North Kinsman (4,293 ft) & South Kinsman (4,358 ft) 6-22-14

Distance: 9.384 mi.
Elevation: 2,536 ft (overall) 3,3175 ft (total)
Time: 3:54 (North Kinsman) 4:36 (South Kinsman) 5:12 (North Kinsman) 7:48 (total)
Trails: Lonesome Lake Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail

For this hike I arranged to go with a college friend that is only in NH for a short time this spring/summer before going back to western NY. She left the hike plan all up to me knowing what my hiking goals were for the year and that I have hiked more places in NH than she has (she has done Washington a few times and some other places). Knowing the day would be nice, I decided something with good views was in order so I chose the Kinsmans. Add in going past a hut next to a mountain lake and it gets even better.

The trail starts off pretty gentle and steadily climbs up the mountain. At times the trail gets a little rocky, but it's pretty easy to walk around them or from one to another. After one switchback and what doesn't seem like a lot of time, the trail starts to level out. There are still some rocks here, but Lonesome Lake isn't far away now. We quickly got to the lake, took a few pictures, and then headed around the lake to the hut. The trail here was a bit muddy, but roots, rocks, and bog bridges keep your feet pretty dry.

Climbing the hillside

Lonesome Lake with the Kinsmans behind

We made a quick stop at the hut and adjusted our gear before heading back up the trail. The trail gains a little, then looses a little. Then gains some more and looses some more before finally continuing up the mountain. The ups and downs aren't bad here, but do include some rocky spots with one having carved out steps. Further up the trail there is one steeper climb that has a short break after it before leading into the second steep climb and then the junction with the Kinsman Ridge Trail. These inclines have some tricky spots with large step ups and roots. But the biggest rock slabs have wooden steps added to them to make things easier.

Coming up to some steps

The Kinsman Ridge Trail has a nice gentle start before gaining more elevation. This trail isn't overly steep, but has some spots where you need to climb up and over some tall rock sections that keeps it interesting. After a little while of hiking, we rounded the corner at the summit next to the rock that seems to be the high point. I showed my friend where the view point was, but said we'd stop there on the way back. We were going well and it was time to do the short hike over to South Kinsman.

Kinsman Ridge Trail

The trail going down North Kinsman is steeper than the trail heading up South. Going down there are some rock slabs that could be tricky if wet. But going up it's just a pretty steady climb that isn't overly steep. Before long we were at the open summit of South Kinsman. It's the second hump with the larger cairn as one group up there didn't know when they stopped at the first hump. While Franconia Ridge is blocked somewhat by the rounded summit, there are still some great views here. You can see in all directions from the top.

Miles on the summit cairn

South Kinsman view

After a nice break and a snack, we headed back to North Kinsman. Climbing up out of the saddle between the two wasn't too bad with nice dry conditions on the bare rock surfaces. Soon we were back to the top and went out to the view point. We had another nice break here. I decided to go for some dry socks, and in doing so found out that my brand new boots we delaminating from the sole. Not good for the first hike with them and multiple days of hiking planned in Maine next weekend. (EMS got them exchanged easily and in plenty of time)

My friend Jamie ready to head back down

Eventually it was time to head back down the mountain. We took the same route down that we did on the way up so things hadn't changed and we knew what they would be like. We took another break at the hut to get some cold water on the way by. We took in the view a bit along the side of the lake, but then headed down. The hike back to the car was easy and uneventful. Lot of people appeared to be heading up to the hut this afternoon with their children.

On the way back to the hut

All in all it was a great day to be out in the mountains. I got two more checked off for my goal this year and got to spend a day catching up with a college friend.

