We Conquered Our First 4,000-Foot Mountain!! 🎉

I’ll admit it—this one got me a little emotional. It wasn’t that it was the most challenging hike, but it was our first 4k. We always said we weren’t sure if we’d be into the 4,000-footers list, but suffice it to say… we’re hooked. Guess we’ve got a new obsession on our hands!

Mount Osceola Stats:

  • Distance: 5.7 miles round trip

  • Elevation Gain: 2,040 feet

  • Scramble/Climbing: Nope, no rock climbing here—just good old-fashioned hiking!

We parked off Tripoli Road in Waterville Valley. A heads-up: this road can be closed during the off-season, so always check the status of trail and road closures before you head out. Also, Tripoli Road is basically a rugged rollercoaster ride for your car, so watch out for potholes that could double as small craters. There's a small, cash-only parking fee. The good news? There’s a bathroom. Which, when you're out in the wilderness, feels like winning the lottery.

The trail itself isn’t exactly marked—at least, not that we could find. But it’s pretty straightforward and starts right off the parking lot. Of course, it was raining when we began, which definitely had us second-guessing our decision to hike a mountain. But, hey, what’s a little rain, right?

The rain let up as we hiked on, and the trail? Gorgeous. The incline was gradual (thankfully). The trail is made up of mostly rocks, not so much the climbing kind but to be careful of as you’re hiking on. As we got closer to the summit, the views started to peek through the trees—though, if the clouds had parted, I bet it would’ve been even more epic. I could catch glimpses of Waterville Valley’s ski trails and other mountain peaks trying to sneak their way into view.

Getting closer to the top, we hit one major muddy spot and a rock that was a bit too slanty and slippery for comfort, thanks to the morning’s rain. But it wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle. The whole hike took us about 3.5 hours—though I should mention that I'm super slow, especially on the uphill sections. My cardio could use some work! But honestly, just being out in nature made the slow pace totally worth it.

Once we hit the peak, we had the option to keep going and summit East Osceola, which would have meant conquering two of the 48 4k-footers. But we decided to call it a day while we were ahead. I was feeling good, and the views were incredible. We hung out for a while, soaking it all in. Through the trees, we could see Waterville Valley, and I swear I caught a glimpse of Mount Chocorua peeking through the clouds.

All in all, it was a perfect first 4k. I’ve never hiked any other 4,000-footers, so I can't really compare, but I think Osceola was the perfect place to start. The incline was manageable, and the views were out of this world. It felt a little easier than Chocorua (though, let’s be honest, that’s not saying much), but it wasn’t a walk in the park either. Just the right balance for a 4k newbie.

Final Thoughts:

  • Views on top: 10/10 🌄

  • Difficulty: 7/10 🥵

Happy hiking, everyone! And remember, it’s not about the height of the mountain—just the memories you make along the way!

I was so caught up in describing the mountain that I almost forgot to mention our little hidden gem: Mad River Coffee Shop. This place was an absolute find! The coffee? Amazing. Mike got a hot brew and rated it a solid 9/10, while I sipped on a hot latte that was nothing short of perfect—10/10. After the hike, we decided we’d earned a couple of treats, so we each grabbed a cookie, and let me tell you, it was the perfect way to wrap up the day. If you're ever in the Waterville Valley area, do yourself a favor and check them out. Oh, and they even have a cooler specifically for their iced coffee—brilliant, right? I can’t wait to go back!