East Osceola (the easy way!) 5/27

[ctsparrow]

My son needed East Osceola, so we set out to approach it from the Kanc side via Greeley and East Osceola Trl. It has been 13 yrs since i stumbled upon this trail and was treated to it's steepness and roughness. My son is ten but the size of an 8 yr old. Greeley was very tame..we were going to go out via the x-c ski trail, but since he forgot his gaiters it was too mucky and would delay our exit(there's tons of moose tracks on the x-c trl), so we stayed with greeley both ways. East Osceola is beautiful along the bottom of the cliffs, then it gets down to business. I had a vivid memory of the "gully" section near the top, however, once we finally reached it..i was shocked that the two foot wide gully i remembered is now 10 to 15 feet across and seriously chewed up....this trail needs switchbacks in this upper section...it's obvious that due to it's severe steepness here that the side of the trail has been used too many times, thus continually widening and deepening the gully. Ladders i don't believe would find an appropriate foot hold, but atleast log steps ala Wiley Ridge, would be a start.

The view from the eastern knob was wonderful, my son and i enjoyed the view of the ridge, chimney and osceola from here. We summitted, then returned lower to an obvious camping spot for a quick bite, then the careful climb down. He made it to the top in under 3 hrs.

I told him he can claim East Osceola...the easy way!!

BTW the bugs were minimal, but we got an occasional nibble down in the flats, but after the next couple of very warm days i'm sure this is changing quickly...ctsparrow

 

[Paradox]

Nice hike, came up from Tripoli road early in May. I don't like going down the steep slippery stuff. Knees can't hack it.

 

[audrey]

Switchbacks? We don't need no stinkin' switchbacks! Well maybe we do, but don't tell visitors from the west.

I've heard our precious Whites and Adirondacks ridiculed many times, and just as many times I've seen Californians and Coloradoans humbled by the Garfield Ridge, the Ammo Trail, etc. It's not what they expect out here.

I always like the east approach - I don't care for the boulderfield trail on the other side.