of humans. A Ruffed Grouse wouldn't let you get anywhere near her or the chicks.
Try and post a picture of them if you have one.

Way to go - interesting trip.

 

[giggy]

Yeah, sorry Giggy, nothing personal

oh - I know - was just gooffin' with ya!

 

[cbcbd]

"I hike alone.
With nobody else.
You know, when I hike alone
I prefer to be by myself"

Way to get out there in the wild on your own - IMO a completely different and exhilarating experience - no one to fall back on but your own judgement and thoughts. Rock on!

funny thing is, I like the solo whacks.
I wacked with my wife on fanconia falls, We got back to the car about 5:30pm and then car wacked in lincoln - in the rain...... and then rain and more wack........

Geez, man, TMI

 

[Cath]

Nice hike Solo Girl ~ Timmus

The "fisherman's route" is pretty straight forward. Navigating to the Lincoln Brook Trail from Franconia Falls, follow the trail past all the lovely swimming holes, on the west side of the river banking, until you come to the sign
END OF TRAIL. From this point on, the route mostly continues to stay on the banking of the main river. There are however, periodically, other "bodies of water" to cross. These are mostly areas that have become breaches in the river banking, which have been formed during high water events.

Traveling along the west banking, where you'll find breaks in the banking, that may or may not have running or standing water. There are occasionally deposits of debris (tree trunks, rocks, small mounds of earth, sticks & leaves, etc) that have been washed down the river with increased water flow that you need to negotiate around. These short sections aren't really tough to work your way through, and like a few others folks noted, in a short amount of distance, you'll be able to see the route again.

Traveling too far away from the banking is where the difficult terrain can be found, which is not to be confused with the BP bushwhack. There are wet/muddy sections, blowdown sections, and thicker understory growth sections. I traveled a little too far away from the banking on one winter excursion, and found all kinds of obstacles, which made the going quite a bit more difficult. Stick with the path, and it will dump you out at the clearing on the west side of the wide Lincoln Brook crossing on the Lincoln Brook trail.

One BP bushwhack route, can easily be traveled by following the Chain of Boulders

 

[Woody]

That sounds like quite a solo trip. The only bushwacking I have done solo (or at all) is the "fisherman's route" from Franconia Falls towards Owl's head. It was as Cathy describes it but fairly easy to follow. I am inspired by your report to get out and do some real 'wacks myself. Congrats!

 

[timmus]

Nice hike Solo Girl ~ Timmus



Traveling too far away from the banking is where the difficult terrain can be found, which is not to be confused with the BP bushwhack. There are wet/muddy sections, blowdown sections, and thicker understory growth sections. I traveled a little too far away from the banking on one winter excursion, and found all kinds of obstacles, which made the going quite a bit more difficult.

This is exactly where I was. I step into a mud hole that sucked my two boots, thank god there was a downed tree close enough so I was able to pull myself out of it. It was knee deep, and I heard enough stories to know that I could have been stuck for real

Alan : The pics are coming soon, my website is out of order so I need to get myself another host.

abcd : I like your poem, this is exactly how it goes for me when solo. I kinda like myself better, especially because I am covered with mud, sweat, scratches, pine needles and sometimes blood. Any psychologist around to tell me what that means ?

 

[cbcbd]

especially because I am covered with mud, sweat, scratches, pine needles and sometimes blood. Any psychologist around to tell me what that means ?

You're into S&M

I'm no professional... but that's my take

 

[Hampshire]

Timmus,

Great trip, thanks for the report.

Interesting, all this talk about the Fisherman’s trail, I've never heard of it before. Coincidently I hiked up LWT to LBT and fly-fished down to the Osseo Trail on Sat. I caught a couple dozen small brookies from where I started until the bridge crossing near the falls; I was skunked from there down.

 

[dr_wu002]

Interesting, all this talk about the Fisherman’s trail, I've never heard of it before. Coincidently I hiked up LWT to LBT and fly-fished down to the Osseo Trail on Sat. I caught a couple dozen small brookies from where I started until the bridge crossing near the falls; I was skunked from there down.

The Fisherman's Trail seems like a stupid route unless A) You have some genuine reason to be there (like, you're fishing or camping) or B) Lincoln Brook or Franconia Brook is too high to safely cross. I ran through Franconia Brook one winter day after climbing Owl's Head. The brook was knee-high but I had gotten sick of looking for a suitable crossing so I just ran through and got soaked... you're back at the trailhead soon enough that if you get wet you're still probably ok.

Lincoln Brook was very low the day that we took the Fisherman's Route. In several places you have to walk along areas of the brook that wouldn't be there at all if it were high water. So that's why I think this route isn't necessarily useful. The best way in times of high water is to bushwhack directly south until you hit Birch Island Brook. Then head East or Southeast until you hit Black Pond. You could also take a bearing and stick to that but I hate walking through thick crap and would rather take a more logical route even if it meant a little more time.

-Dr. Wu