east osceola 3/08

[hikerfast]

what a day! raining in concord, drove up to parking lot from kanc side. started snowing bout 10 miles north of here and snowed all day . 27 minutes to mt osceola trail junction. took snowshoes up to where it got real steep then switched to crampons. 2 hours and 14 up. lotta snow fallen on sherpa john and crew's tracks from the weekend. had a couple bouts with my fear of heights going up next to the slide, then crossing the slide, but I did it. I kinda stood there and waited till the anxiety stopped(almost). what a pain in the neck that is to put up with. on the way down some of my tracks were snowed right over and were gone. maybe a couple feet of new snow in places..maybe it had blown there from the wind. thanks to Sherpa John for threatening to flog me with wet dental floss if I didn't go up that way. drive home was nuts, bout 40 mph, at one point 8 cars off the road crashed. don't think im driving anywhere tonight!
zealand and madison to go for nh winter 48.

 

[hikerfast]

ha!! i hope so. dont you want to all finish on zealand in the woods with no view, usually wondering where exactly the top is? i figure ill finish on madison, might need some moral support up there, its very exposed and steep(darn acrophobia). the weather isnt cooperating with zealand, i figured id solo it thursday, but i dont know if i can if im breaking thru 2 feet of snow alone. sounds like an overnight trip might be in order, hard to know if ill finish this season or not

 

[hikethe115]

Congrats! That's great that you got East Osceola!! So, if you can get Zealand done, you could finish on Madison on Saturday the 19th....maybe get some folks to join you for the bubble hike.

 

[MichaelJ]

If you can go on a weekday, you should have no problem getting a bunk at Zealand Hut. With that as your starting point the next morning, it's just Twinway to the summit spur, and you can't miss the summit itself it with the huge sign up there. The only spot I'd worry about is between Zeacliff and Zeacliff Pond, where the trail passes over an exposed ledgy area with minimal vegetation. That gets blown over very easily (much less in this weather). But with an early start from the hut you should have more than enough time to pick the route out.

Oh, and yeah, that breaking trail thing.

 

[Panama Jack]

Of course you'll finish this year!

You've done GREAT so far! Zealand and Madison will be a breeze! Don't over think it, while I don't have a fear of heights, I am sometimes overcome with anxiety in tricky spots. Breath deep, remember you have conquered spots and keep moving!

Well done!

-PJ-

 

[Sherpa John]

dude!

YES! YES! YES!

Thats what I'm talkin about Hikerfast.. get your paperboy butt up that hill.. you did it!

You've done it ones, let all yourfears go away.. and next time.. LEAVE THE ROPE AT HOME! (see avatar <~~~)

 

[JohnL]

For those who have not been to Zealand's summit in the winter, I'd like to contradict the notion that it has no view.

This is a shot taken from Zealand's summit. And here is a shot that shows you the depth of the snow pack at Zealand's summit.

JohnL

 

[MichaelJ]

I suspect a tree-climber...

 

[JohnL]

No tree climbing involved here, MJ. I'm a bit on in years to be doing that sort of thing. Especially in the tops of weak trees. While soloing.

Kevin,
It was taken from a point about 5 feet north of the summit sign two years ago (Mar 19 to be exact). Being over six feet tall helps and you can see from the photo of me next to the summit sign how deep the snow pack was that year. And I agree that there are several spots where you have excellent Presi views from the trail between Zeacliff and Zealand Mtn.

JohnL

 

[Jim lombard]

I was on Waumbek on March 16th two years ago and it had an excellent view. The summit sign was almost buried under a huge pile of snow.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

There was a large group on its way into Zealand Hut on Wednesday the 9th, with a plan to attempt Zealand and the Bonds today. Given the amount of new snow from the Monday/Tuesday storm, they were going to have their work cut out for them. But, with a large group, I suspect they should be able to re-break out the trail to at least Zealand's summit.

I broke out the trail between the Zeacliff viewpoint and the summit this past Saturday, and met someone following my tracks on my way out; but a VFTT Trail Conditions posting noted that our tracks were almost completely obliterated by Sunday.

We found mid-calf to mid-thigh snow depths most of the way up nearby Mt. Tom yesterday.

I have Owls Head and the three northern Presi's remaining for this winter. I have a partner lined up but we are waiting for a decent day to attempt the northern Presi's. Would be great if someone is available to help re-break at least part of the the ski tracks into the OH slide from this past weekend.

Dr. Dasypodidae