| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Whaleback Mountain, Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Old Osseo Trail, Osseo Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Skookumchuck Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, July 24, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
As other trip reports elsewhere on the Internet have noted, for the Old Osseo Trail you park in one of the visitor's parking area at the Clearbrook condos. Coming into the main entrance, you take the first left and then follow the road to a sharp turn with a series of stone blocks spaced out on the left side (just past tenant parking 97-1). The visitors' parking is just beyond that (Google Street View also shows this). The trail goes in between two of these blocks - leaf branches overgrow it, but you know it's the trail once you push through! |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Clear Brook near the Old Osseo trailhead was running pretty high, had to look around for a bit for a place to cross without getting wet. There are two crossings of it - one near the beginning of the trail and one about a mile in.
Skookumchuck Brook has some streams to cross, no problems with these. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Old Osseo Trail is nice overall, a few small blowdowns here and there. Very obvious difference (softer footing, less trail bed construction) than the official trails. The only hard place to find the trail was where I had to go aside to the right to cross Clear Brook right after the trailhead and then double back in the dim light of dawn - the trail runs up along the left (west) side of the brook drainage area. Make sure to take the right fork at a yellow-blazed cairn about 1/3 mi in on Old Osseo from its TH.
At intervals on the upper Old Osseo, north of Whaleback, the trail corridor is a bit overgrown by the conifers but the trail tread is never hard to follow.
At the junction with the regular Osseo Trail, the old trail is not blocked off, but appears as a fainter path - it's more obvious when coming on the Osseo Trail from the N. The two trails do not intersect perpendicularly, so some entering from the N may initially think the Old Osseo is a parallel path for a bit - but it's not.
All other officially maintained trails are in overall good condition. Some mud on Skookumchuck along the brook and lower sections. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw several dogs today. A few spots along the traverse may need assistance, but nothing too technical overall. |
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 | Bugs: |
They were noticeable (black flies mainly), but not aggressive. No bug spray was needed. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Great time doing a "full" Franconia Ridge traverse. For over half of the fifteen miles or so of this route, I saw nobody - on the Old Osseo and Skookumchuck Trails. The middle sections were reasonably populated, but not mobbed - about standard for a Monday. The weather was a bit on the humid side and hazy, but good until near the end, when the clouds came in. Showers and storms began about 1/2 hr after the hike ended - whew!
Some comments about these two trails follow, as everyone knows how the more popular trails are....
Old Osseo Trail is almost as good as an officially maintained trail - just a bit more on the narrow side. Whaleback certainly looks interesting from a distance, but is not as difficult IMO as it appears - nor as spectacular when you're right on it. The viewpoints along the trail there are somewhat confined and not too broad. However, the forests are very, very nice. If you like peace and quiet and woods, Old Osseo fits your bill perfectly.
Skookumchuck Trail is also a nice quiet way up or down - albeit relatively viewless (only some glimpses of Garfield Ridge and Lafayette through the trees). Nevertheless, the woods are incredibly open in spots along that trail and the brook is attractive.
So, if you're doing a Franconia traverse and want to especially focus on the views along the dramatic middle stretch and save quieter moments for the beginning and end, this hike perfectly fits your bill - I don't think too many people overall do the Ridge this way. Took me 12 hours overall - 5:15am-5:15pm. |
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 | Name: |
Dan Saxton |
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 | E-Mail: |
daniel.saxton7@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-07-25 |
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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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