The Feathered Hat
Active member
Trail: Kinsman Ridge
Conditions: Packed most of the way. One small blowdown, easily stepped over, in the saddle between Cannon Outlook and Cannon summit.
Equipment: Snowshoes.
Comment: A couple of people coming down who I met on the way up told me I was following a large group of teens, most of whom were barebooting. Their prints made the trail choppy but not terrible -- with temps in the 0-10 range, the snow was still light and dry. However, at the top of the slide section, where the KRT makes a sharp left, all the tracks continued straight, heading up the Kinsman Glades ski run and toward the Cannon tramhouse. I followed the KRT and for a wondrous half-mile or so broke trail in fresh snow, first to the Cannon Outlook and then up toward the summit. Nothing strenuous, just a few fresh inches of snow, but what a pleasure -- snowshoeing at its very best. The views from the Outlook on this clear, nearly windless day were stunning, especially across the Notch over to Franconia Ridge. Following the KRT toward the Cannon summit was fine until the rocks section after the saddle below the summit, when I lost the trail. A strenuous but short whack through deep drifts and over scrubby trees got me over toward the tramhouse, and from there I followed the usual short trail to the Cannon summit tower. Going back down, I followed the ski trail to the Kinsman Glades, then hooked back up to the KRT. Near the bottom I was passed by the brightly friendly and energetic <mdeb> and a friend.
A magnificent day. Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99682097@N00/sets/72157612657147047/
Steve B
The Feathered Hat
[email protected]
Conditions: Packed most of the way. One small blowdown, easily stepped over, in the saddle between Cannon Outlook and Cannon summit.
Equipment: Snowshoes.
Comment: A couple of people coming down who I met on the way up told me I was following a large group of teens, most of whom were barebooting. Their prints made the trail choppy but not terrible -- with temps in the 0-10 range, the snow was still light and dry. However, at the top of the slide section, where the KRT makes a sharp left, all the tracks continued straight, heading up the Kinsman Glades ski run and toward the Cannon tramhouse. I followed the KRT and for a wondrous half-mile or so broke trail in fresh snow, first to the Cannon Outlook and then up toward the summit. Nothing strenuous, just a few fresh inches of snow, but what a pleasure -- snowshoeing at its very best. The views from the Outlook on this clear, nearly windless day were stunning, especially across the Notch over to Franconia Ridge. Following the KRT toward the Cannon summit was fine until the rocks section after the saddle below the summit, when I lost the trail. A strenuous but short whack through deep drifts and over scrubby trees got me over toward the tramhouse, and from there I followed the usual short trail to the Cannon summit tower. Going back down, I followed the ski trail to the Kinsman Glades, then hooked back up to the KRT. Near the bottom I was passed by the brightly friendly and energetic <mdeb> and a friend.
A magnificent day. Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99682097@N00/sets/72157612657147047/
Steve B
The Feathered Hat
[email protected]
