Member Trip report

North Kinsman

01/20/2018

Trip Report/Photos from Robert.L

Featured Photo

I know I’m going to be in the minority when I say there simply aren’t enough beautiful WINTER days to hike!  Between work and weekends, we have to steal the best of the days when they are before us and Saturday did not disappoint.  I opted not to post this hike – preferring to spend a little solo time on the trail.  I’m building that confidence bit by bit but also being cautious about where and when.  The real test will be this summer when I venture out solo when the bears are active – ok Stephen, stop laughing, but I digress. 

I enjoy the paths that are less traveled than others.  I like people, but the traditional route up the Kinsman’s, my gut told me, would be busy.  I did my home work and settled on the up route via the Cascade Brooke Trail linking with the Kinsman Pond Trail then on to the summits from the junction with Fishin’ Jimmy Trail – as I learned – a rather ambitious day.

Despite all the best planning sometimes we are off our game just a bit – this Saturday, despite my enthusiasm, I was off.  My energy was lacking and I got a late start at the trail head – I started at 9:45am which was too late for a January winter day.  I was signed up for North and South Kinsman in early January and that hike became Mt. Tecumseh due to weather – it was an AWESOME hike – but this day I saw the Kinsman’s in my field of vision despite my late start.

I parked at the Basin and headed south .8 miles to connect with the Cascade Brook Trail.  The map seems to indicate there are two branches to this trail – one begins at the Basin by walking under the highway tunnel and the other begins .8 miles south near the Liberty Springs Trail head.  I opted for the latter because many of you know I enjoy loop and traverse hiking.  According to the map this particular trail head is part of the AT – all the better.

This section of the trail was previously hiked and with the recent light snowfall was freshly covered.  I can’t say I was “breaking trail” all that much – there wasn’t enough to worry about.  It was clearly marked, well delineated and just a beautiful walk.  Evidence of wildlife from deer to fox was evident in the snow tracks.  I soon arrived at the junction for the other section of trail that leads up from the Basin parking lot.  Here is where the real work began. 

I was preceded by two young hikers who were bare booting – not even sporting micro spikes.  For two hikers I’ll say they really tore up the trail.  I am a convert – unless total snow fall is less than 6” for the season – it is a snow shoe hike.  I progressed up the trail witnessing their various post holing activity and in some spots, simply tearing up the snow which had to be compacted by my snow shoeing.  I have no doubt they worked hard and because the trail was no longer compacted, I was working equally as hard.  This trail is not heavily hiked and recent rains and warm weather melted an under layer of snow.  While snow shoes can support one on the trail in such conditions – a bare boot quickly smashes through to the forest floor.  The higher we went, the deeper the post hole.  Because of today’s warmth, the snow was soft.  Making a greater challenge were the water crossings.  Unbeknownst to me a bridge has been washed out (couldn’t tell you where as there were two fairly lengthy crossings) and ice bridges could not be trusted at any point on this journey.  Yep – I picked a good day and a good hike for a real challenge.

Overall I loved the trail – it is serene and moderate – it picks up the ascent a few miles in but it is all quite manageable.  You truly experience some wilderness alone time.  I was losing energy as the morning bore on.  Friday evening was short and those who know me understand I need my 8 hours sleep which I did not get.  I quickly got a second wind when I arrived upon the Kinsman Pond Shelter – SO BEAUTIFUL.  I bet this pond would make great summer skinny dipping, lol.  By the time I reached the junction with the Fishin’ Jimmy Trail I had hiked 5.1 miles and ascended +(-) 2,300’ inside roughly 3 hours – that was a hearty pace and I felt it. 

I started ascending the .4 miles to North Kinsman and soon realized it was time to suit up.  The winds were picking up and the temperature had dropped.  Clouds had moved in to filter the stunning blue sky I had been hiking under most of the morning.  While gearing up – wouldn’t you know – Mike (Gandalph) came tumbling my direction having reached North and South Kinsman (ok, it wasn’t a tumble, he was on two feet!!).  We had a good chuckle – how could we sit home on such a beautiful day when the Kinsman’s were simply saying – Hike me please!!!!  We chatted briefly but didn’t linger, time was ticking and daylight remains short in January.  I reached North Kinsman and decided here I would have lunch.  The summit was strangely protected from the winds so I took a solid 20 minutes and sat, drank hot tea and took in the day.  Lunch was sweet – leftover meatloaf on a toasted focaccia bread with sun dried tomato basil spread, yum!!

As I was prepping to carry on to South Kinsman the time was now 1:45pm.  I shared the summit with the two young gents who preceded me earlier in the day as well as a group of 3 young men – all had left for South Kinsman before me and no one had come since.  Hmmmmmmm, I was tired and feeling the effects of a hard ascent.  Scooting over to South Kinsman would have added no less than 45 minutes and 1.8 miles to an already long day.  I listened to my better side and decided that North Kinsman would stand as a respectable achievement on this day.  It is always good when hiking solo to not be the last one off the mountain, so I began the descent.

I carried down the short .4 miles to pick up the Fishin’ Jimmy Trail.  Two miles later I was at Lonesome Lake Hut where I picked up the Cascade Brook Trail.  Another .8 miles later and I was back where I picked up the Kinsman Ridge Trail.  This time I carried down the trail that would take me straight to the Basin parking lot – that was another 1.5 miles.  It was beautiful with many frozen waterfalls and just stunning scenery.  My photos do not do any justice to the gift I was given – this will have to be a future winter hike for sure – the ice, running water and frozen falls were breathtaking.

Overall my day was 10.2 miles having started at 9:45am and finishing right at 4:30pm.  Dusk was settling in and while I enjoy the occasional night hike, on this day I was glad to be down.  I charted unfamiliar trails so I’ll save the night hike experience for a different day.  Aside from the crowd I encountered descending off the Kinsman’s, I encountered only 4 people on my route the entire day and this was on the Cascade Brooks Trail when they were headed to the hut as I was ending my day.

Today, Sunday, was sleeping in, meeting a friend for breakfast and domestic chores.  I made a cream of broccoli soup (with homemade chicken stock!!), did laundry and now dinner is baking – a lemon and pepper salmon over butter toasted Dakota bread with a melted cheese blend and fresh arugula – yum. 

Cheers gents – see you on the trails!! 

Gandalf Posted Jan 21, 2018 at 11:38 PM

I must have encountered 50+ hikers on this gorgeous winter day. I was rolling along when I saw you...actually surprised...I had yet to meet anyone I knew all day. My left ankle was screaming at the end of the hike but I did it. Good call about turning around...when hiking alone, I want to make sure there is someone behind me in case I run into a problem!

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