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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Cannon Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Lonesome Lake Trail, Hi-Cannon Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, July 24, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Arrived just before 8am at Northbound Rt93 Lafayette Place. Still plenty of spots available. Forest Service Volunteers directing traffic, picking up trash and checking on hiker preparedness & answering questions for those going up to Franconia Ridge. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Nothing to worry about. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trails generally in good condition. A few blowdowns that need clearing. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: A few. One group of three hikers we met at Hi-Cannon/Kinsman Ridge trail junction had a Cattle Dog/Australian Shepard mix pooch that looked like a fox with white spot on their forehead and white tail tip to hint of Cattle dog. Very friendly hikers and dog. Three small poodles at Lonesome Lake, one with an owner who continually threw small sticks into the lake for his poodle to retrieve. 
Bugs
Bugs: Hardly any. One buzz from a fly and a few mosquites. Based upon a Strava Friend's recommendation, had placed fly tape on my hat brim for carrier-like deer fly landing zone. Post hike score: captured 1 no-seeum and 2 pine needles. :-) 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nada 
 
Comments
Comments: A far better day than we expected. We had clouds and small sun snack (as we were clearing Kinsman Ridge on the way to Lonesome Lake trail.) On the trail by roughly 8am, after crossing under RT93 on the pedistrian / bicycle walkway/tunnel. Off by 1:09pm. We were tailgating and sharing stories at the back of my wagon when we noticed dark clouds rapidly moving in from the West over Kinsman Ridge. About 20 or so minutes later it was showering. Cooled off from 80's to 70 degree temperature range with predicted arrival of weatherfront. Timing is everything. Hoping those on Franconia Ridge and down the Agonies cleared off before the wet stuff.

Went over to the Old Man On the Mountain Memorial off the next exit to find a friend's memorial paver. Showers stopped and started again. No Thunderboomers heard before we va-mooshed and made our final exit of Franconia Notch's famous weather machine.

Made a mental note that going down Kinsman Ridge jungle gym from Cannon Summit is less advisable than going up it. Next time going up Kinsman Ridge and down Hi-Cannon. Or, oh heck, just going up and down Hi-Cannon. Often folks write that Hi-Cannon is steep, rough, etc. Well, frankly, I've been on these trails in all seasons, even snow - hiked up Hi-Cannon's ladders, etc in full crampons once. IHMO, Kinsman Ridge trail really should take that honor. As it possesses a 0.4 mile boulder field that would serve as a suitable scramble or low-end parkour training area. ;-) There's also one wash-out area from a past hurricane event, that while not long, wide or really that challenging, serves as a reminder that trails, like most human adapted natural features, are subjected to nature's whims and chaos. ;-)

Just a great day on the mountain, as always.  
Name
Name: Mike and a Friend 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-07-25 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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