A New Season

The weather forecast for Tuesday is great. It is supposed to be sunny with light winds and in the upper 50’s, which sounds like great cruising conditions. Let’s try something we didn't get to last year, Lincoln Woods. It’s perfect for a season opener as it’s easy and quite scenic. Also it is a very highly traveled trail in the summer and fall, but we’ll have it virtually to ourselves at this time of year.

First we’ll cruise out on the East Side Trail, which parallels the eastern shore of the Pemigewasset River, through the woods for 3 miles until we reach the Wilderness Area where bikes are not permitted. Then we’ll retrace our route back and take the Lincoln Woods Trail for 3 miles which follows the western shore of the Pemigewasset River and has great river vistas. After a picnic lunch we’ll retrace our route again back to the Lincoln Woods parking lot.

The East Side Trail is a forest service road and it follows the contours of the woods, so there are short hills along the way. There may be some spots where the gravel is a bit loose. The Lincoln Woods Trail follows an old railroad bed so it is quite flat. There are ties still embedded in the path but they are easily avoided. So keep your eyes on those ties! Mud, as always, is a distinct possibility so plan you foot wear accordingly.

In all we’ll cover about 12 miles. Those who want a shorter ride can go back to the parking lot after 6 miles. Plan on having lunch on the shore of the river or if we are still feeling frisky after 9 miles of riding we can walk to Franconia Falls which is .4 mi off the Lincoln Woods trail.

Please be ready to ride from the Lincoln Woods parking lot at 10:00am Tuesday morning May 11th. Parking permits are required here, but I doubt anyone will be checking, since the information cabin will not be open yet. Take the Kanc (route 112) west. The visitor center is on the right about four miles before you get to “downtown Lincoln”. See you there, Joan

PS. Bear Notch Road is not open yet. I contacted NH DOT Friday and I received this response "We are currently dealing with substantial blow down of trees from the weather of this past winter and have been delayed twice by additional snow fall. We are cutting and chipping as we speak, making our way to the Rt.112 side. My hope is that within two weeks we will be ready to open the road, barring no further delays."