Sliding Across the Tripyramids - 8/28/2010

Last week when we were sitting on the summit of Osceola staring at all the beautiful mountains that surrounded us my eye kept getting drawn to the North Tripyramid Slide. Sure looked like a great climb. Figured we'd have to do that one soon. Today was the day.

I had the privilege of being accompanied by four lovely ladies for today's hike - Natalie, Val, Judy and Emma. It couldn't have been a better day to be in the mountains! After a pre-dawn departure from RI and a stop to pick up Val we were at the Livermore trailhead at 8:30 and ready to roll. The air was cool and clear and the sky was that almost-autumn blue. After a nice walk up Livermore we found ourselves at the start of the slabs on the North Slide. This was the first time on the Tripyramids for Nat and I and although Val, Judy and Emma had done them numerous times none of them had ever been up the slide. First times for everything....

The hike up the slide was AWESOME! After getting by the slick slabs at the bottom everyone got comfortable and we all enjoyed the gorgeous views. Lots of other folks (and dogs) on the trail today too. At the top of the slide we followed the obvious path - which turned out not to be the trail but more of an "interesting" bushwhack. A few scrapes later we were on North summit. 

The walk across the summits was beautiful. This is a really nice walk and the soft paths were definitely a welcome change from the slide. All too quickly we were at the top of the South Slide and on our way down. We enjoyed the way down and managed to avoid any serious slide surfing. With the cool green woods waiting at the bottom (and the brook for Emma) it was a nice walk back out and a great end to a great day. Couldn't have asked for a better hike or a greater group of people (and dog) to have shared it with. 

Emma heading up Livermore Rd


Getting to the slide


Osceola vistas


Steep on the slide


Judy getting the best of the slide


Almost on top


Nat gets a visitor


Great views


Nat and I on Middle Tripyramid for #21


Down the South Slide


Finally - a place to cool off!


Some signs of fall coming!!!



Complete album here: http://picasaweb.google.com/mtruman42/Tripyramids82810#

Sweet Osceola Thursday - 8/12/2010

With everything else that's been going on this summer our opportunities to get to NH have been more limited than usual and no extended stays other than the 4 day Seek the Peak weekend. Our current solution to this dilemma is to try to grab several day trips between now and the fall. I've got the good fortune to be able to take vacation days with last minute notice so we can hopefully plan good weather days as well. Yesterday certainly worked out perfectly as one of those days.

We left the house at 5:00 and were at the Mt Osceola trailhead on Tripoli Rd a little after 8:30. The air was cool, the sky was blue and sunny and it was about as good an August day for hiking in the Whites that you could ask for. We only saw a couple of others on the trail all the way to East Osceola and we had both summits to ourselves to enjoy in solitude. The hike was awesome, the views were spectacular and our plan to do a few more of these in the coming weeks were solidified! At 3:00 we were back at the car and ready to head home.

The drive home put a bit of a damper on our good spirits. We've avoided the weekday trips in the past because of not wanting to deal with the horrendous Boston traffic. On the last trip up in July we had finally realized that we could avoid Boston rush hour mess by using 495. Yesterday, not so much. There was an accident on the other side of 495 that had a rescue helicopter landed on the highway and traffic stopped in the other direction for over 10 miles. The rubbernecking traffic on our side wasn't much better. In the end it probably only cost us an extra 1/2 hour and we were home before 7:30. An aggravating end but not enough to ruin a fantastic day. Already thinking about another one of these next week...

Rocky trail heading up Mt Osceola


The reward on Mt Osceola summit. What incredible views!


Great way to spend a Thursday


The path ahead to East Osceola 


Steep climb down the chimney bypass


Amazing views into the Pemi


On the summit of East Osceola. Not great views (OK, no views) but a nice spot to enjoy lunch in the dappled sunshine and cool breezes


Fun climb up the chimney on the way back


This poor little vole almost got squished when he ran across the trail under my feet. He ran in here and just sat there "being invisible".


The whole album is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/mtruman42/Osceolas81210#