Osseo Trail - A tale of two maps.

[McRat]

Hi... I've got a couple of maps here with conflicting information.

I found references to an old Osseo trail location, but can't tell which one is which.

Osseo Trail 1 - Goes from the Kanc right up to the summit of Whaleback Mt. to the west of Potash Knob

Osseo Trail 2 - Goes off the Wilderness trail, passes to the east of Whaleback Mt.

Which is the current Osseo Trail?

Thanks

 

[vegematic]

Number 2 is the current one...off the Wildernot Trail.
-vegematic

 

[HikerBob]

McRat - I had the same problem when I worked out a trip using old Topo! software - it too had out of date info. I now check against the AMC maps for current info.

Bob

 

[McRat]

Thanks and Yup... It's the TOPO product. Seems odd to shell out the cash for it and find decade old maps are more up to date.

Is there any place to update the maps, or is there another product that has better trail maps?

 

[DougPaul]

Hi... I've got a couple of maps here with conflicting information.

I had to actually break down and buy a new guidebook and set of maps after they changed some trails on me...

And yes, the new Osseo leaves from the Wilderness Tr. The junction between new and old Osseo is marked by a small cairn (almost certainly buried in snow right now). I followed the old trail down from the junction 100ft or so last summer--grown in, but it looked followable.

Doug

 

[DougPaul]

Thanks and Yup... It's the TOPO product. Seems odd to shell out the cash for it and find decade old maps are more up to date.

Is there any place to update the maps, or is there another product that has better trail maps?

TOPO! is based upon digitally scanned USGS maps. The AMC updates the trails on its maps more frequently than does the USGS. I've seen differences in a number of places. I frequently carry both on the trail--AMC for the trails and USGS for the terrain.

Sometimes, it is nice to have a map showing old or abandoned trails...

Doug

 

[Stan]

My understanding is that the old Osseo Trail ended up in what is now a condominium development and relocated to be completely within the WMNF. I read that the old part of the trail is unmaintained but might still be followed. However, I saw no sign of it when I hiked the new Osseo Trail a few years ago.

 

[dr_wu002]

Here's a little Link for the old osseo trail. If you go to the Mountain Wanderer in Lincoln, Steve Smith can show you an ariel photo of the area where the old Osseo Trail starts if you ever want to find it.

-Dr. Wu

 

[bill bowden]

Osseo Trail maps

As of a few years ago the Osseo trail was easily followed from the Clear Brook condominiums. If using old AMC maps, have care, one or more sets of maps had the old route years after the relocation was in place.
the GPs based ones in use now are more reliable.

 

[dclynch]

Old Osseo Trail

I have a condo there and about three years ago, I cleared the trail of blow downs and overgrowth somewhat past the summit of Whaleback. (Don't tell anyone.) The trail can be followed beyond that, but there are a lot of blow downs. By now, there are surely new ones on the cleared section.

There is a cleared western outlook at the summit and a restricted view to the east. You also cross a slide (not hard) that has views to the south. Right at the start there is a crossing of Clearbrook that might be hard if there's no snowbridge. There is faded yellow blazing throughout and an original wooden direction arrow about half way up.

If you are bringing a group, you should ask the condo association (603-528-3044) for permission; I'm not sure what the policy is, but I've seen a group that was granted permission. The shoulder opposite the condo entrance is plowed wide and has room for about four cars.

 

[arm]

we hiked up the new Osseo Trail about a year ago to Mount Flume, then found the turn-off for the old Osseo Trail hiking back down, and found it easy to follow back down to the condo's ... there were blowdowns, but it was a fun hike

walk down the new Osseo Trail from Flume's summit, and keep your eyes peeled for a tree with a arrow carved in it on your right ... you'll see a small cairn in the woods there, and what looks like a herd path

this path was flagged (into submission) with surveyor's tape when we hiked it, but no guarantee that the tape is still up ... when we neared the condo's, the trail sort of followed an old logging road ... the path might be sketchy to find if you try hiking up this way

the logging road starts up from the clearbrook condo's near four boulders, not too far from a visitors parking lot (large enough for a few cars, rumours have it that it might not be a hiker-friendly parking lot?)

might be a good idea to chain a bicycle to a tree there, then drive to Lincoln Woods lot, so you have a quick ride back to your car, and avoid taking up condo visitor parking spots

 

[audrey]

Last time we parked there, our windshield got egged. A year later I saw a no parking sign there and wisely left the car on the Kanc.

By the way, for a little sport, it's fun to climb up the slide as far as you can, then exit right at a cliff.