North Kinsman Mountain

Trail: Lonesome Lake Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes

“Spikes or snowshoes to Lonesome Lake hut, snowshoes are necessary past the hut until this warm spell passes through. The small brook, crossing a mile past the hut, which is usually buried in snow, has melted out and is now a mix of water/yellow slush. I fell in past my waist during a "leap of faith" (I'm 5'9") and had to wade out and decided to head back down. After gathering myself, I spotted a log about ten feet uphill that should be safe to cross, but not 100% positive. On the way back down, I told two hikers about the water crossing and about the log upstream. Hopefully, they and others who might have ventured out there today made it across with no issues and had a fun and safe rest of their hike.”

Trail: Mt. Kinsman Trail

Conditions: Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Spring Snow, Slush

“Spring arrived early and the first water crossing was too sketchy for us. Two other groups were going to check it out. Not sure if they made it across.”

Trail: Basin-Cascades Trail, Cascade Brook Trail, Fishin’ Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Kinsman Pond Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular

“Smooth sailing in spikes from car to summits. Nice fast hard packed snow. Steep on Fishin Jimmy, smoothed out by sledders. So then I chose to descend Kinsmen Pond trail. In my defense, it looked really nice at the bottom when I passed the trail junction on my way up. Do not be deceived! It seems that several hikers started up the trail but changed their minds halfway up. The upper mile or so has very deep snow, roughly broken out by someone with bigger snowshoes and longer legs than me, with plenty of jungle gym trees to climb over or under. If that is your jam, you’ll love it! The track twists and turns, and goes off the actual trail here and there, but I promise, it does end up at the pond. So obviously, snowshoes on that trail.”