Mount Osceola & East Osceola 7-7-18
Mt. Osceola 4340’ and East Osceola 4156’
Mount Osceola Trail
8.4 miles 2400’ Elevation gain
Kevin and Judy & Wicket
I had last hiked East Osceola in February of 2006. That day, exhausted and cold, Emma, Judy and I turned back from a winter attempt at both peaks. A year or two later, we were turned back again, this time in sugar snow, not able to gain purchase on the steep slopes of East Osceola.
Finally, in March 2009, the three of us made it to Mount Osceola by hiking in the three miles on Tripoli Road, turning the hike into a twelve-mile round trip. We did not go to East Osceola that day either, so, have never done the in-between, the part with the Chimney, in winter. Not sure it's a goal.
On this day, other than crowded trails and summits, we had perfect conditions. Cars lined the roads outside the tiny parking area on Tripoli Road. Wow! We haven't hiked on a Saturday in years, but sometimes it's the only way you get to hike with friends!
Speaking of friends, there were some new ones to be made on this hike, all of the canid persuasion. Wicket has just in the past few months gotten to know Norka, and they are now sisters for life. Norka in turn, was a new friend to Pemi & Gem, who Wicket already knew.
Also, these were to be Norka's first and second four-thousand foot mountains, 4ks. She was a champ out there, leading much of the way, and stopping to queue off the other dogs or, Judy & I, if she became unsure of a situation.
Pemi and Gem are both accomplished hiking dogs, as well as great agility competitors. I have seen both hike thirteen miles and want to continue playing afterwards. Wicket absolutely enjoyed having other dogs along, and it made the hiking much easier for her.
I love that she observes the other dogs reactions to different situations on the trail, and apparently is learning from them. We did not have a single incident of "Stranger Danger" along the trail or at the summits.
Wicket, queuing off the other dogs who want to make friends with everyone, even let some people pat her. I think she is finally getting it!
With beautiful temps, great air, few, if any insects, and happy dogs, we made our way up the moderate slopes and switchbacks. Good conversation and cute dog antics made the hike up go by wonderfully fast.
Reaching the summit area, we ducked into the woods to visit the rock that is the true summit. My guess is that 95% of people do not visit this high point.
Each dog followed me up onto the rock. I then jumped down to see if I could get pictures. The dogs lined up for me spontaneously when the girls broke out some treats. I got my shot!
From the summit rock we descended into the masses huddled on the cliff enjoying their lunches. It took a minute or two to reassemble the dogs and convince them that we had food for them and that they needn't mooch from strangers.
After everyone had a good lunch and a good drink and the dogs had had about all they could take of the warm sun, we ducked back into the woods and made the descent to the col between Osceola and East Osceola, knowing that we would have to make the descent through or around the Chimney, safely with four dogs.
After a half mile or so of pretty steady descent we came to where you begin to scramble down some ledge, descending this and eventually reaching a point where you can choose to descend by either going right and scrambling down the Chimney, or left and having a little less steep scramble-pick your poison.
I chose right and descended The Chimney while the girls chose left and descended with the dogs. This was about the only part of the hike where the girls were not behind me, so it is no doubt where I dropped and lost my sunglasses.
I thought I might find them hanging somewhere on my way back, but didn't. You know that feeling when you lose a pair of sunglasses? Yeah, that.
I got a couple of scrapes and bumps on the way to East Osceola, too. I stepped on a large flat rock that popped up and whacked my knee pretty good, and also lost skin brushing by or bumping into various things along the way. It's not a hike until someone bleeds- it's usually me.
The dogs descended around The Chimney with ease, and were oh so glad to see that I descended safely as well. There is a good deal of scrambling still to be done when you reach the col below the Chimney and begin ascending up to East Osceola. This is where I stepped on the rock that popped up.
It was beginning to become apparent how many people were out on this lovely day as stopping to allow people to safely scramble up or down became a regular occurrence. Despite this, we were soon at the beautifully non-descript summit of East Osceola.
We got some quick summit shots as several other hikers joined us or turned to leave, on their way to better vistas. Some introduced themselves to the dogs who were more than happy to have the attention. Even Wicket allowed her head to be pet by a few strangers, and that is progress!
We soon began the return trip by descending the scrambles we had just ascended, stopping to let others pass, or to catch the views from one or two outlooks along the way. The dogs continued to behave well and really seemed to be enjoying each other's company on the trail.
In what seemed like a few minutes we were back at the foot of The Chimney. This time the descending traffic was ridiculous and I began calling it the "Hillary Step". We seriously waited for probably twenty people as they inched their way down the round about way.
One guy came down that way, then immediately ascended the Chimney. When we waited for him to inch his way back down the round about a second time, we called a halt to the descenders, "We're coming up!"
I went up the round about first, all four dogs behind me while the girls came up last. We were all up and out of the way in much less time than it was taking people to descend. That over, we continued on, back to the cliffs near the summit of Osceola.
After another brief stop at the summit and a quick but futile scan around for my sunglasses, we began the descent. Along the way I managed a good tumble, but came up only sore with a couple minor scrapes, so felt pretty lucky. I really enjoyed putting the goalie equipment on the next morning to play ice hockey.
Even with the slight crowd, it was an absolutely beautiful day to be in the mountains. All four dogs behaved admirably, which is always a blessing- it was great to see a friend and her dogs, an all-around great, memorable experience!
