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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks East Osceola, Mt. Osceola, NH
Trails
Trails: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, April 18, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking lot is maybe half covered in hard packed snow/ice, but very serviceable.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Traction, Ice Axe 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Drainages were a single step over, for the most part. A couple puncheon bridges, a third which was out of service, but had an ice bridge to the side. The brook was easily crossed via stepping stones, but a solid rain with some prolonged thawing will make it far more thought provoking. Be careful, it's springtime. Ice bridges are holding for now, but that won't last long.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A couple of blow-downs that are easily stepped over or ducked under. Apart from that, some post holes here and there, but overall, the trail is in fine shape.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Alas, no. Tho Rover would have been a welcome sight, I'm not sure the trail would be appropriate, given all the ice.  
Bugs
Bugs: Starting to see a few here and there. Warmer weather is coming.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I couldn't stop looking at the view. If these mountains have one fault, it's that you get stuck staring at the amazing panorama, unwilling to move on. Wow.

Right now, the monorail is as solid as concrete. If you keep to the middle, there's no such thing as post holing, and there's even a decent amount on the sides to make great trekking pole placements. If I could change one thing about today, I'd have left my snowshoes in the car and just gone with crampons. Hillsounds might be OK, but I really liked the extra length of full-bore crampons, particularly in the worst of the steep sections, as well as in the chimney. And for the hairy bits, the reassurance of an ice axe would have been nice, in the event I needed to do an arrest. Oh well, next time...

For the next few days at least, and especially on a clear day, this one's going to be a New England classic, for sure. If it's on your list, by all means, strike while the iron is hot!

Photos are on my blog. URL below.  
Name
Name: Protean Wanderer 
E-Mail
E-Mail: hiker@proteanwanderer.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-04-18 
Link
Link: https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2019/04/19/trip-report-mt-osceola-and-east-osceola-vernal-edition/ 
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.

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