Went up north to the White Mountains for a little birthday backpacking this weekend. Drove up January 18, 2025. My friend Jniehof could only do Saturday, so he left his car at the bottom of the Fishin’ Jimmy Trail at the base of Lafayette Campground, where I met him. The parking lot was JAMMED. We met five twenty-somethings in microspikes with no hiking poles who told us they were going to Mt. Cannon. When we asked what route they were going to take, a young woman replied, “I don’t know, we’re just following AllTrails.”
We then drove down to The Basin where we met up with my buddy Zippy, and the three of us went up the Cascade Brook Trail to the hut. There were folks out on the ice at Lonesome Lake, and we could smell the smoke from the hut. Saw lots of folks coming down the trail in microspikes, having turned around at North Kinsman with reports of drifting snow beyond. It started snowing, and we said goodbye to Jon, who wisely thought it time to get home before the Kanc got too bad.
We made our way to Kinsman Pond campsite, where we had the place to ourselves. Only about a foot of snow, but it wasn’t packed down, and if one stepped off trail, one went down to about mid-shin. Not a bad night, less than an inch of snow, mild winds, temps just below freezing.
In the morning, we left most of our gear, donned snow shoes, and hopped over to South Kinsman, which was socked in, but with almost no winds. Met lots of happy people, many with dogs. About fifty-fifty snow shoes versus microspikes. Some kind folks decided it would be fun to glissade down every single step section, and you can imagine what that was like trying to get up.
We then headed back to the campsite, and went down the Kinsman Pond Trail. It was barely broken out—essentially just enough to see the route lightly outlined. The ice did not look thick on the pond, and we swapped off on lead. It was my first time on the trail, and I thought it was lovely. The conversation with Zippy (as with Jon), was excellent as always.
The report was for snow coming in, but we were pleasantly surprised to see the sun pop out! Franconia Ridge looked magnificent, and as we hiked under I-93 at the end, sunlight was reflecting off of Cannon Cliffs.
Great weekend! I wish you had been there with me.
We then drove down to The Basin where we met up with my buddy Zippy, and the three of us went up the Cascade Brook Trail to the hut. There were folks out on the ice at Lonesome Lake, and we could smell the smoke from the hut. Saw lots of folks coming down the trail in microspikes, having turned around at North Kinsman with reports of drifting snow beyond. It started snowing, and we said goodbye to Jon, who wisely thought it time to get home before the Kanc got too bad.
We made our way to Kinsman Pond campsite, where we had the place to ourselves. Only about a foot of snow, but it wasn’t packed down, and if one stepped off trail, one went down to about mid-shin. Not a bad night, less than an inch of snow, mild winds, temps just below freezing.
In the morning, we left most of our gear, donned snow shoes, and hopped over to South Kinsman, which was socked in, but with almost no winds. Met lots of happy people, many with dogs. About fifty-fifty snow shoes versus microspikes. Some kind folks decided it would be fun to glissade down every single step section, and you can imagine what that was like trying to get up.
We then headed back to the campsite, and went down the Kinsman Pond Trail. It was barely broken out—essentially just enough to see the route lightly outlined. The ice did not look thick on the pond, and we swapped off on lead. It was my first time on the trail, and I thought it was lovely. The conversation with Zippy (as with Jon), was excellent as always.
The report was for snow coming in, but we were pleasantly surprised to see the sun pop out! Franconia Ridge looked magnificent, and as we hiked under I-93 at the end, sunlight was reflecting off of Cannon Cliffs.
Great weekend! I wish you had been there with me.
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