| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Osceola, Mt. Osceola, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, January 1, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking that morning. Although there were only three cars in the lost, if done respectfully, could fit 12-15. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Definitely recommend crampons! Microspikes would be minimum. Snowshoes? Better than nothing.
I had been putting off this hike for years, because I was concerned about going up “the chimney.” In my memories of the past, it seemed imposing [probably since it was only the fourth 4000’er I had ever done, in the summer, with my son, barefooted…and, oh, I was also distracted: there was a hiker coming down, not only with an impressively huge backpack, but she was “all legs.” Wow!]; so I remembered it as a “wall” and figured in winter that it would be just ice. Well, I was wrong. In fact, I went up it, not realizing that I had done it. I guess five years of hiking had changed my prospective of what is “imposing” and what is doable.
Also, I didn’t realize that I had summited the east peak, so when I was going up Mt Osceola, I kept thinking: I don’t remember it being so far. In fact, nearing the last “climb” up Mt Osceola, I had come across a hiker and had asked if that hill [pointing to the east peak] had a name. He said he wasn’t from the area, so he didn’t know. So you can imagine the joyous surprise when I reached that last stretch where the trail leads through that open sky through the trees. It was like I was walking through the gates of heaven. Glorious.
On the way back, I saw the pile of rocks along of the trail on East Osceola. Wow. Either I was lost in my thoughts, reflecting upon a past, miserable year or it was just too damn cold….my mind was somewhere else. But what a way to start the New Year!
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 | Name: |
Catorce |
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 | E-Mail: |
Haymarket7@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-01-02 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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