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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Osceola, Middle Osceola, NH
Trails
Trails: Mt. Osceola Trail, herd path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 27, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Lot was full and parking overflowed onto the south side of Tripoli road. Probable only by a hand full of cars.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: all crossing very passable and minor 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Numerous trees blown over the trail about 1 1/2 to 2 miles up from the trail head. I am guessing at least a dozen that will need to be attended to. Maybe I can help out with that for some trail maintenance to count toward the TW72 72 hours.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Great trail for dogs 
Bugs
Bugs: no bugs as it was cool and windy 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Hiked up the MOT to Mount Osceola. There were about a dozen trees blown over the trail about half way up the 3.2 miles. On the way down we took the herd path that starts on the first switch back on the way down from the summit. It is pretty visible and wanders fairly straight for about .1. Then takes a slight left and bends and squeezes between two boulders that are not quiet chest high. Shortly after that there is a much larger single boulder and appears to go straight by the left of it, HOWEVER actually takes a hard right wrapping around the left side and back of the boulder. You can see where humans have stepped on old dead fallen trees, which is a big help when the trail gets faint. The herd path meanders along and there are a couple of spots you have to climb up a rock to keep going. Then there is a large boulder or ledge the the trail goes left then up to the right on top of it (Rock or Ledge). There is a brilliant view to the right of a slide and to the left of that some jagged cliffs across a large drop. As you approach the high area nearing the summit the nalgene bottle is hanging from a tree more to your left. The summit area is not real defined so it took a few minutes to find it. It is also marked with a wooden sign that says "M.Osceola" I measured the walk back out and it is .3 back to the Mount Osceola Trail switchback. The West peak is about a 1/4 mile beyond and I plan to return soon for that on my TW72 list.

Additionally on the way back there was a long rust cable wire that ran along the herd path. Sometimes it was buried and would reappear. It is very heavy, over 1/8 inch in diameter. Be careful of it!

I am not sure if the link below to my FB post will work.

One last thing. I believe we were the first on this herd path since last fall.  
Name
Name: Anthony I 
E-Mail
E-Mail: nhbuddy@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-05-28 
Link
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hikenh4k/?multi_permalinks=10156483012943724¬if_id=1527510658181533¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif 
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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