Trailhead for N. Kinsman

[hikes-with-him]

Hi ya all...

Hoping to bag at least one more on our list this weekend; N. Kinsman (maybe south too...depending on how many NICE HIKERS have broken trail before we get there ).

We will be staying at Parkers on Rte 3. I know that to get to the new trailhead, you have to reverse direction using the Tram exit off I-93. However, from the trail descriptions in the Falcon guide...there is an "underpass" under I-93 to readh Kinsman from the Falling Waters trailhead?

Is this underpass still in place? If we could just park at the Falling Waters trailhead and then walk under I-93 to get to the Lonesome Lake trail...that would be cool. Otherwise...we'll just hit the Tam exit and turn around.

Thanks.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Yes, it's still there. Cross under the highway, then left out of the tunnel.

 

[MichaelJ]

The "new" trailhead for the Kinsmans is for the Mt Kinsman Trail, which is over on the west side of the range on Rte 116.

The trailhead off I-93 southbound is Lafayette Campground, which has the Lonesome Lake Trail, from which you can go up to Lonesome Lake and then grab the Fishin' Jimmy Trail up to the ridge.

The "pedestrian underpass" connects Lafayette with the I-93 northbound parking lot for Falling Waters / Old Bridle Path. So absolutely, you can just park over there and walk under the highway. It all depends on if you want to drive the turnaround at the Tram lot before or after your hike.

Note that if you choose to park at Lafayette in the winter, you should hook to the right around the dark wooden building and park in those spaces (which are just next to the underpass). Do NOT attempt to drive to the actual, unplowed Lonesome Lake trailhead parking on the left. The snow gets packed in the center of that lot from snowmobile use (and they don't want you parking on that) and it remains unconsolidated and you will get stuck.

 

[Barkingcat]

If we could just park at the Falling Waters trailhead and then walk under I-93 to get to the Lonesome Lake trail...that would be cool.

Not only is it "cool," but it's do-able.

You can park at the trailhead for the Falling Waters Trail and Old Bridle Path on the east side of I-93 (heading north) and walk under I-93 to Lafayette Campground and the trailhead for the Lonesome Lake Trail, and the parking lot for both.

Or, you can continue up I-93 a short ways and reverse direction at the next exit (34B, I think) and then drive to said parking lot for the Lafeyette Campground and the Lonesome Lake Trail trailhead.

Where you park can simply depend on which direction you're driving in after your hike, and whether or not you want your car to ready to head southbound or northbound.

 

[bobandgeri]

The map on this webpage shows the area in question including the Falling Waters/Old Bridel Path trails, parking areas, underpass an location of the Lonesome Lake trail as it passes through the campground - sent you a PM as well.

http://www.nhstateparks.org/uploads/LafayetteMap08web.pdf

 

[roadtripper]

Just a suggestion - take the Mt. Kinsman Trail on 116 instead of going the Lonesome Lake/Fishin' Jimmy route. The Fishin' Jimmy route is miserable and may require crampons.

 

[Paradox]

The underpass is still intact. here is the GPS track of the trail we used on 1/1/10.

http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=675391

 

[rup]

Out of curiosity, where is the trailhead for SK on the WEST side??

20 years ago, when hiking NK (it was the last of the NH 4000 ftrs for us), we started out (with many other hikers) at what we thought was the trailhead from the WEST. Several minutes after starting, we and another dozen people trying to find the the trail. Lost, we finally wound up going over a lot of hogbacks trying to get back to the road (west side). Next day, we approached from the EAST and straightforwardly did the summit in a light snow storm. There was a nice bird near the summit that was eating out of hikers' hands.

 

[kaseri]

The Fishin' Jimmy route is miserable and may require crampons.

I don't get why so many people feel this way about Fishin' Jimmy. I've done the Kinsmans many times in winter via this route and have never thought it was "miserable".

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Out of curiosity, where is the trailhead for SK on the WEST side??

Actually, the first peak you hit from either the east or west is NK.

The trailhead is "new" during the past several months. It used to begin between two stone posts and a chain between them, practically in someone's dooryard, and about 10 yards south of a sign making the town line. Now, it's about 200 yards to the south, and there's a small wooden sign making it. Not too hard to find.

