NeoAkela
Active member
Date of Hike: 2/9/2012
Trail Conditions: Mount Kinsman trail to Bald Peak and summit of North Kinsman an icy sidewalk easily traversed with microspikes. Mostly hard crust with a few ice flows that are easily stepped around. Kinsman Ridge trail to South Kinsman also well packed out, hard icy crust and easy walking with microspikes only. South Kinsman down to Harrington pond much more lightly traveled - easy to follow some old tracks from a few days past. Snowshoes would be helpful on this section - punched through the crust occasionally to knee-depth, but mostly the hard crust supported weight. Steep pitches managed fairly well with assistance from surrounding trees - would not enjoy going up this way, though. Shelter to Harrington Pond same conditions - snowshoes would be best on this stretch, as it is somewhat lightly traveled. Reel Brook Trail well packed out and easy to follow to trailhead - snow 2-feet deep at top, bare ground at trailhead.
Special Equipment Required: Crampons were brought but remained in the pack - could have been nice on a few tricky spots but really were not necessary. Snowshoes would have been good to have in the lighter sections of Kinsman Ridge Trail past South Kinsman and the top of Reel Brook , but weren't absolutely needed - crust is hard enough to support weight 9 out of every 10 steps - occasional posthole was only 5 inches or so deep on average. Reel Brook Trail was also fine for microspikes only.
Comments: Spotted cars to do this horseshoe loop. Beautiful, amazing day on the Kinsmans. South Kinsman is a marvel of crystal tree sculptures - like standing on an icy chessboard. Very otherworldly! Ice on overhanging trees is heavy and thick - a piece cracking off would be painful at the least. Harrington Pond frozen solid - a nice change from any previous time I have been to this pond in the warm season. Great views of the Kinsman cliffs from the center of the pond. Forgot how many ups and downs Kinsman Ridge has - make sure to add a bit of time to your trip estimate if you do this section. Also of note is the snow depth, which is 2 feet or more in depth near the top, and non-existent at the bottom. Also found getting to the lower view ledge on North Kinsman an interesting challenge, to say the least. Watch out for the large crack between the ledge rocks down there - I managed to find it.
Your name: NeoAkela
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
Trail Conditions: Mount Kinsman trail to Bald Peak and summit of North Kinsman an icy sidewalk easily traversed with microspikes. Mostly hard crust with a few ice flows that are easily stepped around. Kinsman Ridge trail to South Kinsman also well packed out, hard icy crust and easy walking with microspikes only. South Kinsman down to Harrington pond much more lightly traveled - easy to follow some old tracks from a few days past. Snowshoes would be helpful on this section - punched through the crust occasionally to knee-depth, but mostly the hard crust supported weight. Steep pitches managed fairly well with assistance from surrounding trees - would not enjoy going up this way, though. Shelter to Harrington Pond same conditions - snowshoes would be best on this stretch, as it is somewhat lightly traveled. Reel Brook Trail well packed out and easy to follow to trailhead - snow 2-feet deep at top, bare ground at trailhead.
Special Equipment Required: Crampons were brought but remained in the pack - could have been nice on a few tricky spots but really were not necessary. Snowshoes would have been good to have in the lighter sections of Kinsman Ridge Trail past South Kinsman and the top of Reel Brook , but weren't absolutely needed - crust is hard enough to support weight 9 out of every 10 steps - occasional posthole was only 5 inches or so deep on average. Reel Brook Trail was also fine for microspikes only.
Comments: Spotted cars to do this horseshoe loop. Beautiful, amazing day on the Kinsmans. South Kinsman is a marvel of crystal tree sculptures - like standing on an icy chessboard. Very otherworldly! Ice on overhanging trees is heavy and thick - a piece cracking off would be painful at the least. Harrington Pond frozen solid - a nice change from any previous time I have been to this pond in the warm season. Great views of the Kinsman cliffs from the center of the pond. Forgot how many ups and downs Kinsman Ridge has - make sure to add a bit of time to your trip estimate if you do this section. Also of note is the snow depth, which is 2 feet or more in depth near the top, and non-existent at the bottom. Also found getting to the lower view ledge on North Kinsman an interesting challenge, to say the least. Watch out for the large crack between the ledge rocks down there - I managed to find it.
Your name: NeoAkela
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
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