North Kinsman & Bald Peak -- 11/6/05

[Double Bow]

On Sunday, a large group of us headed up to try to climb the Kinsmans as part of a winter skills series. We would see how the size of the group, the experiences of the members, and the shortness of the day would affect the progress of the group. Before starting up, we divided into two more manageable size groups which left the trailhead 10-15min apart and stayed in contact via radio. I was excited to be climbing up the Mt Kinsman Trail as I'd been wanting to try that approach for quite awhile although, I was dissapointed that we weren't going to be having winter conditions at all. Instead, it was more like spring conditions, kinda wet and muddy but warm.

I was in the first group and we seemed to make pretty good progress up to where we stopped for a break at the junction with the Bald Peak spur. Here we waited for the other group so we could make sure everyone was doing fine (the range on the radios isn't THAT good). Then, we took off again. At about 3300', one of the members of the group I was in was really having a hard time with severe back pain. Attemps to help by lightening their load did not help. They needed to turn around.

The coleader of our group started down with them and then it was decided that both groups needed to reconvene when it was found out that the suffering person was also feeling nausious. With the groups together, it was decided that more people should assist in bringing the person down and so our coleader, the leader of the other group, and a couple others headed down. This was due in part to the fact that folks had carpooled there and some of the cars had been left at another nearby location. All of this took time and reiterated the fact that you need to be prepared to stand around for awhile in case of an emergency.

Now, the remainder of the group started off again. Our progress now was slower and it was somewhat difficult to keep the group within shouting distance of each other but, we managed and made the summit of North Kinsman for lunch. It was very overcast and there was no view. It was kind of odd to think that I had better views on Fool Killer the day before! We had decided to try to not hike in the dark and so we set a turn around time of 1:30pm. When we finished lunch, we realized that there was no way that we were going to be able to go out and back to South kinsman and still get down with daylight so we decided to be happy with what we got and headed back down.

Back at the juction with the Bald Peak spur, we took another break and some of us went out to see if we could see anything from there. The wind was really blowing. Dave measured a gust of 40mph! When we got up there, I jumped up onto the boulder and then got hit with a blast that made me jump off backwards again!! I tried taking a couple pictures and will post them if they look like anything but, mostly we could just see the side of South Kinsman. The rest of the way down was uneventful other that meeting up with the other trip leader who had decided he needed the excercise and had started back up after getting the person back to safety. They were feeling much better back down off the mountain.

There were some good lessons learned, good conversations had, and a great trail climbed. I certainly will want to come back up this way again both when it's covered with snow and in warm dry conditions. THIS is the way to climb the Kinsmans!

 

[Tom & Atticus]

Thanks for the report Double Bow. I'm anxious to see what this trail looks like in the winter since this is the route we'll most likely go when we attempt the Kinsmans in December. Also hoping for snow! (Atticus is just dying to get into his new snowsuit [NOT!!!].)

 

[Double Bow]

(Atticus is just dying to get into his new snowsuit [NOT!!!].)

I think you're going to have to post a picture of that! I'd love to see it!!

Hmmm... maybe that should be your avatar!

 

[Tom & Atticus]

He's not quite sure how he feels about it. (Although I'd guess he's not a big fan of it.) It's fleece-lined and neoprene waterproof on the outside and with his winter hiking boots on the only parts of him revealed for all the world to see are his head, his butt and his privates. It looks like a scuba diving suit that's been altered by a pervert. This has earned him a new trail nickname. Instead of Tom & Atticus I think the new name will have to be Tom & Aqua Man. (One of his galpals suggested "Scuba Doo".)

He wouldn't move the first two times I put it on him and I couldn't picture him doing any hiking with it on come winter time. The third time I got him dressed I carried him downstairs and into the car, because he was refusing to bend his legs or turn his head (he's such a drama queen when he wants to be---you'd think he was Superman draped with a Kryptonite necklace the way he wouldn't move) and then drove him to the woods. I carried him into the woods about 100 feet or so and waited. As I looked at him there was no resemblance of the 20 lb schnauzer who did all 48 this past summer. He wouldn't take one step.

But then my plan worked. It didn't take long for a squirrel to come along and then Aqua Man sprung to life bounding after the little guy, running around trees, down hills, darting this way and that. When he finished, the squirrel safe up in the tree, he suddenly realized he was found out and knew then and there he had no choice but to wear it in preparation for the winter. From that point on he did well with it but something tells me he was a little embarrassed when he was caught wearing it by a couple of large black labs who were looking at him as if he were anything but manly.

He'll get used to it. He'll have to since he's no Brutus. (He has hair and not fur and weighs about 1/8th of what Brutus does so warmth is essential for him on the higher peaks I fear.)

Now we're ready for anything Mt. Washington can throw at us this winter. At least he is. I still have to get all my winter gear.

Perhaps we will run into you along a trail this winter. But there is no need to worry, I've rejected a friend's suggestion that I wear a matching suit.