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

North Kinsman (4,293 ft) 1-5-2013

Distance: 8.6 mi.
Elevation: 3,248 ft. (Overall) 3,626 ft. (Total)
Time: 4:02 (North Kinsman) 4:24 (Turn Around) 4:54 (North Kinsman) 6:22 (Bald Peak) 7:25 (Total)
Trails: Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail

It had been a while since I had hiked the Kinsmans (#4 & 5 of my first round of the 48) and I wanted to get back. I decided on a hike up from the western side since I did the eastern side before. Since the Mt. Kinsman trail head doesn't seem to get plowed out much if at all (from other reports/sources), I figured I should do this early in the winter before too much snow might accumulate in the parking lot. I drove my truck instead of my car not knowing what to expect. The lot hadn't been plowed, but was passable to 4WD and AWD vehicles with no problem.

The trail is quite easy to start with a long warm up before any real climbs. Even these to start weren't bad. Bald Peak seems to be a very popular spot and most of the traffic stops there. The trail was bare bootable until there. After that it was a snowshoe path and it was best if you had them to hike. A recent couple inches of snow were on the trail the entire length and added to the snow on the trees. Including the branches to duck under and lean around.

An easy start

After Bald Peak the trail still isn't overly steep, but does have some nice pitches in it. All the rocks were covered so it was plenty smooth for me. Getting closer to the Kinsman Ridge Trail, the wind was causing snow to drift and at time it was 10 inches deep in the trail. In one spot, you couldn't make out the old tracks, but the trail was easy to follow still. Near the ridge, the snow was occasionally hard under foot and easy walking. I broke trail all the way up the Mt. Kinsman Trail only to have someone catch me about 5 minutes after reaching the ridge and taking a break. I wish timing had been different since breaking trail had been part of what tired me out some today.

Snow drifting into the trail

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Kinsman Ridge Trail was packed well even though not many had been over it yet this morning. It was windy today along the ridge and that made it a bit slower going. I cruised over the summit of North Kinsman planning to spend more time here on the way back and headed towards South Kinsman. I took it slow on the steep parts coming down from North Kinsman so as not to end up sliding down the trail. I headed through the saddle and things were going fine. As soon as I started to climb South Kinsman though, my legs cramped up pretty bad. It took a minute to get them to loosen up. While it isn't far to the summit from here, I was starting to debate if it was worth it. I was a bit behind schedule for the day with bad traffic on the way to the trail head. I figured I could push through this, but it would slow me down even more. I made the smart decision and decided to take a break and have some more to drink. Then I turned around and headed back to North Kinsman. One uphill was better than two. Besides, South Kinsman summit was just into the clouds anyways (that's what I kept saying to feel better).

I was going up North Kinsman just fine until the last step up before the viewpoint where the cramps briefly came back. I pushed on and stopped at the overlook to enjoy the views. The clouds were expected to clear up this afternoon, but it wasn't happening very quickly. It was still cloudy, but you could see quite a bit. It was interesting almost being eye level with the bottom of the cloud deck.

Coming back up North Kinsman

Looking out just under the clouds

Once I started to get chilled from the wind, I headed on my way down. Things went fine with another set of snowshoes having packed the trail down. Some snow had already started to drift back into the tracks though. I made the side trek to Bald Peak as planned and enjoyed the views. Things were clearing well to the west. This would be a nice spot to get some views without lots of effort. I see why this is the most popular spot on this trail.

Coming down Kinsman Ridge Trail

Bald Peak

I know that the reason my legs cramped was that I wasn't drinking enough. I didn't have enough to drink the day before and certainly not enough on the drive up. This started me out less than ideal from the beginning. Hiking when it is too cold to use my water bladder, I don't drink as often as it isn't as easy. I have a couple ideas to try to change that already. I really wish I could have bagged South Kinsman again, but in the end I am fine with doing the smarter thing. Both times trying these peaks, I have learned a lesson. I wonder what I will learn here next time? Even with all this, it was still a good hike and the winter wonderland that you hike through was beautiful to look at.

