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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Cannon Mountain, Northeast Cannonball, North Kinsman, South Kinsman, Mt. Liberty, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette, NH
Trails
Trails: Kinsman Ridge Trail, Kinsman Pond Trail, Cascade Brook Trail, Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at Cannon Tramway lot off I-93 in Franconia Notch. Well signed, large, dirt surfaced lot that is plowed in winter.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Oh my gad. The majority of Kinsman Pond Trail was running water. The water crossings on Cascade Brook (below the junction with Kinsman Pond trl, heading towards I-93) was only accomplished with fording in knee deep water. Not dangerous, just cold. And wet. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A large tree top down down on Greenleaf, past the hut junction. Recommend the reroute of this trail that is past the Old Bridle Path junction be blazed. The tree pile is not high enough for snow levels (or novice hikers for that matter). Cascade Brook (AT) in need of updated blazes. Otherwise excellent trails! The Kinsman Ridge Trail from the Tramway parking area to tree line is quite eroded. Some large and precarious rocks are teetering on the brink… 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Good trails for trail proven dogs. No obstacles on these trails. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Route:
2 day backpacking trek using: Kinsman Ridge Trail > to summit of South Kinsman and back > Kinsman Pond Trail > Cascade Brook Trail > Liberty Spring Trail > Franconia Ridge Trail (out and back to Liberty summit then back and over the peaks to cross to Lafayette) > Greenleaf Trail > end at Tramway lot.

Kinsman Ridge Trail: the portion not included with the AT is blazed in blue. I’ve not been here in snow free seasons and was very surprised to see the amount of rocks and rock ledges present on the ascent from the Tramway parking lot. This took way more time to negotiate. No ice; just wet, slick, steep rock. After Cannon summit the Cannon Balls handed me my rear end. These peaks are soooooo much easier in the snow. But up and down, up and down, and up and down I went. The trees were quite panicked in yesterday’s winds. Met lovely Allan at the junction of Fishin’ Jimmy (where Kinsman Ridge transitions to the AT and is blazed in white) and we hiked North and South Kinsman together. Lots of lakes, mud, and mud lakes. No ice or snow. Good luck on your AT thru hike in 2022, Allan!!

Kinsman Pond Trail: this is nicely blazed in blue. The shelter is lovely with a bear box and a privy. See water notes above. This trail apparently runs down several stream beds normally. Yesterday’s elevated water flows only made water levels higher and increasingly frequent. The footing is awful for the first mile or so, but then turns into the mellow-Whites-type trail I so dearly love.

Cascade Brook trail: very well placed, but faded, white AT blazes. Several knee deep water fords due to elevated levels. No dangerous currents but experience with fording water is helpful. Very nice footpath. Lots of mud. I really liked this section with all the leaf litter. You don’t have to cross I-93 on foot, there is an established footpath under the bridges then a nice metal bridge to cross the river to meet with Liberty Spring Trail.

Liberty Springs Trail: this is part of the AT and is well blazed in white. I made camp off trail about a mile up this trail. Many small running water points, water running on trail, and mud on this trail. After making camp, it was quite the sight to watch Liberty’s “torch” as the sun’s fading rays sprayed the summit of Liberty with orange light. Of note, the Liberty Springs tentsite has bear boxes and a flowing water point. Several campers on the platforms at this site last night. There is also a privy.

Franconia Ridge: this is part of the AT and is blazed in faded white blazes. The footpath is simple to discern. There was no snow on this ridge. Rime ice noted on the way up to Lincoln. Some ice flows starting to form. Though no traction needed today, please bring spikes anyway as one never knows when they’ll be needed. Several die hard hikers out today given that the winds had subsided a bit. Was lucky enough to be able to hike with a 3 time AT thru hiker from Liberty summit to Little Haystack. Fantastic company. Best of luck to you with your CDT endeavor, Rockfish! Pleasure to meet you.

Greenleaf: not blazed until about 0.75 miles from the end with I-93 near the Tramway parking area. This small section is blazed in faded blue blazes. From the summit of Lafayette, the trail is well marked with large carins above tree line, almost all the way down to the hut (closed). Today afforded more views than I had last month. Quite lovely. Some ice flows starting above tree line. Negotiated these with existing, protruding rocks. The remainder was covered in mud or running water. The amount of water considerably less than yesterday. No water crossings that present issues (you will have to stop and contemplate one of them). This is a seriously brutal trail with all the rocks. But it is descending, by incredible switchbacks, down into Franconia Notch. So I guess I can’t be too judgmental… It also passes Eagle Cliff. This was a mysterious moss and boulder filled area that dumps you out next to an impressive hunk of rock. will come back to explore more.
 
Name
Name: Remington34 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-11-02 
Link
Link: https:// 
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