| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Kinsman Notch Peak, Blue Ridge Mountain-North Peak, Mount Wolf-West Peak, Mount Wolf, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Kinsman Ridge Trail, Bushwhacks |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, May 5, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
1 car at arrival at 11am. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Bog area footbridge was under 6-8” of water. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Significant blowdowns between NKN and Mount Wolf. I moved at least 30 -40 small-medium sized spruce boughs that were easy to handle on my way up to and back from Wolf (I parked at the Beaver Brook parking lot). That was the easy stuff.
I don’t know what kind of weather event happened here over the winter, but on my way back after summiting the Wolf “view point”, I counted all the blowdowns that will likely require a Corona style handsaw or a chainsaw. I counted at least 8 blowdown patches or single trees that will require a chainsaw and 56 blowdowns that could likely be cleared with a handsaw. 40 were between Wolf and Blue Ridge-North Peak. 23 between BRNP and North Kinsman Notch Peak and 1 near the Dilly Trail intersection. I did take pictures with Gaia locations for the 8 that looked like a chainsaw would be required, just in case a trail maintainer is interested. These are all new blowdowns with greenery on their tips. Many seem to have been dislodged at the roots, pulling up the forest floor with them. I did not include any old stepover blowdowns in the count, of which there are several. This was my first time on this section, so if this is par for the course at this time of the year for this trail then so be it. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
It felt more like a Tough Mudder race today (over, under and through the blowdowns). The trail is muddy, wet and at times a brook. Unless there was a wet rock to step on, the feet were in mud or water. There are a couple snow packs above about 2800 feet which were still consolidated and easy to walk over. An impressive section of snow about 4 feet high still exists in two spots, but they were completely supportive. I followed the tracks of 1 or two people all the way to the viewpoint. From that intersection the track(s) continued north on the KRT. There was significant supportive snow at that intersection still, but I am not sure how long it continued to the north. |
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 | Name: |
Mark S |
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 | E-Mail: |
wapacked@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-05-05 |
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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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