Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Reunion on Cannon for Steve, Chase and me! Woot woot! Steve was gridding out Cannon today and invited me along and said there would be snacks so that was a no brainer. The Kitty Litter Ridge trail was just as it always is. Sandy down low but the sand was slightly damp which helped with traction. Some rocks were dry and others were wet so we just watched our footing. Once we were past the glades it got nicer. There are some areas of mud and standing water shortly after the turn off from the little viewpoint but they should dry out nicely over the next couple days. The tower was windy but pleasant enough for us to celebrate with summit brownies before heading over the ski slope to intercept Amber to cheer her on as she continues her work on her MASSIVE vert project! We all just kept saying over and over what a nice day this was. Hiking with friends makes me happy. :)

Parking

Plenty of room in the hiker lot.

Water Crossings

N/A

Wildlife

There were some black flies being obnoxious in the parking area but once we started up the trail they were nowhere to be seen.

Trails Used

Lonesome Lake Trail, Hi-Cannon Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Rim Trail, Dodge Cutoff

Trail Conditions

Notes

Despite the weather forecast looking less than ideal for hiking today, I decided to roll the dice and it ended up being pretty decent. It was pretty windy with some very threatening clouds but I stayed completely dry. Hi-Cannon trail had some really nice ledges with very pretty views across to Franconia Ridge. It wasn't particularly difficult, just very steep and unrelenting. Dodge Cutoff is relatively flat until you get to the north end, where it ascends suddenly and reconnects with Hi-Cannon trail. It is less frequently traveled but still easy to follow. 4 New Redline trails today!

Parking

Plenty of parking at Lafayette place at 10:30 and 1:30.

Water Crossings

Only tiny brooks

Wildlife

None, but there was a good breeze for most of the day.

Trails Used

Hi-Cannon, Kinsman Ridge Tr, Lonesome Lake Tr

Trail Conditions

Notes

Gorgeous day in Franconia Notch. Low winds and cool weather; trails were mostly dry with some mud, but not substantial or overwhelming. First time on Hi Cannon in 10 years, high up was less sandy and a little muddier than I remember!

Parking

Still plenty of spots in the big Lafayette CG lot on the southside of 93 at 10:30am.

Wildlife

None! Not even buzzing

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail (from tram lot)

Trail Conditions

Notes

Erosion aside, trail was in good condition. Plenty of slab with water running on it so take time with your footing, but otherwise no big deal. No snow or ice remain, at least to the overlook. Was there for some astrophotography, did not summit.

Parking

Plenty of parking when you get there at 10pm.

Water Crossings

A bit of running water here and there, nothing significant.

Wildlife

Too cold for them

Trails Used

Lonesome Lake, Hi-Cannon, KRT

Trail Conditions

Notes

Trails are ice/snow free

Water Crossings

Virtually none

Wildlife

None ! ?

Trails Used

Lonesome Lake Trail, Kinsman Pond Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Hi-Cannon Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Headed up from Lafayette Campground to Kinsman Pond first, where I saw the most snow on this hike -- still very little, no need for traction or anything. Headed over the Cannonballs toward Cannon. A few blowdowns and some mud, but the trail was in pretty good shape overall. Down Hi-Cannon which was wet but otherwise fine! Gorgeous day.

Water Crossings

All good

Wildlife

Saw some black flies but they didn't bother me

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge

Trail Conditions

Notes

Great evening hike in summer temps! I love hiking Cannon on the Kinsman Ridge Trail so take this trail report with that in mind. The trail was relatively dry for the first 4/10ths of a mile. After that, there is water running on the trail, but that should be expected. Slabs were wet but seemed to grip well. First mud spot after outlook was surprisingly firm and the second mud spot had some amazing stepping stones. Kudos to the trail workers who put in time on this trail recently because it was in great shape. No ice or snow to be concerned about. Leave the spikes at home if doing this trail. Also, don’t make your kids complete their first 4,000 footer this weekend on this trail. They will hate you for it.

Water Crossings

None to note

Wildlife

A few buzzing in the muddy spots above the outlook

Trails Used

Lonesome Lake, Hi-Cannon, Kinsman Ridge

Trail Conditions

Notes

Trail was in good shape. Heavily eroded in many places but rocks, roots or new herd paths made for pretty easy avoidance. There was some ice on the rocks in the AM but again was avoidable. Tiny bit of monorail that you could step on or avoid. Muddy spots on the "flat" part of the upper trail were also pretty avoidable. Got up and down before the rain. Trail runners would work fine now (at least on this route)and no microspikes. Spoke to some that had come up from Tram on Kinsman Ridge Trail and they said spikes for that trail.

Parking

Parked at Lafyette Campground. Plenty in the AM but full when we came back. Room for 20. Plenty still across the street at Falling Waters

Wildlife

Not today

Trails Used

Lonesome Lake Trail, Hi-Cannon Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Great conditions. Just a few spots of old snow that one can easily go around. Some spots of thin ice on the rocks, but as long as you're careful and observant you can easily step over. We made it back to the car just as the rain started.

