Pemi Traverse via Garfield and Owl's Head

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

Snow Fleas and Flying Squirrels

Date:
Monday, Feb. 7, 2005

Hikers:
Me and Albee. We didn't see another sole from Rt 3 to the Kanc. all day.

Quick Summary:
South end of Gale River Loop Road to Garfield Trail -> Garfield Trail to Garfield Ridge Trail -> Garfield Ridge Trail to summit of Mt. Garfield -> East on Garfield Ridge trail to Franconia Brook Trail -> Franconia Brook Trail to Thirteen Falls Tentsite -> Lincoln Brook Trail to Owl's Head Path -> summit Owl's Head -> Lincoln Brook Trail (south) to Franconia Brook Trail -> Franconia Brook Trail to Lincoln Woods Trail and out to Lincoln Woods parking area.

Distance:
22.8 miles (5.7 miles on unbroken trails), 5500' elevation gain.

Trail Conditions:
Well packed trails to the Franconia Brook Trail. After the first 50 feet the Franconia Brook Trail was unbroken with 6-24 inches of snow. We were able to follow the trail for about the first 1/2 mile even though there were no blazes. After losing the trail, we then bushwhacked our way to the Thirteen Falls Tentsite with the aid of GPS and maps.

The Twin Brook Trail and the Franconia Brook Trail (south to the Lincoln Brook Trail) were broke out and appeared to be well packed.

The Lincoln Brook Trail from Thirteen Falls to Owl's Head Path was unbroken and the higher elevations had 12-15 inches of snow, the trail was difficult to follow in a few places.

The Owl's Head Path is being summited along the North side of the slide over mostly packed snow, some ice and bare rock. With my 10 point crampons I thought the slide was easier than it is in the summer. (Though my legs were a little tired by the time I got to the slide)

The southern half of the Lincoln Brook Trail, the southern end of the Franconia Brook Trail, and the Lincoln Woods Trail were well packed as easy to follow with headlamps. The Lincoln Woods Trail had some sections that were very icy.

Comments:
All the brooks appeared to still have adequate ice cover. We did however see a few open places. Caution was used at the crossings, and there were no water incidents. A couple of the night crossings were...umm, scary.

The Garfield and Garfield Ridge Trails were infested with Snow fleas (Springtails).....And here I thought Snow fleas were a joke.
On our way out the Lincoln Woods Trail, at about 8pm, we were buzzed by several Flying Squirrels. They're so cute, and I hear they taste good too.

All-and-all, another great hike...even if my legs don't think so.

 

[albee]

I second the motion.

I just wanted to chime in with my two cents.

The previous trip report was entirely accurate, and it was quite the odyssey. I think we lost the Franconia Brook trail very close to the Garfield Ridge trail because there weren't many blazes in that area. Actually, there were surprisingly few blazes throughout the trip as the Lincoln Brook trail had hardly any that we could see. I think I saw 6 or 8 blazes in 2 miles. The bushwhack wasn't very difficult as the terrain was moderate and the woods were fairly open. I have to credit NMH for his temperament on this one. Most people wouldn't get along so well when you are off-trail in such a situation but we remained calm and actually had a few laughs along the way.

I'm still not sure that we were buzzed by a flying squirrel, but that's what it LOOKED like for sure. Does anyone know if they are indigenous to the area?

All in all, it was a long day and I'm still recovering, but it was well worth it. Almost 23 miles in a little over 13 hours in the winter is a good workout in my book.

 

[proszach]

I too encountered a plethora of Snow Fleas this past Saturday while ascending the Mount Cabot Trail. Thanks for letting me know what they're called. What in blazes are those things about anyway??

 

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

I'm still not sure that we were buzzed by a flying squirrel, but that's what it LOOKED like for sure. Does anyone know if they are indigenous to the area?

Flying Squirrels are actually quite common throughout much of the U.S. and Canada, but they're nocturnal, which is why they're rarely seen.

I too encountered a plethora of Snow Fleas this past Saturday while ascending the Mount Cabot Trail. Thanks for letting me know what they're called. What in blazes are those things about anyway??

They exist year round, but are easiest to see when they're against a snowy background. They eat mold and fungus, and they don't bite.

I did a little web research on these two subjects yesterday.

 

[hikerfast]

The trail up garfield was broken out by yours truly. I'm sure the check is in the mail! ha!

 

[DougPaul]

Just a minor note on the route: you could have saved a little distance by bushwacking up Owl's Head's NNW ridge. The ridge is an easy bushwack (or it was when we XC skied it ~25yrs ago). We left Lincoln Brook Trail just south of the pass between Lafayette and Owl's head and bushwacked up to the ridge and on to the summit. Mostly reasonably open woods. Found a few sections of spruce on the way up, but we were able to avoid them on the way down.

Doug

 

[caleb]

Nice report. I left Garfield shelter Thursday, after (and during) the snows, and followed Franconia brook trail all the way down to the wilderness trail. i must have been following your footsteps ..very faint..part way down to thirteen falls (you were barebooting right?). Did your bushwack start about halfway down to thirteen? that's when I lost you. After that I too bushwhacked (followed the brook really) down to the camp site.

My adventure started after the intersection with Lincoln brook trail. A half mile below the intersection I completely ran out of trail in the flat 'boggy' section. by that time the whole place was a winter wonderland... 2-3 feet new snow everywhere and neck-high drifts. I circled and probed hoping to pick up the trail without success, and wound up overnighting in the howling windstorm. Friday morning I took out my $15 compass and deadheaded to the P river, a 1.5 mile bushwhack through the snow and snag...yehaa! C

 

[albee]

wow!

Holy cow, Caleb, what an adventure!!

I'm really glad you made it out alright. Being stuck out there in a blizzard alone can be pretty disconcerting. You did the wise thing by riding out the storm. One person has already been lost out there this winter. Good thing it didn't become two!

Yeah, one of us was barebooting (stabil-icers) and one was on snowshoes. Those tracks are long gone by now, though. Powder-city!

Did you know the area was expecting over a foot of snow?

 

[caleb]

Did you know the area was expecting over a foot of snow?

On Wedensday the forecast shifted. When I heard it on the radio i was already on the ridge between South Twin and Galehead. The situation didn't seem critical, but I did consider descending down the somewhat shorter routes north to rt 3. I thought the Pemi would be less exposed and windy, and it probably was, but the snowload was a lot higher too. In retrospect, I should have gotten my ass out of there ASAP by the shortest possible route. lesson learned. C