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13 Falls

Ring Around Owl's Head, August 2010

A weekend exploring some of the lesser-used trails in the western Pemigewasset Wilderness.
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My itinerary began on the Lincoln Woods trail, which is so long and boring I just kept a brisk pace and didn't pause for a single photo. After about an hour I turned onto the Franconia Brook trail and began to relax.
you should see an image here Dewdrop, Dalibarda repens.
you should see an image here I paused for lunch at the southern junction with the Lincoln Brook trail. It's probably a common snack spot for hikers, because this chipmunk had it staked out.
you should see an image here Further up the Franconia Brook trail, by some ponds, the trail was crawling with these recently-metamorphosed toads. (Bufo americanus I presume).
you should see an image here Amanita Muscaria emerging from the forest floor.
you should see an image here An adult toad (Bufo americanus, probably)
you should see an image here It's easy to tell when you've arrived at 13 Falls.
you should see an image here I'd like to come back here in the springtime.
you should see an image here My favorite among many more cascades at 13 Falls.
At 13 Falls I set up my tent, dropped some of my heavier gear, and set out northward to Mt Garfield.
you should see an image here Is it that time of year already? Hobblebush turning red a little early.
you should see an image here Strange silver-purple mushrooms.
you should see an image here Franconia Brook trail as it climbs to Garfield Ridge: stones like an orderly staircase.
you should see an image here Garfield Ridge trail near the summit of Mt Garfield: disorderly rocks, and a bit damp and loose too.
you should see an image here View from Mt Garfield looking south to Owl's Head. I'd been thinking about bushwhacking up the western edge of that north-facing slope, but decided all that balsam fir would slow me down.
you should see an image here View east from Mt Garfield to North Twin, with Peak Above the Nubble at left and the Presidential Range on the horizon.
you should see an image here View east from Garfield along Garfield Ridge to the Twins. Galehead Mountain is in front of South Twin on the right side of the photo, and Galehead Hut is barely visible in the col between Galehead and South Twin.
you should see an image here View west from Mt Garfield to Franconia Ridge
you should see an image here Same damp and loose section of Garfield Ridge trail, seen from above. A passing hiker said it was "the scariest thing I've done in my life!"
I returned to 13 falls, had some dinner (with free Smores from another hiker), and tried to fall asleep early. I was tired but didn't sleep very well, and was up with the dawn.
you should see an image here Bunchberry, Cornus Canadensis, along the Lincoln Brook trail.
you should see an image here .One of many small stream views along the upper Lincoln Brook trail.
you should see an image here Another toad, Bufo americanus most likely.
you should see an image here This one is noticeably lighter-colored than the one I saw the day before.
you should see an image here A maple leaf, turning early probably due to insect damage.
you should see an image here Some kind of aster, maybe a fleabane.
you should see an image here I headed up Owl's Head (or more properly, Un-named Peak Above Owl's Head) by the usual rockslide route.
you should see an image here This route is no longer considered an official trail, but you some cairns remain, and you can see where somebody tried to erase a painted arrow.
you should see an image here Sundew (Drosera sp.) in a damp spot on the rockslide.
you should see an image here Only a few blazes remain on this path.
you should see an image here A recently-created sign at a spot that once had a "summit" sign.
you should see an image here A glimpse of Mt Lincoln from near the summit.
you should see an image here Same spot, wider view.
you should see an image here Somebody obviously thinks it's quite important that you not stop before the true summit.
you should see an image here Steeplebush, Spirea sp., on the Owl's Head slide.
you should see an image here Large unidentified fungus.
you should see an image here More fungus.
you should see an image here Remains of a suspension bridge.
you should see an image here Unidentified fungus.