Many years ago I hiked the complete Kinsman Ridge Trail, and have always remembered with great pleasure the stretch of trail that follows Eliza Brook up the mountain. I also wanted to redline the Reel Brook Trail. So earlier this summer I had planned a loop hike with Dave Metsky: up Reel Brook, Kinsman Ridge and down by Mt. Kinsman. That did not come off, and yesterday the "kinder, gentler Wednesday Group" did the hike. It was challenging but delightful.
The Reel Brook Trail follows old logging roads through excellent open hardwoods, with quite a bit of color left. We got the first view of Bog Pond when we crossed the power lines, also saw lots of color. Shortly after crossing Eliza Brook the trail rejoins the brook, and rises at its side. There are steep sections, but as a reward we saw many cascades; this is truly a "falling waters" trail! When the going was less steep we saw pools of quiet water. This section of less than a mile was the high point of the trip.
After crossing the brook the trail rises more steeply to reach Harrington Pond, completely surrounded by bogs. We stopped on the bog bridges to admire the pond and the shoulder of South Kinsman that rises abruptly above it.
The trail only rises 1,000 feet over a mile between Harrington Pond and South Kinsman. But that reasonable average grade hides a very steep and rocky section that was aerobically "stimulating" or "challenging", depending on your fitness! Though steep and rocky it was nowhere "technically" difficult, with lots of excellent foot and hand holds. Still, I would hate to do it (in either direction) with a full pack.
As we approached South Kinsman we found white stuff on the ground, much (most??) seemed to be rime ice that had fallen off the trees.
The day was glorious, not a cloud and hardly a breeze, so we had a long and leisurely lunch on the summit. Then down by the familiar Kinsman Ridge and Mt Kinsman trails, with a detour for the views from Bald Knob. Going down the Kinsman Ridge Trail from both summits we met some nasty icy patches on rock slabs, I negotiated several of them in a sitting position. Great loss of dignity, but beats getting hurt.
Over dinner we all agreed that the hike was an excellent one, though not one to be repeated every year.
The Reel Brook Trail follows old logging roads through excellent open hardwoods, with quite a bit of color left. We got the first view of Bog Pond when we crossed the power lines, also saw lots of color. Shortly after crossing Eliza Brook the trail rejoins the brook, and rises at its side. There are steep sections, but as a reward we saw many cascades; this is truly a "falling waters" trail! When the going was less steep we saw pools of quiet water. This section of less than a mile was the high point of the trip.
After crossing the brook the trail rises more steeply to reach Harrington Pond, completely surrounded by bogs. We stopped on the bog bridges to admire the pond and the shoulder of South Kinsman that rises abruptly above it.
The trail only rises 1,000 feet over a mile between Harrington Pond and South Kinsman. But that reasonable average grade hides a very steep and rocky section that was aerobically "stimulating" or "challenging", depending on your fitness! Though steep and rocky it was nowhere "technically" difficult, with lots of excellent foot and hand holds. Still, I would hate to do it (in either direction) with a full pack.
As we approached South Kinsman we found white stuff on the ground, much (most??) seemed to be rime ice that had fallen off the trees.
The day was glorious, not a cloud and hardly a breeze, so we had a long and leisurely lunch on the summit. Then down by the familiar Kinsman Ridge and Mt Kinsman trails, with a detour for the views from Bald Knob. Going down the Kinsman Ridge Trail from both summits we met some nasty icy patches on rock slabs, I negotiated several of them in a sitting position. Great loss of dignity, but beats getting hurt.
Over dinner we all agreed that the hike was an excellent one, though not one to be repeated every year.
