Sunshine Chris
New member
Short Trip to the Pics for my hike to North and South Kinsman:
http://s1343.photobucket.com/albums/o793/CrystalCreek7760/North and South Kinsman solo on 12-15-12/
Summits: North Kinsman 4293' and South Kinsman at 4358'
Elevation gain to do both summits and return over North was about 3950'- my largest gain by 850' to date since I started hiking again back in September
Mileage: 10 miles out and back
Trails: Mt. Kinsman Tr. to Kinsman Ridge Tr. head south over North Kinsman then South Kinsman and then retracing steps back over North Kinsman and down on Mt. Kinsman Trail
Company: Started solo, joined Rotter's friends on trip down
Wendy Mitchell from the Rocks on Top Forum had put a call out to a bunch of old Rotter friends to do a hike on Saturday December 12th and the group decided on the Kinsmans. There were to be 10 plus meeting up at 8 am at the Mt. Kinsman trail-head. I really wanted to have enough daylight to get out to South Kinsman too so I told the group I was headed in early and would try and meet them back on North Kinsman after completing both North and South. My final 4000 footer was South Kinsman with Dave Bear and my 2nd to final one was North Kinsman with my son Mountain Man Matt and Dave Bear in 2009 (still have not put in for it) so I was really looking forward to getting back there again.
I checked my phone before heading on trail and listened to a message from my husband. He wished me a wonderful hike and encouraged me to be SAFE! He has been so supportive since I started hiking again and his phone call really encouraged me. I was on trail at 7 am, about a 1/2 hour later than I had hoped to be. There was one car in the parking lot. It was pretty cool when I started on trail. Day light had arrived and the trail meandered along nicely to shortly meet up with a nice wide logging road. I soon de-layered and stopped again a few minutes later to take a call from Dave Bear. He wanted to make sure I said hello to all the old Rotter friends when I saw them and wished me a safe hike. I passed an old sugar house along the way on the left. There were quite a few trail intersections, most I kept right on by following the well marked blue blazes. By the way, this trail is very well maintained with no obstructions or blow downs. Great work and kudos go to the maintainers of this trail!!! The grade began to change and the climbing began. I knew since I had started at an elevation of only 1030' that I had just under 2900' to climb to get to the ridge line at the intersection of the Kinsman Ridge Trail. At 1.5 miles I crossed a substantial brook which was open and easy to cross on rocks. I gather the former Kinsman Cabin was near here though I did not take time to look for any remains. Maybe another time when I am not being so goal oriented. At 1.8 miles I crossed another small brook that falls over a mossy ledge on the left of the trail. It was lovely as shown in my pics. More brook crossing for me at 2.1 miles- Flume Brook I think. Just over the brook there is supposed to be a side path on the right leading along the brook bank for 150 yards to the small steep-walled Kinsman Flume. I wish I had remembered to stop here on the way back, but my head and knees were bothering me so I forgot. More on why the head hurt later on. In another 70 yards the trail turns left with a right taking you on a spur path .2 miles to Bald Peak with fine views to the west. Did not go there and knew I would catch it from Dave Bear for not doing it ( I did by the way). I should take more time to visit these types of treasures. Maybe when the weather is nicer and I am not so concerned about having enough daylight, keeping warm enough and having enough energy left to get down safely.
The trail narrows quite bit now with 1350 feet of gain behind me and 1500' more to gain to get to the ridge line and 1.6 miles. The trail follows Flume brook beginning with easy to moderate grades which later steepen in short rough pitches. The ice flows on trail began around 3150' and became more pronounced as I climbed. I took a few pictures early on and then began to concentrate more on being safe and keeping a steady hiking rhythm. I stopped to stuff down half a peanut butter and fluff sandwich and add a hat, warm gloves and my jacket I had removed earlier. I noticed some snow on the ground and trees, probably no more than 2 inches. The ice flows got to be too much for bare booting so I added micro-spikes which helped to quicken my pace. I was keeping on book time (my goal) and continued my steady climb. Went through a flattish area and continued climbing more steeply again. The trail was full of ice flows now. I crossed several small brooks and .2 before the ridge the trail went right angling upward, then left to climb straight to the top of the ridge. I had to slow my pace a little to keep moving without frequent stops but soon made the ridge line. A right turn would take me toward North and South Kinsman. I turned left though to walk down a bit and get some great pics of Cannon Mountain and Lafayette and Lincoln. It was a nice sunny morning and though it was cool I was loving it!
