BIGEarl
Well-known member
March 27, 2008: Mt. Osceola, Main and East Peaks
Trails: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail
I met Fitz at his office at 7:00am and we headed north to Lincoln for a hike to Mount Osceola. The plan was to hike from the Greeley Ponds trailhead on the Kancamagus Highway over the East peak and on to the main peak, then u-turn and return over the same route. The day started with temperatures in the mid/upper 20’s, clear sky, low breeze. Our truck was the only vehicle in the trailhead lot.
We wasted no time in preparing for the hike. The Greeley Ponds Trail was in great shape and we were able to bare boot the 1.3 miles to the junction with the Mt. Osceola Trail in roughly thirty minutes. Along this section I realized we were following a solo hiker wearing MSR Lightning snowshoes. The hike is relatively mild to this point but offers a good warm-up. From here the trail quickly becomes steep and eventually climbs to the ridge gaining a significant amount of elevation in a very short distance. For a distance the trail climbs next to a slide area and then crosses the top section of the slide. From this crossing point to the ridge the trail becomes very steep. We went with crampons before starting the climb and they worked well with the ~1 inch of loose snow over a hard base. At the ridge we made a quick stop for pictures from the lookout and continued to the first target, Osceola East.
The trail conditions on the ridge were quite a bit different. The snow was not as hard and a small step off the side of the packed trail would leave you in a deep hole, a very deep hole – the snow in the area is at least six feet deep. The blazes that mark the trail are all at the surface level of the snow, or below. Also, the ridge is loaded with thick spruce. Normally the trail is an open walk but now the depth of the snow means we were plowing through treetops as we passed over Osceola East and worked our way to the main peak. Other than fighting the branches, the trail was in great shape. Snowshoes would be a good choice for the ridge but we continued with only crampons and were careful with our steps. Along the way a couple spruce traps managed to catch us. Roughly a third of the way between the two peaks we met the solo hiker that was on the MSR snowshoes – a woman hiking the Osceolas solo. Her husband dropped her at the trailhead early in the morning and she was now on her way back out.
We reached the chimney and decided it was a good, sheltered place for some lunch. After a quick snack we were set to climb the Chimney bypass (there was no sign of traffic on the chimney – just lots of ice). Fitz stayed back and watched as I made my way up the bypass. I reached the first resting spot and Fitz started up. In a fairly short time we were both at the top of the Chimney admiring the views. I snapped a couple pictures of the Tripyramids and the Waterville Valley Ski Area & Tecumseh and we continued our climb to the main peak. Along the final stretch we encountered more thick spruce treetops. After a couple false summits we were on the final ramp to the summit area. Fitz stepped out in front and led the way to the clearing.
In the course of the day the conditions became completely overcast but the clouds were very high and the views were great. Hiking between the peaks there are several viewpoints that offered great views in all directions at different times. From the main peak we enjoyed views primarily to the east and south. More pictures and then we u-turned and headed back out. On the way back over the east peak Fitz commented there were hikers behind us, he heard their voices. We reached a place on the trail that allowed us to see back to the main peak and we noticed the two hikers making their way down the chimney bypass. We had no idea where they could have come from, there was only one hiker in front of us and we already had passed her. These two guys eventually caught up with us. They had bushwhacked to the Mt. Osceola Trail from the Kancamagus Highway and were now headed back out by way of the trails. We had a brief visit and they were off, and we were close behind – for a while.
Quickly we moved back over the east peak and down the ridge to the top of the steep climb. There we removed a layer and prepared for the climb down to the Greeley Ponds Trail junction. The two guys that had passed us slid for most of this section. Fitz and I were on crampons. The snow conditions made it easy to just walk down the trail but it was a little punishing on the knees. At the junction with the Greeley Ponds Trail we packed our crampons away and bare booted the final 1.3 miles to the trailhead.
Even with the overcast conditions that developed we had a great day in the mountains. This route to the Osceolas has seen a fair amount of traffic recently and the trail is well packed and in terrific shape. It won’t be long before the spring sun starts to cut into the trail but for now it’s really a great hike.
I've posted some pictures from the day. Viewing the panoramic shots individually and Full Size is probably best.
