Total miles hiked: 7.5, 3,100 plus elevation gain
Trip report
Our initial plan for this last Saturday of winter was to hike the Franconia loop to get Lafayette (which I'd fallen so short of back in December due to weather) and Lincoln. It was evident by the time we reached the exit for Waterville valley that the notch was completely in the soup and forecasts were for high winds. So plan B was the Osceola's via Greeley. The snow had stopped by the time we got to the parking lot. We both decided to leave the snowshoes in the car and strapped on crampons.
The trail was well packed, well frozen and with the temps in lower 20's we figured it wouldn't warm up very much. I'd hiked this trail once before in summer about 4 years ago and I read at the beginning that the old trail to the summit had been relocated. We moved fast along the gentle grades that make up Greeley pond trail, the wind was roaring overhead. Clouds parted enough for us to see the false summit of E. Osceola from the junction of the trails. After about 1/2 mile of steady grades on the Mount Osceola trail we started to climb in earnest.
It definitely wasn't the same steep ascent I'd remembered up the slide but soon turned into a hard uphill march. We were passed rather quickly by a man and two dogs. He was wearing trail sneakers and within minutes I saw him heading back. By now I'd separated from Steve a bit as I hit my stride and soon saw the icy place where the guy and dogs had turned back. Crampons were essential from this point onward and everyone we saw this day (except for the dog guy) was wearing full 12 pointers. I crossed the place where the slide trail was originally and saw that it was unbroken below. I reached the false summit soon after, the peaks were socked in and winds were blowing 20mph or so. The sun was struggling to break through the mire.
I ran across several more steep and icy sections before breaking out on the summit. Two guys were just getting ready to leave for Mt Osceola. I waited for Steve, ate something and just tried to stay warm. Temps were probably in the upper teens, the treed summit was sheltered pretty well. I waited about 10 minutes then left my pack to descend across the ridge to see what had become of Steve. I walked back up to the summit to take the picture of a young couple and then headed back again to find Steve.
I met up with him just before the final steep section and we walked the last bit together. I could tell at that moment that he was debating on whether to head over to the other summit. Had a long break while he got something to eat and drink and then we decided to continue on. From the summit downward the trail was still like a frozen sidewalk but the closer we got to the col the more we found deep snow and drifts. At a low blow-down we saw a yellow snowshoe stuck in the branches. If you walked on the 8 inch wide section you had little trouble but evidence of deep post holing abounded.
We managed it well, the section bypassing the chimney was very icy but with roots and branches and the sharp points on our feet we navigated it easily. From there the trail is very forgiving, two descent grades followed by an easy almost level walk. The snowshoe owner was coming down and I told her where she could find it. One last uphill and then I was on top. The summit of Osceola was completely different than the times I'd climbed it in May, September and October.
It was completely deserted and lifeless. Once when I climbed it from Tripoli road in September there had been literally a hundred people on the summit. Surprisingly it was well sheltered and only an occasional gust would blow across the ledge. I could see E. Osceola but no other peaks were visible. Steve joined me a few minutes later and I got two pictures out of my frozen camera. Nice descent across the ridge, back down to the chimney and an (easier than it looked) climb back up East.
I took off the 12 pointers and put on my insteps for the descent. Pretty bony on the run down so not much good for glissading. Sun came out as we reached the false summit and we could easily see the Tripyramids, Carrigain, the Bonds and more. Had an enjoyable walk in the woods from there on this scenic trail back to the car. A good way to end this somewhat frustrating winter. Trail conditions could change drastically this week with forecasted snow.