It’s been months since I last hiked a 4,000 footer. I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but it’s been a really difficult year for me and I’ve been struggling with juggling work, school, and prioritizing my mental health lateley with the latter coming in third on my priority list all too often. I didn’t realize it until this hike, but I’ve been in desperate need for some time in the mountains as hiking has taken a back seat to the other needs in my life lately. Luckily with a much needed week of spring break I was able to set aside some outdoor time.

The forecast called for a sunny 65 degree spring day almost unheard of in March, but boy did mother nature deliver. It was just above freezing when we hit the trail at 8:00, and we shed layers quickly as the sun peeked up over the mountaintops around us. I was hiking with Neal, the well known “Mayor of the Mountains,” and an avid hiker in the area as well as his friend John who it was my first time meeting. They were great company as we scurried over the flat section at the beginning of Greely Ponds Trail.

It wasn’t long before the trail started a steep angle up Mt. Osceola’s east peak. Despite the warm weather we’ve had recently, the hard packed snow was relatively easy to climb. I was huffing and puffing my way up the steep slope as we ascended realizing just how out of shape I’ve gotten these past few hike-less months. The ascent seemed to go on and on with the grade getting more and more vertical as we hiked. I was wearing my Hillsound microspikes, which were adequate for going up, but I feared that they wouldn’t provide enough traction for the descent.

As we climbed there were more and more views of the valley until finally we got to a gorgeous overlook yielding views of the Kancamagus. At this point I had shed all of my layers down to a short sleeve t-shirt, and I was still hot despite the snow crunching beneath my feet. As we hiked along the ridge to East Osceola the sun was beating down and warming us from head to toe.

After tagging the east peak we quickly made our way to the summit of Mt. Osceola. We soon reached the chimney, a short but nearly vertical rocky outcropping that seperates the two peaks. I had done it once before in summer, but now it looked completely different. There was weepy ice and melting snow throughout with lots of rocks and tree roots peeping out. Usually hikers go around the bypass just next to the chimney in the winter, for the ice can be too slippery and dangerous to ascend. Instead I decided to go for it and climb directly up the chimney.

Because of the warm weather, there were enough hand holds and foot snowy places to step on that it actually wasn’t too challenging of a climb. That being said it was still exhilarating to make my way up the steep spot. After that it was a short ascent to the beautiful summit of Mt. Osceola where we were greeted with a sunny panoramic view.

The scenic vista was absolutely breathtaking. I sat on the edge of the cliffs taking in the sights for a long time, the sun warming my face and the cool breeze sending the occasional shiver down my spine. A wave of emotion washed over me as I took it all in. I felt at peace for the first time in a long time.

I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for a long time, and until I started hiking I felt like my life was constantly spinning out of control. In the past year I’ve been bouncing from hospital to hospital every few weeks finishing up my physician assistant training and to be quite honest it’s been emotionally and physically draining. I haven’t been hiking because on my days off I’ve just been too exhausted to get out of bed. Even the morning of this hike I struggled to get out of bed but boy am I glad I did.

I forgot how therapeutic hiking is for me. Sitting at the summit I forgot all about my worries and struggles. All I could think about is how much I love and appreciate these mountains and how thankful I am to be able to experience them on days like these. This reminded me that even on the days where getting out of bed feels impossible, if I can just put my boots on the ground maybe I’ll feel just a little bit better. Never mind the feelings I’ll have if I actually reach a summit.

After sitting there on top of the world for over an hour basking in the sun, we decided it was time to get back on the trail and descend. It was slow going especially coming down the northern edge of East Osceola. The snow was starting to soften in the warm weather making the descent challenging. It went from hard packed and easy to grip with our spikes to slippery and granular in just a few hours, and no amount of traction was going to be able to grab into the melting mess that was the path.

A few hikers had butt-sledded down the incredibly steep sections making it a slick luge that gave way under our feet with every step. This was the only time I’ve ever been thankful for the postholes on the edges of the path, for they were stable steps to aid our descent. We went slow and steady, carefully making our way down the treacherous path for what seemed like many miles before it leveled out.

When we got back to the safety of the flats, it was just a short walk out to the cars. Along the way I noticed that for some reason our path was blanketed with fallen pine needles like an earthy green carpet leading us through the forest. There were no pine needles scattered elsewhere, they were just on the winding path where we were walking. I hadn’t noticed it on the way in, and it gave our otherwise frosty surroundings the familiar feeling of walking through an enchanted forest.

This hike was a much needed interruption from what has become my normal life of busy work days and lazy days off. It was a much needed reminder as to why hiking is necessary to maintain a healthy balance in my life. It helped me realize that even when I’m feeling down and exhausted, hiking is sometimes the only thing that can ground me and make me feel better. Neal and John were excellent hiking buddies, and it was nice to reconnect with the hiking community after my absence from the mountains this winter. I realized on this hike just how much the mountains mean to me, and that I deserve to take some much needed time once in a while to prioritize my mental health.

Mt. Osceola (4,315 ft) and East Osceola (4,156 ft) via Greely Ponds Tr and Mt. Osceola Tr.

Check out this awesome video Neal made and subscribe to White Mountain Wanderers for more viedos!