NH_Mtn_Hiker
New member
Six of us met at the Lincoln-Woods parking area for a trip coordinated by Giggy. The plan was to hike in past the Owl's Head Slide and then bushwhack over to the Lincoln Slide, climb the slide, then descend to Lafayette Place via the Old Bridle Path. The group consisted of Giggy, Myself, Drewski (Mt.Drew), MEB, Mtnpa, and Dances with Branches (formerly Jenn). We chatted briefly with MtnMagic in the parking lot who was waiting for his Owl's Head group to arrive then we took off up the Lincoln-Woods Trail at about 7:45. We paused briefly at the bridge at 8:30 then pushed on towards the Lincoln Brook Trail. The two notorious brook crossings near the beginning of the Lincoln Brook Trail were both a piece of cake. After the second crossing we noticed a shirtless solo hiker gaining on us. Well, the girls seem to notice him more than us guys, although Giggy admitted later he was quite aroused by him. 
When he did catch up to us he introduced himself as dougeh from Rocks on Top. He explained that he was suppose to hike with MtnMagic, but he had arrived a few minutes late at the trailhead and Magic had already departed. We knew that Magic had left after us so this could only mean that he'd taken the longer Black Pond bushwhack. So we escorted dougeh to the site of the formerly known Owl's head Path and after a brief snack break he headed up the slide and we headed north on the Lincoln Brook Trail.
Since I had previously scouted the slide, from the top and the bottom, it was agreed I would lead the bush/brook whack up to the slide. The spot where the Lincoln Slide Brook enters the Lincoln Brook is extremely steep and overgrown so I lead the group around it then we bushwhacked in through open woods and picked up the slide brook about 1/4 mile west of the Lincoln Brook. Initially we crossed the brook and proceeded west on the south side but soon discovered that not only are there swamps on the north side of the brook but the south side as well...so back to the brook we went and there the brookwhack began.
I was a little concerned near the beginning of the brookwhack. I thought there might be at least one or two people who would be uncomfortable with walking up a brook, you know, a stream bed with water in it. Drewski assured us that he would protect us from the bobcats in the area, and it was MEB's job to protect us from hostile fish in the brook. After a while it became clear that everyone was pretty comfortable with the hike. That may or may not of had anything to do with the drugs being passed around.
I'd like to point out that we were very careful not to damage any of the aquatic vegetation growing on the rocks in the brook, we did however have to scrape some of the slime off the rocks when we were climbing the waterfalls. It just made sense as it would make it safer for us and others to climb.
Along the way there were a couple of minor (I hope) mishaps: Drewski took an unintended bath and MEB fell and hurt her butt. I looked at it, and it looked fine to me. About 1 1/2 mile in we reached the point where the brook went underground and the slide opened up...and it became alot steeper. The gravel sure made it more difficult to climb than had it been slab, but 2 1/2 hours after we left the Lincoln Brook Trail we arrived at the top of the slide.
After reaching the top of the slide it was an easy 30' bushwhack over to a rocky outcrop, then we rockhopped our way, carefully avoiding the alpine vegetation, up to the Franconia Brook Trail. We then hiked over Lafayette and down to the Greenleaf Hut. Along the way we encountered an unusually large number of Canadians, perhaps 3-4 hundred, and only 4 other Americans. We assumed there must be some sort of event going on, like a gathering for Canuck's on Top or something. Hell, maybe it was an invasion. We had a snack at the hut then headed down the Old Bridle Path to Mtnpa's truck, then we drove back to L-W's to get the rest of our vehicles.
Pics and additional commentary are here.
P.S.
This trip report is dedicated to a few humorless souls at VFTT and "the New Breed of VFTT'ers".
They know who they are.
When he did catch up to us he introduced himself as dougeh from Rocks on Top. He explained that he was suppose to hike with MtnMagic, but he had arrived a few minutes late at the trailhead and Magic had already departed. We knew that Magic had left after us so this could only mean that he'd taken the longer Black Pond bushwhack. So we escorted dougeh to the site of the formerly known Owl's head Path and after a brief snack break he headed up the slide and we headed north on the Lincoln Brook Trail.Since I had previously scouted the slide, from the top and the bottom, it was agreed I would lead the bush/brook whack up to the slide. The spot where the Lincoln Slide Brook enters the Lincoln Brook is extremely steep and overgrown so I lead the group around it then we bushwhacked in through open woods and picked up the slide brook about 1/4 mile west of the Lincoln Brook. Initially we crossed the brook and proceeded west on the south side but soon discovered that not only are there swamps on the north side of the brook but the south side as well...so back to the brook we went and there the brookwhack began.
I was a little concerned near the beginning of the brookwhack. I thought there might be at least one or two people who would be uncomfortable with walking up a brook, you know, a stream bed with water in it.
Drewski assured us that he would protect us from the bobcats in the area, and it was MEB's job to protect us from hostile fish in the brook. After a while it became clear that everyone was pretty comfortable with the hike. That may or may not of had anything to do with the drugs being passed around. I'd like to point out that we were very careful not to damage any of the aquatic vegetation growing on the rocks in the brook, we did however have to scrape some of the slime off the rocks when we were climbing the waterfalls. It just made sense as it would make it safer for us and others to climb.
Along the way there were a couple of minor (I hope) mishaps: Drewski took an unintended bath and MEB fell and hurt her butt. I looked at it, and it looked fine to me. About 1 1/2 mile in we reached the point where the brook went underground and the slide opened up...and it became alot steeper. The gravel sure made it more difficult to climb than had it been slab, but 2 1/2 hours after we left the Lincoln Brook Trail we arrived at the top of the slide.
After reaching the top of the slide it was an easy 30' bushwhack over to a rocky outcrop, then we rockhopped our way, carefully avoiding the alpine vegetation, up to the Franconia Brook Trail. We then hiked over Lafayette and down to the Greenleaf Hut. Along the way we encountered an unusually large number of Canadians, perhaps 3-4 hundred, and only 4 other Americans. We assumed there must be some sort of event going on, like a gathering for Canuck's on Top or something. Hell, maybe it was an invasion. We had a snack at the hut then headed down the Old Bridle Path to Mtnpa's truck, then we drove back to L-W's to get the rest of our vehicles.
Pics and additional commentary are here.
P.S.
This trip report is dedicated to a few humorless souls at VFTT and "the New Breed of VFTT'ers".
They know who they are.
