Owlshead from Galehead Hut

[SherpaTom]

I plan to hike to Owlshead from Galehead Hut and back later this summer. From what I've read, the hike is approx 14.4 miles, book time of about 9:30 hours and elevation gain of 4800'. However, Mohammed's site indicates 16.2 miles, elevation gain of 2500' and book time of 9:20.

Other that the climb to Owlshead, approximately 1500' and Twin Brook up to the hut, approx 1500', what other elevation gains are there?

If anyone has done this particular hike, please advise on distances, times & elevations. Should we assume that that Lincoln Brook between 13 Falls campsite & Owlshead will be wet?

Thanks as always

 

[albee]

After you get down to 13 Falls, there is a good bit of climb on the LBT up to the "height of land", as listed in the WMG - maybe almost 1,000'. It is usually a bit wet in there, and be aware that the trail isn't in great shape just south of that spot. It is easy to lose the trail in a couple places, but if you pay careful attention you will be able to find it again... there is one part where the trail has become a brook, and another part where the brook looks more like the trail...

After you get back on track, it is a straightforward trip down to the herd path, which people have taken great lengths to mark in the last few months. I'd say it is closer to 16 miles r/t, and 9 hours might sound about right considering the slide will take a bit longer than your average trail, and the herd path goes a bit longer across the ridge than it used to because of the new summit. Remember, don't stop following it until you see the sign on the tree at the summit!

 

[RoySwkr]

I guess it depends on whether you intend to climb back to the hut (~600' back to height-of-land and then ~1500' up from 13 Falls) or whether you plan to walk out the Wilderness Trail (~0').

 

[SherpaTom]

Owls head

I plan to hike to Owlshead from Galehead Hut and back "to the Hut"

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

I plan to hike to Owlshead from Galehead Hut and back later this summer. From what I've read, the hike is approx 14.4 miles, book time of about 9:30 hours and elevation gain of 4800'. However, Mohammed's site indicates 16.2 miles, elevation gain of 2500' and book time of 9:20.

The description on my site is for a traverse: Up to Galehead Hut on day 1, down and out on day 2. I must say it never occurred to me that anyone would want to climb back to the hut after having done Owlshead.

Some people focus almost exclusively on distance, and treat elevation gain as an afterthought. In my mind 18 miles and 2,850 feet of elevation gain (the standard one day in and out from Lincoln Woods) is much easier than 14.4 miles and a whopping 4,800 feet of elevation gain.

Of course, different strokes for different folks

 

[DougPaul]

You could also bushwack up the N Ridge of Owls Head from the height of land at the pass. It would reduce the distance and vertical, but might actually take longer than following the trails/herdpaths. (This ridge was fairly open when I skied it ~1980, but I have heard that it has grown in a bit now.)

Doug

 

[SherpaTom]

Different strokes

Mohammed,

Thanks for your insight and great website which I refer to often. We are staying at the Hut for three days so I was planning hikes from the Hut, one of which is the Owls Head. Bonds are #2 and # 3 will be doing the Twins on the way home.

The book I was referring to in my original post is "The 4000-footers of the White Mountains". It refers to 4800' and 14.4 miles from Galehead Hut to Owls Head and back. I really can't see where it would be that much elevation although the mileage looks fairly accurate:

2.7 down from hut via Twin Brook
3.5 on Lincoln Brook
1.0 Owl Head Path

From my notes & AMC Guide, Owl's Head Path is about 1450' on the ascent and ascending Twin Brook on way back is about 1580'...is there really 1770' of elevation gain during that 3.5 mile stretch Lincoln Brook Trail both ways?

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

I know that my site contains errors, and am therefore sure that Steve's book does too. But we are both careful, and it seems that the errors are few and far between. In this case Steve is almost on the money by my computation (using the latest WMG, earlier editions may differ by 50 or 100 feet here or there).

On the way to Owlshead: From 13 Falls to height of land is 1,000 feet, Owlshead path is 1,500. Total 2,500 on the way up.

On the way "down" : From Owlshead path to height of land: 650, from 13 falls to Galehead Hut: 1,550. Total 2,200 on the way "down".

2,500 + 2,200 = 4,700.

Not too far from the 4,800 he gives in his book.

Great job as usual, Steve

 

[albee]

I hiked the section of LBT from 13 Falls 3 weeks ago for my 3rd time on that route. There is easily 900' of vertical going to the height of land from 13 falls, and at least 600' going back over it from the OH slide. The height of land is almost at 3,200' elev, and 13 Falls is just under 2,200'. OH herd path starts just below 2,600'...

