| 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: |
Friday, April 11, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot was dry and free of snow/mud/water |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
First crossing is open but easily rock hoppable. Waterfall crossing is holding strong with its bridge, and the third and final crossing is bridged but looks like a few more warm days will send it tumbling into the stream |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Several “bend overs” along the MKT after the junction with Bald Peak, but easy to go around or under. There is a fair amount of standing water and mud about .3 miles after the Sketchy Shack |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
There’s a fair amount of thick black ice hidden under the few inches of snow that would be tough for doggos to manage right now |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The Kinsmans were a tale of three seasons today! The Mt Kinsman Trail started out with a summer tease: dry trail with nary a hint of snow for the first mile, then spring reared its ugly head with mud, slush and leaves until the junction with Bald Peak. At the junction winter took over, with a fully packed trail that hid some SERIOUSLY tricky black ice. We were forewarned by our fellow gridders who discovered the hard way that the additional 2 in of snow last night hid thick black ice and made for a treacherous descent. We swapped out microspikes for K-10s, which worked pretty well. Thanks to the fine snowshoeing on Wednesday, the trail had a beautiful trench, and we were able to hit both N & S Kinsman with our K-10s without postholing. The ridge is a packed dream, with full coverage everywhere except the second set of ledges descending North to South, which has several bare rock sections. Surprisingly good conditions for April, although as the temps warm up you will need snowshoes to keep from falllng into the center of the earth. Get it while it’s still good!
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 | Name: |
islandgirl |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-04-11 |
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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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