| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cannon Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Kinsman Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 12, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Big lot was well plowed and sanded, but there weren't many cars in it. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One very minor drainage down low is open, as are some of the also very minor flows in the switchbacks sections.. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail's heavily eroding sections don't look so bad in the winter mixing crusty snow and some ice. The switchbacks were full of solid ice, ice with water running over it, and crusty snow/ice. Above the switchbacks there is a little ice mixed in with crusty snow up to and including the ledges. There is a yellow rope across the route to the ski area but no skull and crossbones. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper would say it was a pretty easy day. There is some open water on or crossing the trail, but in the warm temps and with the lack of trail snow icing wasn't an issue. I was a bit apprehensive of the ice where a fall could lead to a slide, but he's a veteran hiker and in winter he basically goes off trail only when that's a safer route. There is a lot of ice and fall zones in a few places, so if Fido doesn't like ice don't go and if he/she tears around in youthful exuberance, it might be worth keeping him/her with you or on leash in the trickiest areas until you've seen them and can assess. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Yesterday's freezing and then pouring rain on town side roads left us with no hike, a closed transfer station and thus a car full of trash and recyclables, so today's hike had to wait for the transfer station. Cannon seemed the best option given the very late start, and it turned out to be a fun hike in the mildish temps and not nearly as windy as forecast conditions. Hillsounds were pretty good for the whole trail, crampons would have been a good option, better in some places and not in others. Microspikes would have been a stretch. The blue ice was still soft enough in most places so the Hillsounds bit pretty well, especially on the climb up. I took it slow in places on the hike down. If the ice hardens over night those with the option would probably go for crampons. The open ledges were rather easy in the Hillsounds with easily managed ice, rock and snow. We didn't see any other hikers all day but followed the footprints up of what appeared to be one spikes and one crampons wearers. Thanks Pepper for a short but really nice day on the trails. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-01-12 |
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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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