It was time to get to the summit so I could make book time so I turned tail and started up the trail. I new from a trip report made earlier in the week that this final 400' ascent to North Kinsman was bound to be heavily iced and steep, maybe requiring crampons. I found that to be true, especially with a light coating of snow on top adding to the treachery. I followed someone else's footprints and carefully worked my way up, holding onto anything I could get my hands on. No time for pics here. I was alone and I had to be safe. In retrospect it would have been best to have just put my crampons on before I started up this section, but I didn't. I definitely would not have gone up there though, knowing I would have to come down; without the comfort of acknowledging that I had crampons to wear. I soon reached the summit, looked at my watch and 10:30 am meant I had made book time. Yeah!!! I was elated. Every hike I feel stronger and more confident, like the good old days. It sure feels good to be gradually getting fitter again.
I quickly continued on down off of North Kinsman to go tag South Kinsman. The first steep part heading down was a bit precarious but I managed. I just needed to think about how to best get through a few spots safely. The trail across presented some views on the way down off North and heading up South, especially off toward Franconia Ridge. Layfayette and Lincoln where standing tall and beautiful in their winter blanket of white and I waved to whoever might be over there enjoying views of my summits (well they were mine as far as I was concerned, at least for the moment). I walked along leisurely across the level sag, resting my legs for the climb to South. It soon arrived and I began marching in earnest again to gain South Kinsman in no time at all. I had an older feller come up behind me on this final approach and we chatted on the way up. He said he posted on another forum besides Views as Pepper and me. When I spoke to Dave Bear about him later, he said he thought his name was John. He had a Canadian accent and was very friendly. He took my summit photo for me and we ate a quick bite together. It was gorgeous up there with views forever and blue, blue skies. It was a little cool still and I added another hat and an outer jacket to the mix and put on the winter mittens with hand warmers inside. I had to transfer my water from my bladder to my water container as I stopped drinking from the hose toward the end of the ascent and it froze up. I guess I will have to retire it till spring.
Continued below:
http://s1343.photobucket.com/albums/o793/CrystalCreek7760/North and South Kinsman solo on 12-15-12/
Summits: North Kinsman 4293' and South Kinsman at 4358'
Elevation gain to do both summits and return over North was about 3950'- my largest gain by 850' to date since I started hiking again back in September
Mileage: 10 miles out and back
Trails: Mt. Kinsman Tr. to Kinsman Ridge Tr. head south over North Kinsman then South Kinsman and then retracing steps back over North Kinsman and down on Mt. Kinsman Trail
Company: Started solo, joined Rotter's friends on trip down
Wendy Mitchell from the Rocks on Top Forum had put a call out to a bunch of old Rotter friends to do a hike on Saturday December 12th and the group decided on the Kinsmans. There were to be 10 plus meeting up at 8 am at the Mt. Kinsman trail-head. I really wanted to have enough daylight to get out to South Kinsman too so I told the group I was headed in early and would try and meet them back on North Kinsman after completing both North and South. My final 4000 footer was South Kinsman with Dave Bear and my 2nd to final one was North Kinsman with my son Mountain Man Matt and Dave Bear in 2009 (still have not put in for it) so I was really looking forward to getting back there again.
