Kinsman Pond in early winter conditions - 10/21/06

[David Metsky]

This was an AMC Boston Chapter hike that I signed up for last week. A fine group of people with an international flair set out of North Kinsman but we were pretty sure that we were going to stop at the Pond. There were lots of folks headed to Lonesome Lake for the night, they had a full count of people who were going to be a bit colder than expected.

Fishin' Jimmy was wet and a wee bit icy, but we managed to get up and down without incident. We elected to eat lunch at the shelter and then come back down, the high winds up top kept us low. Still, we had a fine time and felt like we were experiencing the begining of winter.

Trip Report

-dave-

 

[--M.]

Great photos, including the pumpkin on the bannister and the really beautiful pond shot. Looking for good alternatives to TriPs and Osceolas for this weekend, as had been planned originally. We'll see!

 

[dvbl]

Dave

I was looking at your trip report, and I followed the link over to your ski trip last October. I have zero knowledge about cross country / back country skiing (you skied UP the mountain????), so I have a question: what are skins? Once or twice you mentioned putting on your skins. I had a "Silence of the Lambs" flashback

 

[David Metsky]

Skins are strips of synthetic material backed with glue that you put on the bottoms of your skis. The glue keeps them in place, but you can still remove them and reuse them; the glue can last for several season. They act like the ultimate in waxless bases, and allow you to ski up just about anything. You need freeheel gear (either telemark or AT) but it saves you from needing snowshoes. Putting them on/off takes a few minutes.

Here's a nice overview article: http://angeles.sierraclub.org/nordic/text/Nordic_Skins.htm

And yes, you ski up the mountain.

-dave-