| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Kinsman, South Kinsman, Cannnon Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lonesome Lake Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Hi Cannon Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, February 12, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
What wasn't frozen was easy to hop over |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Would not take a dog on the KRT from LL Trail to summit of Cannon due to steepness. Likewise for the Hi Cannon Trail due steepness and the ladder that must be negotiated at "Cliff House." |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Barebooted to Lonesome Lake Hut, then snowshoes the rest of the day. Fishin' Jimmy is in very good shape right now, with just a couple new inches of snow since Sunday and a very thin glaze of ice crusting which was not problematic at all. From Kinsman Jct. to South Kinsman the trail was a bit drifted in, as expected, with about 4-5 inches of new snow. Mt. Kinsman Trail was unbroken. I followed a fox's tracks for about 2 miles, from before Kinsman Jct. to the col between N&S Kinsman. Also scared up a couple of grouse which I felt bad about but didn't know they were there...
Since the KRT over the Cannonballs was unbroken, and I was solo and in no mood for almost 3 miles of Ballbusting, I returned to Lonesome Lake Hut and took the Around-Lonesome Lake Trail to the Lonesome Lake Trail which, surprisingly, looked to have been broken out on Sunday. Yippee! At the jct. with the KRT, the tracks went north towards Cannon. Yippee again! The mtn. gods were laughing at me, however, when about 1/4 mile up the steeps, the TRACKS STOPPED.
Too stubborn to turn back, I broke trail from there up to Hi Cannon. There were only a couple more REALLY steep, icy sections, the upper one which I bushwhacked around to the right for a bit because it was way safer. (Segue: I have done this section of trail at least 3 times in winter so had full knowledge of what I was getting myself into. Same goes for the Hi Cannnon Trail.)
Once at the Hi Cannon jct., it was an easy schlep to the summit and back to Hi Cannon. I briefly contemplated continuing on the KRT to the tram parking but decided on the more sporty Hi Cannon which did not disappoint. Hats off to whomever broke out the Hi Cannon Trail (on Sunday by the looks of it). Thank you! For the most part I had a blast descending the drifted in track (again 4-5 inches of new snow on this section). The ladder was a bit sketchy looking, and I opted to remove my snowshoes so as to feel the rungs under my boots (definitely used hands as well). This worked fine. From there on out was just plain fun snowshoeing.
All told, it was about 14 miles and 5000+ feet of vert. Temps were moderate: 31 at the start, 32 at the finish. |
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 | Name: |
Snowflea |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-02-12 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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