NeoAkela
Active member
Date of Hike: 09/11/2011
Trail Conditions: Trails in decent shape, considering the recent weather. Lincoln Woods is a bit rougher, with railroad ties a bit more exposed, and several erosion sites. Black Pond trail in good shape. Black Pond Bushwhack has a good herd path about 1/3 of the way in, before it fizzles into a swampy area. Took a good 340 bearing from there and popped out a few hundred yards from the river crossing point. Lincoln Brook Trail is in decent shape - a few eroded banks that were easily traversed, some debris piled up near one of the stream crossings, and many muddy sections, but nothing major. Hidden Yellow Jacket nest somewhere about 1/2 mile in from the Lincoln Brook crossing - watch out! Owl's Head Path t/h is extremely well marked and impossible to miss. Trail up was rough, crumbly, wet, and slippery. Many branching herd paths, but all came back to the same location. Portion above the slide has blowdown after blowdown.... I stopped counting after 50. All are easily ducked under, stepped over, or walked around. "Old" summit has sign pointing to "New" summit. New Summit path also has several diverging paths, but all come back together before the end. Summit well marked with a cairn, but no sign. Trip Back: Slide was a difficult descent, but not impossible. Opted to skip the Black Pond 'whack on the way back: River crossings safe: was able to rock-hop Lincoln Brook, but Franconia Brook was impossible to cross without getting a little bit wet. Franconia Brook Trail in decent shape, but muddy like the rest.
Special Equipment Required: None
Comments: Excellent day for Fot48. Our group of seven saw quite a "crowd" on Owl's Head; we had at least 17 folks on the summit. A few visitors had some moving tales to tell, and two celebrated the completion of their 48 at the same time. It was an emotional and rewarding day. A few of us took a look from the top of the slide around 1:30 and were able to see the flags flying on Liberty, Lincoln, and Lafayette (just barely through the cloud cover). Definitely an event to remember.
Your name: NeoAkela
Trail Conditions: Trails in decent shape, considering the recent weather. Lincoln Woods is a bit rougher, with railroad ties a bit more exposed, and several erosion sites. Black Pond trail in good shape. Black Pond Bushwhack has a good herd path about 1/3 of the way in, before it fizzles into a swampy area. Took a good 340 bearing from there and popped out a few hundred yards from the river crossing point. Lincoln Brook Trail is in decent shape - a few eroded banks that were easily traversed, some debris piled up near one of the stream crossings, and many muddy sections, but nothing major. Hidden Yellow Jacket nest somewhere about 1/2 mile in from the Lincoln Brook crossing - watch out! Owl's Head Path t/h is extremely well marked and impossible to miss. Trail up was rough, crumbly, wet, and slippery. Many branching herd paths, but all came back to the same location. Portion above the slide has blowdown after blowdown.... I stopped counting after 50. All are easily ducked under, stepped over, or walked around. "Old" summit has sign pointing to "New" summit. New Summit path also has several diverging paths, but all come back together before the end. Summit well marked with a cairn, but no sign. Trip Back: Slide was a difficult descent, but not impossible. Opted to skip the Black Pond 'whack on the way back: River crossings safe: was able to rock-hop Lincoln Brook, but Franconia Brook was impossible to cross without getting a little bit wet. Franconia Brook Trail in decent shape, but muddy like the rest.
Special Equipment Required: None
Comments: Excellent day for Fot48. Our group of seven saw quite a "crowd" on Owl's Head; we had at least 17 folks on the summit. A few visitors had some moving tales to tell, and two celebrated the completion of their 48 at the same time. It was an emotional and rewarding day. A few of us took a look from the top of the slide around 1:30 and were able to see the flags flying on Liberty, Lincoln, and Lafayette (just barely through the cloud cover). Definitely an event to remember.
Your name: NeoAkela
