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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks South Kinsman, North Kinsman, NH
Trails
Trails: Reel Brook Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Mt. Kinsman Trail, road walk
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, October 13, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The road into the parking area for Reel Brook Trail is rough. I wouldn’t recommend it for low clearance vehicles. There’s a broken pipe popping into the road that could rip up your tires but luckily it’s in the center of the road. It’s only three quarters of a mile or so to the parking lot so it wouldn’t be a long walk. The pull off to the parking lot has large rocks protruding from it (I most definitely wasn’t going to try it) so you’ll probably be pulling off which is only enough room for 1-2 cars although a Subaru Forester made it into the lot (the only other car I ever saw there). It looked like you could continue another few dozen yards and park too in a grassy area. There’s a pull off on the right a tenth or two of a mile before the official parking area as well. *NOTE* I heard what sounded to be loud gunshots VERY close by in the afternoon/evening as I was walking back to my car...I guess it’s hunting season. Please use caution!  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Nothing more than a rock hop. The Mt Kinsman one could get tricky in high water.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Not much in the way of blowdowns that I recall. Occasional blue blaze on Reel Brook Trail. It’s very easy to follow. Blue blaze on Mt Kinsman Trail too. It’s well travelled and easy to follow. I didn’t find the Kinsman Ridge Trail hard to follow but I don’t recall any white blaze for the AT surprisingly. Some bog bridges need to be replaced along Harrington Pond on Kinsman Ridge Trail. The Mt Kinsman Trail was much wetter than the other trails so it may have some drainage issues.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: I probably saw a few on the Mt Kinsman Trail but I don’t recall any. Reel Brook Trail would be okay for most dogs. Mt Kinsman Trail has some steep parts and ledge but most hiking dogs could probably handle it. Similar with Kinsman Ridge Trail.  
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None 
 
Comments
Comments: I redlined the Reel Brook Trail and another portion of the Kinsman Ridge Trail on Sunday. I only have the part south of this to do now. My 4th (5th??) time doing the Kinsmans for the Grid.

I thoroughly enjoyed this hike! Reel Brook Trail was a nice warm up and I really liked the new section of the KRT I was on. All the KRT is fairly rough, but it certainly didn’t seem worse than any of the sections north of the part I did today. However, it was much more scenic with some superb views from ledges (and a powerline cut!?), alpine meadows, and Harrington Pond. Probably my favorite part of a trail in the Cannon/Kinsman tab thus far. There are some very steep parts though but I don’t recall it being very “scrambly”. There was deep mud/standing water around failing bog bridges around Harrington Pond. It’s always a disappointing choice to wear my hiking boots rather than trail runners but it was the right decision. The KRT was generally dry though as was Reel Brook Trail. Mt Kinsman Trail has lots of wet rock/ledge and was very wet on the other hand until you’re down on the flat parts.

The Eliza Brook Shelter looked to be in good shape. The spur to it was obvious. Behind the shelter are the toilet and tent platforms. On the other side is the trail that leads back to the KRT (follow the arrow that says “Water”). From the cairn where the trail turns left mentioned in the guidebook, the spur to the ledge actually continues another several dozen yards through scrub to a LOVELY spot; I highly recommend it :) It was one of the highlights of the hike. You look down on Harrington Pond and Moosilauke all the way to the south and central White Mountains. This spur is just below the summit. The other spur mentioned innthe guidebook is just before the summit of Norh Kinsman (no sign though). The first view ledge is nice and all but if you go to the left of it, drop down through scrub and follow a rough path to another ledge (there’s some steep drops here so please be careful) that’s where the view is really at!! The view down over Kinsman Pond was magical and reminded me a bit of the Andrew Brook Trail ledges that overlook Lake Solitude.

The skies opened up for beautiful views and it was a very busy day at the summit :) Nice to see lots of people out including some cool families and even one thru hiker!!  
Name
Name: Liam Cooney 
E-Mail
E-Mail: liamcooney96@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-10-16 
Link
Link: https:// 
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