| 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: |
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
5th car when I arrived at 830am, full lot at 3pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The main crossing on Greeley Ponds Tr was a pretty straightforward rock/log hop ... a little loose on the way out, but had frozen/hardened more substantially on the way back thanks to the small log that spans most of the crossing. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Totally clear |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a few on the Greeley Ponds portion, none on the Mt Osceola Tr. I think the conditions would have been tough going for most dogs due to the ice covered by loose snow. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I took good spikes, rock spikes, and 10-pt crampons. Ended up wearing the rock spikes from trailhead to the main Osceala summit, then the full crampons on the descent back to near the junction of Greeley Ponds Tr and Mt Osceola Tr, and rock spike on the remainder. Current conditions on Greeley Ponds Tr were almost total snow coverage and well packed due to the non-hiker traffic... a little bonier as you approach the ponds.
Once on Mt Osceola Tr, the rain/melting from last week was evident as there is a great deal of black ice on the steep/rocky ascent up East peak, beneath a coverage of several inches of fresh snow making it slow/careful going. Between East and main peaks there's a bit more snow and drifting, conditions were a bit easier, but really not enough to warrant snowshoes. The chimney is completely iced over although I did speak with another cramponed hiker who ascended it, and was thinking about descending it (note that I never saw that hiker again.) The chimney bypass also had ice and thin snow cover, so I took the bypass-bypass (both ways) which runs just underneath the rock "ramp" to the right of the chimney. Cold day requiring more clothing/layering changes than usual, with temps bottoming out at 7 deg F at Osceola summit, pretty good ~20-25 mph blowing, 85% humidity. |
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 | Name: |
Eric H |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-12-30 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/4536304755 |
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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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