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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Whaleback Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Old Osseo Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 18, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I parked in the Clearbrook visitor lot near the trail entrance. I was the only visitor this morning. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: There are five crossings low on the trail. In the morning there was some ice on the rocks so finding good spots for foot placement was the biggest challenge. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There are no signs here except for one faded <--> near the top at an outlook spur. Trail is marked with yellow blazes of various ages and sizes. There are a number of felled tress here but many of those appear to have been here a while and are step overs. However, there are some newer looking ones to note: @ 2400' a smaller two-tree tangle can be stepped through and another larger mess @ 2600' which has to be busted through. Higher up there are a couple of leaners across the trail at a switchback that make for an awkward passage. A couple of lesser nuisances can be found on the final pitch to the top.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any. 
Bugs
Bugs: Didn't see any. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: After my plan A didn't materialize I dialed in on this one which had been on my radar for many years. There was an inch of so of snow at the start gradually increasing to the four inch neighborhood at the summit area. There were no human tracks or remnants thereof but plenty of critter tracks were visible. The only areas sans snow are low runoffs which were very wet, muddy and covered with leaves. I barebooted for a while before putting on spikes to try and minimize the uphill work but I'm not really sure they helped at all. On descent with the temps warming up the snow balled up to epic, potential ankle-snapping sizes so off they came. The trail is mostly easy to follow but became 'smaller' on the final push to the summit - snow weighing down spruce branches added to this.

This trek provided some good beta for other potential adventures. I was pleasantly surprised with the the outlooks near the top and with the views S toward Loon through the trees on descent. I had this one all to myself...in all a pretty fun hike!  
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-11-19 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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