Mount Osceola
On Saturday, July 26th, Chuck Rowe and I hiked up Mount Osceola via the Mount Osceola Trail. Well, officially, it’s the Mount Osceola Trail. On this particular day, it was the Osceola Brook Trail.
Last week’s rains left the trail a wet mess, especially the lower sections. There were quite a few mud pools in the trail and run-off streams crossing the trail and one section in particular was a full-fledged stream. All that mud and water on my boots caused me to slip on a rock while crossing a small cascade, but I was able to catch myself at the cost of wrenching my shoulder a bit.
Overall, though, the trail is a treat and one of the easier ones in the Whites. The grade was easy and there were several switchbacks on the way up that kept it from getting steep. The footing was moderate, even without all the water and mud. There were tons of rocks on the lower sections and sloped granite faces on the upper elevations. In between, though, were nice wooded walks with nice views between the trees looking southeast toward Mount Tecumseh and Sandwich Dome.
The summit proper is wooded. However, walking past the summit will bring you to a bare granite ledge with wide open 180° views ranging from Mount Washington in the distant northeast to nearby Mount Tecumseh the southeast. In between were views to East Osceola, North and South Hancock, Carrigain, the Tripyramids and Chocorua with Passaconaway and Whiteface peeking out from behind the closer ridgelines.
The views on this day were very, very good. There was a bit of haze off toward the horizon and there were very few clouds around. The weather overall was humid, but no oppressively so. Temps were very warm, but there was also a very cool breeze to take the edge off. An excellent hiking day all around as long as you brought enough water.
The guide book gives a time of 2:40 to gain the summit via the Mount Osceola Trail. Chuck and I started our hike at 9:00 and reached the summit at 11:15, a full 25 minutes ahead of book time. Even with the humidity, we only stopped twice: one quick water break and one snack break about mid-way up. After a 45 minute stay at the top, we returned to the parking lot at 2:00, a two hour descent which included another break at the same place we took our snack break on the way up.
When Chuck and I hit the summit, I offered the possibility of hiking the ridge to East Osceola and back, in case he wanted to bag another 4000′er. He declined, and I have to say, after seeing the steep ups and downs of the ridge, I was rather grateful. I’d already bagged that peak last year anyway.
Neither of us brought digital cameras with us. My 5yo Sony died. I did bring binoculars with me and I used them to see if I could spot other hikers on other peaks. The north slide of North Tripyramid was too far away to see any details, but I was able to scan the eastern ridge line of East Osceola and spot a blue t-shirted hiker who was enjoying the views from an outlook that Gary and I checked out last year when we hiked it. I as also able to see the observation tower on Carrigain from several miles away.
The climb up Osceola is my 26th NH 4000′er. I have 22 more to go to complete the list.
Speaking of lists, I have redo my peak bagging list.