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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Cannon Mountain, Northeast Cannonball, North Kinsman, South Kinsman, NH
Trails
Trails: Lonesome Lake Trail, Hi-Cannon Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Kinsman Pond Trail, Cascade Brook Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at Lafayette Campground parking area off I-93 in Franconia Notch. Paved lot. Can hold many vehicles, but fills quickly on nice days. The lot directly accessing the Lonesome Lake trailhead is NOT plowed in winter. The sister lot is, though, and is much smaller. Plenty of parking available today. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Nothing of significance. All are rock hoppable. On slick, wet rocks today. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Kinsman Pond: a few new blow downs. Some blazes faded. Hi-Cannon: lack of blazes, likely intentionally. Erosion serious in a couple of places.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Uh, well, it depends. Hi-Cannon has a ladder dogs may not be comfortable with. But you be the judge. Otherwise, good trails for dogs. We encountered plenty of water points that should be able to keep them hydrated (it was also actively raining).  
Bugs
Bugs: One deer fly has it in for me. That sucker followed me down Kinsman Pond and up Cascade Brook. Despite the rain. I’ve been marked for whatever reason… Maybe I should restrain myself at home in Maine from liberal employment of the electric bug swatter. But it’s so satisfying to hear that frying sound… 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: One poor lady re-hiking Lonesome Lake back to the hut to retrieve her cell phone. Dude. That sucks. 
 
Comments
Comments: Route:
Lonesome Lake > Hi-Cannon trail > Kinsman Ridge (to Cannon summit then back all the way to South Kinsman summit) > Kinsman Pond Trail > Cascade Brook Trail > Lonesome Lake Trail.

Lonesome Lake: well travelled, well blazed in yellow. No mud in today’s rain showers. Simple to follow footbed. Very popular route. Be cognizant of this if letting dogs off leash.

Hi-Cannon: few, faded blue blazes. Footbed simple to follow. Lots of erosion. Many side trails being created (may be due to winter by-pass routes of tricky, icy ledges now being used in summer). Very steep trail. My son and I had buckets of sweat on our clothes. Also, the “tricky ledges” had me wishing for winter as they are so much less daunting. The ladder was in good shape. No mud. Solid footing on ledges (but I was ascending).

Kinsman Ridge:
This is a long trail. The segments I used were blazed in blue, with the segment of the AT blazed in standard white blazes. Some areas better blazed than others. Footbed simple to discern, though. Tricky footing coming off the summit of Cannon heading towards junction with the upper portion of Lonesome Lake. Great water point between the summit of East Cannonball and Middle Cannonball. You must filter it, though. Do not underestimate the Cannonballs. These 3 “little” peaks are rugged and require more time than you think. Much easier in winter, let me tell you! Ledges ascending North Kinsman have good footing, but require a substantial amount of energy. Quick jaunt with muddy areas between North and South Kinsman summits. Kinsman Pond shelter and tent sites manned by caretaker. Bear box and privy present. Gorgeous shelter. Water point is the pond (must filter).

Kinsman Pond: well blazed in blue. Tricky footing the first mile from the junction with Kinsman Ridge. But then turns into a lovely, moderately travelled route. Grade is excellent. Follows the Kinsman Pond outlet all the way down so water is not of concern. Slick, wet rock and roots today due to the rains. Tricky footing necessitates more time to negotiate in upper parts.

Cascade Brook: this 0.8 segment between Kinsman Pond and Lonesome Lake is the AT and is blazed in standard white blazes. Great grades. Simple to follow footbed. Some mud but bog bridges most helpful with this. We walked though a short rain deluge so I didn’t pay much attention to this trail I needed for my tracing list.

So few people out today. It was eerily quiet all day. So quiet. Only 2 SOBOs seen, along with a handful of day hikers. Weird…  
Name
Name: Remington34 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-08-02 
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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