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Mt Osceola via Dogleg Slide Moderators: SilentCal, Chris, Pucknuts61



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[ 9 posts ] Print view Previous topic | Next topic Mt Osceola via Dogleg Slide Author Message hophiker Peak Bagger

Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:03 pm

Posts: 256 Mt Osceola via Dogleg Slide



I had climbed Mt Osceola three times in the past, but I became intrigued by the "Dogleg Slide" on the north side of the mountain after reading about it in Steve Smith's Mountain Wandering blog earlier in the year, and I wanted to try to climb to the summit via that route. I searched the Internet for trip reports, and I could only find one report of a summer climb (all the rest were reports from ice climbers in winter). Nevertheless, the one summer report gave me confidence that the slide could be climbed, even though it looked very steep and required a significant amount of bushwhacking. We planned to attempt the climb on Memorial Day, but after driving to the Hancock overlook on the Kanc, we saw that the slide was covered with snow, so we changed our plans. Last week presented another opportunity, and the weather looked great on Friday, so off we went.

After the first 0.8 mile on the East Pond Trail (from the Kanc), there are two potential bushwhack routes. We chose to follow the east bank of Pine Brook, thinking that the navigation would be easier than the other route (the slide is essentially due south of the point where the East Pond Trail meets Pine Brook). The woods were very thick, and we soon found that it was easier to walk on the rocks in the brook than through the woods along the bank:





After about 1/2 mile from the East Pond Trail, we came to some nice ledgy areas, with views back towards Mt Hitchcock and Mt Huntington:





Lots of nice waterfall scenery on the way up to the slide:





And more great views opening up in back:





The views of the cliffs of East Osceola on our left and West Osceola on our right were tremendous. Eventually, we got our first look at the slide in the distance:





This is the first waterfall on the slide itself. We climbed up the left hand side, which was slippery, but not too bad:





It was tricky finding a safe route through some of these cascades, and we took a lot of time going through here:





As we climbed higher, the views in back of us just kept getting better.





We crossed from one side to the other many times in search of the safest and driest routes. The rocks were loose and crumbly, and the vegetation was generally not strong enough to support us. This was a particularly difficult section:





This was one of the toughest sections - very steep and wet, requiring a lot of care to ascend:





Many of these difficult sections required liberal use of hands. Every foot placement and every handhold had to be tested thoroughly because a lot of the rocks were unstable:





Eventually, we reached the top part of the slide, which is a gigantic scree field. This part was still steep, but the climbing was much easier because there were no slippery rocks to worry about. It was like a cross between the north and south slides of Mt Tripyramid - some bedrock like the north slide, but much loose rock like the south slide:





The top of the slide, with a great view of the Pemi Wilderness:





The picture doesn't do justice to the view, but here's a panorama from the top of the slide, from the Franconia Ridge on the left to Mt Washington on the right:





The rest of the climb was a nasty 1/4 mile bushwhack to the Mt Osceola Trail, just west of the summit. Lots of scratches on our arms and legs. This climb was quite an adventure, and if you're interested in this sort of thing, I recommend it. It's a difficult climb, though, with some anxious moments on the tough parts. Even if you don't want to climb to the summit, the hike into the bottom of the slide is worthwhile, with great views of the Osceola cliffs, the Hancock/Hitchcock area, and the many cascades.



