Summary

This up-and-down 17 mile section of the Appalachian Trail has very technical rocky terrain but the rewards take us up to open ridgeline ledges, thick forests, mountain ponds, streams, waterfalls and cascades. There are a number of pointless up and downs, steep ascents, and rock scrambles. There are steep and slippery sections on the descent to Lonesome Lake.

This backpack is not for beginners and is strenuous. It is strongly advised you obtain a guidebook and map to become familiar with this route. There will be opportunities to refill our water bottles during the day.  

Read this trip report to get a better idea of this trip.

Here is another trip report that will be helpful.  

Equipment: Backpack, 3 season backpacking sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpacking tent, personal first aid kit, water bottles or bladder, backpacking stove with fuel, cookware and utensils, food for one night and two days, headlamp, layered clothing, rain gear, water/camp shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.,

We’ll carry a water filtration pump for everyone to use to purify our water. To reduce the weight of your pack, we highly recommend you contact another participant to share tent, stove, fuel, food, etc.  

Saturday: After spotting cars we’ll start hiking from Kinsman Notch start with a very steep ascent, make our way to climb up Mt. Wolf [3,478’] with limited views and descend to tent at the Eliza Brook Shelter. This section of trail is filled with very rocky technical terrain and short ups & downs. Today’s trek involves some varied scenery, including the great view from the Dilly Cliffs, beautiful fern glades, lush forest scenery, and the peaceful shores of Gordon Pond! We’ll go off the AT on the way to Mt. Wolf a bit to visit the peaceful Gordon Pond. The shelter has a good water source nearby and a bear box to place our food into. ~7.5 miles with approximately 2,600 feet elevation gain.

Sunday: We’ll be getting an early start of 7AM to help with the drive home. The hike up towards South Kinsman is rocky but gradual at first. Then the ascent to the peak itself will be a ball buster! It will feel like rock climbing; we’ll have to pull ourselves up and over large boulders for the next several hundred feet of elevation gain. We’ll be rewarded with spectacular 360 degree views from South and North Kinsman! We’ll then start descending taking a break at Kinsman Pond and then continue down the Fishin’ Jimmy Trail to Lonesome Lake that has a nice dock for sunbathing and swimming. There are steep and slippery sections on the descent to Lonesome Lake. We’ll then follow the Cascade Brook Trail to the vehicles we spotted at the Liberty Springs Trailhead. ~9.5 miles with approximately 2,450 feet elevation gain.

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday night. Its $25 dollars that includes Coffee/bagels in the morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. We have 4 bunks available so the first 4 guys that contact us to reserve will get one. You’re on your own for dinner Friday night but you’re welcome to use our kitchen facilities to cook!  

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

We’ll first spot cars where we end then carpool to Kinsman Notch. The finishing trailhead is on US 3, at the Liberty Springs/Whitehouse Trailhead parking lot, 0.2 miles north of the Flume Visitor Center. We’ll be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.