Summit: Cannon Mountain (4,100')
Trail route: Kinsman Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Hard packed, frozen, solid trail
Weather: Clear sky and sunshine with cold temps, calm wind to start and steady, frigid wind at the summit
Total miles: 4.2 RT
Total time: 2:49
I postponed my hike one day due to cold temps, high winds and frigid windchills. Today's forecast was calling for sunshine with less wind and not as frigid as yesterday but still very cold. I was looking for a short hike and something below treeline. The Kinsman Ridge Trail up Cannon Mountain met those requirements. I would be doing this hike with Jim today.
We met at the trailhead parking lot near the Cannon Mountain tramway parking area. It was just after 8:30 when we started up the trail. This is a trail that starts going up right from the beginning. We both wore the Hillsound Trail Crampon PRO. Microspikes could have been worn without a problem but I liked the extra bite in the very hard-packed trail that had ice along some sections.
As we got higher in elevation the wind started to pick up. I made a layer change before getting out into the exposed area of the trail. We followed a broke out trail and ended up on the ski trail below the Rim Trail where I'm used to coming out. We followed the ski trail up to the trail that goes to the summit observation tower. The wind was howling up there!
We reached the tower and kept on going up to the observation platform. There was a frigid wind blowing. My thermometer reading was 8°F so the windchill was well below zero. The views were spectacular but after a few photos and a video it was time to get out of the wind. We went back down to the ski trail and tried to find the Rim Trail but never did. We got back onto the herd path that got us back to the Kinsman Ridge Trail.
It was a nice descent and we met many hikers coming up. The crampons were definitely the choice of traction on the way down. The temperature actually dropped a couple of degrees before reaching the bottom of the trail when we were out of the direct sunlight. Back at the parking lot in full sunshine and no wind it almost felt warm...but it was still cold!
I was glad that Jim was able to come along on this hike. We both agreed that maybe we should have done the long hike to Owl's Head given the good trail conditions that I had seen on the trail reports and the weather was not as cold as I thought it would be. That hike will have to wait for another day. Cannon Mountain via the Kinsman Ridge Trail was the perfect short hike for a cold day.
Enjoy the photos and video!
Presidential summits just before sunrise
A look up at the mountain as we walk to the trailhead
The hike starts here
Steep climb
Climbing up
Tram car heading up
Full of skiers
Echo Lake
More steep climbing
Enjoying the cold sunshine
The summit is up ahead
Sun over Franconia Notch
Standing on the summit observation tower in a frigid wind
A view of Franconia Ridge
I-93 far below
A view of the Kinsmans
Skier debarks the chairlift
The summit observation tower in bright sunshine
Starting our descent
A short walk down the ski trail to get back onto the hiking trail
Out of the wind and enjoying the views
Mount Lafayette summit
Mount Lincoln summit
Mount Liberty summit
Ice clinging to the top of a tree
The sun had could not melt the ice from the trees with the cold temps
A view of Echo Lake on the way down
Crossing the glades
The burl beside the trail that greets all hikers
Back at the beginning after 4.2 miles in 2 hours and 49 minutes
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
No comments:
Post a Comment