Which One Is Tougher?

[BIGEarl]

On the drive home from our hike of Isolation yesterday, Sue and I were talking about how Isolation via Rocky Branch R/T (a popular approach) compares with Owl’s Head.

For normal people, both are usually hiked alone and each generally uses up a full day. Owl’s Head is a little longer but has less elevation. Both have quite a few crossings, some of which can be difficult. In spring through fall, both have lots of mud.


The hikes have similar specs.

Owl’s Head (without the bushwhacks): 18 miles, 2,850 feet

Isolation (without the bushwhacks): 14.6 miles, 3,400 feet


Which is tougher and why?

 

[Kevin Rooney]

That's a tough one, Earl.

Having done each a number of times, here are my overall impressions of each after the hike:

Owls Head - about 2.5 miles from the finish (Lincoln Woods), I am dreading the slog along the railroad tracks, and engage in all kinds of mental games to make the miles go by. Granted, it's only about 45 minutes, but it feels like 3 hours. However ... by the time I'm ordering a sub in Lincoln, I've pretty much forgotten about the slog, and now just feel the after-hike glow.

Isolation - after this hike, on the drive home, I'm always left with the feeling of "why am I so tired? It shouldn't be that tough a hike".

So, overall, I'd say Isolation is the tougher hike for me.

 

[Stash]

Isolation. Rougher footing. I recall more wet rocks than mud.

The one time I did it Owls Head was simply flat, wet and muddy.

A few years ago I was coming down in a section of Rocky Branch where I was stepping rock to rock with a full pack, having stayed overnight at the shelter. With one of many slips I thought I twisted by back and was a bit tender the remainder of the way down and for a few days later. It eventually lead to a lot more pain and loss of control of a foot . Turns out I had herniated a disk.

 

[peakbagger]

Isolation in the winter via the two bushwhacks (one of which appears to have fallen out of favor) is easier than Owls head. Using the summer approach via the trails to RT 16, its harder as having to climb engine hill at the end of the day, makes it feel like more of an effort. I have only done Owls head via the trails and my winter climb is a bushwhack from Hell Gate book area so I generally consider it easier. Some day when I do Owls head via the balck Pond bushwhack and a broken out Brutus route, maybe I can change my mind.

 

[KRobi]

I would vote Isolation harder. Owl's Head is just a long walk with a bump in the middle. We did it in the summer by the BP bushwack and the Brutus BW, some mud but not bad. The crossings on the way out were low so easy(traditional route out). I like hikes with "flats" to begin and finish(plenty of this both ways) to let the legs stretch out and get loose, before hopping in the car. Good company on the way out is also helpful as this route allows for converstation with someone you're beside, not front or back of. I did Isolation via Glen Boulder/Davis path on a perfect day (9/11/11) and it was wonderful but the stream crossings, and rock hopping in the trail disguised as a stream got old! Also the end of the hike in summer and winter is a much longer downhill than it seemed going in and is tough on the legs at the end of a long day. That being said I enjoyed both of them!

 

[RoySwkr]

I have always considered Owls Head harder even though it's a shorter drive for me. There is miserable mud on the Engine Hill route so I mostly go that way in winter. And I usually avoid the Isolation Shelter area with a bushwhack.

 

[Lefty E]

Throwing my 2 cents in, I found Isolation easier: did it on bluebird, fall days when it was nice and cool..Owl's Head we did on hot, sticky, late summer days. We stuck to the trails those days and enjoyed falling in the brooks on the way out, that was fun, but climbing up the slide and then over to the new summit not that fun...one route for Isolation we did was up Glen Boulder down Davis Path, and that was kind of tough getting up to Davis Path but once up on a nice day we were good...

 

[BIGEarl]

I can remember the first time I hiked Owl’s Head. It was a hot day in June with high humidity, and lots of biting insects. About half way up the slide I recall saying I would never climb it again. Eventually I returned again, and again…. Owl’s Head became one of my favorites. For quite a while it was the peak I climbed the most times – but that’s probably no longer the case.

Isolation is very close to Owl’s Head in terms of times hiked. I’ve approached it from various directions: north via Glen Boulder and Davis Path, east via Rocky Branch – Isolation - and Davis Path, and south via Rocky Branch - Stairs Col – and Davis Path. Hiking from the east on a round trip via Rocky Branch – Isolation – and Davis Path always leaves me tired and in pain. This approach, which is the one we hiked on Saturday, takes longer to recover from than others but I still enjoy it a lot.

I guess my view is similar to Kevin’s. Hiking Isolation stays with me longer and makes me wonder why I'm so tired after the hike. That may be the reason for our conversation about it on the drive south.

For me, an Isolation hike has a longer recovery time.

 

[Mike P.]

For me it's Owl's Head, but barely

Isolation starts almost from the car with a moderate climb until you start the level traverse. I prefer an easier start. But once I get to the height of land I know it's pretty easy most of the way. The next hardest spot is coming back to the height of land up from the brook & keeping on the trail through the area near the campsites in both directions. The fact that the view is great from the top helps

Owl's head, the first six or seven miles can be done almost as fast as walking in the neighborhood, actually my neighborhood has more hills. But the slide is a good climb & a steep descent too. After that the seven or so miles back out are a couple of miles too long & too tedious. The view from the slide of the Franconia's is not as good as the view from the other side IMO

 

[Scotzman]

Having not yet hiked either of these mountains, it sounds like Owls Head could be compared as a NH version of Allen...yes?

 

[una_dogger]

Both easy. ;-)

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Having not yet hiked either of these mountains, it sounds like Owls Head could be compared as a NH version of Allen...yes?

No, not really. I'd say Allen is harder, especially if you do it in summer and have that treacherous slippery rock to navigate. Even when dry that stuff is wicked!

 

[una_dogger]

Or Allen?

Make that "all three are easy" ;-)

The only thing IMHO that may give one pause is the distance, however, all 3 just amount to steady pleasant all day walks in the woods.
It really all comes down to individual comfort level. If you don't like water crossings, you may think owlie or iso are toughest. If you don't like slides, that makes iso look easiest. Buy in the case of owlie and iso, the tough water and the slides can be avoided. I am not sure if there is any getting around the
Allen slide, because I climbed it, but I am sure a motivated slide avoided could find a way!

 

[Kevin Rooney]

FWIW - I interpret Earl's question as asking - of the two - which is harder? Not - are they hard hikes?

That's a substantial difference, IMO.

 

[una_dogger]

FWIW - I interpret Earl's question as asking - of the two - which is harder? Not - are they hard hikes?

That's a substantial difference, IMO.

I know what he meant ;-)

To me the nuances are so fine I can't say one is harder than the other. Slides and water and mileage don't bother me-- and those to me are the defining characteristics of those hikes. Toughness can sometimes come down to individual perspectives, yes?

 

[SteveHiker]

Isolation. Just ask Sue's brother.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

...Toughness can sometimes come down to individual perspectives, yes?

Yes - would agree wholeheartedly. Especially when the hike/climb involves technical difficulty.