| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Osceola, Mt. Osceola, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, April 9, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot is in decent condition. Only two cars today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Surprisingly low and easily crossed. Crocs went for a ride. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Small blowdown just after trailhead. Much bigger multi branch blow down 0.65 miles in with 10" diameter. 0.2 miles past the chimney is another three tree blowdown with biggest branch about 12" |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None. Probably too icy for them right now. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The Osceolas love putting me on my butt, so take everything after this will that warning.
Down low is a mix of avoidable mud and a monorail that is easy to walk on and mostly solid. The climb up Mt Osceola is a mix of crunchy ice and hard ice, but it's all covered with wet, sticky snow. Going up isn't bad. Going down is.
The ridge has a firm monorail that is a few feet high in places, but overall in good condition.
Coming down the steep section is very, very difficult. It switches from slick ice to crunchy ice frequently, and it's all covered with spring snow. Even with sharp spikes this meant butt sledding whether you want to or not. Sometimes you go feet first. Sometimes head first. And if you're really lucky, a pole splits your legs as you slip, and you go bollocks first, get spun around and continue a few more feet on your back head first.
That's all to say, the descent is very, very slippery right now. Everything else is better than expected for April conditions - firm and somewhat fast.
Fun note - a rescue chopper flew over me a couple of times and hovered briefly once. Hoping that was them having fun on a training mission. |
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 | Name: |
Chad |
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 | E-Mail: |
chadwik66@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-04-09 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.instagram.com/p/DW7fDrckcud/?img_index=1 |
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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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