3/18/07
North Kinsman 4293’

8.4 Miles 2900’ Elevation gain

Kevin, Judy and Emma

Jude, Emma and I hoped to get in 2 more 4000 footers this winter but came up one shy. We started on the Lonesome Lake Trail from Lafayette Place. Friday nights snow was packed, but there was 3-4 inches of new dry, light, powdery snow to break trail through, not difficult. Half way up this trail we met a group of 46 teenagers and their hosts coming down from the Lonesome Lake Hut, so no more breaking trail. Above the hut we took the Fishin' Jimmy Trail, again Friday's packed snow was covered with 3-4 inches of light powder. Breaking this trail was no sweat. A mile along we met someone coming from Kinsman Pond Shelter, so no more breaking trail. At Kinsman Junction we again broke trail along the Kinsman Ridge Trail. Snow showers throughout the day now became steady and as we approached the summit conditions were deteriorating and 20 degrees became 10 degrees and windy. After a quick sandwich on the summit we decided to turn back, South Kinsman will still be there next winter. We watched an incredible sunrise while I was filling up the tank before making the drive north. It was complete with an astounding sun pillar, one of the best I have seen. We arrived to gusty winds and blowing snow in Franconia Notch, and it seemed like we may have near white out conditions on the trail as we left the parking lot, but this proved to be false as we entered the protection of the trees soon after starting. The woods were beautiful, with the trees covered in a frosty powder. As we arrived at Lonesome Lake it was snowing lightly, and we had the wind to deal with again as we crossed the frozen lake. We soon regained the protection of the trees as we climbed back into the woods, passing the AMC's Lonesome Lake Shelter. From here we took the Fishin' Jimmy Trail to Kinsman Junction, rising 1200 feet over the next two miles. The scenery along this trail was as beautiful as any winter scenery we have encountered in our winter travels in these mountains. From Kinsman Junction we made the last push to the summit, rising 550 feet over the next 6/10ths of a mile along the Kinsman Ridge Trail. Parts of this trail were exposed to the northwest, from which the wind and blowing snow were gusting. At this elevation the wind chill was now well below zero and we were all quite cold. While eating on the summit we decided to forego the trip across to South Kinsman and back, as we were tired and cold and conditions seemed to be worsening. Having recovered from the cold on the trip back down to Lonesome Lake, we stopped at the hut and ate again before forging across the lake and descending back down to the parking lot. In the parking lot we rescued a young couple who had apparently left their keys at the hut. They had another car and a second set of keys at the Highland Center in Crawford Notch so we took them there, and then made the trip home. Although we did not reach our goal of both Kinsman peaks, we had a great hike and were not dissapointed, deciding it was better to err on the side of caution then to push ourselves to the limit in poor weather conditions. We never did see the fantastic views of Franconia Ridge which can be seen on this trip, but any time spent in the woods and mountains is time well spent, and there was nothing to be dissapointed about.