Wandering at Lincoln Woods: 1/24/24

After snow removal duties in the morning, Carol and I spent the afternoon wandering along the east side of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River at Lincoln Woods. We traced the route of the northern section of the abandoned Pine Island Trail and observed many signs of storm destruction along the river.

A happy snowshoer in snow-covered confers along the Pemi East Side Trail.

What used to be Pine Island Brook, a medium-sized stream, is now a river unto itself. The 2017 Halloween storm diverted a major portion of the East Branch's flow into this stream, rendering the two crossings along the Pine Island Trail essentially impassable.

We saw some interesting ice formations as we bushwhacked alongside this stream.

Mother Nature's artistry. Note how the water is flowing at a higher level, above the ice, at the top of the picture.

This crossing would be a nightmare.

We bushwhacked along the stream to the northern section of the Pine Island Trail. We were the adopters of this trail for several years starting in 2011. The trail was closed after Tropical Storm Irene washed parts of it away that August. Those sections were relocated and the trail was reopened. Then the 2017 Halloween storm caused more washouts and created the hazardous stream crossings, resulting in the trail's permanent closure.

We had to weave around several blowdowns that have blocked the trail corridor.

Carol breaking trail on a short open section of the trail corridor.

View across a wide stretch of the East Branch, with "Peak 2675," shrouded in mist, in the background.

This tangle looked recent, and likely was created by the big rainstorm of 12/18/23.

This spot was originally breached by the 2017 Halloween storm, and appeared to have been expanded by the storm last month.

Preparing to dip into the trench.

Weaving a path through the destruction.

Yikes!

Long view upstream. The low clouds obscured the fine mountain views found along the edge of the river.

The north end of Pine Island Trail is away from the river and still in good shape.

We followed a spur path down to one of our favorite spots, a vast sandbar created by Tropical Storm Irene. We call it "The Beach" and there is a geocache here if you are so inclined.

Looking south down The Beach. On a clear day there would be a fine view of Scar Ridge.

To the north of the beach is an area of rock cobbles and scrubby trees. The snow was deep here.

White cedar and white pine, side by side.

Looking across the East Branch to a bank that was cut away by Tropical Storm Irene. There is always much to see on an excursion along this magnificent wilderness river.