MJN
New member
Owls Head – via Lincoln Woods, Franconia and Lincoln Brook Trails, Owls Head Slide and Herd Path to Summit and back
Date of Hike: 8/17/14
Trail Conditions: Some mud and puddles on Lincoln Brook and Franconia Brook Trails - nothing unusual there. Crossings were swollen and swift but possible to rock-hop - with some keen observation a route was found each time ; ( only an inch or so of boot underwater on 1 or two rocks ). Light steady rain between 10 and 12 in the morning otherwise overcast start to finish. USGS Lincoln gauge was at about 250CFS and rising to 300CFS into overnight. Slide was damp and sandy, loose and slick on the climb up but thankfully had dried up significantly before we headed back down. The cairns marking the path to it and the summit were quite visible (we saw the path leading to the slide before we saw the cairn – it’s a beaten path). Significant new erosion observed from last week’s soakers in and around the slide itself – just guessing not having seen it before that Sunday. Herd Path to the summit was easily passible with 1 new small blowdown. Views were limited by low hanging clouds.
Special Equipment Required: Submersible footwear at the crossings was helpful. Gators for the slides and the muddy areas would also be helpful.
Comments: Not a single mosquito or biting insect all day – Very nice long walk in the woods with Erik, Coral, Beth, George and the 2 Dans. – I don’t understand why so many people don’t like this mountain we had a blast. , 4 challenging crossings kept it interesting, and a fairly tough scramble to the top of the slide and a slow step by step decent on wet roots.
Cheers,
“MJN” AKA Joe McGuiggin
[email protected]
Date of Hike: 8/17/14
Trail Conditions: Some mud and puddles on Lincoln Brook and Franconia Brook Trails - nothing unusual there. Crossings were swollen and swift but possible to rock-hop - with some keen observation a route was found each time ; ( only an inch or so of boot underwater on 1 or two rocks ). Light steady rain between 10 and 12 in the morning otherwise overcast start to finish. USGS Lincoln gauge was at about 250CFS and rising to 300CFS into overnight. Slide was damp and sandy, loose and slick on the climb up but thankfully had dried up significantly before we headed back down. The cairns marking the path to it and the summit were quite visible (we saw the path leading to the slide before we saw the cairn – it’s a beaten path). Significant new erosion observed from last week’s soakers in and around the slide itself – just guessing not having seen it before that Sunday. Herd Path to the summit was easily passible with 1 new small blowdown. Views were limited by low hanging clouds.
Special Equipment Required: Submersible footwear at the crossings was helpful. Gators for the slides and the muddy areas would also be helpful.
Comments: Not a single mosquito or biting insect all day – Very nice long walk in the woods with Erik, Coral, Beth, George and the 2 Dans. – I don’t understand why so many people don’t like this mountain we had a blast. , 4 challenging crossings kept it interesting, and a fairly tough scramble to the top of the slide and a slow step by step decent on wet roots.
Cheers,
“MJN” AKA Joe McGuiggin
[email protected]
