It was a cold start Sunday morning - 0 degrees at Lincoln Woods. We cruised down the Lincoln Woods trail to the Black Pond turn. We continued to make good time to Black Pond.
Crossing of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River to start the hike
We slowed a little after Black Pond, but the bushwhack/herd has been well used this winter, so we didn't have any issues there.
A view of Bondcliff from Black Pond
Once we were on the Lincoln Brook Trail, that section seemed to drag on for a long time. I hadn't checked the distance for that trail, but that section of trail is longer than I remembered. The broken out route follows the Brutus bushwhack. We I had hiked Owls Head in the summer, I had gone up the slide. I didn't remember how steep the slide was, but the Brutus is very steep. I'm not sure what to compare it to in the northeast. It started snowing on us as we made the climb. The ridge and summit were underwhelming. There is one spot which maybe has a view, but with the snow and clouds, we couldn't see anything.
The trail along Lincoln Brook on the way out
It snowed on us most of the way out, and there seemed to be more fresh snow on the trail on the way out than there had been on the way in. Once we were back on the Lincoln Woods trail, I was surprised to see a number of groups out for a causal walk.