Mt. Osceola Trail Maintenance Weekend

Ten of us worked to get our adopted trail in great condition for the hiking season!

We performed trail work on our adopted trail [Mt. Osceola Trail] from both Tripoli Road and Kancamagus Highway via the Greeley Ponds Trail. This is a very popular trail so it requires a lot of attention to protect them from all that loving they get :-)

With an agreement made with the Forest Service, GayOutdoors adopted Mt. Osceola Trail; it's 5.7 miles long, it has two 4,000 footers [Mt. Osceola at 4,340 ft. and East Osceola at 4,156 ft.] and can be reached either from Tripoli Road or the Kancamagus Highway. GayOutdoors has purchased tools for trail maintenance over the years just because we think it's the right thing to do and happy to share them with all the GO members that help us out each year. You can learn a lot about trail maintenance by working with us!

Friday, the travel day to the Mad River Lodge, we got caught up with each other’s activities. 

Breakfast for each morning included coffee, bagels, fresh fruit, yogurt, and hard boiled eggs.

On Saturday after breakfast we discussed the basics of trail maintenance, the work that had to be done, and make arrangements for carpooling. We broke up into two teams: Jon's team started from the Tripoli Road trailhead to the summit of Mt. Osceola while Mike's team started from the Kancamagus Highway. We spent the day cleaning all the waterbars, removing blowdowns and cutting back encroaching vegetation.   

Congrats to Rob who finished his 41st peak on the NH 4,000 footers, Sylvain for finishing his first NH 4,000 footers and the other members who climbed this peak for the first time! 

We encountered many people who thanked us for our work as they made their way to both summits. The weather was ideal with cool temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and hardly any bugs at higher elevations. Both teams arrived back at the house around 4:30pm.  

After trail work we took showers back at the house, relaxed outside on the deck with wine/beer and appetizers. Then we had our traditional hungry hiker BBQ feast cooked by Jon that included herb grilled chicken, baby back ribs, garden salad, pasta salad, coleslaw and corn bread. For dessert we had a strawberry and cream layer cake!

After dinner we sat around a roaring bonfire followed by fireworks.

GayOutdoors provided free lodging and meals for the weekend. Many GO members who helped us out this year earned a free White Mountain National Forest parking pass. GO is recognized as being a trail adopter that provides us with goodwill among the greater hiking community. 

Quite a productive day on our adopted trail! What a great crew! THANK YOU!!! 

Trip Report by Mike
Trip Pictures by Mike and Jon

Join us on our annual trail maintenance weekend where we work on our adopted trail. Free lodging all weekend! Great meals! Bonfire and Fireworks! Thanks as always for your efforts in keeping our adopted trail in great shape. If you know of any member interested in trail work, please try to convince them to join us this weekend!   

As a general reminder, trail adopting basically involves three things in this order: cleaning drains and water bars to reduce erosion, keeping the path open by removing blow downs, brushing back vegetation that encroaches on the trail and blazing the trail as needed. The most important task is cleaning the drainages to reduce erosion. 

You don't have to spend the weekend with us to participate...even if you can join us for just the day, we could really use the help! You don't have to be an expert to help and we can easily train you. All tools are provided. We'll let you in on one of the best kept secrets in the mountains: trail work is fun! Check out last year's pictures. A trail that you have worked on belongs to you in a way that it's difficult to put into words.

We will be splitting up into two groups. One group will work from the Tripoli Road while the other group from the Kancamagus Highway side. This is a rain or shine event, so watch the sky, and bring appropriate clothing. Bring work gloves. Please dress for all weather conditions. Bring plenty of water, daypack, and lunch. Hiking boots are recommended. 

We meet at our house at 8AM on Saturday for introductions, choosing tools, and then carpool to the trailhead. It's a full day and we expect to finish between 4-5pm. Water and snack breaks are taken throughout the day. You are responsible for bringing your own lunch. Keep in mind the day involves hiking 7 miles and going up 2,025 feet. If it becomes too much for you, you can turn around on your own and perform a 'second trail maintenance sweep' on the way down. That's OK. You can wait for us back at the cars. 

To say THANK YOU for your efforts you are invited back at our house for the kickin' Hungry Hiker BBQ Feast we put on. Everyone is invited. Please come back and enjoy this feast with your trail maintenance buddies. We hope your plans will allow you to join us for this feast IN YOUR HONOR! You'll also be eligible for a free White Mountain National Forest parking pass after 16 hours of work [we take care of the recordkeeping]. After the BBQ feast we have a bonfire in the backyard followed by FIREWORKS!!!

Everyone is invited to spend a FREE weekend at our house Friday and/or Saturday night with breakfast each morning. We only have 8 bunks so the first 8 guys that contact us to reserve will get one. Let us know if it’s the entire weekend or just Saturday night. If we run out of room, you can tent outside; please also let us know if you'll be tenting. 

Thank you again for your efforts.  Have a safe and enjoyable hiking season.

Yours on trails,

Jon and Mike