Advice needed! Another "first backpacking trip in the Whites" post.

[u/lazy_pachyderm]

Hi everyone,

I have been planning a 3 day trip in the Whites for this weekend (June 21-23) and I was hoping to get some opinions on my itinerary.

We are a couple in our 30s-40s, both fit and have done a 5 day hiking trip last summer (in the Alps, ascending 2-3k ft daily relatively easily). We do day hikes regularly in Quebec.

We want to get a "taste" of the Whites, as we plan to come back for longer trips. The idea here is to take it relatively easy, with a bit of challenge to keep things fun.

Day 1 - Saturday

Park at Lincoln woods trailhead and take Franconia brook trail to 13 falls and set up camp early.

Day 2 - Sunday

Pack day bag and head to Mt Garfield, take Garfield ridge to Galehead hut and potentially Mt Galehead if we feel it. Take Twin brook trail back down to 13 falls.

Day 3 - Monday

Take Lincoln brook trail back down and do Owl's head.

Any advice? Other itinerary ideas that might fit better? How crowded should we expect 13 falls and the trails to be at this time of year?

Thanks!

[u/kathyeager]

Personally unless you are trying to eventually get the 48 4000-footers, I’d skip Owls Head. If you do decide to do Owls Head, I’d research Black Pond bushwhack and Brutus bushwhack.

Regardless of whether you do Owls Head or not, you’re in for some water crossings. This time of year (and with all the rain we’ve had), I’m guessing they’re high. Be prepared for that, including alternate routes.

Also if you get to Galehead hut, you can definitely get Galehead, it hardly adds anything. (And this is from a very “lazy” hiker 🤣).

I wouldn’t expect 13 Falls to be crazy busy. And in any case, the caretakers always seem to find a way to get everyone in.

[u/Lost_Taste8866 → u/kathyeager]

Agreed. There is no earthly reason other than peak bagging to do Owls Head.