I do not use a GPS for hiking, but coming from Galehead at the height of land (HOL) on the Lincoln Brook Trail (LBT), you can bushwhack through fairly open woods to the new summit of Owls Head by staying on the ridge more less, and then follow the trail (aka herd path) to the slide and back down to the LBT. The ugliest part of the LBT is the section from the HOL to the base of the slide, as it is usually very wet under foot, overgrown, and likely with lots of blow downs, despite the obvious tread, so the bushwhack avoids this section. In either case, makes for a nice Pemi traverse (not to be confused with the infamous Pemi Loop) and was posted in a thread titled "Two heads in a day" some time ago.
Owl's head?
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I do not use a GPS for hiking, but coming from Galehead at the height of land (HOL) on the Lincoln Brook Trail (LBT), you can bushwhack through fairly open woods to the new summit of Owls Head by staying on the ridge more less, and then follow the trail (aka herd path) to the slide and back down to the LBT. The ugliest part of the LBT is the section from the HOL to the base of the slide, as it is usually very wet under foot, overgrown, and likely with lots of blow downs, despite the obvious tread, so the bushwhack avoids this section. In either case, makes for a nice Pemi traverse (not to be confused with the infamous Pemi Loop) and was posted in a thread titled "Two heads in a day" some time ago.
bobandgeri
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Daniel Eagan
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I'm not the best route-finder but I had absolutely no problem following the trail from 13 Falls to the base of the Owl's Head slide. The only "trouble" is the fact that the trail is overgrown and very wet. It's well-marked and also pretty obvious all the way. You've got Owl's Head to your left, what looks like a stream bed in front of you, and then a lot of forest to your right. After the slide it gets even easier.
If you can get from Galehead to 13 Falls, you can get from 13 Falls to Lincoln Woods.
Ed'n Lauky
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I did the Twin Brook trail from Galehead to 13 Falls late last fall. It was in great condition and an absolute delight to follow. It was one of the best trails I did last year and one that many people have never taken. I have no idea if there are any, but even if there are some left over winter blowdowns I can't believe there would be any difficulty following that trail.
KPMMBM
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thanks for everyone's help. I'll post an update after the weekend!
Ed'n Lauky
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I just came across the following report from the New England Trail Conditions site: Twin Brook Tr has 8+ blowdowns. Lincoln Brook Tr from 13 Falls to hight-of-land has 8+ blowdowns. Lincoln Brook Tr is hard to follow in the swampy section.
Bill and Sheep
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I just hiked the Twin Brook a few weeks ago from 13 Falls to the hut. The bottom part of the trail had a good number of blowdowns, but nothing particularly difficult. There was one difficult to follow part of teh trail within a mile of 13 Falls but with a little care you'll have no problem following it. I love the lightly traveled Wilderness trails so I highly recommend that route!
una_dogger
Well-known member
Wait! Don't you mean, "that wilderness trail sucks, its so horrible no one should ever go there!" so it stays lightly traveled!!
Bill and Sheep
New member
Wait! Don't you mean, "that wilderness trail sucks, its so horrible no one should ever go there!" so it stays lightly traveled!!
I thought about that as I was typing that statement. But I figure it will remain lightly traveled regardless. There are not many looking for a 16 mile route to Galehead like me!
HikerBob finished his 48 on Garfield from Lincoln Woods.
Ok, trivia question: What is the longest one-way trail approach to a 4000-footer in the Whites without crossing a road or another 4000-footer? Name the peak, trails, and total one-way mileage.
Tom Rankin
Well-known member
Depending on how you define 'another 4000-footer', I could come up with an obscenely long hike that skirts several summits. Is this allowed in this game?
Also, define 'road'. Do tunnels count? What about 'old' trails? Anyway, my offering: Start at Profile Lake, hit the hut, take OBP DOWN, Falling waters up, turn south back down Franconia, West on Spring/scenic trail, Flume to Osseo, North to Franconia Brook camps, East on Wilderness, North on Shoal, take the AT, pass Zealand Hut, and go all the way to Mt. Tom or Hale!
I'm guessing there is a route to Jackson (or Pierce even) involving Davis Path all the way to, around and down the east side of Washington and back around the west side of the Presidentials, down to Dry River, Saco, Webster Cliff and back up. I'm sure we can include some road walks, without actual crossings.
This is the Traveling Salesman Problem which is of course NP-Complete.
Tim
This is the Traveling Salesman Problem which is of course NP-Complete.
Tim
Last edited:
I was thinking something similar to Tim's idea. No map in front of me, but since Isolation is on a spur, there must be a way to take the Davis Path from 302 all the way up to Boott Spur, then around Monroe, back down into the Dry River Wilderness, then back up, and hit a summit after many miles.
If that doesn't win, then again since Zealand is on a spur, how about in on Wilderness (or Hancock Notch?) through Stillwater to Ethan Pond Trail to the hut, then up Twinway, past Zealand & around Guyot back to South Twin?
One more guess - Wild River Campground, Wild River Trail to Wildcat River Trail to Carter Notch to 19 Mile-Brook Trail down to Carter Dome Trail then back up to Zeta Pass and to the Dome or South, whichever's then further?
If that doesn't win, then again since Zealand is on a spur, how about in on Wilderness (or Hancock Notch?) through Stillwater to Ethan Pond Trail to the hut, then up Twinway, past Zealand & around Guyot back to South Twin?
One more guess - Wild River Campground, Wild River Trail to Wildcat River Trail to Carter Notch to 19 Mile-Brook Trail down to Carter Dome Trail then back up to Zeta Pass and to the Dome or South, whichever's then further?
sierra
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owls head is the furthest unless this is some kind of trick question
Owl's Head has the longest of all the shortest approaches. Dr. D. is soliciting the overall longest approach. Er, does that make sense?
RoySwkr
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Field would be farther via Avalon Tr, or how about up Thoreau Falls, down Shoal, and across Carrigain Notch to Signal Ridge?
I'll bet that it's something like Madison, starting at Mt Pickering and zigzagging Dry River, Great Gulf, and RMC trails.
Madison via Davis Path is probably a good guess, if you define "one-way" not including U-turns. If you define it as no back-tracking on a trail (crossing a used trail is OK) then I think you can go all the way to and around Madison, and then snake up and down the network of trails on the NW side of Madison->Washington before heading south (and snaking some more) and finally ending up on Pierce or Jackson. Heck you can snake your way up and down the Great Gulf / Madison Gulf as well - as long as you don't cross the Auto Road.
The Auto Road divides the map into two lobes - north and south of Washington - how many trails cross north-south without crossing the summit or the Auto Road - At least two. With more, perhaps it can get even longer.
Tim
The Auto Road divides the map into two lobes - north and south of Washington - how many trails cross north-south without crossing the summit or the Auto Road - At least two. With more, perhaps it can get even longer.
Tim
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