H
HikerBob
Guest
OK - I'll try and keep it short!
Karen, my intrepid hiking pal, and I put in a very full day yesterday doing a loop (well, more of a bulge) from the Basin to North and South Kinsman via the Basin Cascades, Cascade Brook and Kinsman Pond trails. Returning by way of the Fishin Jimmy, Cascade Brook and Basin Cascades trails. All of the stream crossings were very easy.
We ambled out onto the ledges just off North Peak and greeted the folk lounging in this fine spot when from below in the scrub came an inquiring voice... "Bob?" It was MichaelJ! Our surprise (for Michael, I knew he would be on that trail) meeting on East Osceola a few weeks ago was one of lucky timing but this was just too freaky. As Michael made his way up from the scrub one of the ledge loungers asked, "Are you HikerBob?" and when I confirmed this added, "Then this must be Karen." She introduced herself as Poison Ivy who I knew from the online community but had never met in person.
Michael, Ivy and their friend Calley were section hiking part of the AT from Rte 112. We chatted for a while, apologies to the other ledge loungers, as we munched a noontime energy booster. We asked about the trip to South Peak and were told it was fairly easy. I had done North Kinsman on a great trip last December but had not made it to South Kinsman. Revived from the rest and food Karen said she was up for it so having said our goodbyes we headed out.
In the heat of the afternoon sun the short hop over to South Peak was a little gruelling but we bagged ourselves yet another 4k and got some wonderful views.
On the way up we found the Kinsman Pond trail to be quite rocky as it seems to follow the course of many a brook, or is it that the water has taken advantage of the trail? I knew the Fishin Jimmy trail was no walk in the park but decided to return by that way and maybe stop at the hut for some soup.
Prior to last weekends adventures on The Caps Karen would have been squirming at the sight of some of the steep sections on the Fishin Jmmy but although a little hesitant at times she took them in her stride.
We are neither of us fast hikers and after many a mile in the heat we were slowing even more. When we reached the hut the smell of the evening meal being prepared was intoxicating but we decided against trying to score some soup. Time was slipping by and we still had a ways to go.
Although the upper part of the Fishin Jimmy trail was far steeper than anything on the Kinsman Pond trail the relatively easier lower section and the going on the Cascade Brook trail made the decision to return that way a wise one.
As the trail wound down so did our strength. Muscles were tired and feet were beginning to get a little sore but we made it before sunset! The trip took us roughly 13 hours and my Topo software says it was a shade over 10 miles, felt longer!
A long and tiring trip but a great one.
More words and pics up on my web site later...
Bob
Karen, my intrepid hiking pal, and I put in a very full day yesterday doing a loop (well, more of a bulge) from the Basin to North and South Kinsman via the Basin Cascades, Cascade Brook and Kinsman Pond trails. Returning by way of the Fishin Jimmy, Cascade Brook and Basin Cascades trails. All of the stream crossings were very easy.
We ambled out onto the ledges just off North Peak and greeted the folk lounging in this fine spot when from below in the scrub came an inquiring voice... "Bob?" It was MichaelJ! Our surprise (for Michael, I knew he would be on that trail) meeting on East Osceola a few weeks ago was one of lucky timing but this was just too freaky. As Michael made his way up from the scrub one of the ledge loungers asked, "Are you HikerBob?" and when I confirmed this added, "Then this must be Karen." She introduced herself as Poison Ivy who I knew from the online community but had never met in person.
Michael, Ivy and their friend Calley were section hiking part of the AT from Rte 112. We chatted for a while, apologies to the other ledge loungers, as we munched a noontime energy booster. We asked about the trip to South Peak and were told it was fairly easy. I had done North Kinsman on a great trip last December but had not made it to South Kinsman. Revived from the rest and food Karen said she was up for it so having said our goodbyes we headed out.
In the heat of the afternoon sun the short hop over to South Peak was a little gruelling but we bagged ourselves yet another 4k and got some wonderful views.
On the way up we found the Kinsman Pond trail to be quite rocky as it seems to follow the course of many a brook, or is it that the water has taken advantage of the trail? I knew the Fishin Jimmy trail was no walk in the park but decided to return by that way and maybe stop at the hut for some soup.
Prior to last weekends adventures on The Caps Karen would have been squirming at the sight of some of the steep sections on the Fishin Jmmy but although a little hesitant at times she took them in her stride.
We are neither of us fast hikers and after many a mile in the heat we were slowing even more. When we reached the hut the smell of the evening meal being prepared was intoxicating but we decided against trying to score some soup. Time was slipping by and we still had a ways to go.
Although the upper part of the Fishin Jimmy trail was far steeper than anything on the Kinsman Pond trail the relatively easier lower section and the going on the Cascade Brook trail made the decision to return that way a wise one.
As the trail wound down so did our strength. Muscles were tired and feet were beginning to get a little sore but we made it before sunset! The trip took us roughly 13 hours and my Topo software says it was a shade over 10 miles, felt longer!
A long and tiring trip but a great one.
More words and pics up on my web site later...
Bob
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