Read MoreMount Osceola Trail
8.4 miles 2400’ Elevation gain
Kevin and Judy & Wicket
I had last hiked East Osceola in February of 2006. That day, exhausted and cold, Emma, Judy and I turned back from a winter attempt at both peaks. A year or two later, we were turned back again, this time in sugar snow, not able to gain purchase on the steep slopes of East Osceola.
Finally, in March 2009, the three of us made it to Mount Osceola by hiking in the three miles on Tripoli Road, turning the hike into a twelve-mile round trip. We did not go to East Osceola that day either, so, have never done the in-between, the part with the Chimney, in winter. Not sure it's a goal.
On this day, other than crowded trails and summits, we had perfect conditions. Cars lined the roads outside the tiny parking area on Tripoli Road. Wow! We haven't hiked on a Saturday in years, but sometimes it's the only way you get to hike with friends!
Speaking of friends, there were some new ones to be made on this hike, all of the canid persuasion. Wicket has just in the past few months gotten to know Norka, and they are now sisters for life. Norka in turn, was a new friend to Pemi & Gem, who Wicket already knew.
Also, these were to be Norka's first and second four-thousand foot mountains, 4ks. She was a champ out there, leading much of the way, and stopping to queue off the other dogs or, Judy & I, if she became unsure of a situation.
Pemi and Gem are both accomplished hiking dogs, as well as great agility competitors. I have seen both hike thirteen miles and want to continue playing afterwards. Wicket absolutely enjoyed having other dogs along, and it made the hiking much easier for her.
I love that she observes the other dogs reactions to different situations on the trail, and apparently is learning from them. We did not have a single incident of "Stranger Danger" along the trail or at the summits.
Wicket, queuing off the other dogs who want to make friends with everyone, even let some people pat her. I think she is finally getting it!
With beautiful temps, great air, few, if any insects, and happy dogs, we made our way up the moderate slopes and switchbacks. Good conversation and cute dog antics made the hike up go by wonderfully fast.
Reaching the summit area, we ducked into the woods to visit the rock that is the true summit. My guess is that 95% of people do not visit this high point.
Each dog followed me up onto the rock. I then jumped down to see if I could get pictures. The dogs lined up for me spontaneously when the girls broke out some treats. I got my shot!
From the summit rock we descended into the masses huddled on the cliff enjoying their lunches. It took a minute or two to reassemble the dogs and convince them that we had food for them and that they needn't mooch from strangers.
After everyone had a good lunch and a good drink and the dogs had had about all they could take of the warm sun, we ducked back into the woods and made the descent to the col between Osceola and East Osceola, knowing that we would have to make the descent through or around the Chimney, safely with four dogs.
After a half mile or so of pretty steady descent we came to where you begin to scramble down some ledge, descending this and eventually reaching a point where you can choose to descend by either going right and scrambling down the Chimney, or left and having a little less steep scramble-pick your poison.
I chose right and descended The Chimney while the girls chose left and descended with the dogs. This was about the only part of the hike where the girls were not behind me, so it is no doubt where I dropped and lost my sunglasses.
I thought I might find them hanging somewhere on my way back, but didn't. You know that feeling when you lose a pair of sunglasses? Yeah, that.
I got a couple of scrapes and bumps on the way to East Osceola, too. I stepped on a large flat rock that popped up and whacked my knee pretty good, and also lost skin brushing by or bumping into various things along the way. It's not a hike until someone bleeds- it's usually me.
The dogs descended around The Chimney with ease, and were oh so glad to see that I descended safely as well. There is a good deal of scrambling still to be done when you reach the col below the Chimney and begin ascending up to East Osceola. This is where I stepped on the rock that popped up.
It was beginning to become apparent how many people were out on this lovely day as stopping to allow people to safely scramble up or down became a regular occurrence. Despite this, we were soon at the beautifully non-descript summit of East Osceola.
We got some quick summit shots as several other hikers joined us or turned to leave, on their way to better vistas. Some introduced themselves to the dogs who were more than happy to have the attention. Even Wicket allowed her head to be pet by a few strangers, and that is progress!
We soon began the return trip by descending the scrambles we had just ascended, stopping to let others pass, or to catch the views from one or two outlooks along the way. The dogs continued to behave well and really seemed to be enjoying each other's company on the trail.
In what seemed like a few minutes we were back at the foot of The Chimney. This time the descending traffic was ridiculous and I began calling it the "Hillary Step". We seriously waited for probably twenty people as they inched their way down the round about way.
One guy came down that way, then immediately ascended the Chimney. When we waited for him to inch his way back down the round about a second time, we called a halt to the descenders, "We're coming up!"
I went up the round about first, all four dogs behind me while the girls came up last. We were all up and out of the way in much less time than it was taking people to descend. That over, we continued on, back to the cliffs near the summit of Osceola.
After another brief stop at the summit and a quick but futile scan around for my sunglasses, we began the descent. Along the way I managed a good tumble, but came up only sore with a couple minor scrapes, so felt pretty lucky. I really enjoyed putting the goalie equipment on the next morning to play ice hockey.
Even with the slight crowd, it was an absolutely beautiful day to be in the mountains. All four dogs behaved admirably, which is always a blessing- it was great to see a friend and her dogs, an all-around great, memorable experience!
