| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Kinsmen, South Kinsmen, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Basin-Cascades trail, Cascade Brook trail, Fishin’ Jimmy trail, Kinsmen Ridge trail, Kinsmen Pond trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the Basin, northbound side. Plowed and plenty of room. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Solid snow bridges |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One blowdown on Cascade Brook trail with a well packed go-around
Kinsmen Pond trail? … holy moly. The upper third of it is nearly impassable with leaners. Hard to tell if they are actual blowdowns or will stand back up when they thaw out. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
There’s some open water in tiny stream crossings down low, but my pup was content to eat snow and ignore the water I brought for her. She had a little trouble navigating the upper part of Kinsmen Pond trail, and I suspect a shorter-legged dog would not like it at all. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Just chickadees. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found some political graffiti in bright orange paint or something, written on the snow on Kinsmen Pond. Unfortunately I was unable to carry it out. Luckily it is currently getting buried in some fresh snow. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Smooth sailing in spikes from car to summits. Nice fast hard packed snow. Steep on Fishin Jimmy, smoothed out by sledders.
So then I chose to descend Kinsmen Pond trail. In my defense, it looked really nice at the bottom when I passed the trail junction on my way up. Do not be deceived! It seems that several hikers started up the trail but changed their minds halfway up. The upper mile or so has very deep snow, roughly broken out by someone with bigger snowshoes and longer legs than me, with plenty of jungle gym trees to climb over or under. If that is your jam, you’ll love it! The track twists and turns, and goes off the actual trail here and there, but I promise, it does end up at the pond. So obviously, snowshoes on that trail. |
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 | Name: |
Amy & the Pyr |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-03-03 |
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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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