| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cannon Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Kinsman Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 2, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of parking right next to trailhead. Porta potties available for use right near the turn-in from main tram lot |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of small branches down in first half mile from recent storm. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A bit sketchy for Fido right now on an already very rough trail |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Packed out a buff/balaclava thingy. Email me if it’s yours I can send it to you |
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 | Comments: |
I have really enjoyed dodging shoulder season by staying close to home and trail running in the CT river valley/AT corridor. Alas, as the calendar turned I realized my November grid column was looking very barren, so I reluctantly shifted gears this morning and headed up the kitty litter express for a beautiful sunrise. Sadly, it was hidden in the clouds that engulfed Franconia Ridge.
Eroded section up to the first glade was damp, which actually made it quite nice and fast compared to the normal dry/slippery mess. From here on the trail was soaking wet with tons of running water. Black ice was minimal but increased the higher up you get. Only a dusting of snow. Mud pits had easily breakable thin black ice. I barebooted to the base of the summit cone but in retrospect I should have donned the rock spikes above the upper glade for maximum safety. Winds on the observation deck were RIPPING. Alpine zones must have been insane this morning. Realized sunrise wasn’t gonna happen so I quickly started back down. Rock spikes were crucial for the descent and stayed on until I crossed the lower glade. The other two hikers also both barebooted most the way up and spiked down. I wore my 200g insulated winter boots and was happy to have them once I got to the glades and above. They got drenched. Can’t wait for some snow up high-if it was ten degrees colder this hike would have been an extremely dangerous ice luge. |
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 | Name: |
Silent Running |
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 | E-Mail: |
stormyweatherholt@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-11-02 |
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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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