I'd recommend not trying to bushwhack it from the north unless you are quite experienced with that kind of thing. The main ridge is long, thick, and tangled with blowdowns coming from that direction - I tried it last fall. It starts out nice down near the height of land, but watch out!

I would also warn you that the old summit is at 1.0 or 1.1 from the base of the slide, but the new TRUE summit (with sign) is at least 0.3 to 0.5 miles farther along the ridge. Double that to get your r/t mileage, it could add a mile to what you were expecting. There is one 10' thick section along the herd path that I have seen a number of people turn back at. Push through this and you're home free.

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

I hiked the section of LBT from 13 Falls 3 weeks ago for my 3rd time on that route.

I have heard that that section of the Lincoln Brook trail is hard to follow; I believe that a hiker doing the trip from the hut got lost in that area a couple of weeks ago (give or take). How did you find the navigation?

 

[Waumbek]

I have heard that that section of the Lincoln Brook trail is hard to follow; I believe that a hiker doing the trip from the hut got lost in that area a couple of weeks ago (give or take).

Excerpts from Mike Dickerman's July 4th column (Litteton Courier) concerning a lost hiker on June 24, 2007:

"....[the hiker] had successfully climbed Owl’s Head Mountain and was en route to AMC’s Galehead Hut by way of the Lincoln Brook Trail when she mistakenly wandered off the path and lost her bearings....The section of the Lincoln Brook Trail where she got lost [far northwest corner of the Pemi Wilderness, where the upper end of the Lincoln Brook Trail runs] has never been highly traveled, and in places, especially north of the herd path up Owl’s Head, is rough, wet, and not all that easy to follow. As it lies in the Pemi Wilderness, it receives a negligible amount of maintenance (as is the standard practice for all paths in federal wilderness areas), and is sparsely blazed, if at all...."

There was a search and a successful conclusion.

 

[albee]

I have heard that that section of the Lincoln Brook trail is hard to follow; I believe that a hiker doing the trip from the hut got lost in that area a couple of weeks ago (give or take). How did you find the navigation?

As I said in post #2 of this thread, you should expect to lose the trail at one point, just pay attention and you will find it again soon enough. There is a 40 yard long section that is just a mess, with blowdowns, water flowing across the trail, and even some beaver activity. Nothing extraordinarily difficult, but since there is such light traffic, sparse blue blazes, and next-to-no trail maintenance, it is easily one of the trickiest sections to navigate in the Pemi. I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it, though. Worse comes to worst, you just backtrack to the beginning of the gnarly section.

Once again - "there is one part where the trail has become a brook, and another part where the brook looks more like the trail..." Now that I think about it, the tricky section is right about where you cross from the east side of the Lincoln Brook up near the height of land to the west side of the brook as you're descending towards the OH slide path.

 

[SherpaTom]

Owlhead

All great info to know, print and bring along to share with the my group of seven.

 

[Frodo]

I agree with Albee about that section of the trail, but the Forrest Service has also put up some orange flagging along this section which may help you out. Most of the section between the OH Slide and 13 Falls is in descent shape, but the short section that he mentioned is quite rugged. I certainly wouldn't change your plans because of it though... If you do end up with a problem of following that short section, just turn around and go back to your last known spot on the trail and try again...

 

[peakbagger-paul]

Lincoln Brook Trail

I have also hiked the Lincoln Brook Trail between Owl's Head and 13 Falls, but it was now 6 years ago. It was definitely hard to follow, and it didn't help that a thunderstorm began just I came down from Owl's Head. I missed a brook crossing and went in circles for a while before finding the right path again. Evidently, others had also missed this same brook crossing (just north of the Owl's Head slide) because there was definitely evidence of a herd path in some places. Because this is a wilderness area, there are no blazes. Still, I made it. You just might want to add a little extra time for route finding.

If it helps any, the Twin Brook Trail is easy to follow and 13 Falls is a nice spot.

 

[RoySwkr]

the Forrest Service has also put up some orange flagging along this section which may help you out

What makes you think it was the FS and not some disgruntled hiker? There used to be a lot more of same when trails were less well blazed, and methinks it may return.

 

[Frodo]

They were marked "FS" and had the time and date written on them, but your right, could have been from a hiker...

Just curious, but if it was actually the FS, why would the time, let alone the date on the flagging be of importance to them?