| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cannon Mountain, Northeast Cannonball, North Kinsman, South Kinsman, Mt. Wolf, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Kinsman Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots at both ends (hiker parking at Cannon Tramway and Beaver Brook) were nearly empty and almost entirely clear of snow. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only crossing of note was Eliza Brook which had thin ice and open water, but was fairly easy to rock hop just upstream of where the trail comes in. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few minor blowdowns that were easy to duck under or take a very minor detour around. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
1 pup came with us for the whole 16+ miles. Some fairly sketchy sections on the southern half of this route (especially descending south of South Kinsman) on sloped ice so not recommended unless your dog is very comfortable in tough winter conditions. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Three of us plus dog completed the full 16+ mile Kinsman Ridge traverse following the Kinsman Ridge Trail from Cannon to Beaver Brook. Trail conditions up until South Kinsman were tough but manageable with microspikes and never felt too sketchy. There were a couple inches of fresh powder on top of rocks, ice, or hardpack that made things difficult. The Cannonballs had some significant icy spots, but with sharpish microspikes they went pretty easily.
Conditions on the southern portion of the trail beyond South Kinsman were significantly worse. The descent from South Kinsman was extremely steep and icy and covered by a few inches of loose powder in most places. This was repeated on most of the steep descents and a few of the ascents for the rest of the route. There was not enough snow for snowshoes to be useful and there were too many exposed rocks for crampons. The microspikes took a beating on the rocks and were just barely good enough on the ice, but that was the best option on the day. It is essentially impossible to move quickly in such conditions and progress was extremely slow going. I knew that this trail was extremely rough and I also expected the conditions to be approximately what they were, but the combination of those two factors is so much more difficult than I had expected.
That said, it was a beautiful day yesterday. Winds were low and temperatures were not too cold until the evening (when it did get pretty cold and windy) and we had a strong, well prepared group. We started just before 9am and finished around 6pm for a very full-value day. Make sure you're prepared out there. Conditions are tough and somewhat unpredictable right now, especially on the less-travelled trails. |
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 | Name: |
Doug Lipinski |
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 | E-Mail: |
dmlipinski@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-12-31 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/4542026282 |
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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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