Date of Hike: 6/25/16
Skookumchuck Trail: 3.9 miles / Garfield Ridge Trail: 0.7 miles / Franconia Ridge Trail: 0.5 miles / Truman-Lincoln Slide & Bushwhack: 2.0 miles / Lincoln Brook Trail: 0.6 miles / Owl's Head Path: 2.2 miles / Lincoln Brook Trail: 3.6 miles / Twin Brook Trail: 2.4 miles / Frost Trail: 1.0 miles / Twinway: 0.8 miles / North Twin Spur: 1.2 miles / North Twin Trail: 4.1 miles
Total Miles: 22.8 (9,479 feet elevation gained) Garmin Forrunner 910XT
Trip Report
- With my Grid finish coming up next month I'm planning out a route for my finish and making sure I'm familiar with the off trail section of the endeavor. Having not been on the Truman/Lincoln Slide in almost two years, along with Kyle never having been on it, I figured it was a good idea to revisit it and for Kyle to enjoy one of the best off trail slides in the White Mountains while putting together another big mile big elevation gain day deep in the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
- With the lack of rain and warm weather we had a pleasant time heading down the slide and a rather easy hike in and along the Lincoln Slide stream on the way to its end at the Lincoln Brook just below a beautiful little cascade.
- From here we headed south to the Owl's Head Path, summited Owl's Head, retraced our steps before continuing north along the Lincoln Brook Trail to 13 Falls. At the campsite we hooked onto the Twin Brook Trail and enjoyed the relative easy grades and excellent footing for the climb out of the Twin Brook Valley, even making a short side trip up the Frost Trail to Galehead's summit.
- We took a nice break at the Galehead Hut before making our last big climb of the day, the relentlessly steep ascent up to South Twin Mountain. The trail climbs 1,100 feet in just 0.8 miles over some nasty footing in spots. However, the heart-pounding ascent is rewarding as the summit of South Twin has 360 degree views that is one of the best in the White Mountains.
- We took in the phenomenal views and refueled for a few minutes, we would have spent a little more time up here but the bugs were nasty on all the summits on Saturday, luckily most were not the biting variety but were very annoying.
- The rest of the hike was pretty straight forward as we made our way back to the Jeep which we spotted at the North Twin trailhead in the morning. We started off with an easy descent and short ascent up to North Twin's summit and took in our final views of the day form the summit outlook and the outlook just north of the summit. Once back in the woods for good we made quick time of the descent back down to Little River and easily made all three crossings while staying on the trail instead of jumping on what has become the more popular route, a herd path which bypasses two of the water crossings.
- We made it back to the car around 6:30ish ending another great day on and off trail!
Route for the day, click here for details
Elevation over distance profile
Heading up the Skookumchuck Trail. A nice alternative to hiking Mount Lafayette during the summer months, a lot less crowded
Heading up the broad northern shoulder of Mount Lafayette along the Garfield Ridge Trail
Eagle Lake, Greenleaf Hut, Cannon and Kinsmans
It's a zoo up here! Hikers taking in the views from Mount Lafayette's summit
Classic Franconia Ridge picture
Next up the slide that leaves Lincoln and Truman
Heading down the top of the Truman 'branch' of the slide
Kyle taking it all in on the upper section of the slide
After a few tenths of a mile the Truman and Lincoln branches funnel into the lower end of the slide
Bottom of the funnel
Kyle heads through the halfpipe!
Kyle hopping from boulder to boulder at the bottom of the slide
Nearing the foot of the slide where the stream starts
Following the slide stream and passing by a cascade
Kyle descending the stream
Kyle figuring out his next move
Sign of life!
Another decision to make!
Lincoln Brook Cascade. This is where we popped out at the bottom of the slide stream. From here we crossed the Lincoln Brook and found the Lincoln Brook Trail
Owl's Head Slide
Looking back at the slide
The Lincoln/Truman Slide. We headed down the Truman branch (right)
Zoom-in of the Truman Slide section
Owl's Head summit
Lincoln Brook Trail
Lincoln Brook Trail
13 falls viewpoint
Kyle on the summit of Galehead
Galehead Hut and South Twin
Galehead Hut
Twin Brook Valley
North Twin as seen from South Twin
South Twin summit
Along the North Twin Spur with the summit in sight
Pemi Wilderness!
Looking towards Zealand with Carrigain and it's notch lining the horizon
Willey Range cooling off in the shade
Presidential Range
Skookumchuck Trail: 3.9 miles / Garfield Ridge Trail: 0.7 miles / Franconia Ridge Trail: 0.5 miles / Truman-Lincoln Slide & Bushwhack: 2.0 miles / Lincoln Brook Trail: 0.6 miles / Owl's Head Path: 2.2 miles / Lincoln Brook Trail: 3.6 miles / Twin Brook Trail: 2.4 miles / Frost Trail: 1.0 miles / Twinway: 0.8 miles / North Twin Spur: 1.2 miles / North Twin Trail: 4.1 miles
Total Miles: 22.8 (9,479 feet elevation gained) Garmin Forrunner 910XT
Trip Report
- With my Grid finish coming up next month I'm planning out a route for my finish and making sure I'm familiar with the off trail section of the endeavor. Having not been on the Truman/Lincoln Slide in almost two years, along with Kyle never having been on it, I figured it was a good idea to revisit it and for Kyle to enjoy one of the best off trail slides in the White Mountains while putting together another big mile big elevation gain day deep in the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
- With the lack of rain and warm weather we had a pleasant time heading down the slide and a rather easy hike in and along the Lincoln Slide stream on the way to its end at the Lincoln Brook just below a beautiful little cascade.
- From here we headed south to the Owl's Head Path, summited Owl's Head, retraced our steps before continuing north along the Lincoln Brook Trail to 13 Falls. At the campsite we hooked onto the Twin Brook Trail and enjoyed the relative easy grades and excellent footing for the climb out of the Twin Brook Valley, even making a short side trip up the Frost Trail to Galehead's summit.
- We took a nice break at the Galehead Hut before making our last big climb of the day, the relentlessly steep ascent up to South Twin Mountain. The trail climbs 1,100 feet in just 0.8 miles over some nasty footing in spots. However, the heart-pounding ascent is rewarding as the summit of South Twin has 360 degree views that is one of the best in the White Mountains.
- We took in the phenomenal views and refueled for a few minutes, we would have spent a little more time up here but the bugs were nasty on all the summits on Saturday, luckily most were not the biting variety but were very annoying.
- The rest of the hike was pretty straight forward as we made our way back to the Jeep which we spotted at the North Twin trailhead in the morning. We started off with an easy descent and short ascent up to North Twin's summit and took in our final views of the day form the summit outlook and the outlook just north of the summit. Once back in the woods for good we made quick time of the descent back down to Little River and easily made all three crossings while staying on the trail instead of jumping on what has become the more popular route, a herd path which bypasses two of the water crossings.
- We made it back to the car around 6:30ish ending another great day on and off trail!
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