| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl’s Head, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl’s Head Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lincoln Woods parking lot was excellent as usual. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water crossings are extremely hazardous. The water is rushing and the recent temperatures have the ice extremely breakable. My foot went through the ice on several occasions, leading to wet boots which caused balling on my spikes. The last two crossings on Lincoln Brook before getting to the base of Owl’s Head are the most dangerous. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A couple blowdowns were easy to get around. The trail was flooded in a few different places. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The only dog I saw was not enthusiastic about the water crossings. |
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 | Bugs: |
I did actually see a snow spider at one point. That was pretty interesting. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None. |
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|
 | Comments: |
As mentioned above, the water crossings are very hazardous right now, and I recommend being very careful if you decide to chance them. Definitely bring extra socks in case you go through the ice. A good policy on the last water crossing is to go up and down the shore until you find a good crossing spot, because the trail’s crossing spot is not the best one.
When you get to Owl’s Head, the Brutus Bushwhack is likely safer than the slide. I went up the slide, and parts of it are basically climbing a frozen waterfall. I took at least one nasty spill coming down it. Another group took the Brutus and they indicated it was safer. If you are interested in backpacking this hike, there are several good stealth sites near the base of the Owl’s Head Path. Snowshoes shouldn’t be necessary, and the trail (including the Bushwhack) is easy to follow on account of being already beaten down pretty well. |
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 | Name: |
Hawk |
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 | E-Mail: |
jfkziegler@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-12-31 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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