Summary

It’s Thanksgiving - eat, drink, have two pieces of pie, a midnight snack and sleep it off.  Take a day to recover then on Saturday November 26th Join fellow GO member Stephen and me for a strenuous and fun filled thanksgiving calorie burning hike along the Kinsman Ridge with an overnight at Lonesome Lake Hut, hiking out Sunday morning over Cannon Mountain down to the tramway parking.

The Kinsman Ridge Trail offers a variety of terrain from an immediate steep climb to more moderate flat stretches with many ups and downs and cols along the way.  We’ll hike over an unnamed summit at 3,009’ and carry over Mt. Wolf at 3,500’ to South Kinsman at 4,358’ followed by North Kinsman at 4,293’.  From North Kinsman we carry on to the junction of Fishin Jimmy Trail where we make our way down to Lonesome Lake Hut for the evening.

Sunday we’ll breakfast and head out up toward Cannon Mountain at 4,100’ and down to the tramway parking where we’ll jump in the cars and reconnect everyone to their vehicles back on route 112.

Optional Friday Night:  Contact me directly if you wish to overnight at Lafayette Campground and/or share a hotel to ensure an early start for Saturday.  I will be doing one of these options.

This is a strenuous to very strenuous hike – prior experience is recommended.  We will hike at a very healthy pace.  Please keep in mind that daylight ends by 4:15pm at this time of the year.  This trip requires advance reservation for Saturday evening at Lonesome Lake Hut.  At this time there is plenty of space, reserve early if you are interested.

The Plan:

On Saturday morning we’ll meet at the Cannon Mountain Tramway parking for 7:00am.  Here we’ll count heads, leave behind a car or two and carpool in the other vehicles to make our way to the head of the Kinsman Ridge Trail along Route 112.  This is a two day hike, 13.3 miles on day one and 4 miles on day two.

Day 1:  4,540’ total elevation gain

Day 2:  1,550’ total elevation gain

What to bring: 

Food:  Bring a lunch for Saturday’s hike, snacks, dinner for Saturday evening, breakfast for Sunday and snacks for the hike out.  Sharing is caring so don’t be shy – when we arrive at the hut it is nice to have variety.  I like to pack a frozen meal so while it bakes in the oven I get to relax and snack on appetizers.  We’ll have burned our calories all day long – eat and be happy!

Water:  Bring two or three liters (depending on how much you drink).  Water sources along the Kinsman Ridge are infrequent and may be dry.  It’s been a dry summer and I’ve experienced some hiking with very dry areas where one would expect to find water.

Clothing:  No Cotton!  This is late autumn, expect temps to be as low as the 20’s to 30’s.  Bring layers, gloves, hand warmers and micro-spikes.  There could be snow, there could be ice, there could be nothing.  Inclement weather will cancel the trip but we do need to be prepared for unexpected changes in weather conditions.  I always bring a change of clothing for hanging in the hut.

Gear:  Bring your winter hiking layers, sleeping bag, head lamp, micro spikes, boots, socks, hand warmers, etc.  

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

Directions:  From Route 93 North or South find your way to Cannon Mountain Tramway (exit 34b in either direction).  I’ll be driving a dark gray Honda CRV with Massachusetts plates.