| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Osceola, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Tripoli Road, FR 203, bushwhack, logging road, Osceola Brook Slide, Mt. Osceola Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 7, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No other cars in the Livermore/Depot Camp lot at 6am; the lot was overflowing with cars when I returned at 1:30pm |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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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: |
I started this hike with a snowshoe walk on Tripoli Road and FR 203, heading towards the picnic table at the end of the “Upper Osceola†WV trail. Just before the picnic table, I left FR 203 and started bushwhacking north through open hardwoods, with the intent of reaching an old logging road on the slopes just west of Osceola Brook (this road and others are visible in Google Earth 1994 satellite imagery).
Instead of reaching the logging road, I picked up another old and very faint tote road a few hundred feet above it, which was fine since it also went in the direction I was heading. This road was choked with conifers and blowdowns, but I was just glad not to be sidehilling the entire approach to the Osceola Brook ravine floor.
Eventually the road disappeared into thickets, so I dropped down into the gully and soon reached the base of the larger (western) Osceola Brook slide. Snow conditions on the ascent were perfect, with my crampons sinking 1-2†into a very supportive base. I entered the forest again and then quickly found the upper, more narrow part of the slide. This too had great snow conditions, and from this point at 3,550ft I started the steep ‘whack up the ravine headwall to Osceola’s summit.
I headed due south to avoid a band of ledges, and then ascended in a direct line towards the summit. After a few failed attempts to get up the steep ledges next to the summit cliff, I managed to find a viable route, though not one I would ever repeat or recommend. I descended on the Mt. Osceola Trail, which was well-packed. |
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 | Name: |
timbercamp |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-03-07 |
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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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