I checked my phone before heading on trail and listened to a message from my husband. He wished me a wonderful hike and encouraged me to be SAFE! He has been so supportive since I started hiking again and his phone call really encouraged me. I was on trail at 7 am, about a 1/2 hour later than I had hoped to be. There was one car in the parking lot. It was pretty cool when I started on trail. Day light had arrived and the trail meandered along nicely to shortly meet up with a nice wide logging road. I soon de-layered and stopped again a few minutes later to take a call from Dave Bear. He wanted to make sure I said hello to all the old Rotter friends when I saw them and wished me a safe hike. I passed an old sugar house along the way on the left. There were quite a few trail intersections, most I kept right on by following the well marked blue blazes. By the way, this trail is very well maintained with no obstructions or blow downs. Great work and kudos go to the maintainers of this trail!!! The grade began to change and the climbing began. I knew since I had started at an elevation of only 1030' that I had just under 2900' to climb to get to the ridge line at the intersection of the Kinsman Ridge Trail. At 1.5 miles I crossed a substantial brook which was open and easy to cross on rocks. I gather the former Kinsman Cabin was near here though I did not take time to look for any remains. Maybe another time when I am not being so goal oriented. At 1.8 miles I crossed another small brook that falls over a mossy ledge on the left of the trail. It was lovely as shown in my pics. More brook crossing for me at 2.1 miles- Flume Brook I think. Just over the brook there is supposed to be a side path on the right leading along the brook bank for 150 yards to the small steep-walled Kinsman Flume. I wish I had remembered to stop here on the way back, but my head and knees were bothering me so I forgot. More on why the head hurt later on. In another 70 yards the trail turns left with a right taking you on a spur path .2 miles to Bald Peak with fine views to the west. Did not go there and knew I would catch it from Dave Bear for not doing it ( I did by the way). I should take more time to visit these types of treasures. Maybe when the weather is nicer and I am not so concerned about having enough daylight, keeping warm enough and having enough energy left to get down safely.
The trail narrows quite bit now with 1350 feet of gain behind me and 1500' more to gain to get to the ridge line and 1.6 miles. The trail follows Flume brook beginning with easy to moderate grades which later steepen in short rough pitches. The ice flows on trail began around 3150' and became more pronounced as I climbed. I took a few pictures early on and then began to concentrate more on being safe and keeping a steady hiking rhythm. I stopped to stuff down half a peanut butter and fluff sandwich and add a hat, warm gloves and my jacket I had removed earlier. I noticed some snow on the ground and trees, probably no more than 2 inches. The ice flows got to be too much for bare booting so I added micro-spikes which helped to quicken my pace. I was keeping on book time (my goal) and continued my steady climb. Went through a flattish area and continued climbing more steeply again. The trail was full of ice flows now. I crossed several small brooks and .2 before the ridge the trail went right angling upward, then left to climb straight to the top of the ridge. I had to slow my pace a little to keep moving without frequent stops but soon made the ridge line. A right turn would take me toward North and South Kinsman. I turned left though to walk down a bit and get some great pics of Cannon Mountain and Lafayette and Lincoln. It was a nice sunny morning and though it was cool I was loving it!
It was time to get to the summit so I could make book time so I turned tail and started up the trail. I new from a trip report made earlier in the week that this final 400' ascent to North Kinsman was bound to be heavily iced and steep, maybe requiring crampons. I found that to be true, especially with a light coating of snow on top adding to the treachery. I followed someone else's footprints and carefully worked my way up, holding onto anything I could get my hands on. No time for pics here. I was alone and I had to be safe. In retrospect it would have been best to have just put my crampons on before I started up this section, but I didn't. I definitely would not have gone up there though, knowing I would have to come down; without the comfort of acknowledging that I had crampons to wear. I soon reached the summit, looked at my watch and 10:30 am meant I had made book time. Yeah!!! I was elated. Every hike I feel stronger and more confident, like the good old days. It sure feels good to be gradually getting fitter again.
I quickly continued on down off of North Kinsman to go tag South Kinsman. The first steep part heading down was a bit precarious but I managed. I just needed to think about how to best get through a few spots safely. The trail across presented some views on the way down off North and heading up South, especially off toward Franconia Ridge. Layfayette and Lincoln where standing tall and beautiful in their winter blanket of white and I waved to whoever might be over there enjoying views of my summits (well they were mine as far as I was concerned, at least for the moment)
. I walked along leisurely across the level sag, resting my legs for the climb to South. It soon arrived and I began marching in earnest again to gain South Kinsman in no time at all. I had an older feller come up behind me on this final approach and we chatted on the way up. He said he posted on another forum besides Views as Pepper and me. When I spoke to Dave Bear about him later, he said he thought his name was John. He had a Canadian accent and was very friendly. He took my summit photo for me and we ate a quick bite together. It was gorgeous up there with views forever and blue, blue skies. It was a little cool still and I added another hat and an outer jacket to the mix and put on the winter mittens with hand warmers inside. I had to transfer my water from my bladder to my water container as I stopped drinking from the hose toward the end of the ascent and it froze up. I guess I will have to retire it till spring. Continued below:
