Also on this trip

Trails Used

Starr King Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

No snow left to be seen! Trail was surprisingly dry with a few patches of mud down low. Otherwise, with the exception of a few blowdowns on the ridge between the peaks, the trail was in good condition.

Parking

The lot was full late morning (as was to be expected with a late arrival). Ended up parking in the lot next to the gas station. Saw some others parking at the golf course… wasn’t sure if that was allowed (I recall a few years ago the golf course didn’t want hikers parking there, but maybe that has changed?)

Wildlife

Getting bad down low until about half way up to Mt. Starr King. After that, they seemed to disappear.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Starr King Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Trail is bare until 3100’. Between 3100’-3500’ there are a few blotches or snow and 10ft long sections of ice. Above 3500’ it ranges from a dusting of snow over dirt to more sustained sections of ice/slushy monorail. We were fine in trail runners (we did some sliding off the edge of the monorail between Waumbek and Starr King) but could definitely seeing someone using spikes above 3700’ if they wanted to. I posted pictures of the conditions on AllTrails if you want to take a look.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Starr King Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Dry with patches of mud up to 3,000 ft. From there, snow takes over. Slushy until 3,600 ft, packed monorail above that.

Parking

Parking is good!

Water Crossings

None

Wildlife

No bugs yet

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Starr King

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Started to see ice patches around 2950’ Put on Hillsound micro spikes at about 3200’. My first experience with these types of monorails. They were in pretty good shape for the most part, but I did post hole a few times. Only went in up to my knee once ha ha. Monorails got softer closer to summits. At times only a boot width. I don’t think snowshoes would have been a better choice today. Saw 6 other people.

Parking

Parked at trail head but one section of road is tough, had to use snow/mud setting on my Forester

Water Crossings

NA

Wildlife

None

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Waumbek Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Monorail conditions in conifers. High water on East Branch of Pemigewasset River, so chose trail with no water crossings. People postholing when missing center of route. Warm conditions. Limited visibility from Starr King (only 2nd time out of 14 visits with views).

Water Crossings

Hiked this trail specifically to avoid water crossings due to high discharge rates on East Branch of Pemigewasset River.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Starr King Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Better than expected conditions today. A combo of wet trail, flowing water, icy and snowy leftover hard pack down low. Stable hardpack and beginnings of monorails up top but you gotta stay in the hard center. It was warm down low but breezy, dank and chilly up top at times. It was a bit like a Taylor Swift concert costume change for us as layers went on and off and on again. Spikes car to car. I used exos, others used microdspikes. I'm glad to grid out this peak and get an over 70 for Kwi-Hui.

Parking

We braved the moon craters with caution in a CRV and passed without issue.