Orsonab
Member
Woke up too late to catch the guest appearance of Kevin Rooney (see you in January, Kevin?) so, despite recent rainfall, decided to scratch Owl's Head off the list. Conditions were overcast but no rain though trail was often an oozing mudpit. Decided to first-time bushwhack by heading north from Black Pond and, by heavens, it worked (I'd say I consulted my compass, oh, about every fiften seconds!). I was, at first, enjoying the bushwhack then started to get worried ("should have reached the trail by now!"), then elated as I pushed through a final wall of conifers to find myself pretty well where I wanted to be. Had celebratory bar of chocolate.
The crossing of tributary and Lincoln Brook were doable but not without putting a boot underwater for a quick second and then on to the slide. Hate to do Ranger Dick's research for him but not only were there TWO cairns to mark the Owl's Head path but also someone (not me, officer!) has spelt out "OWL"S HEAD" in stones with an arrow. And I'm glad they did 'cos I'm sure I would have walked right past it. Looks like the work of Ranger Dick will now ensure that this path is the most well-marked in the WMNF... I've never done the slide before and was a bit surprised how tricky it was (re-reading the guide before the hike would have been a good idea). The lack of blazes did not help although the bark scrapings are fairly obvious for now. Past the slide, there were numerous blowdowns but the path was fairly easy to follow even in the snow. Summit (I bloody hope it was the summit) was marked by a large rock placed against a tree.
Return was uneventful except I decided to bushwhack to Franconia Falls by following my compass and the water noise. Happy to say it worked. Emerged from the forest after an eleven hour hike very tired but rather proud of myself. But, my goodness, that final five miles of Lincoln Woods trail never seemed so long....
The crossing of tributary and Lincoln Brook were doable but not without putting a boot underwater for a quick second and then on to the slide. Hate to do Ranger Dick's research for him but not only were there TWO cairns to mark the Owl's Head path but also someone (not me, officer!) has spelt out "OWL"S HEAD" in stones with an arrow. And I'm glad they did 'cos I'm sure I would have walked right past it. Looks like the work of Ranger Dick will now ensure that this path is the most well-marked in the WMNF... I've never done the slide before and was a bit surprised how tricky it was (re-reading the guide before the hike would have been a good idea). The lack of blazes did not help although the bark scrapings are fairly obvious for now. Past the slide, there were numerous blowdowns but the path was fairly easy to follow even in the snow. Summit (I bloody hope it was the summit) was marked by a large rock placed against a tree.
Return was uneventful except I decided to bushwhack to Franconia Falls by following my compass and the water noise. Happy to say it worked. Emerged from the forest after an eleven hour hike very tired but rather proud of myself. But, my goodness, that final five miles of Lincoln Woods trail never seemed so long....