 

[Bill and Sheep]

I don't get why so many people feel this way about Fishin' Jimmy. I've done the Kinsmans many times in winter via this route and have never thought it was "miserable".

I agree 100%. When I was doing the 4000 footers for the first time, I put off the Kinsmans until near the end because I had heard so many complaints about this trail. I found it to be a fairly typical White Mountains trail. I can't for the life of me figure out why people hate it so much.

I've only hiked it once in the Winter and found it very manageable on snowshoes. There are really only a couple of steep, icy places in the area of the pinned steps and they were easily navigated with snowshoes for me.

 

[Barkingcat]

I don't get why so many people feel this way about Fishin' Jimmy. I've done the Kinsmans many times in winter via this route and have never thought it was "miserable".

Agreed -- in fact, the only time we've ever done the ol' Fishin' Jimmy trail is in the winter, and it's been fine.

 

[Waumbek]

Out of curiosity, where is the trailhead for SK on the WEST side??

20 years ago, when hiking NK (it was the last of the NH 4000 ftrs for us), we started out (with many other hikers) at what we thought was the trailhead from the WEST. Several minutes after starting, we and another dozen people trying to find the the trail. Lost, we finally wound up going over a lot of hogbacks trying to get back to the road (west side). Next day, we approached from the EAST and straightforwardly did the summit in a light snow storm. There was a nice bird near the summit that was eating out of hikers' hands.

The trailhead for SK from the W side, the Reel Brook TH, is accessed from Rt. 116 approximately 3 m. north of the 116-112 junction. There's a brown hiker logo sign on the W side of 116 there, then a dirt road of a mile or so, then the trailhead.

Re getting lost on NK 20 years ago, you probably missed "refrigerator turn," a right at an old junked frig, which was subsequently removed and a small directional arrow put up. That's all history now with the relocated trailhead per KR's post above.

 

[RoySwkr]

I don't get why so many people feel this way about Fishin' Jimmy. I've done the Kinsmans many times in winter via this route and have never thought it was "miserable".

It isn't as bad as it used to be, it was one of the first trails "improved" with AT money and instead of trying to find a superior route their goal was to just build it where it was - such as the steep ridge you climb just to drop off the back side instead of a more environmentally-friendly route around. There used to be a place where you walked an 8" log bridge a couple feet in the air which has thankfully been removed.

Now that the Whitehouse Bridge parking is gone and the hut is open hence the trail to LL packed out, it's probably the easiest way up the Kinsmen in winter but that doesn't mean the nicest.

 

[JohnL]

Four of us went up Fishin' Jimmy on Friday and it was beautiful. The steeper sections provide a nice aerobic challenge on the way up and an increased excitement factor on the way down. PUDs at the end of the day are frustrating but not miserable. Snowshoes were the order of the day.

JohnL

 

[Jay H]

I've hiked the new N. Kinsman trail from 116 this past September, nice walk, goes right by what looks like a sugar shack or so and gently climbs for a bit. It looks like it follows some wide woods roads for a bit and I noted that it looked quite skiable for some time... Eventually, of course, it does get off the road and more of a trail but still....

Jay

 

[rup]

Thanks.

Minor point: we were heading to SOUTH K, but had to go over NK again to get there.

I think we were OK with the 'refridg' turn, but the trail, whatever we were on, pooped out several minutes later. LOTS (12-20) of people wandering around wondering where the hell they were. I remember the setting there as a thinly treed meadow.

On our way out over the hogbacks (we took a line due West), we came upon a deserted cabin (not really run-down) that gave us a 'TX Chainsaw' moment.

This was somewhat frustrating because a few years previously, in high bug season, we had to retreat from NK when my wife freaked at the furious black fly attack.

For the ascent, the next day, we went from FN to the hut, and took FJ to summit. Nice trail. Snow above 3K'. Descended the Kinsman Trail (ie, the alternative to the East). I slipped on a wooden staircase and almost broke my butt. Fine way to conclude the NH4K! Perhaps it was the summit champagne.

 

[Waumbek]

On our way out over the hogbacks (we took a line due West), we came upon a deserted cabin (not really run-down) that gave us a 'TX Chainsaw' moment.

Nah. Perfectly harmless.

I know where you went wrong now. You failed to make a right before the "frig" turn. The old logging road you stayed on was much more distinct then than it is now so it is unlikely anyone would mistakenly follow it again.