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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Cannon Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Kinsman Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 2, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Road was adequately, though not perfectly, ploughed.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trail was in good shape, but high up in the first half or so, there's a blow-down that might become a problem as snow accumulates, before becoming not much of a problem as more snow accumulates.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Alas, no-one brought their beloved pups to play.  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: When you want to just pound out some short miles and get some very commanding views of some very superlative summits, Cannon won't let you down.

The weather? That's another story, entirely. As I was reminded today. Boo!

I have a love-hate relationship with Kinsman Ridge trail. It's short, sweet, and to the point, but its ascent is crazy fast, and so your thighs get slaughtered on the quick. That said, today's hike featured just a few inches of unconsolidated snow that wasn't terribly deep. As such, it was a wee bit slippery (any step taken lost some energy, because you can't push off with any degree of authority) but never so deep that you had to adjust your stride. Snowshoes would have been thoroughly overkill, but light duty crampons did well enough. What small amount of ice there was, that was all easily managed with little delay. Some mild drifts up near the top that are hardly worth writing about. If it gets just warm enough to slightly melt before re-freezing again (and so, become consolidated) the trail might just be pretty sweet. As it is, if the views are clear, you'll totally forget the snow.

Views today were attenuated by fog, fog, and more fog. But the otherworldly appearance of the forest still made for some moderately compelling images.

Photos and a more complete write-up are on my blog, as always. Consider subscribing, and enjoy!  
Name
Name: Protean Wanderer 
E-Mail
E-Mail: hiker@proteanwanderer.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-01-02 
Link
Link: https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2021/01/03/trip-report-early-winter-snow-on-cannon-mountain/ 
Bookmark and Share 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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