Mount Osceola and East Osceola

We chose to do the Osceolas for our next hike, basically because it didn't look like too rough of a hike, taking into consideration that we would get two 4000 footers out of the deal.  Not too far away, either, so we didn't have to worry about changing our time of departure.  And Leela was in good shape to come with us (no paw issues!), so we had Team BALT back in action.

Overview: 
Climbing Mount Osceola and East Osceola from the Kancamagus Highway via Greeley Ponds Trail & Mt Osceola Trail (out and back):

• TIME: 6 hours, 40 minutes (round trip with breaks)
• DISTANCE: 7.6 miles (round trip)
• ELEVATION GAIN: 3,100 feet

Elevation profile (click image to enlarge):

View Mount Osceola and East Osceola via Greeley Ponds Trail in a larger map

This trail is the shortest we've done for the 4000 footers, both in terms of time and distance.  It is also the most dynamic, with steep sections like Carrigain, several nice break points, and then sections where you do some small scale rock climbing.  We thought it would be easy compared to our last two 4000 footer hikes, and I suppose it was in many ways, but I only recognize this in hindsight.  While we were hiking, this trail felt very tough, and having to summit East Osceola, and then do some rigorous climbing to get to the summit of Osceola, and then having to go back and summit East Osceola again was not too fun to have in the back of my head the whole time. 

There they are, East Osceola to the left, and Mount Osceola to the right (don't know the peak all the way to the right).  Taken from a pulloff on the Kanc

I have taken many pictures like the one above from the same pulloff over the years.  The great view gave the Osceolas a special place in my mind, and to realize they were on the list of 4000 footers was really nice.  I have wondered many times what it would be like to be up there, and if people actually climbed these beauties.

We were the first people to park at the Greeley Ponds trailhead, and we did not see anyone on the trail until after the summit of East Osceola.  Seems that many people were coming from Tripoli Road on the other side of the mountains, and when we crossed them on our way to Osceola, they were on their way to the East peak.

Any water crossings were very easy.  They also served as a quick bath for Leela on our way back, after she sunk into some mud up to her shoulders

You can almost always turn and see other mountains through the trees on your way up the trail.  The view opens up a few times before you get to the actual summit of East Osceola, easily better than any views on the Tripyramids.

Very steep in many spots, but not the worst of it yet

First really open view came at a spot with a jagged rock face.  Here are the Tripyramids to the right.

Amy on the rock face

The rest of the view (Autostitch wouldn't blend with the Tripyramids shot for some reason!).  Carrigain is out there to the left.

One of the Greeley Ponds.  Tim and I actually snowshoed the ponds over the winter, which was really great.

OK so moving on up, we're approaching what we thought was the summit of East Osceola, but it was actually just a great spot to get some more great views.  Very steep.  Watch for loose rocks!  I wiped out on our way back down this section.

Summit of East Osceola! Marked by a pile o' rocks

The summit of East Osceola was fairly cool, despite the fact that there were trees all around.  Flat and open.  Would not mind spending a night up there, actually.

Now came the most fun/scary part of the whole trip, the chimney between the Osceolas.  We read about it and did not know what to expect.  There were a few times where we thought some steep sections could have been the chimney, but when you get to it, you know for certain that it's what everyone was talking about.  I'd estimate it's about 20 feet high, and it's actually not to difficult if you make sure to get a good handle on the rocks above.  Our dog did it without any help, believe it or not.

Here's a shot of the chimney on the way down from East Osceola.  The path we took is the squiggly clearing to the right, I think.

Tim took this one.  Leela slipped back a few times, but with Tim ahead of her as incentive, she was able to do it!

Tim loved the chimney and actually went right back down it on our way back

There is an alternative path to get around the chimney, but that doesn't mean it's easy.  We did it on the way down and took our time.

After the chimney, it didn't take long to get to the wonderful summit of Mount Osceola.  Two groups were already there from Tripoli Road, and after we arrived more and more people came pouring in.  We had a relaxed lunch and then headed back to East Osceola.

You could see many 4000 footers from up there, but I'm not going to label any this time.  I recall seeing from the Presidential Range to Tecumseh.  East Osceola, by the way, is the green bulge to the left, between the groups of people.

I'm not sure he's even seen Zoolander

While enjoying our sandwiches and Gatorade, we overheard some peakbagger gossip: "...a friend of mine did all 48 in one winter."  That made everyone at the summit look like a chump!  Congrats to that guy, amazing.

On the way back, it wasn't too bad.  Having to resummit East Osceola was kind of annoying, but if you think of it as doing a 3rd 4000 footer in one hike, the accomplishment makes it seem a little more worth the effort.  At one point, as mentioned in a caption above, I slipped on some loose rocks and almost took Tim out at a steep section, but everyone was OK, myself included.  Some advice for any hikers: don't wear shoes that are a size too big.  Also, avoid being a clumsy oaf.


BRIAN OUT.