At 4340 feet, Mount Osceola is the most dominant peak in the Waterville Valley range of the White Mountains. This may sound daunting, but the trail starts halfway to the top (vertically), making for a steady raise of 2025 feet over 3.5 miles. That’s a damn pleasant walk in the forest, albeit a rocky and muddy one.
Mount Osceola’s summit looks out over the east, giving a spectacular view of Waterville Valley. We sat and ate sandwiches with an ever-changing crowd of hikers and dogs. “How ya doing? Exceedingly good weather!” a woman said to me. Indeed, it was sunny and crisp, with the promise of autumn underscored by a slight coloring in the foliage. Some people were bundled in jackets, wool hats, and gloves, while others basked in t-shirts and shorts. Everyone seemed comfortable.
The picture below is on the summit looking north-east; in the distance are the middling mountains of the scenic Kancamagus Highway. We ventured onto Osceola’s north face so we could see the Presidential range, but the frigid wind from Canada repelled us. Not ready to freeze for a few more months…
