| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cannon Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lonesome Lake Trail, Hi-Cannon Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Short Trail, Rim Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 14, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There was plenty of parking both at Lafayette Place and at Cannon Mtn. Aerial Tramway. Both were partly plowed, but a few inches of snow were accumulating on the lots, on a layer of ice. Near Lafayette Place, there is the "Lonesome Lake parking area", but the snow there looked deeper so we did not chance parking there. Likewise, deeper snow at the "hiker parking" at the south end of the Cannon Mtn. Aerial Tramway dissuaded us from parking there, so we just used the large aerial tramway parking lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The stream crossing 0.2 mi up Hi-Cannon Trail was easy rock hopping, provided that you use the upper part of the brookbed to cross. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
It would help to have clearer signage indicating how hikers can use "Rim Trail" to get from Cafe 4080 to Kinsman Ridge Trail going NE; in particular, Rim Trail crosses a ski trail and it would be helpful to have a sign saying "Kinsman Ridge Trail via Rim Trail" where Rim Trail re-enters the forest on the far side of the ski trail (there is some sign there now, but it has other information and does not mention that there is a hiking trail there).
On Kinsman Ridge Trail about 0.1 mi above the intersection with Hi-Cannon Trail, there was a large blowdown causing a herd path around it. There were also two such major blowdowns causing herd paths on Kinsman Ridge Trail on the NE side of Cannon Mtn. (descending to the Aerial Tramway). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The ladder on Hi-Cannon Trail is not suitable for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We hiked from Lafayette Place up via Hi-Cannon Trail to Cannon Mtn., and then down Kinsman Ridge Trail to the Cannon Mtn. Aerial Tramway lot on the northeast side of the mountain, using a car spot. We brought crampons and some snowshoes, but didn't end up using them - we used microspikes the whole way - the few inches of snow on top of the ice were enough to make microspikes effective, even on the steepest sections of Hi-Cannon Trail going up and Kinsman Ridge Trail going down. The lower parts of Lonesome Lake Trail and Hi-Cannon Trail were packed snow, so microspikes were perfect there.
At the Hi-Cannon Trail ladder, the wooden rungs had some frozen ice/snow, but the ladder felt reasonably safe - some of the upper rungs had frozen snow filling the gaps between them, making the rungs hard to grip, but it was still OK with microspikes. The narrow traverse at the top of the ladder was also fine - one just had to pay attention. Just above the ladder, for safety we avoided the short side paths leading to the cliff on the left - we could get enough of a view from the main trail.
Near the top of Hi-Cannon Trail, and on Kinsman Ridge Trail from there to the summit, the snow was a little deeper, maybe 6-8 inches on the trail, but not deep enough that we were making postholes. There was enough snow here that snowshoes would work, and the same was true for the descent on the northeast side of the mountain, but not so much snow that snowshoes were useful, so we did not bother to switch to them. So right now snowshoes are optional, but with the additional snow Sunday afternoon, it is possible that snowshoes should now be preferred up there.
The steps leading up to the summit observation deck are covered in angled frozen snow/ice, so microspikes are needed to ascend safely.
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 | Name: |
mathbp |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-14 |
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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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