South Kinsman Mountain

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.”

Trail: Lonesome Lake Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Pond Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail

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

“great hike today, great views, trails were pretty fast, spikes all day snowshoes went for the ride, could've made a case for snowshoes on the col between North and South Kinsman with minor drifting but it was negligible overall, few tricky spots ascending Fishin' Jimmy, not too much exposed ice, walk across Lonesome Lake was blustery ditto Kinsman Pond, all of this will change Tues with new snow coming in, glad to have gotten the Kinsmans for March Grid and on a stunning albeit blustery day”

Trail: Lonesome Lake Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular

“Aggressive snowshoes or crampons! Broken out all the way from Lafayette Place Campground to South Kinsman, Mt Kinsman Trail was not broken out when I passed it at 2 PM. Fishin Jimmy's quite steep in a number of places, so expect to have to buttslide, and be ready to ascend smooth steep snow.”