Summits: Mount Osceola (4,340') and East Osceola (4,156')
Trail route: Mount Osceola Trail
Trail conditions: Mostly dry trail with some wet sections of trail
Weather: Cool and dry with clouds and sunshine
Total miles: 8.4 RT
Total time: 5:51
Today would be the last summer hike for this year with the autumn equinox starting at 9:54 PM this evening. I would be joining Jill and Guy for a hike to Mount Osceola and East Osceola. My son had an afternoon soccer game so we would be getting an early start.
I had forgotten how long a drive it was on Tripoli Road to the trailhead. It was a rough, corduroy, bumpy ride. Guy was already there and Jill pulled in shortly thereafter. We were on the trail just after 7:00 AM. The trail was wet from recent overnight rain. The air was cool, dry and breezy but I soon found myself delayering as we made our way up to the summit of Mount Osceola.
As we neared the summit there were some sections of very wet and muddy trail. When we got to the summit ledges there were distant views under a cloud cover. It only took a moment for low clouds to move in and obscure the views. We didn't stay long and soon moved on to East Osceola.
It's a steep drop down to the col and we decided to go around the vertical ledge known as the chimney. We took the by-pass and were not sure if that was easier. We reached the bottom of the col and started our ascent to the top of East Osceola. When we arrived at the summit we went over to the outlook for some limited views. This was our turn around point and after a few photos we started our return hike.
This time we took the chimney up. I strapped my poles on my pack and up I went. It's a straight shot up and today there was an added bonus of water running down over the ledge but it still wasn't a bad climb. We all made it up without any mishaps.
Back on the summit of Mount Osceola there were many hikers gathering. The low clouds had cleared and the views were much better. We took a short break then began our descent. Little did we know how many hikers we would see coming up as we were going down. It was almost a continual stream of people making their way to the summit.
We got back to the trailhead just as a very large group of hikers were starting up the trail. I was glad for the early start and a welcome relief to have a day of hiking without the heat and humidity. With the arrival of Fall this evening I'm hoping the heat and humidity is behind us. It was a fun hike to these two summits with Jill and Guy!
Enjoy the photos and video!
The hike starts here
A large mushroom
Mount Osceola Trail
Hiking up on a series of wet slanted ledge
Mushrooms on a log
A wet and muddy trail
Views from Mount Osceola
Enjoying the cool breeze
Guy leads the way to East Osceola
Descending into the col
Jill dropping down toward the chimney
We take the by-pass around the chimney on the way down
Looking up at the chimney
A view to the east while ascending East Osceola
View from the East Osceola outlook
Mount Chocorua and the Sisters from East Osceola
Zooming in on the Mount Chocorua summit
Dacrymyces palmatus (Orange Jelly Fungus)
East Osceola summit cairn
The Kancamagus Highway far below
Some strategically placed logs in this mud hole
Guy coming up the chimney
The Tripyramids
Chocorua and the Sisters from Mount Osceola
Searching the area
Scurrying to the objective
Scoring a morsel of food
Enjoying the reward of foraging
A lake in the distance
Franconia Ridge in the distance
Purple mushroom
Reflecting pool
Almost back after passing a mass of hikers
The end of the hike is in sight
Back at the trailhead after 8.4 miles in 5 hours and 51 minutes
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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