For the full gallery of pictures, go HERE

North Kinsman (4,293 ft) & South Kinsman (4,358 ft) 5-21-10

Distance: 10.256 mi.
Elevation: 2,839 ft. or 3,385 ft combined round trip
Time: 5:22 (ascent) 9:36 (total)
Trails: Basin-Cascades Trail, Cascade Brook Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Kinsman Pond Trail, Cascade Brook Trail, Basin Cascades Trail

I started from the trail head at the Basin parking lot. This made for some nice scenary as you start the hike. The trail goes up at an incline that isn't too bad for the start and you have plenty of cascades next to the trail to distract you as well. After a while, the trail levels out more as it follow the river and there are fewer waterfalls. It crosses the brook twice with the first being across rocks in the water and the second being on a nice bridge.

Cascade Brook

As you turn away from the brook some on the Cascade Brook Trail, there start to be some trees that have blown over this winter. Sometimes they are small and you can step over/under them, and sometimes the block the whole trail. There have been enough hikers through though that you can find a path around them all. The trail continues a gentle climb up to Lonesome Lake.

The worst of the blow downs

Lonesome Lake

The first half of the Fishin' Jimmy trail was pretty easy. It follows along the side of the ridge without much gain or loss. While you are on a pretty step side hill at times, you don't really realize it as there are plenty of trees on both sides of you and no real views. After this though, things start getting steeper. The trail gets steep for a bit then levels off some. Then gets step again, then levels off. Unfortunately the level spots didn't seem to last long enough to fully recover from the steep parts.

Steep section of trail

The end of the Fishin' Jimmy Trail and start of the Kinsman Ridge Trail was were I first starting seeing snow remaining in the trail. They were just small patches at this point. The Kinsman Ridge Trail up to the summit of North Kinsman continues at a pretty good incline and only gives one real lookout point. The only lookouts on the summit are on a ledge near the summit and if you climb up on a rock right next to the trail at the summit like I did.

View from North Kinsman

The trail heads downhill slightly after the summit until you start going into the dip between the two summits. There is one view on the way out that looks right over to South Kinsman. In the dip it stays pretty flat for a while before heading back up to the summit of South Kinsman. This was where I started to run into longer and more frequent sections of snow in the trail. It is still packed down for the most part, but when you fall though, it is almost up to your knees in places. South Kinsman provides a great view in all directions. Just before the top, I saw my first hiker being a man named Jim that is trying to hike all 48 4000 footers this year. He had wished he had a panoramic camera as he spent an hour up here enjoying the view. So if he is reading this, here is a 360 degree panoramic shot I took from up top.

360 Panoramic from South Kinsman

After having lunch and enjoying the view, I started to head back along the same trail. On the way down though, when I got to the intersection near Kinsman Pond, I took a right onto the Kinsmna Pond Trail. This goes along pretty much flat along the Eastern shore of the pond then turns off into the woods. It was right after this turn the I came across the worst section of snow all day. For probably 2 tenths of a mile, the trail is covered in knee deep snow. And as I was getting tired by this point, the added effort of falling through was not very welcome. After I made it through the snow, the trail then goes right down a brook that I kept crossing from side to side for easier walking. You never really go far away from this brook on the way down this trail. You are either following it or right next to it the whole time. The upper section of this trail is quite rocky in places as well as you end up hoping from rock to rock on the way down.

Snow section of trail

After you get down to about 2700 feet though the trail does get better. I am guessing this is partly because people hike this section more as there appear to be a couple nice waterfalls in the brook around this elevation. But whatever the reason, I was happy to see it as I was even more tired and now had wet feet from the snow and water. After getting back to the Cascade Brook Trail, I followed it down next to Cascade Brook back to the Basin. I took a needed break here before going back to my truck to get ready for the ride home.

The Basin

All in all, if it weren't for the conditions on the Kinsman Pond Trail on the way down while I was tired, this would have been a great hike. The weather was great and the views were better. And I learned a little more about preparing for hiking a 4000 footer. After all, I have only done 2 previous to this.

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE