bryan
New member
date: 12/31/12
trails: greeley ponds trail, mt. osceola trail, tripoli road
conditions: we were able to park at the greeley ponds trailhead in the morning with no problem, but the lot was overflowing when we returned with many cars parked on the side of the road. nice snowshoe track on greeley ponds trail. the track was often blown in on the lower part of the mt. osecola trail until getting into the more sheltered slopes on the steeps where there was a good grippy track with very little ice coming through. more drifting on the ridge line intermingled with a nice track. ok traction on the chimney bypass. a version of the bypass of the bypass was also used today with good results. we broke trail from the summit of osceola to tripoli road. first travel that portion of trail has seen this winter. it's now broken out, but far from packed. tripoli road groomed for cross country skis and a quick walk down to the livermore parking. water crossings were all at least partially frozen and not a problem.
equipment: we wore snowshoes the whole hike. some may be more comfortable in crampons on the steeps and they may very well be necessary if the track freezes up or if descending that way.
comments: lots of nice snow on osceola today. cloudy with a couple limited views and pretty windy in the lower woods on east osceola and in places on the ridge. though a bit of a carspot i really like doing these peaks as a traverse in winter. no doubt the tripoli road side would be a popular snowshoe trail were it not for the roadwalk from livermore parking. still a good alternative to the steeps on east peak. thanks to timc and cynthia for a nice hike.
bryan
[email protected]
trails: greeley ponds trail, mt. osceola trail, tripoli road
conditions: we were able to park at the greeley ponds trailhead in the morning with no problem, but the lot was overflowing when we returned with many cars parked on the side of the road. nice snowshoe track on greeley ponds trail. the track was often blown in on the lower part of the mt. osecola trail until getting into the more sheltered slopes on the steeps where there was a good grippy track with very little ice coming through. more drifting on the ridge line intermingled with a nice track. ok traction on the chimney bypass. a version of the bypass of the bypass was also used today with good results. we broke trail from the summit of osceola to tripoli road. first travel that portion of trail has seen this winter. it's now broken out, but far from packed. tripoli road groomed for cross country skis and a quick walk down to the livermore parking. water crossings were all at least partially frozen and not a problem.
equipment: we wore snowshoes the whole hike. some may be more comfortable in crampons on the steeps and they may very well be necessary if the track freezes up or if descending that way.
comments: lots of nice snow on osceola today. cloudy with a couple limited views and pretty windy in the lower woods on east osceola and in places on the ridge. though a bit of a carspot i really like doing these peaks as a traverse in winter. no doubt the tripoli road side would be a popular snowshoe trail were it not for the roadwalk from livermore parking. still a good alternative to the steeps on east peak. thanks to timc and cynthia for a nice hike.
bryan
[email protected]
