Summits: Cannon Mountain (4,100')
Trail route: Kinsman Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Solid, hard-packed snow from trailhead to summit
Weather: Cold start and very cold wind at the summit with clouds clearing to sunshine
Total miles: 4.2
Total time: 3:45
This was the last weekend to get an official winter hike. I would be joining Scott, Lisa, Jill, Robin and Steve for the short but steep hike up Cannon Mountain via the Kinsman Ridge Trail from the tram parking lot. This would be summit 48 for Scott and Lisa completing their Winter 48 4,000 footers.
I pulled into the parking lot and Steve was already there. The others arrived shortly thereafter. We made the decision to leave the snowshoes in the car based on trail reports. We put on microspikes and were the first hikers to head up the trail this morning.
The trail was very hard packed and there were some icy areas along the way that we had no problem getting around. As we climbed higher up the trail the wind started to pick up. I added a windproof layer. When we arrived at the exposed section of trail the wind was blowing and I put on my goggles. The summit was in the clouds and there would be no views for us on this hike.
There was a strong wind blowing at the summit and it was very cold. We dropped our packs and I put on my down jacket. We climbed the tower and saw large ice chunks were being blown off the upper metal structure. We considered it to be rather hazardous to stay up there. A few photos and we were on our way back down. We saw a hiker going up the tower as we were going down, the only other hiker we had seen so far today.
We moved further down the trail to get out of the wind and stopped for something to eat. It was a brief stop then we continued along the Rim Trail before descending the Kinsman Ridge Trail. Back at the spur path to the outlook we stopped briefly and I delayered. It was at this time that the lone hiker caught up to us. Sarah joined us for the rest of the hike down.
As we were going down there were many hikers coming up. At one point along the trail we spotted a butt sled off to the side of the ski glade. Steve went down to retrieve it and looked around to see if there might be a body with the butt sled but did not find one. The trail was really too steep and icy for butt sledding. Sarah had never tried butt sledding so we found a relatively safe section of trail for her to give it a go. I think we found another butt sledding enthusiast!
Back down at the parking lot we had a trailgate celebration for Scott and Lisa on their awesome accomplishment of completing the Winter 48 4,000 footers.
Spring arrives this week. I expect the trails will be more challenging and difficult as warmer weather softens the snow and the monorails deteriorate.
Enjoy the photos!
The hike starts here
Scott stopping for a photo
Echo Lake through the trees
Icy ledges
Stopping for the view
Sun through a thin cloud cover
Summit tower coming into view
Trees were covered in ice near the summit
A view down below
Arriving at the Rim Trail
No view today
Summit tower
Lisa and Scott finish their Winter 48 4,000 footers on Cannon Mountain
Haze gray view from this outlook
Carefully descending on an ice-covered trail
A view across the notch
A view from the trail on descent
Tram car going out
Big burl
The parking lot is in sight through the trees
Robin and Steve at the end of the trail
Back at the trailhead
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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