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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Osceola (attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Tripoli Road, Osceola Vista Campground Road, bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 25, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Depot Lot was 1/3 full 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: I crossed West Branch on bridge in vista campground 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I went up south west spur ridge of Osceola on Sunday. I was expecting deep snow so I wore my 30” snow shoes. Turned out to be a good choice as they provided plenty of floatation. I was surprised at first to find snow in valley floor had a soft crust. Snow acquired more powder like quality as I attained 2500’ elevations. I started my whack turning left right after the bridge crossing over the West Branch in Osceola Vista campground. Terrain started as wide open hard woods and any logs and crevices were nicely filled in by deep snow cover. Interested in finding old roads or trails - Unfortunately I was not able to discern any outline or signs of the old logging roads. Antique map overlay on my phone Gaia GPS told me I had reached location of the intersection of the old trail and Tripoli Road. Sure enough terrain conditions were nice deep stable channel quite suitable for bridge crossing, but deep snow hid any indications of embankments with Tripoli Road stone's throw on far bank. My antique map indicated I should scramble up spur ridge. I scanned terrain looking for some side hill road loggers might have used to gain the ridge, but observed nothing. So I scrambled up steep flank to gain the spur ridge and started following the ridge again looking for signs of old roads – never saw anything looking like logging or skidder roads entire day. Forest continued to be wide open with easy traveling. I only occasionally saw blowdowns. This area must be sheltered from prevailing storm winds. I zigged and zagged hoping to encounter logging roads but found nothing.

I began to encounter steeper terrain and mixed softwood forest at 2500’. I made two exploratory forays at 2500' elevation but decided to turn around when spruce forest posed too much risk of me getting stuck in spruce trap with my 30” snow shoes plus I was solo and I had to leave time and energy to shower and drive south. All in all a fine day out was had and did some worthwhile scouting of the area. This route appears to offer good possibilities for improved access to big slide in ravine to east or hooking up with lower Mount Osceola Trail at 2600’ elevation in winter. Another trip would be needed to assess suitability of going all the way Mount Osceola trail at 3500’.
 
Name
Name: Jazzbo 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rdcaron@rcn.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-03-26 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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