N
NH Tramper
Guest
Date of Hike: April 7, 2012
Trail Conditions: Greeley Ponds Trail had a fair amount of ice/packed snow and it was chilly so the monorail was firm. It stayed pretty firm all day, though it was a bit mushier on the surface on the way back. Very easy walking and the ice/packed snow was easy to avoid in most places and easy to walk on where I had to. I checked out the lower pond and I noted the pack was more sporadic the further I went in. All crossings were easy-peasy.
Mt. Osceola Trail started dry where it had been sun kissed but soon started offering up the same ice/packed snow Greeley Ponds Trail did. It was also sporadic, at first. There were lots of stepping stones until I got about a third of the way up the steeper sections (mid-way through the switchbacks, near some glacier poop) and then became more consistent and more difficult to avoid. I put on microspikes at that time and kept them on until I returned to the same section later in the day. The chimney was a mix of ice falls and rock, and despite the chill, I found some water on one of the rocks at the chokepoint. I was going to take that route up but between the mixed surfaces, the water, and the due to the fact I was soloing, I chickened out/smartened up and decided to back down and go around. It seems that's what just about everyone else was doing when I hit a traffic jam at that spot on descent.
Special Equipment Required: Microspikes or crampons (one fellow was wearing the latter) were pretty much a must-have. Snowshoes weren't needed at all. I used trekking poles and they were helpful though not really essential. I could have used a helmet, but more on that below.
Comments: Met yet another VFTT member and his faithful canine companion on the summit. Between peaks I hit my head (a little boo-boo is all) ducking a deadfall but said member took care of it with his saw on the way back down. I thank you and the next person does so doubly.
On descent I saw a lot of butt tracks and wondered if someone was falling their way down the mountain. As it turns out I met a family who abandoned their ascent and was wisely glissading/descending. Smart move: they were all wearing sneakers and someone could have been hurt being so ill-prepared. Hopefully they all made it down without incident.
All told it was a gorgeous day for a hike. I loved the trail, very fun yet not without some challenge. Perfect.
Mike "Tramper" Cherim
Nottingham NH
Trail Conditions: Greeley Ponds Trail had a fair amount of ice/packed snow and it was chilly so the monorail was firm. It stayed pretty firm all day, though it was a bit mushier on the surface on the way back. Very easy walking and the ice/packed snow was easy to avoid in most places and easy to walk on where I had to. I checked out the lower pond and I noted the pack was more sporadic the further I went in. All crossings were easy-peasy.
Mt. Osceola Trail started dry where it had been sun kissed but soon started offering up the same ice/packed snow Greeley Ponds Trail did. It was also sporadic, at first. There were lots of stepping stones until I got about a third of the way up the steeper sections (mid-way through the switchbacks, near some glacier poop) and then became more consistent and more difficult to avoid. I put on microspikes at that time and kept them on until I returned to the same section later in the day. The chimney was a mix of ice falls and rock, and despite the chill, I found some water on one of the rocks at the chokepoint. I was going to take that route up but between the mixed surfaces, the water, and the due to the fact I was soloing, I chickened out/smartened up and decided to back down and go around. It seems that's what just about everyone else was doing when I hit a traffic jam at that spot on descent.
Special Equipment Required: Microspikes or crampons (one fellow was wearing the latter) were pretty much a must-have. Snowshoes weren't needed at all. I used trekking poles and they were helpful though not really essential. I could have used a helmet, but more on that below.
Comments: Met yet another VFTT member and his faithful canine companion on the summit. Between peaks I hit my head (a little boo-boo is all) ducking a deadfall but said member took care of it with his saw on the way back down. I thank you and the next person does so doubly.
On descent I saw a lot of butt tracks and wondered if someone was falling their way down the mountain. As it turns out I met a family who abandoned their ascent and was wisely glissading/descending. Smart move: they were all wearing sneakers and someone could have been hurt being so ill-prepared. Hopefully they all made it down without incident.
All told it was a gorgeous day for a hike. I loved the trail, very fun yet not without some challenge. Perfect.
Mike "Tramper" Cherim
Nottingham NH
