| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Kineo, Mt. Kineo, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Forest Road 112/Snowmobile Corridor 155N, bushwhacks, Unknown Experimental Forest Snowmobile Trail, Kineo Trail, Buzzell Brook Extension Snowmobile Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, January 8, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
we parked at the maintained end of stinson lake road in ellsworth at the start of fr 122 and the snowmobile junctions. plowed area with room for a couple cars. stinson lake road a little sketchy driving early especially as it wasn't really sanded much beyond turn at the old kineo trailhead. will also note that the standard parking lot for the three ponds trailhead is not being maintained, but is currently accessible in a car. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
major crossings all along snowmobile trails and are bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
one large hardwood blowdown on upper west branch of kineo trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
fr 122/snowmo 155 was groomed with some signs of earlier riders though there is not a lot of snow cover. at the first junction (good kiosk with nice map of area snomo trails) we went briefly left on buzzell brook extension (also groomed) then hit the woods on a line towards the east peak of kineo. 6-8 inches of snow with no notable change higher up. a little crusty on top, but decent snowshoeing. woods were very open hardwoods low which transitioned into generally open conifer forest with some blowdown higher up. picking open lines up high we ended up a little west and hit a research area on the ridge where we picked up a research snowmobile trail east towards the east peak of kineo. when the trail turned north we continued east in mostly open conifer woods up to the recognized highpoint. back tracking to the research snowmo trail we were able to follow it west for a bit before it really turned off our bearing across the ridge towards kineo. we did drop down on it a bit and enjoyed a nice view to franconia ridge from an open research clearing. we then slabbed along the slope towards kineo trail in open woods, but with ample hobblebush. we eventually crossed onto kineo trail and followed it west back up to the ridge. from there it was a nice bushwhack to kineo and we had good luck staying on open lines up to the recognized highpoint. nice to revisit on a clear day to get the very limited, but interesting views. we backtracked to kineo trail and followed it down to its junction with the snowmobile trails and picked up buzzell extension back to corridor 155 and the car. kineo trail corridor was clear and often well marked on this side of the ridge. one could bushwhack from higher up on kineo trail and cut the corner to pick up the snowmobile trail farther east saving distance and elevation, but we decided to stick with the trail all the way and the going was fast.
this was a really great hike. seemed a pretty logical route and we were able to hit both peaks in about 12 miles of walking. nice blue skies and sun until the afternoon when grey skies moved in.
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 | Name: |
bryan, Nordic Gal |
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 | E-Mail: |
bryancuddihee@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-01-08 |
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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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