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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Owl's Head, NH
Trails
Trails: Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, bushwhack, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path, bushwhack, Franconia Brook Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, September 24, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of space at Lincoln Woods TH. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Water levels spiked Saturday but by today had dropped back. All crossings were manageable on dry or slightly submerged rocks. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Arlo romped. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Anne L., her Superdog Arlo, and I had a surprisingly fun time bagging Owl's Head. I had previously bushwhacked Black Pond and Brutus but only in the winter, so today was a new learning experience on two counts. For the Black Pond BW, there was no obvious herd path, but the whack was reasonably easy through the woods, following a 340 degree magnetic bearing from the west side of Black Pond. More important, up top we met one solo hiker followed by a group of three, all of whom encouraged us to follow the Brutus BW down, thereby avoiding the steep slide. It turns out that Brutus is now an easy-to-follow herd path from beginning to end. Because the slide is the hallmark of Owl's Head, we highly recommend the route we followed -- up Owl's Head slide, and down Brutus.
Here are the directions for Brutus. On the way up Owl's Head Path, shortly after the slide you will come to a huge boulder on the left, where Owl's Head Path curves sharply left around the boulder. If you look immediately to the right, you will see a very small cairn and the Brutus herd path heading right. Coming down from the summit, the boulder will be on your right at a sharp right hand turn, and the small cairn and Brutus will be on your left. Descending by Brutus, you will come out on the Lincoln Brook Trail, still upstream from the crossing. If you want to ascend by Brutus, after that last crossing, watch for a sizable cairn on your right, maybe 0.2 mile after the crossing and 0.2 mile before Owl's Head Path. At the cairn, turn in a ways and you will see the beginning of the BW, which will become more clear after the first 20 or 30 yards in.  
Name
Name: John C. 
E-Mail
E-Mail: jcarter@holycross.edu 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-09-24 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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