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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks West Osceola, Middle Osceola, Mt. Osceola, NH
Trails
Trails: Mt. Osceola Trail, herd path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, May 31, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: about 20 trees blown over the MOT about 2 miles up from the trail head 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: Black Flies were swarming like crazy 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Munt Osceola Trail to the last switchback before the Summit, where I took the Herd Path, for the most part

After going back up to Osceola I made my way back to the Middle Peak rather quickly and continued on from there. The herd path was generally visible, however it descended rather quickly, very dense with blow overs and brush, I was getting scraped at every turn. I could see Peggy's Perch looming slightly above the trees. As I approach it the herd path went to the right and up a very steep dirt path where I had to grab onto trees to pull myself up. Once at the edge of Peggy's Perch I struggled trying to figure out a way to hoist myself up. I was on the left end of it and there were a couple trees, but they were behind me and didn't really give me something to pull on. I also was trying to pull some weeds out of a crack in the ledge, hopping to get a finger hold, however it just was not to be had. For a moment I thought I may have to either leave it or figure out another way! It was after 2 PM now and really hot, not to mention I was being swarmed by black flies. I looked to the right and thought I would see if I could hoist myself up from there.There were 3 small trees wrapped around the ledge and then there was something up on it that I could grab onto. The only problem was these trees I was hoping to stand on clearly weren't firmly attached. They moved away from the ledge and I wasn't feeling to confident they would support my standing on them while I tried to hoist myself up onto the Perch. Finally after regaining my breath I tossed my trekking poles up there and went for it. I made it!! Then the handle and mini Nalgene bottle were only about 1 or 12 feet up a little dirt path. After go there, I made my way back onto the perch where I took a short break and shot the beautiful Panorama video. Then slid down the original spot I was trying to get up earlier.

Heading back I did well to follow the herd path the exact way out that I went in. Although the thick brush that consisted of many dead spruce trees continued to rip my clothes and cut my arms. I made it back to the middle peak (seen in the middle of the panorama I shot). From here I knew my way back and stayed right on track for about half the remaining distance. Somehow I went off course to the left and kept trying to correct to the right, but all I was doing was getting closer and closer to the MOT (Mount Osceola Trail) but not reconnecting with the herd path. It was painful and I had to move over some not so easy terrain. Finally I reconnected with the MOT about 200 feet up hill from where I was supposed to. I went through my 100 oz of water in my hydration pack and had already started on my 32 oz bottle in the side pocket of my backpack. Finished that off quickly and made my way way down to the last mile or so and pulled some water from a crossing.

The bushwhack from Middle Peak to the West peak was a lot more challenging BOTH WAYS than the part from the MOT to the middle peak.  
Name
Name: Anthony I 
E-Mail
E-Mail: nhbuddy@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-06-01 
Link
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hikenh4k/permalink/10156493768883724/ 
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