BIGEarls pictures.
Straight to the slideshow.
Trails: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail
I met Fitz at his office at 7:00am and we headed north to Lincoln for a hike to Mount Osceola. The plan was to hike from the Greeley Ponds trailhead on the Kancamagus Highway over the East peak and on to the main peak, then u-turn and return over the same route. The day started with temperatures in the mid/upper 20’s, clear sky, low breeze. Our truck was the only vehicle in the trailhead lot.
We wasted no time in preparing for the hike. The Greeley Ponds Trail was in great shape and we were able to bare boot the 1.3 miles to the junction with the Mt. Osceola Trail in roughly thirty minutes. Along this section I realized we were following a solo hiker wearing MSR Lightning snowshoes. The hike is relatively mild to this point but offers a good warm-up. From here the trail quickly becomes steep and eventually climbs to the ridge gaining a significant amount of elevation in a very short distance. For a distance the trail climbs next to a slide area and then crosses the top section of the slide. From this crossing point to the ridge the trail becomes very steep. We went with crampons before starting the climb and they worked well with the ~1 inch of loose snow over a hard base. At the ridge we made a quick stop for pictures from the lookout and continued to the first target, Osceola East.
The trail conditions on the ridge were quite a bit different. The snow was not as hard and a small step off the side of the packed trail would leave you in a deep hole, a very deep hole – the snow in the area is at least six feet deep. The blazes that mark the trail are all at the surface level of the snow, or below. Also, the ridge is loaded with thick spruce. Normally the trail is an open walk but now the depth of the snow means we were plowing through treetops as we passed over Osceola East and worked our way to the main peak. Other than fighting the branches, the trail was in great shape. Snowshoes would be a good choice for the ridge but we continued with only crampons and were careful with our steps. Along the way a couple spruce traps managed to catch us. Roughly a third of the way between the two peaks we met the solo hiker that was on the MSR snowshoes – a woman hiking the Osceolas solo. Her husband dropped her at the trailhead early in the morning and she was now on her way back out.
We reached the chimney and decided it was a good, sheltered place for some lunch. After a quick snack we were set to climb the Chimney bypass (there was no sign of traffic on the chimney – just lots of ice). Fitz stayed back and watched as I made my way up the bypass. I reached the first resting spot and Fitz started up. In a fairly short time we were both at the top of the Chimney admiring the views. I snapped a couple pictures of the Tripyramids and the Waterville Valley Ski Area & Tecumseh and we continued our climb to the main peak. Along the final stretch we encountered more thick spruce treetops. After a couple false summits we were on the final ramp to the summit area. Fitz stepped out in front and led the way to the clearing.
In the course of the day the conditions became completely overcast but the clouds were very high and the views were great. Hiking between the peaks there are several viewpoints that offered great views in all directions at different times. From the main peak we enjoyed views primarily to the east and south. More pictures and then we u-turned and headed back out. On the way back over the east peak Fitz commented there were hikers behind us, he heard their voices. We reached a place on the trail that allowed us to see back to the main peak and we noticed the two hikers making their way down the chimney bypass. We had no idea where they could have come from, there was only one hiker in front of us and we already had passed her. These two guys eventually caught up with us. They had bushwhacked to the Mt. Osceola Trail from the Kancamagus Highway and were now headed back out by way of the trails. We had a brief visit and they were off, and we were close behind – for a while.
Quickly we moved back over the east peak and down the ridge to the top of the steep climb. There we removed a layer and prepared for the climb down to the Greeley Ponds Trail junction. The two guys that had passed us slid for most of this section. Fitz and I were on crampons. The snow conditions made it easy to just walk down the trail but it was a little punishing on the knees. At the junction with the Greeley Ponds Trail we packed our crampons away and bare booted the final 1.3 miles to the trailhead.
Even with the overcast conditions that developed we had a great day in the mountains. This route to the Osceolas has seen a fair amount of traffic recently and the trail is well packed and in terrific shape. It won’t be long before the spring sun starts to cut into the trail but for now it’s really a great hike.
I've posted some pictures from the day. Viewing the panoramic shots individually and Full Size is probably best.
BIGEarls pictures.
Straight to the slideshow.
