Saturday, April 26, 2025
Summits: Owls Head
Start/Finish: Lincoln Woods TH
Miles: 16.05
Elevation gain/loss: 3412′
After hiking Iso, I drove the 1+ hours over to Lincoln Woods TH. I left the parking lot around 2:45pm. Even with the rain mostly stopped, water in the Pemi was roaring.
As always, I took the Black Pond bushwhack. There are usually two substantial crossings, but there were three this time: knee, thigh, then waist deep. The third crossing was especially bad. I kept 3 points of contact at all times, and was exceedingly careful. I made it across and then texted my friend from the side of the climb to get intel about the gauge height.
On the way out, water was at peak gauge height; in the way back, it waa 2-3″ lower water levels. The gauge height for the east branch of the Pemi river clocked the third highest water level of the past 12 months.
The trails were very muddy with lots of moving water. I used rock spikes for the ascent and descent of the peak; continuous snow only present on the peak’s flat top. It was misting and dripped rain all day, with pouring rain for the last 3 hours. I was very glad to be past all water crossings before the sun set and rain began again.
When I made it to the final bridge over the river, I nearly colliding with 2 ATVs. They were NH Fish and Game officers, out searching for a missing hiker whose agenda had been Owls Head. When they heard that I’d just been to Owls Head, they asked me a number of questions and also asked me to speak with their commander in the parking lot. I reported what I’d seen and the route I’d taken; unfortunately, I had seen no one else. A few days later, I found the NH Fish and Game posting, noting that they’d found him alive and well, but camped out and stuck between two branches of the river. A team went across the river and helped bring him back out. I was glad of the happy ending!
