ctsparrow
New member
Sunday 6/24/2007
My son and I attempted this hike on Mothers Day weekend, but were turned back by snow and ice up top as I expected there would be, so it was fun to return to the scene of the aborted attempt.
We hiked the Mount Kinsman Trail from the Easton/Franconia Line. I have not done this route other than the failed attempt, and I decided i like this trail enough to return to it to complete the attempt. The new WMG has the updates printed, but for those with the older version, the trail is well blazed in blue and any potential confusion on roads at the start are marked with arrows. The first two miles to the Bald Peak (trail sign says Bald Knob) is an easy walk in the woods with minimum vert. Bald Peak is a great stopover, or short destination especially with little kids who won't venture to the top. BEWARE of this lower section as it is used quite abit by trail runners and mountain bikers who might startled those unprepared or with headphones on.
The rest of the trail to the ridge is ups and relative flats, making for easy going without the bendover and gasp for breath sections! The handfull of blowdowns that were blocking parts in May have been fully cleared...HUG a trail adopter/maintainer next time you see one.
The final climb to the Kinsman Ridge Trail (KRT), does not have a ladder as the older version of WMG states, and there is nothing technical to warrant worry here. The KRT to North Kinsman was more impressive than I remembered from my prior trip approx 7 years ago, but it took about book time with my son to gain the summit. The ledge at the VIEW sign is more than worth the boulder jump to hang out on it. Those of you who were out and about this past weekend, especially Sunday, know what I'm talking about, when I say the air and views were almost unmatchable for a summer climb. WOW is all i can say, looking over at Franconia Ridge. I was pointing out SO many peaks to my son! We did the over and back to So Kinsman, but still preferred the view from the No. Kinsman ledge. Our hike out was uneventful, but still this was a long day for his short legs and my bad knees, but accomplished the round trip with stops in 7 1/2 hours.
I would love to share pictures, but the camera was in my daughters purse!! And she was on a golf course with my husband. I was none to pleased, I guess in retrospect, it would have been worth stopping for a disposable camera on the way in, given the positive weather forecast.
Little to no bugs, due to the temperatures and wind, alot in pockets in the sunny spots once the day warmed on our way down, but no biters.
A rare late June phenomenon, indeed, deeply appreciated.
I was impressed to discover that my son and I made it to ten minutes within the KRT in our failed early May attempt, inspite of the lack of traction devices!
ctsparrow
Why walk the road, when you can walk the woods?
My son and I attempted this hike on Mothers Day weekend, but were turned back by snow and ice up top as I expected there would be, so it was fun to return to the scene of the aborted attempt.
We hiked the Mount Kinsman Trail from the Easton/Franconia Line. I have not done this route other than the failed attempt, and I decided i like this trail enough to return to it to complete the attempt. The new WMG has the updates printed, but for those with the older version, the trail is well blazed in blue and any potential confusion on roads at the start are marked with arrows. The first two miles to the Bald Peak (trail sign says Bald Knob) is an easy walk in the woods with minimum vert. Bald Peak is a great stopover, or short destination especially with little kids who won't venture to the top. BEWARE of this lower section as it is used quite abit by trail runners and mountain bikers who might startled those unprepared or with headphones on.
The rest of the trail to the ridge is ups and relative flats, making for easy going without the bendover and gasp for breath sections! The handfull of blowdowns that were blocking parts in May have been fully cleared...HUG a trail adopter/maintainer next time you see one.
The final climb to the Kinsman Ridge Trail (KRT), does not have a ladder as the older version of WMG states, and there is nothing technical to warrant worry here. The KRT to North Kinsman was more impressive than I remembered from my prior trip approx 7 years ago, but it took about book time with my son to gain the summit. The ledge at the VIEW sign is more than worth the boulder jump to hang out on it. Those of you who were out and about this past weekend, especially Sunday, know what I'm talking about, when I say the air and views were almost unmatchable for a summer climb. WOW is all i can say, looking over at Franconia Ridge. I was pointing out SO many peaks to my son! We did the over and back to So Kinsman, but still preferred the view from the No. Kinsman ledge. Our hike out was uneventful, but still this was a long day for his short legs and my bad knees, but accomplished the round trip with stops in 7 1/2 hours. I would love to share pictures, but the camera was in my daughters purse!! And she was on a golf course with my husband. I was none to pleased, I guess in retrospect, it would have been worth stopping for a disposable camera on the way in, given the positive weather forecast.
Little to no bugs, due to the temperatures and wind, alot in pockets in the sunny spots once the day warmed on our way down, but no biters.
A rare late June phenomenon, indeed, deeply appreciated.
I was impressed to discover that my son and I made it to ten minutes within the KRT in our failed early May attempt, inspite of the lack of traction devices!
ctsparrow
Why walk the road, when you can walk the woods?
