| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Kinsman, South Kinsman, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking area is plowed, but was snow covered (barely half an inch) as of my visit. Even with unseasonably warm temps for a week, I don't expect this to change much. I didn't slide around at all, but do take it slow and steady. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Negligible step-overs. No worries, right? |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Overall, the trail was in fine shape. There are a couple "blow-downs" that aren't a problem if you're of average stature. If you're a center in the NBA, you might have to duck a little, but nothing major. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Looking back, it was a good day to be outside. The trail is in a good spot right now. Snow is about what you'd expect in November. Maybe a couple/three inches on the trail itself, well packed down, and the freeze-thaw cycles have consolidated it quite nicely. Up on the ridge, there are a few drifty bits, where the snow might get as high as the tops of your boots, but it's light and fluffy, easily kicked through. I think I might have broken through the crust 3-4 times in ten miles, but not more than that -- the trail is far from what anyone would call a moonscape. I'll suggest an outright crampon over micro spikes on a warmer day, only because the snow can be a little greasy, and the longer spikes will be able to punch through to more solid stuff deeper down -- you'll move more efficiently. I saw a couple people wearing snowshoes, but everyone said they were overkill [snowshoes should at least be carried on winter 4Ks]. I used Katoola K-10s, which were fine, but as I said, a couple times, I would have liked having a little longer spikes. Maybe that's gilding the lily. :D Really, traction was the least of my worries. You need something more than bare boots, but not a whole lot.
I did see the trail broken out to Bald Peak, but no fresh tracks. That said, I can't imagine the way over was terribly rough, given how nice the trail across the ridge was. Even on the ridge, there wasn't epic amounts of snow. YMMV, of course.
Pictures, and a more detailed trip report on my blog, as always. Share and enjoy! |
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 | Name: |
Protean Wanderer |
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 | E-Mail: |
hiker@proteanwanderer.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-02-16 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2023/02/16/trip-report-confusion-and-clarity-on-kinsman-ridge/ |
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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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