| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Old Kinsman Notch, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Reel Brook Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 1, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for three, perhaps four, cars at the Reel Brook trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There are six mid-size and several small brook crossings on the Reel Brook Trail. The small ones present no problems, but the larger crossings are very tricky right now due to thin ice and ice-glazed boulders. The first is best crossed about 20 yards upstream; the ice at the usual crossing will not support weight. The next two require judicious choice of rocks. The fourth crossing (which is the first crossing of Reel Brook itself) proved too tricky for us, and we bushwhacked up and around it, bypassing the fifth crossing and coming down at the sixth. The ice at this last one will support weight.
A few cold days and nights could change all this -- and so could a few warm days and nights, for that matter -- but for now caution is advised. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail is in good shape. We removed one small blowdown and cleared away some deadfall. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
This is a great hike for dogs, as there is plenty of water. However, dogs who don't like ice will not enjoy this hike right now. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
At the top of the steep section following the sixth crossing, where the old logging/snowmobile road veers left to the powerline cut, we found a Ziploc bag containing a headlamp, spare batteries, pocket knife, Leatherman-type tool, and other miscellany. We left the bag beside a short, small stump in the middle of the trail. |
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 | Comments: |
I hadn't seen any reports about the Reel Brook Trail for a while, so we went up for a look-see today, as this is my favorite under-used trail in the Kinsman area.
Trail conditions are fair -- sloppy in some sections, icy in others, great in still others. I wore my knock-off Maine Hunting Boots for this hike, expecting a lot of mud, and was not unhappy I did. We barebooted up to Old Kinsman Notch, then put on Microspikes for the trek down in respect of several icy pitches.
Note: Kinsman Ridge Trail from the junction with the Reel Brook Trail going north, toward Eliza Brook Shelter and South Kinsman, is not well blazed and can be difficult to follow in snow when untracked. Today, the KRT going south from the junction, toward Mt. Wolf, was untracked.
Saw seven people today -- which was a surprise, actually. Typically we see no one on this quiet, beautiful route.
Photos to come.
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 | Name: |
The Feathered Hat |
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 | E-Mail: |
stevebjerklie at yahoo dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-01-01 |
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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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