NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks East Osceola, Mt. Osceola, NH
Trails
Trails: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking lot is clear of any snow and the best part there's no fee to be paid. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Many small streams crossing the trail/in the trail and all but one easily hopped over. However, that stream had several rock hopping routes to choose from. The snow bridges that remain are very unstable and I collapsed a couple walking over them.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Some minor debris and blowdowns down low with one very large one that's easy to squeeze through. From the summit of East peak along the ridge until the trail starts to descend rapidly there are many large blowdowns obscuring the trail.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: No dogs or humans to be found today. Probably for the best as dogs may have a difficult time with the trail conditions combined with the steepness.  
Bugs
Bugs: Some small insects of varying species flying around down low. Won't be long until the biters make their yearly debut. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I have only climbed the Osceolas once before, nearly three years ago in late summer, and I forgot how amazingly steep the 1.5 miles of trail from the intersection with Greeley Ponds to the summit of East is. Probably because spring trails are a completely different beast than summer trails. And today the conditions were atrocious to say the least, but that's to be expected on a big mountain in mid Spring. The footing from start to finish was on a relatively unstable, soft monorail and postholes 4 feet deep in 'mashed potato' snow to either side up high with some small sections of smooth ice mixed in. Also, conditions were such that the monorail and surrounding snow were the same height more or less which made discerning a safe place to take my next step difficult, and postholes that consumed my entire leg were a reality today. It must have snowed a few inches within the previous day or so above 3800 feet because there was a lot of melting snow dripping and falling off the spruce/firs up high. It might as well have been raining/snowing on me. I managed somehow to not have to stop and put on spikes on the way up or on the Chimney section, finding good handholds helps a lot. I put spikes on when I returned to East because I thought they would help slightly on the very steep descent despite the softening snow. The summits were socked in cloud while I was on them but on my way out driving down the Kanc they were perfectly clear of any clouds.. If you're not up for a challenge and to face a knarly trail you may want to avoid this one for a few more weeks. This all may sound like a bunch of complaining, but it was a great hike nonetheless and I more or less knew what I was getting myself into. A great way to start off May.  
Name
Name: Alex 
E-Mail
E-Mail: alexbooth777@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-05-01 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved