Where would you build a trail in WMNF?

[RoySwkr]

Owl's Head is a heavily traveled (trampled ) route. I believe either 1.) the slide should be marked/maintained. or 2.) A heavily traveled bushwhack such as the "Brutus Bushwhack", that crosses the top of the slide for some views should be established.

I would vote for a new trail up the SE side of OH perhaps starting near the Franconia Brook crossing on Lincoln Brook Trail. This would allow the permanent closure of the steep slide route and make the Lincoln Brook valley a wilder place closer to what true wilderness is.

Some short official reroutes to avoid multiple brook crossings and braided herd paths would also be environmentally sound.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I would vote for a new trail up the SE side of OH perhaps starting near the Franconia Brook crossing on Lincoln Brook Trail. This would allow the permanent closure of the steep slide route and make the Lincoln Brook valley a wilder place closer to what true wilderness is.

Some short official reroutes to avoid multiple brook crossings and braided herd paths would also be environmentally sound.

Yes - like making the short BW up the left on the N. Twin trail to avoid two river crossing, and the BW up the right side to avoid some on the Hancocks come immediately to mind. Might re-open the Fire Warden's trail on Hale as it's used so often.

A corollary to this question might be - which would you close? If so, I'd offer up the Lincoln Brook trail between the Owls Head turnoff and 13 Falls, as it's rarely used.

Other than that, I think trails are just about right.

 

[dr_wu002]

A corollary to this question might be - which would you close? If so, I'd offer up the Lincoln Brook trail between the Owls Head turnoff and 13 Falls, as it's rarely used.

There is also an existing RR grade on the West side of Franconia Brook (in addition to the RR grade on the East side that is the Franconia Brook Trail) that could be partially utilized for a trail going up the East side of Owl's Head.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Silverfox]

improvement or newetrail

I would vote for a new trail up the SE side of OH perhaps starting near the Franconia Brook crossing on Lincoln Brook Trail. This would allow the permanent closure of the steep slide route and make the Lincoln Brook valley a wilder place closer to what true wilderness is.

Some short official reroutes to avoid multiple brook crossings and braided herd paths would also be environmentally sound.

This makes such perfect sense...anytime hiking here the thought crosses my mind...there must be a better way

 

[Peaks]

The Dartmouth Range.

My first thoughts exactly. It would be a nice reroute for the Cohos Trail.

Second choice: Some of the abandoned trails mentioned in Waterman's Forest and Crag.

Third Choice: upgrade or reroute herd paths like Owl's Head and Vose Spur

Sadly, WMNF has a hard time maintaining the existing trails, without adding more.

 

[forestgnome]

I would vote for a new trail up the SE side of OH perhaps starting near the Franconia Brook crossing on Lincoln Brook Trail. This would allow the permanent closure of the steep slide route and make the Lincoln Brook valley a wilder place closer to what true wilderness is.

Hmmm... I like it! How quiet it would be out there if it wasn't the easiest way to a list peak! Also, that would end the "bw" from Black Pond to Lincoln Brook Trail.

happy trails

 

[hikerfast]

little river trail up to the col between south twin and guyot. few years ago we bushwhacked up the frozen river and what a beautiful valley with incredible views. It would make getting out to zealand and the bonds easier and a new direction.

 

[Mike P.]

Fire Wardens Trail from N. Twin trail to Hale

The old Gale River trail, keep existing but re-open the one that followed the tributary, past the falls & met the Garfield Ridge trail closer to the junction with the Franconia Brook Trail

A drier way from F Notch to Kinsman Notch that comes near the hut so at least a short spur to the hut

A trail to the top of one of the Mt. Huntington's (I don't think I have the right name, the mountain with the 5, 6, or 7 subpeaks that has cliffs overlooking the Kanc, I'm WMG-less)

 

[Grayjay]

I like a lot of these. But a lot of beautiful places and the experience of going there, are that way because of no trail. Luckily the fs is aware of this, so places like jeff ravine won't be touched.

 

[Hillwalker]

Trail adopters

My first thoughts exactly. It would be a nice reroute for the Cohos Trail.

