| 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: |
Sunday, January 18, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
"New" parking lot not plowed at 8 am and it's not clear where to park as the parking curbs were partially buried in the new snow and no cars when I got there. The section of the parking lot to the left of the kiosk is now blocked off. But apparently you aren't supposed to park in front of the kiosk although it's not marked as "no parking". I got a nasty note on my car for parking in the wrong spot. Apparently I don't have telepathy to know this in the never ending saga of the Mt Kinsman parking lot drama. Who knows what the next change will be. But apparently they are charging $10 for NH cars and $20 for everyone else. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Frozen over and stable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few easy blowdowns to step over or around. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
2 down low going to Bald Peak. |
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 | Bugs: |
Happily sleeping |
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 | Lost and Found: |
There's a single take out the garbage "spikes....ish" hanging on the kiosk. |
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 | Comments: |
An inch or so of fresh snow atop an icy trail from the trailhead to about a quarter mile above the Bald Peak Spur Trail so spikes would advisable. After that the snow depth picks up quickly. It's mostly packed out but still pretty fluffy the higher you go so snowshoes would be optimum. The KRT is mostly packed out especially to North Kinsman but more fluffy OAB to South Kinsman. SS again are advisable. The usually slick ledges between North and South Kinsman are nicely covered in snow and except for a little ice underneath the snow it's really nice SS conditions without a need for spikes or crampons. |
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 | Name: |
TransZenHiker |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-19 |
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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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