NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks East Osceola, Mt. Osceola, NH
Trails
Trails: NH 112, Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail, Greeley Ponds XC Ski Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking lot is not plowed. Roadside pull-off areas used for winter parking were not plowed as of this morning. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Snowshoes for the entire hike. The snow is still soft and snowshoes are the best option.

Recent traffic, I assume yesterday or the day before, without snowshoes, starting to ruin the trail. I smoothed things out a bit, as did another early morning hiker with snowshoes, but I suspect the anti-snowshoe crowd will be out on a mission to wreck the trail, so don't keep your hopes up.

Greeley Pond Trail was in pretty decent shape to the junction, as is the lower section of the Mount Osceola Trail. Traction was very difficult on the steep section ascending, and basically non-existent on the descent. The snow is unconsolidated and loose. I fell 3 times on the descent, and on the last fall I let it ride for a new personal best long distance butt slide. A couple of the steep sections are actually pretty dangerous, and full crampons would not be unreasonable.

Lots of drifting between the summits made for some strenuous snowshoeing. Definitely in need of some more snowshoe love to pack out the trail between the summits.

There is a bypass-to-the-bypass of the chimney, and a bypass-to-the-bypass-to-the-bypass of the chimney. I took the first on the way out, and the second on the way back.

I took the ski trail on the return trip for a change of scenery. It has not been well travelled, and it doesn't make things any easier or faster, but it is a nice change of pace, and it ends at the roadside parking spot about .2 of a mile west of the Greeley Pond trailhead parking area (which is not plowed).  
Name
Name: Del 
E-Mail
E-Mail: dlefevre@tarbellpa.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-02-09 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved