Not going to happen anytime to soon as most of this Herd path lies within a Wilderness Area and would take an act of Congress to change it,
Since hiking became so popular within the past 20 years or so, at one time the Black Pond bushwhack and the Brutus bushwhack were more routes than anything. In time, and with enough repetitive use, paths became trails. But, the original reference stuck.
I agree, as I only like ascending and descending the Brutus Rooney route when the slide is covered with snow and/or ice.
True dat. But I do not think that Owls Head Path via the slide is an official trail either.
It's been a long time since I've used CalTopo, so I spent a few minutes with it looking at Owls Head. The Black Pond, and Brutus Bushwhack are clearly shown. The slide route is called Owls Head Path, and the slide itself is blue, and above the slide is red. Beyond the ridge it forks down to the Lincoln Brook Trail.
I don't think the slide trail is official, but it's actually on my AMC map now while the other common "bushwhacks" associated with Owl's Head are not.
Yes, the AMC has included Owls Head Path on its Franconia topo map since the 1969 edition of the guidebook, but the USFS has refused to recognize it, hence their great efforts to remove any markers at the base (cairns, etc) and the top (cairns, signs, etc). One year the USFS had a seasonal employee who spent hundreds of hours in the cairn removal effort, as their interpretation of the 1964 Wilderness Act is that cairns are non-conforming structures.
Ah yes, the Cairn Wars! That was a silly time. I think my brother-in-law made at least one replacement summit sign.
Descending into a view is one of the great joys of walking in the mountains. I make a lot of route decisions on Mt Desert Island knowing what descending views are available.
