Cannon Mountain

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