Second choice: Some of the abandoned trails mentioned in Waterman's Forest and Crag.

Third Choice: upgrade or reroute herd paths like Owl's Head and Vose Spur

Sadly, WMNF has a hard time maintaining the existing trails, without adding more.

If more users would become official maintainers it would be nice. Couple of days a year isn't a lot to contribute.

 

[WhiteMTHike]

Owl's Head is a heavily traveled (trampled ) route. I believe either 1.) the slide should be marked/maintained. or 2.) A heavily traveled bushwhack such as the "Brutus Bushwhack", that crosses the top of the slide for some views should be established.

IMHO lots of people are going to continue to go up that side of Owl's Head. I believe it is better to cut a narrow trail now, rather than have lots of people "crap up" the whole side of the mountain in separate pilgrimages to the top.

What Paradox said.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

I don't get it; why do we want more trails when those that we have are generally so poorly maintained and overgrown? Some of the officially closed trails, such as the North Slide on Passaconaway and the Fire Warden's Trail on Hale, are in fact better "maintained" than many official trails, albeit illegally.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I don't get it; why do we want more trails when those that we have are generally so poorly maintained and overgrown? Some of the officially closed trails, such as the North Slide on Passaconaway and the Fire Warden's Trail on Hale, are in fact better "maintained" than many official trails, albeit illegally.

Thom - re-read Waumbeck's original post. What you raised are valid issues, but assume all of those concerns were met, and you could have your druthers? Suspend your disbelief, and just dream ...

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Thom - re-read Waumbeck's original post. What you raised are valid issues, but assume all of those concerns were met, and you could have your druthers? Suspend your disbelief, and just dream ...

Thanks for answering my confusion, Kevin. Waumbek's point about not worrying over maintenance, etc., are fine. But, I think that the USFS closure of the North Passaconaway Slide Trail in 1960 was a good idea, as the upper part, which is essentially straight up a gully, would have eroded terribly by now. I only use this route in the winter when it is protected by snow and ice. Probably ditto for the Firewarden's Trail on Hale, although I admit that I have hiked it in the fall, when it is really beautiful with the birch in full color.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Thom - Sounds like the USFS made a good decision to close the North Passaconaway Slide Trail. Another one which I think should be either closed or re-routed is the Watkins Path, below treeline.

And then there are the Hancocks, above either side of the Y junction ...

 

[marty]

I'd like a trail cut up the northwest or west side of Cannon, starting near where the Mt. Kinsman Trail starts. Think you could make some nice traverses or loops out of this.

Marty

 

[DougPaul]

I'd like a trail cut up the northwest or west side of Cannon, starting near where the Mt. Kinsman Trail starts. Think you could make some nice traverses or loops out of this.

The Coppermine Tr used to connect to the summit.

Doug

 

[Snowflea]

Am I the only one who LIKES the Owls Head slide??

Good point about erosion, Dr. D. Wouldn't want the Passaconaway Slide Trail looking like the northern/Cannon end of the Kinsman Ridge Trail, with its over-my-head washed out gullies. (Was that section ever rerouted??)

 

[forestgnome]

Am I the only one who LIKES the Owls Head slide??

Good point about erosion, Dr. D. Wouldn't want the Passaconaway Slide Trail looking like the northern/Cannon end of the Kinsman Ridge Trail, with its over-my-head washed out gullies. (Was that section ever rerouted??)

Nope. I love that slide and the view to Franconia Ridge. I climbed it to get a look and have lunch one time while passing by. Never been to the summit, but the view from the slide is very pretty.

happy trails

 

[NewHampshire]

Am I the only one who LIKES the Owls Head slide??

I too kind of like the slide. Both times up Owl's Head that is the route I took. Both times it was the second day of a backpack. Both times it was after a substantial rainfall. And both times the clear day afterwards made for some of the most....for lack of a better description....'romantic' climbs I have been on. First time it was a rainbow over the valley.....it was too low to be seen by anyone unless on the Slide or on Franconia Ridge. The second time was some amazing cloud formations over Franconia Ridge.

So yes, I do like the slide very much!

Brian