| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Big Coolidge (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Old Osseo Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 29, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All easy step-overs. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Surprisingly well marked on the Old Osseo, considering it's marked as abandoned on the maps. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
A tough bushwhack. We started up the Old Osseo trail and turned towards Big Coolidge where the Old Osseo has a major stream crossing and heads up to the right towards Whaleback.
We went left on a more or less straight line towards the summit of Big Coolidge. Up to about 2000 it's open deciduous but after that it gets coniferous and progressively steeper. The surface is mostly decayed wood and moss and pulls away easily so there was a whole lot of slipping and sliding going on. 2500-2700 was the worst, took about an hour. At 3000 we hit a cliff band we had to skirt around to the left (south). Eventually found a break and worked up to about 3100. Summit was only another 150' horizontal and 150' vertical, but we were already 45 minutes past turnaround time and based on recent pace through trees it would have taken at least a half hour. Down we went. Found a good gully starting around 2700 on the way down and it only took half as long to reach the Osseo as it did on the way up.
If I were doing it again, I'd go further up the stream and either find the same gully, or go up the main stream as far as possible and shwack to the col to the north of Big Coolidge, then hang a left and follow the ridge to the Summit. |
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 | Name: |
Conor & Margie |
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 | E-Mail: |
rockfox212@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-05-01 |
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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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