East Osceola Slide

[Jim lombard]

When I hiked the Osceola's the last time from Greeley Pond I noticed a sign saying the East Osceola slide trail was closed. The Mt Osceola trail actually crossed the slide at one point. I hiked the slide in 1999 when I did East the first time and had allot of fun on it. Does anyone know the status of this trail?

 

[Sherpa John]

We went up in Winter Jim and saw no signs suggesting a closing of the trail. The trail does indeep skirt the top of the slide and is rather steep before then.. I would imagine you'd be ok.

 

[askus3]

I believe the sign is there to prevent people from going on the old trail from Upper Greeley Pond into the Mt. Osceola Trail. Did you see the sign right at Upper Greeley Pond? I kind of remember seeing a sign indicating the trail is closed there, but can't clearly remember. That route went straight up and hooked in to the newer trail just below the slide. On the descent, there are logs and branches to deter you from going down the old route. It doesn't even look like a trail that way but that was the old route and it was steep!

 

[Jim lombard]

SJ, that might be the Mt Osceola trail, that one is steep also and it goes across the slide at some point. This one started just after Greeley Pond I think. I'll try and scan my 1999 pictures for tomorrow. The slide trail was steeper I think. I remember seeing a notice at the trailhead that the old trail had been re-routed or something.

 

[Jim lombard]

I believe it is there to prevent people from going on the old trail from Upper Greeley Pond into the Mt. Osceola Trail. Did you see the sign right at Upper Greeley Pond? That route went straight up and hooked in to the newer trail just below the slide. On the descent, there are logs and branches to deter you from going down the old route. It doesn't even look like a trail that way but that was the old route and it was steep!

Hi Aaron,
the sign was at the trailhead on the Kanc. It was a paper sign showing the trail being re-routed. I'm pretty sure you're right, the old trail was very near Greeley pond, the new one is well before it. It was allot of fun, steep and loose gravel, I had to do do a little rock glissading in places. I'll have pictures tomorrow.

 

[RoySwkr]

The Mt Osceola Trail did at one time start at Upper Greeley Pond and climb steeply to the present trail, but it did not actually go up the slide. Rerouting the trail to start at the height of land was a great benefit to both peakbaggers and nature lovers as it reduced the traffic to Greeley Pond.

Note that the slide itself has been done (downhill only!) by adventurous backcountry skiers.

 

[BLE]

"The Mt Osceola Trail did at one time start at Upper Greeley Pond and climb steeply to the present trail, but it did not actually go up the slide. Rerouting the trail to start at the height of land was a great benefit to both peakbaggers and nature lovers as it reduced the traffic to Greeley Pond."

How would you find the base of the slide itself? Is it a distinct slide or more of a bushwhack through steep rocky terrain? Has anyone ever bushwhacked to the slide that is just southwest of the main Osceola summit? I've hiked in the waterville area quite a bit and it's always cool to hear about something new to try!

*note: can't quite figure out the quote option *

 

[Jim lombard]

RoySwkr
The Mt Osceola Trail did at one time start at Upper Greeley Pond and climb steeply to the present trail, but it did not actually go up the slide. Rerouting the trail to start at the height of land was a great benefit to both peakbaggers and nature lovers as it reduced the traffic to Greeley Pond.

That must be it Roy although the term East Osceola slide had been written in my photo album along with the term Shale cliff. It was even steeper than the new trail as I recall. Here are two pictures I took that day, they're not the best quality.

Topozone clearly shows the Mt Osceola trail at Mad River notch then further just beyond Greeley Pond another trail going up marked by an X. I assume the white scar just beyond that is the slide.

 

[robrox]

New vs Old

The slide is a favorite with BC skiers and boarders. In spring there was a fair amount of water on the slide, but the new trail crosses a stream as it acsends SW below the cliffs. Pretty pood water too. That stream issues from the dark SE facing dike that is home to "On the Drool of the Beast", one of the hardest ice routes in the area.

I prefer the new trail...btw it is excellent skiing too

There is a lot of "loose" on the slide in the spring and early summer...watch you topknot out there

 

[RoySwkr]

Topozone clearly shows the Mt Osceola trail at Mad River notch then further just beyond Greeley Pond another trail going up marked by an X.

Sorry Jim, but what it shows at Mad River Notch is the town line, a visual error that usually occurs to those climbing Vose Spur

The new trail does not follow the town line but circles below the white cliffs (notable when you are there) to rejoin the old trail. The ridge isn't reached again until the top of a little gully near the summit.

 

[Jim lombard]

Thanks Roy,
I should've noticed that line continued up and over the mountain beyond which I don't think has a trail. I don't have a map here, is that Mount Kancamangus?

 

[robrox]

The current map on Topozone is out of date. The NE end of the Ocseola Trail is in Mad River Gap, right at the height of land which is also the bound of the East Branch drainage of the Pemi. The trail roughly follows the boundary of the drainage as it heads westsouthwest from the Mad River Gap. It does veer off SW about 200 vertical feet above the Gap.

The relocated Ocseola Trail does not reach Mt Kancamagus, not that it ever did. Its northern terminus is at the Greeley Pond Trail in Mad River Gap. The East side of that Gap is Mt Kancamaugus, the West side is East Osceola....uuuuuhhh...sorry, but as confusled as that sounds, that's it.

 

[Papa Bear]

The current map on Topozone is out of date. The NE end of the Ocseola Trail is in Mad River Gap, right at the height of land which is also the bound of the East Branch drainage of the Pemi. The trail roughly follows the boundary of the drainage as it heads westsouthwest from the Mad River Gap. It does veer off SW about 200 vertical feet above the Gap.

Here's the sign at the trail junction:

0.3 miles from Upper Greeley Pond puts the trail junction close to the height of land. Map

 

[TDawg]

Greeley

The topozone also indicated a shelter on the southeastern edge of the pond, where there is now just a clearing , when was the shelter removed???

Also here is a good pic of the area from where the trail crosses the slide. The new trail leads below the cliffs on the left.

 

[J&J]

I believe the shelter was removed sometime between 1969 and 1972. The 1969 AMC guide mentions the shelter and in the 1972 guide there is no mention of the shelter. It must have been a great spot to spend the night.

 

[TDawg]

It must have been a great spot to spend the night.

Agreed, J&J...I had a nice lunch there at that site and was wondering why there was a clearing at that spot and nowhere else around the pond...now I know

 

[askus3]

I camped in the shelter on Greeley Pond on June 16, 1971. Came up from Waterville Valley and the next day climbed up over East Peak & Osceola. That was my first trip to the Whites. I was 19, so though not knowing anything about peakbagging East Peak Osceola was my 1st. See the photo of my friend on the roof of the shelter. Also, note the old backpacks leaning against the wall of the shelter. The view is north across the lake from that hike.

 

[robrox]

Super image...cool packs! That's a wonderful spot for an overnight, but it is a National Scenic Area...maybe setting that status had something to do with the shelter being moved.

I stayed there in a cozy snow cave a few winters ago so I could get some photos with dawn light on the cliffs. Coy-dogs were in evidence. Their tracks were all over the area when I arrived so I built an extra sturdy snow cave and carefully scent marked all about the snow cave. Several laps of canine tracks were made during the night and I woke to the sound of "snuffling" once. All the fresh tracks were out side the "circle". Got the pix I wanted and skied back to WV.

 

[TDawg]

Pic

Sweet picture askus! Very interesting

 

[Jim lombard]

Great picture Aaron,
did you guys swim in the pond back then? I was told it's full of leeches It's a dark and ominous looking pond too.