| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, bushwhack, Lincoln Brook Trail, bushwhack, Owl's Head Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lincoln Woods lot clean/clear. 1 other car when I started my hike at 7:30, 3 others when I returned around 4pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The larger few crossings of Lincoln Brook Tr (near the Brutus bushwhack) are still ice bridged... for now. Temps today in the afternoon in this location were ~ 40 deg F so another day or two like this and they may break. The other small stepovers on the Black Pond Tr and bushwhack, and Lincoln Brook Tr were relatively easy to navigate. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
didn't see any |
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 | Bugs: |
didn't see any |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Great spring day to hike the Owl. I barebooted Lincoln Woods Tr, then donned micros for Black Pond Tr forward, which had some icey spots with 1/4" of powder atop. Once at the Brutus whack I switched to snowshoes for the ascent/descent, then back to micros until the car. Temps at Lincoln Woods lot (7:30am) were 16 deg F, but warmed quickly through the day. Atop Owls Head they were 31 deg F around mid day, then back on Black Pond Tr in the afternoon they were around 40 deg F. Back at the car they were 45 deg F. Plenty of melting and evaporation today! In general, the trails are still in good condition, hard packed and pretty clear/clean to follow, though in the afternoon they definitely softened a bit and my tracks from earlier in the day were faded or gone. Mashed potatoes were definitely being served. Someone must've hiked it yesterday (Monday 4/1) because there were still boot tracks starting at the Black Pond Tr, though these too were gone later in the day due to the warming. Only saw one other person on the Owl, he was ascending while I was descending. "Whoo Ya" tree visible and the writing is currently about 2' above the snowpack. Some pretty major drifts still near the summit, affording some nice/unique views east to the Bonds, and west to Franco ridge. Word of caution that the drifts cover some spruces, and there be sleeping spruce trap dragons waiting for The Melt. |
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 | Name: |
Eric H |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-04-02 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/2260853934 |
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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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