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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks East Osceola, Mt. Osceola, NH
Trails
Trails: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 22, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Greeley Ponds Trailhead on Kanc is not being plowed this winter. I parked a few minutes' walk east of the trailhead at a plowed turn-out - room for a few cars there. I believe people are also parking a short distance west of the Trailhead at the Greeley Ponds ski trail parking turn-out. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction, Ice Axe 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: A few open drainages low down, but the two major stream crossings were adequately snow-and-ice-bridged (though opened up a bit by some hikers who were not wearing snowshoes). 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Signage seemed okay (no signs noticed atop Osceola). Blazing seemed okay on GPT, not so prominent on Mt. Osceola Trail. The little summit cairn atop East Peak is under snow. A few leaners, droop-overs, and blowdowns - one a crawl under - but no major obstructions with current snow level. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: I saw one dog with his human companion between the two peaks. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I was able to snowshoe from the trailhead on the Kanc to the main summit and then back to the top of the steeps below East Peak, where I switched to crampons for extra security on the descent; I switched back to snowshoes at the base of the steeps. There were a few spots ascending East Peak from Greeley Ponds that were steep and with somewhat awkward conditions (e.g. soft snow that slipped off a firm base; one or two spots with exposed ice; some rocks sticking up through the surface, etc.). I opted for the bypass of the chimney bypass, which was not too bad on snowshoes; others were opting for the chimney bypass. The GPT had been tracked out recently, and the MOT had been tracked up to the East Peak, but I had to break trail through some wind drifts over to the main peak; the breaking was straightforward, as was following the old track. Several other hikers were using snowshoes, but the trail down from East Peak was churned up and divoted a bit from several hikers who were not wearing snowshoes.  
Name
Name: PeterC 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-02-22 
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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