Waiting It Out at Kinsman Pond (21-Jan-2010)

[1HappyHiker]

It was one of those days where we had a loose structure of a "game-plan" in mind, but nothing definitive. Steve and I headed off on the Basin Cascade Trail with the thought of going at least to Kinsman Pond via the Cascade Brook and Kinsman Pond Trail. Then, depending upon several factors, we thought we might possibly do one or both of the Kinsmans as well.

Once we arrived at Kinsman Pond, the visibility was next to zero. Below is what we saw (or didn't see, as the case might be!)

No View

We debated about whether to head on up to North Kinsman with the hopes that we might climb above the cloud cover and perhaps get an "undercast" view. But rather than expend the effort to go there and then have it all be for nothing, I took a long-shot chance of calling my wife at work to ask if she could take a moment to check the Internet webcams. Amazingly enough I was able to get cell phone service from Kinsman Pond. And a big thank you to Cheryl for taking a moment to check things out for us. From what she could see, it appeared that visibility would not be good even if we went up higher to North Kinsman.

So, we killed a little more time by going over to the junction of the Fishin' Jimmy & Kinsman Ridge trail, and then eventually went a couple tenths of a mile down the Fishin' Jimmy Trail to a viewpoint that overlooks the Franconia Ridge. Once there, we confirmed all over again that there were no views!

After this excursion, we turned around and headed back to Kinsman Pond. We waited around for awhile longer, and eventually, the cloud cover started to lift. We got a few fleeting glimpses of the pond and the Kinsmans!

The Beginnings of a View

Finally, at nearly 4 PM, we got a really nice view!

Kinsman Pond View (looking southward)

Kinsman Pond View (looking northward)

Although we were a bit disappointed that the weather didn't cooperate on this particular day, we did have the satisfaction of proving once again that patience pays off. By waiting it out at Kinsman Pond, the weather finally lifted, just before sunset, and we got some views.

1HappyHiker

 

[RickB.]

Beautiful, John! I think the light you captured is much more interesting than a bluebird sky!

 

[w7xman]

Whoa...that's a huge change in conditions at just the right time. Congrats on a fantastic experience...and beautiful captures of it!

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

Great shots! I was there last Saturday and had a view only of the other side of the pond... no views on the N or S peaks, either.

 

[NeoAkela]

I love those first photos - the picture of the trail slowly vanishing into the fog has a very artistic feel. Sunny or cloudy you always get some great shots, John!

 

[1HappyHiker]

RickB: Thanks Rick . . . at the risk of sounding vain, I have to agree with you that the light captured in the pond photos was more interesting than what might have been captured on a bluebird day. Bluebird days certainly have their place, but for certain scenes, a "bluebird alternative" seems to work out better!

w7xman: Jim, thanks for your reply . . . and yes it was a huge change in conditions. It was darn near a total "white-out" when we first arrived at the pond. At that point, I had no idea what (if anything) would show up in a photo since all I saw through my camera's viewfinder was solid gray!

AlgonuinBob: Bob . . . thanks for the compliment about my photos. Regarding the photo of Kinsman Pond that you posted . . . please tell me that isn't a section of open water on Kinsman Pond!!??

NeoAkela: Chris . . . thank you . . . you are very kind. And now that I'm looking at the photos in the comfort of my own home, I agree with you that there is sort of an artistic feel to those footsteps slowly disappearing into the fog. But, when the snapshots were being taken, there was not that same "warm & fuzzy" feeling. It was more like thinking . . . well there isn't anything else to photograph, so I'll just snap a few snapshots of gray fog and try to be content with whatever turns out!
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I feel for you! I was up on Osgood Ridge near Madison that same morning (Thursday), hoping to get sunrise shots of the Great Gulf. I had clear, starry skies all the way until about the time I got to your trail, the Osgood Cutoff. And then, I had nothing but cloud cover until well after sunrise. I waited for a while around treeline, but to no avail. By the time I reached the car back at the trailhead, the skies had just begun to clear.

. . . and Clay, I feel for your pain as well! Oh man . . . unfortunately for you, I think your "lack of view" experience eclipses the experience at Kinsman Pond. If it were a contest between us for worst experience, then I guess you won. But there are other "rounds" yet to play, and I'm certain there'll be a time when I'll be declared the winner!

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

The photo was shot from just behind the shelter (very nice shelter!). It sure looks like thin ice, but I didn't walk out to check.

 

[Forester Jake]

Great Shots!

 

[blaze]

wow... outstanding photographs. really, really nice.

 

[1HappyHiker]

The photo was shot from just behind the shelter (very nice shelter!). It sure looks like thin ice, but I didn't walk out to check.

Hmmm! Thanks Bob for answering my question about the ice.
Oh! And yes, the shelter is indeed very nice!

Great Shots!

wow... outstanding photographs. really, really nice.

Thanks guys . . . much appreciated!