Parking

Plenty in the Lafayette lot this morning.

Trails Used

Lonesome Lake, Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Very dry trail up to Lonesome Lake. In the woods, an interesting of high stable monorail, dry trail, and water/mud. The high snow no sun areas are really fun to see this time of year -- you go from no snow or ice to a pocked of four foot snow pile back to rocks. The dirt covered ice is my least fav when the rock spikes are off. Quite the mess coming down Kinsman ridge to the Cannon parking lot. Beautiful day and I beat the thunderstorms :-)tr

Parking

Lafayette Campground had three cars at 8:45AM, I stowed a Mountain Bike at Cannon Base.

Water Crossings

All easy no issues

Wildlife

None

Equipment

Notes

3am alarm, on trail just before 6am. Rock spikes went on at 2,700'. Light clouds blew over summit at tower but clear on way up and visible on way down. Made good time on drive and hike.

Parking

2nd car at trailhead when arrived, first car was gone 2 hours later

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Equipment

Notes

A real mixed bag conditions wise. Spikes went on around .75 miles. Came off briefly when we popped out of the woods into the rock scramble before the top, and then back on again along the ridge. Monorail was firm and not too skinny for the most part, but unstable and very thin in the sunny spots. Wind was whipping anywhere there wasn’t cover. Felt much longer than 4.5 miles - level 1.5 fun!

Parking

Plenty of parking.

Water Crossings

Nothing we couldn’t hop or step around.

Wildlife

None yet.

Also on this trip

Notes

Two days of hiking back to back. Guided by Redline Guide Chase Hall. Part of a Grid Gettin' Guest series.

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

We threaded the needle on this one in terms of weather. It didn't start raining until we were close to our cars and the winds and moodiness of the morning was outstanding. We still had to park in the Tramway parking lot but the snow should melt out soon to allow vehicles to make it to the hiker parking area. We started in bare boots but it didn't take long before we put on spikes. It was too tedious to pick our way around the ice. The lower section of the trail is an solid ice sidewalk. Up higher there are stretches of thick ice that require good spikes. The warmer temps softened things up nicely to allow our spikes to bite in. Once we made the hard left off the shared part of the trail it was more packed snow and footing was good. The monorail was supportive and none of us postholed. Above treeline the rocks were all glazed with ice but we did fine since the temps were warmer. Another stellar day with some of my favorite peeps!

Parking

Plenty of room and free of ice and snow

Water Crossings

N/A

Wildlife

Still in Hell

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

First quarter mile is a mix of snow/ice/bare ground. Rest of the trail is firm with mostly old snow and some icy spots in the usual sections. I had no issues up and down in microspikes. Ice was 95% easy to bite into and the one or two spots that had hard ice could be navigated easily with care.

Parking

Plenty of parking at the tram lot

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Winter-like conditions. Except for a few bare rocks near the trailhead, the trail was solid & stable snow with some ice in places. I wore Hillsound Trail Crampons. Really nice conditions allowed for a quick hike. Nice views too!

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Good trail conditions today as trail conditions go for this peak. I wore crampons for this afternoon hike expecting icy spots and I ran into many ice flows. I saw other hikers in microspikes and they seemed to manage, but I was happy for the extra grip. There were a few barespots here and there but most of the trail was stable hardpack with some slushiness down below. The last stretch along the peak was very high, stable monorail and a bit arduous. It should be interesting when it begins to collapse. It was nice chatting with Mary Beth and Simon. Good to grid this one out.

Parking

Plenty at the main lot.

Water Crossings

None

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Spikes door to door. The trail is in better shape than expected with a combo of ice, stable monorail, rocks and dirt. Above the view point there are patches where it softens noticeably, but even then I only postholed up to my knee 3-4 times. Bring sharp spikes and a little patience and you should be fine.

Parking

Wide open lot all morning. Except for right behind my car where someone decided the had to park nearly bumper-to-bumper.

Water Crossings

Bridges over a few forming streams are stable, but will probably break down when warmer weather comes.

Notes

A 36-year-old snowboarder was seriously injured after catching his edge and colliding with a tree while snowboarding in an out-of-bounds, steep rocky section at Cannon Mountain. He required rope rescue by Conservation Officers and the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team to be extricated from the technical terrain and transported to a hospital.

Trails Used

-

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Steep trail with great payoff. Spent nearly an hour at summit with low wind and incredible views. Deep snow at top with poles sinking in, but packed down on trail. Met 6 people on trail (6/48 count).

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Trail still in great shape. We scampered up and down wearing Hillsounds. Firm footing with a few tricky, icy sections, all negotiable with a bit of care. Stairs to tower top were icy and navigatable. At 1:30 p.m., the conditions remained firm.

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

The trail was perfect today, hard packed with small avoidable patches of ice in the usual spots. We were in micro spikes the whole time, and never wished for any other traction.

Parking

Lots of it

Water Crossings

None

Wildlife

None