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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Owl's Head, NH
Trails
Trails: Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, herd path, Owls Head Path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 13, 2023
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Not busy. Can use credit card to pay parking fee now. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Hiked in by accessing Liberty Brook Trail from Franconia Brook Trail. 1st crossing was terrible. Water was high. Was up to my waist near the west bank. Second crossing was less bad. I would recommend avoiding this route in the spring or when water is high. Had no sandals. Boots and socks stayed wet for duration of backpacking trip. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Bridges needed.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Not bad. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Hiked in wanting to take Black Pond Whack. Got to end of Black Pond Tail and no path was obvious. Path was obvious on return. If looking for the south end of the Whack, reach end of Black Pond Trail, walk about 50 yards straight (north) into the woods, and look for the trail on the right. Trail from there is clearly discernable.

Turned around and backtracked. Reached Liberty Brook Trail via Franconia Brook Trail. First and second brook crossings sucked on Liberty Brook. Avoid in Spring or when water is high. Was up to my waist on first crossing. It was slighty terrifying.

Camped at obvious unmarked site beside trail about a mile east of Owl's Head. Site is on the right after a short ascent of maybe 100 feet. Two other obvious camping spots were observed trailside between where we camped and the slide, including a river front site after the last water crossing before reaching the slide.

Remaining water crossings were more reasonable but none were doable without submerging my feet. BRING SANDALS!

Took slide up Owl's Head. It's much shorter than I thought; only about two-tenths of a mile of the ascent is slide. I didn't think it was as bad as it has been made out to be. Beginning of slide is marked by two cairns. Can't miss it.

Foot thick monorail on the ridge and a bit below. Would still recommend spikes for ridge and initial descent. Not the mountain that you would want to fall and break something on.

Took Brutus down. Turn was marked by a white sock on a stick near a bigger than average trailside rock (maybe four feet high). Path down was mostly obvious. Half way down you come to a stream. Turn right to find trail. It looks like you can cross it and go straight, but turning right brings you to the obvious intersection with Liberty Brook Trail.

Took Black Pond Whack out. Path was obvious. Starts at what looks like a camping spot on west bank of a brook (the second major brook if hiking west from Franconia Brook Trail).  
Name
Name: KapitalG 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kapitalgski@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2023-05-15 
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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