| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Osceola, East Osceola, Mt. Tecumseh, West Tecumseh, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Tripoli Road, Mt. Osceola Trail, Greeley Ponds Trail, Livermore Road, Pipeline Trail, road walk, Mt. Tecumseh Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 19, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Tripoli Road is in amazing shape to HOL. Not sure from HOL to WVV. Lot's of fresh gravel and all potholes have been repaired. (TO HOL!) I opted to use the snowmobile speed limit, not the highway vehicle speed limit. Send her bud!! |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues on any crossings through all trails |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Mt. Osceola Trail, Tripoli side, has a half dozen blow downs early on. Then there are a pair or trio up on the old Breadtray Basin area, at elevation 3485. Greeley Pond's trail maintenance needs has been already forwarded to its maintainer, a few blowdowns but nothing bad. The worst of the day is Mt. Tecumseh Trail, Tripoli side. There are 22 (ah ah ah. It was a long day so we counted them like the count from Sesame Street) separate blowdowns, stepovers, leaners areas from the summit proper to the West Tecumseh spur. The worst of it is a conifer cluster with 5 or 6. From W. Tecumseh back to road there is only a handful. There is one mondo yellow birch that has fallen but may opt to stay. It's early on and a lot of effort to move (axe). Nothing I saw today was axe worthy aside from the birch. No immediate action or needs on Mt. Tecumseh (ski->summit). That maintainer has already been out, atleast once, in the last week :)
I will likely go out and take care of atleast Greeley from 112-possibly Upper Greeley's trees this week. The same can be said for Mt. O Tripoli side for after work excitement. Any subsequent action performed on what's listed here with be in a supplemental report for the maintainer. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a few doggies |
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 | Bugs: |
Bugs are making an appearance. However they only where noticable at the trailheads. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We're all MAD here in the Mad River Valley! We opted for a nice mileage loop of Osceolas and Tecumseh. We launched from Tripoli, walking the road to Osceola and began our day from there. Trail is in great shape, no snow noted aside from the immediate ingress of the summit area. Lot's of mud in same area, but this is very typical. Nothing really of note to summit of Osceola, it's getting to be that time, yay! See TM notes above. Commanding views from inside of a golf ball. Snow enters immediately on the egress and portions of the ridge line between the two peaks. No spikes really needed nor did I ever feel like I would have put them on even if I had them. Chimney has been reported dry - it is. It seems the summit cairn of East Osceola grows every time I visit. Perhaps they got the rocks from the now diminutive Eisenhower cairn - not sure where people keep finding them. Cruiser miles on Greeley Pond. Of note, the first lady slipper of the year - well a bud in advanced stages and will pop this week. Also of note, abundant painted trilliums that appear to have been formed in an overnight frost as their leaves are far darker and petals are a pinkish or wine-ish hue. Neat! Lunch at livermore south th. Pipleline was bone dry. Lot's coming down Mt. Tecumseh as we ascended. Trail is in good shape, that trail maintainer is alright I don't care what anyone says. Nothing really of note footing wise, and with this weather this week what's there will be gone. Coming down Mt. T (Summit -> Tripoli) the footing is not as zippy as its still wet and mossy (as in slick). Most snow is also gone from this side as well. Slow progress from summit to W Tecumseh herd path due to almost 2 dozen blowdowns. I believe I know this maintainer so I will also send them a supplemental message. Lot's of moose activity on this trail as well, likely to ebb since they've had free reign for six months and now us dreadful bipeds are back. A great day for some miles with the Midget Mafia. You know you've lost it when you're singing the little mermaid, lambchop, and then d(#@ in a box as a mashup... thus was our descent. Ran into Eric doing the same loop, in reverse, that was a treat |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat, Pretzel, Honey_Badger |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-20 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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