(By the way, this was the second major hiking event of the week for me. I climbed Mt Tecumseh in July of 2000, and 13 years later, I completed my NH 48 on Mt Jefferson on August 11!). I haven't posted here in a long time, but I do read the forum regularly. I enjoy your trip reports, hiking ideas, pictures, jokes, etc, and I've learned a lot from all of you. I've never written a trip report before, except for a few brief entries on NETC this year, but I wanted to share a report of a hike I did with my two college-age sons on August 16, especially since most of you have probably not done this hike. I hope you enjoy the report and pictures.I had climbed Mt Osceola three times in the past, but I became intrigued by the "Dogleg Slide" on the north side of the mountain after reading about it in Steve Smith's Mountain Wandering blog earlier in the year, and I wanted to try to climb to the summit via that route. I searched the Internet for trip reports, and I could only find one report of a summer climb (all the rest were reports from ice climbers in winter). Nevertheless, the one summer report gave me confidence that the slide could be climbed, even though it looked very steep and required a significant amount of bushwhacking. We planned to attempt the climb on Memorial Day, but after driving to the Hancock overlook on the Kanc, we saw that the slide was covered with snow, so we changed our plans. Last week presented another opportunity, and the weather looked great on Friday, so off we went.After the first 0.8 mile on the East Pond Trail (from the Kanc), there are two potential bushwhack routes. We chose to follow the east bank of Pine Brook, thinking that the navigation would be easier than the other route (the slide is essentially due south of the point where the East Pond Trail meets Pine Brook). The woods were very thick, and we soon found that it was easier to walk on the rocks in the brook than through the woods along the bank:After about 1/2 mile from the East Pond Trail, we came to some nice ledgy areas, with views back towards Mt Hitchcock and Mt Huntington:Lots of nice waterfall scenery on the way up to the slide:And more great views opening up in back:The views of the cliffs of East Osceola on our left and West Osceola on our right were tremendous. Eventually, we got our first look at the slide in the distance:This is the first waterfall on the slide itself. We climbed up the left hand side, which was slippery, but not too bad:It was tricky finding a safe route through some of these cascades, and we took a lot of time going through here:As we climbed higher, the views in back of us just kept getting better.We crossed from one side to the other many times in search of the safest and driest routes. The rocks were loose and crumbly, and the vegetation was generally not strong enough to support us. This was a particularly difficult section:This was one of the toughest sections - very steep and wet, requiring a lot of care to ascend:Many of these difficult sections required liberal use of hands. Every foot placement and every handhold had to be tested thoroughly because a lot of the rocks were unstable:Eventually, we reached the top part of the slide, which is a gigantic scree field. This part was still steep, but the climbing was much easier because there were no slippery rocks to worry about. It was like a cross between the north and south slides of Mt Tripyramid - some bedrock like the north slide, but much loose rock like the south slide:The top of the slide, with a great view of the Pemi Wilderness:The picture doesn't do justice to the view, but here's a panorama from the top of the slide, from the Franconia Ridge on the left to Mt Washington on the right:The rest of the climb was a nasty 1/4 mile bushwhack to the Mt Osceola Trail, just west of the summit. Lots of scratches on our arms and legs. This climb was quite an adventure, and if you're interested in this sort of thing, I recommend it. It's a difficult climb, though, with some anxious moments on the tough parts. Even if you don't want to climb to the summit, the hike into the bottom of the slide is worthwhile, with great views of the Osceola cliffs, the Hancock/Hitchcock area, and the many cascades.(By the way, this was the second major hiking event of the week for me. I climbed Mt Tecumseh in July of 2000, and 13 years later, I completed my NH 48 on Mt Jefferson on August 11!).



Last edited by hophiker on Sat Nov 29, 2014 1:35 pm, edited 3 times in total.



Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:23 am thegibba Sovereign Woodsman

Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:21 am

Posts: 1818

Location: Lynn MA Congrats on the 48! Always enjoy reading about unique ways to get to the top. This is the first I've heard about this one.



Mon Aug 19, 2013 7:03 am krpayer Sovereign Woodsman

Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:38 pm

Posts: 1123

Location: Nashua



Congrats on finishing the 48 as well. Feel free to post more trip reports, your photos are fantastic Nice report and thanks for sharing. I've been eying this ascent, but like you didn't find much intel for hiking it in summer. Sounds like a similar experience to my climb of the slide on Peak Above the Nubble: wet and slippery down low but drying up as you get higher. The Osceola's have a lot to offer, especially if you don't mind getting scratched up on a bushwhackCongrats on finishing the 48 as well. Feel free to post more trip reports, your photos are fantastic



Mon Aug 19, 2013 7:18 am Burls Peak Bagger

Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 7:28 am

Posts: 205

Location: Essex VT "This was one of the toughest sections - very steep and wet, requiring a lot of care to ascend" ... no kidding, some of those wet slabs look like they would make for a good scramble. Nice report and pics. Thanks for sharing!



Mon Aug 19, 2013 7:46 am Granite Guy Hiking Forums Are My Crack

Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:37 pm

Posts: 7137

Location: Exeter, NH Looks like a great day out with your boys. I just got back from the Adirondaks where slides like this are commonly used for ascents but it seems very rarely in the Whites. Strange since they're obviously out there like this one, Arrow, Downes Brook, Lincoln, etc. Maybe access to the bottom to begin with is tougher around these parts, otherwise they look like fun routes. Nice report and thanks for sharing.



Mon Aug 19, 2013 7:54 am IQuest Sovereign Woodsman

Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:56 pm

Posts: 1442

Location: Canaan, NH Interesting route. Thanks for posting.

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Mon Aug 19, 2013 11:45 am madmattd Sovereign Woodsman

Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:10 pm

Posts: 2363

Location: Natick, MA Very cool, looks like a fun and interesting trip, and thanks for sharing intel for those who want to explore that direction in the future.



And of course, congrats on the 48 finish too!

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Mon Aug 19, 2013 11:52 am smc5735 Leg Burner

Joined: Mon May 23, 2011 5:41 pm

Posts: 74

Location: Massachusetts I agree, interesting route and an awesome trip report. Great pictures, as well. Congrats on the finish !



Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:26 pm hophiker Peak Bagger

Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:03 pm

Posts: 256 Thanks to all for the nice comments!



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