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.

Trails Used

Starr King Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Trail is in good shape for this time of year. A little wet down low. Avoidable patches of ice start at 3200 feet. Unstable monorail starts just before Starr King and is off and on until Waumbek. Most is avoidable, but some balance beam walking was done.

Parking

Plenty of parking at golf course lot all afternoon

Water Crossings

Hopped over most mini streams pretty easily

Wildlife

None :)

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.

Trails Used

Starr King Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Muddy in the usual spots over the first mile. Sporadic ice and snow start two miles in, you can bareboot up to Starr King with no issues. Between peaks is 75% flattish snow-ice or monorail, which is narrow in a few places, and anywhere from a half foot to over a foot, monorail was stable on Friday morning. I wore rock spikes between Starr King and Waumbek, and left them on a half mile down from Starr King on the way back. A cold morning up high, feeling like March. Until things start to really heat up at elevation, expect the rotting snow to last a few weeks longer in some places.

Parking

Low clearance vehicles might bottom out on one of the dipsy-doos

Trails Used

Starr King, killKinney Ridgr

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Spring, but good Spring conditions. Dry at bottom. About 1.5 miles up you might want spikes. Up farther you will want them. Elevated and still firm. Still exposed rock. it is Spring, but still pretty good. I think it got to about 55' up top.

Parking

Upper parking is open.

Water Crossings

na

Wildlife

Found 2 as I was getting close back to the car.

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

Trails Used

Starr King, Kilkenny Ridge

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Bare booted to about 3000 feet where snow was consistent, spikes were the traction of choice, minimal ice. Intermittent monorail but not too elevated between Starr King and Waumbek. Slipped off a few times. Three Canadian Jays. Nice time to hike Waumbek.

Parking

Road was in good condition with a couple of lumpy low points, room for 6 cars in space closest to trail head

Water Crossings

N/A Some running water on trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Spikes needed at 3,000 feet. Monorail (packed snow trail) was stable. Encountered another hiker postholing. April conditions challenging but better than expected this year. 16 peaks completed in April, 14 remaining.

Wildlife

Saw George (appears to be a regular wildlife/person at summit)

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

Trails Used

Starr King Road, Starr King Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

I was the first one up and down on the trail today and found the conditions to be surprisingly nice. The temps were around 35 degrees when I started so that kept the trail firm. Down low the trail is bare ground, lots of mud, and lots of water running down the trail. At about the 1.5 mile mark the monorail shows up and I put on Hillsound Pros. I wasn't sure how quickly things would warm up and didn't want to deal with my spikes balling up. The mountain got a nice dusting of snow last night which covered up the icy sections of the trail but my Pros provided good purchase. The monorail was stable and held my weight fine with no postholing. There is clear evidence of postholes which must have occurred during the past warmer days. The new snow did not obscure those so I just picked my way around them. I saw lots of happy hikers and 2 fellow gridiots out enjoying the day.

Parking

My little car is as fun sized as I am so there was no way I was parking in the lot at the trailhead. I parked to the left of the gas station with the good pizza. When I finished there were about 8 cars in the parking lot, so if you have a vehicle with good clearance and some courage, it definitely can be done. Clearly, I have neither.

Water Crossings

N/A

Wildlife

Still in Hell

Trails Used

Starr King, Kilkenny Ridge

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Laid down the first set of tracks on the trail today after yesterday’s, yes … snow ❄️ Not time to hang up the snowshoes yet, the trails in higher elevation do have snow & ice, which I’m not sure anyone heading from the southern parts are aware… there was trace depth at start, 2” as I gained & higher elevation was 4-5” of powdery loose snow. I wore my snowshoes at 2” & kept them on to / from same point.. I saw 4 groups with a total of 9 people out barebooting or in spikes following my pioneered effort. The snow today was not consolidated, is very loosely “packed” if you can call it that, by my couple passes.. as day went on snow was starting to get sticky so idk what’s left after the rototilling booters. The snow is over a solid monorail of pretty much straight up ice. Some sections I got not the best traction & got to practice my fancy footwork as the monorail underneath was otherwise a bit wonky, uneven & such. Wobbled a bit here & there with snowshoes but they’re still I personally feel the best choice for what was there on top. Who knows what will change as it warms up or if there’s any more precipitation. Not to sound like a bitter old man, but your trail daddy just wants to send a friendly reminder to be safe & keep in mind the shoulder season is unpredictable, plan for possible winter conditions for trail and forecast. I’d hate to see you travel all this way to enjoy the beautiful white mountains, to have it become ‘not a good time bro’ Also, I just really appreciate when people look ahead when planning to see that they may want to expect when they plan their day hikes… that the alpine flowers aren’t growing at 4k ft yet. I mean, there ain’t even leaves on the trees at Waumbek, so please bring more than a water bottle and sneakers. “Spring” is a slow degradation of trails before you get solid dirt under your feet again. Enjoy the ride, anyways 🤷 happy hiking! 🥾 Love, Your Trail Father Aka the “Cool” Dad

Parking

You can definitely get in the TH lot with good tire traction, the last year with my end of season winter baldies, had me parking in the winter lot 🤡

Water Crossings

None

Wildlife

Leave them in the hell they come from. None yet.

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.