#46 This is it: OWL'S HEAD

This was a 19 mile adventure I won't soon forget, and neither will Ruby. She is still a little pooped after the journey, but was bounding about today on the trails at Mine Falls.
Saturday August 8, our team of 6 met at the Lincoln Woods Visitor Area at 6:00 am, by 6:30 we were on the trail. Me, I'm still fuzzy from camping out at Big Rock while a bear cruised through the campground all night! I was afraid to leave the tent to pee!
We made steady progress the entire day crossing 4 tricky river crossings, and everyone staying within pace. We met others along the way in similar pursuit with two guys leaving their 200 pound packs at the base of the slide. (Meena lef them some lemonade, that should help). Next: The Harrowing Slide! Our team of Dan, Neil, Chris, Meena , Eileen , me and Ruby fuelled up on snacks and unloaded just a bit. Dan tucked a Pepsi in the river for later refreshment. We are about to take on the Slide! What an adventure, every step of the way. Ruby has no trouble hopping from crevice to crevice, but I fear for her safety on the way down. Will she be too scared to navigate the steep awkward rocks? Here, we find tremendous views, that is , if you have the courage to turn around and look ! At last, exhausted, the Slide comes to an end and we are meandering around the top of this mountain where we encounter a group at the old summit. We are told that just .2 miles we will easily find the marked new summit. It takes a bit of trial and error in staying on the trail, we reach the summit by 12:45 and enjoy peanut butter, cheese, gorp, apples and of course LEMONADE! We take memorable photos and pose with the official "summit rock". It gets chilly. We re-group and begin the descent of the Slide wich now appears 2 times longer and more dangerous. Slowly, we make our way down to a safe landing.We are ready for 8 miles and 4 brook crossings back to the car. The last 5.4 miles I feel weighted and my feetand back are aching. My neck is sore-it appears I've been madly bitten by a blood thirsty insect. The only pain is in my back. I think of songs to put on the soundtrack for this day: "Slip Sliding Away", "8 Miles High", "When will it End...?"

We are only a few miles from the trail and begin to encounter tourists and bike riders once again. The longest mile....It has taken 12 hrs to complete. Hunger, soreness, and fatigue hit. I retrieve my camping equipment from Big Rock and head back to Nashua where clam chowder and a cold Mike's lemonade await. Ruby got roast beef.

The O.H. crew