| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Kinsman, South Kinsman, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 3, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Fine |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock hops |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No problems. This is a very well maintained trail despite the difficulties it poses. There were a couple of spots where water was running in the trail being funneled into by ice, and there is mud down low. The mix of ice and mud is tending to push people to the sides in these areas. Better to get your boot muddy. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper has had a lot of experience on the ice. He goes off into the woods when the ice is just too steep for him to get up it, and he knows how to do a controlled slide down. There is a lot of ice, some of it quite steep, so if your dog isn't used to it, take care. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Sharp Hillsounds, trail crampons or even full crampons are recommended for the incredible ice flows on Mt. Kinsman starting a ways above Bald Mt. spur, and on Kinsman Ridge, especially on the descent. We did see a few people in microspikes, but slips, falls and going off trail were inevitable with them. Getting up is one thing; getting down another. Our experienced group of hikers all were in Hillsounds and we still had to slow down, back hike, and up on the ridge go around a couple of the worst spots on the descent. But we also learned to trust the Georg quick step for short steep descents. I fell once, just after removing my Hillsounds in the mixed ice and mud down low. Two of our group had been on this peak a couple of weeks ago, and they said all the snow sections of Kinsman Ridge had turned into ice since then. Beware when the ice is hard, ours was slightly soft.
The rain held off until the hike was over and the get together at the end about to end. Pepper and I hiked with a great group of fellow hikers. It was a splendid day. Thanks all. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-04-03 |
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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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