Making trail between Garfield and the Slide

[beaner]

Thanks to Hamtero, Albee, and Tim Seaver for giving me the heads-up regarding my 3rd day Franconia Brook descent from Garfield ridge and the questionable existence of the Lincoln Brook north of the Slide. Basically I tried to follow Franconia Brook and had some success for about a half mile or more(according to my GPS), but then the trail went missing. I decided to just GOTO the height of land turn in the Lincoln Brook trail rather than waist time finding 13Falls. The initial trek was a splendid snowshoe through open birch wood for a fair distance until I had to climb toward the height of land between Owlshead and Lafayette. That part was a minor disaster with snow sink holes that nearly gobbled me whole, body and soul consuming a small mountain of time. In the aftermath, however (i.e. the post-hike syndrome), the bushwhack and the embattled ascent and descent of the Slide, most captured my fascination. Those moments I felt like Frodo searching for oxygen, embryonically pressed against the Slide, carrying whatever it was that drove me up that mountain, touched me archetypally, if there is such a thing. It made my soul ring to think about it. Before that were the wondering, uncertain steps over snow covered Lincoln imagining which one would be my last, with my disappearing into the throes of a watery undersnow doom. Lithium batteries? Who needs Lithium batteries? Surely, and perhaps too quickly, that concern subsided as my headlight took on a stronger glow leaving Owlshead behind and I realized the fading light at the Slide was probably due to wind blown snow. After all, I had returned safely to my pack and though the -20 synthetic bag was wet from two nights usage I could still bivouac if necessary, maybe even melt a little snow and chew on trail mix. There was the extra untested flashlight in the pack. The trail was packed. All I had to do was walk out 7miles. Piece of cake, no problem.

 

[albee]

cool beans

Yeah, Beaner... the same thing happened to us on my Pemi trip. Got totally off-trail and went through the pleasant Birch forests from the FBT. Then it took seemingly forever to gain the height of land on LBT.

I also remember having a distinct feeling that it was so difficult going up the Owl's Head slide that I would have to find a different way down. Not to mention the fact that I was racing daylight with an hour before sunset and 7 miles left to walk with a headlamp.

Quite exhilarating, actually! I'll remember the views from the slide and the sunset over Mount Liberty forever. The trip down the slide ended up not being as difficult as I had expected. I wouldn't have minded bushwhacking down the East side but my travelling companion had left his pack at the foot of the slide.

There's also a geocache on top of Owl's Head that I couldn't retreive since it was buried under a foot of solid ice. Guess I'll have to go back in the summer.

Sounds like that trip was quite an adventure, especially going solo. Glad you made it out alive.

Wish I could join you for Cabot next weekend but I'll be out of town that weekend. That's one dayhike I've been meaning to do this winter. Especially if it includes the Horn and the Bulge. Good luck!

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Good to hear that this route is getting some attention. Back in January, Cath Goodwin and I tried to get both Garfield and Owls Head in one day, but by the time we found our way back up to the Height of Land (we too skipped 13 Falls), daylight was running short. When we found the Slide unmarked and darkness encroaching, we reluctantly continued past to Lincoln Woods via Black Pond (CG nailing the bushwhack with map and compass in the pitch dark). So, Owls Head remains one of my quinessential stragglers for this winter.