Owlshead is one of the more remote peaks
in the Whites. If you stick to the trails, it's an 18 mile hike. Some people love
it, others hate it. All peakbaggers eventually climb it. The old summit of Owlshead
is another peak with no views like Cabot or Waumbek. Bushwhacking north along the
ridge brings you to a knob which is a few feet higher than the once recognized
summit. There are excellent views from this knob (especially
in winter.) If you look east through the trees you can even see Bond and Bondcliff.
THE TRAILHEADS
Most popular route to owlshead is the ♦Wilderness to ♦Franconia
Brook to ♦Lincoln Brook to the ♦unofficial Owls Head Path.
There are several brook crossings on Lincoln Brook Trail
that can be difficult in high water season. Some do this as a two night trip
going to 13-Falls campsite. Still others take the famous Black Pond Bushwhack.
This saves a couple of brook crossings and a mile or two. This route can be
very muddy at times and is more often done in winter than summer. There is now a blazed
route through the Black Pond Whack which meanders a lot and in warm weather would
encounter mudpits. You will want to stay high on the contour. In winter, the trail is generally broken out.
THE MOUNTAIN
Owlshead 4,025'
I love Owlshead! There is no place like it in the White Mountains.
Owls Head Slide is steep and rough in places. You should hug the right side of
the slide in ascending and the right side in descending. There are good views of
Franconia Ridge from the slide. A flock of boreal
chickadees (my favorite birds) hang out around the summit and can be pretty bold.
I enjoyed my first trip to the summit but not the second. In 2006 (trip #4) we lifted the flag over the trees to
recognize 9-11 victims. I visited
the new summit again in the winter of 2009 and in April 2011. It seems the Brutus Bushwhack is the
more common winter approach now. It is very steep in places with thick branches near the top.
Here's a Wintertime on Owlshead
Here's another Winter Owlshead Trip
Here's a summer Trip Report
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