| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cannon Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hi-Cannon Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Lonesome Lake Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 31, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The lot closer to the trailhead is a little less packed, and better for AWD vehicles. The lower lot near the underpass is well packed and friendlier to more cars. People were also parking in a driven in circle near the info hut where the snowmobile trails passes through, but it is the least packed and one car was getting pushed out as we got back. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Around Lonesome Lake, the wooden bridges across small streams are visible and easily crossed. One rock hop on the Lonesome Lake trail coming down from Cannon shortly before the trail splits at the lake |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Two 40 cm trees down on Hi-Cannon between the split with Lonesome Lake trail and the junction with Dodge Cutoff, but they're maybe a foot high and easily stepped over. One very large tree down on Hi-Cannon a few tenths of a mile before the junction with Kinsman Ridge Trail which can be squatted under. Neither impassable or needed to be go around, but watch your head on the large tree. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Our pup Rutabaga had a blast, but she is very much an adventure pup. The ladder on Hi-Cannon is packed well on the right side so she was able to climb up easily. She did not love descending from Cannon on Kinsman Ridge trail - some of the sliding was fun, some not so much, but she's fearless and her tail was wagging almost the whole way. She is a Cattle Dog/Catahoula mix whose absolute favorite thing is the snow and she never seems to get cold (though we did put her jacket on for the descent) and has no trouble with snowballs with just some Musher's Secret on |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Charcoal grey Nalgene with blue lid and white REI logo - left it at the Lonesome Lake trailhead at Lafayette Campground |
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 | Comments: |
Weather conditions were perfect which made for a great day. We got by in microspikes for the whole trail (it's all we have), but the whole thing would be easier in crampons or snowshoes. Hi-Cannon is not as well packed down as Lonesome Lake trail. Had about 1 to 3" of loose snow on top which made the steep sections a challenge on the ascent. Trekking poles made it possible, though my partner got by without them. There were a couple of dodgy spots with dropoffs where you should proceed with caution, but manageable. Heading south down Kinsman involved a lot of skiing and butt-sledding and one very precarious spot where the trail wasn't really wide enough for a boot and it dropped off a 15 to 20 foot cliff on the edge of that spot. A very large step around the boulder got you by, but it was definitely iffy. The whole descent down Kinsman until the Lonesome Lake split was slippery and challenging. Also a few slide-y spots on Lonesome Lake trail. Once Lonesome Lake trail splits at the lake, we headed right to the hut and I postholed a few times - the packed path is narrow in places - but it was mostly good. Walked across the lake and easy descent down Lonesome Lake trail to the campground |
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 | Name: |
Karen and Jon |
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 | E-Mail: |
keaerni@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-31 |
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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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