Elevation gain: 3830'
Trails used: Mount Kinsman Trail, Bald Peak Spur, Kinsman Ridge Trail (Appalachian Trail).
I took Tuesday and Wednesday off from work to do some hiking, preferring to hike the Kinsmans and Mount Jefferson if the weather was going to be nice. I decided to do the Kinsman hike (as Mount Jefferson had high winds forecasted through the day) and do the approach of both the north and south summits from the NH 116 side, which is how Desi and I first did this hike sans snow. It was comfortable at the Mount Kinsman Trail parking area when I headed out, and it was a tad windy.
North and South Kinsman are located in Lincoln, New Hampshire. South Kinsman is the highest peak in the Kinsman Range (a 16.9 mile ridge extending from Kinsman Notch to Cannon Mountain), followed by North Kinsman. There are several different trails that can be utilized to reach both summits and the views from each summit is pretty outstanding. The Appalachian Trail runs over the summit of both peaks on its way to and from Maine, respectively.
North Kinsman and South Kinsman are on the New Hampshire 4000 footer's list, the New England/New Hampshire 100 Highest/New Hampshire 200 Highest List and the New Hampshire 3k List.
The beginning of the Mount Kinsman Trail. The trail head parking area was plowed out and not as icy as some people had reported recently.
The snow on the Mount Kinsman Trail was almost sidewalk strong so I decided my snowshoes would go for a ride on my backpack today.
Eventually the Mount Kinsman Trail starts to head up towards the junction of the Bald Peak Spur and towards the Kinsman Ridge Trail.
The Mount Kinsman Trail was hard packed so it was easy to bareboot my way up.
I took the short Bald Peak Spur Trail where there are nice views for a little effort. Views towards Mount Moosilaukee, Mount Clough, Mount Jeffers and Black Mountain from the ledges on Bald Peak.
Views of nearby North Kinsman Mountain from the ledges on Bald Peak.
Views towards Cole Hill and Cooley Hills and hazy/cloudy views into Vermont from the ledges on Bald Peak.
Back at the junction for Bald Peak and the Mount Kinsman Trail, I would begin my ascent up to Kinsman Ridge to hit North Kinsman first.
Of course, as I started climbing higher on the Mount Kinsman Trail, the more the snow made its presence known. There was still a good path up to the junction.
Almost to the junction of the Kinsman Ridge Trail, and hopefully, some nice views.
Looking up to the North Kinsman peak area from right around the junction of the Mount Kinsman Trail and the Kinsman Ridge Trail.
As you start to climb, and just below the summit of North Kinsman, you can get views into western New Hampshire and Vermont.
The view of Franconia Ridge from North Kinsman (elevation 4293'), with Cannon Mountain to the left.
Cannon Mountain and the Cannonballs. You can see Mount Cabot in the distance.
Mount Liberty and Mount Flume, the Loon Mountain Ski Area, the Triyramids and Mount Tecumseh are just a few of the peaks you can see from North Kinsman.
On the way over to South Kinsman via the Kinsman Ridge Trail. The wind started picking up to this point and the clouds moved in.
The long northern ridge of South Kinsman, and views towards Mount Moosilaukee and Mount Clough on the way to South Kinsman.
Looking over to to other summit of South Kinsman from summit area number one, where it is debated on which is higher.
The often recognized summit of South Kinsman (elevation 4358'). A second spot on the other summit bump for South Kinsman is another candidate for the highest point.
Mount Moosilaukee and Mount Clough from the summit of South Kinsman.
Franconia Ridge peaking up over the 2nd summit of South Kinsman.
Looking south from the summit of South Kinsman towards Mount Moosilaukee and the southern end of the Kinsman Ridge.
Mount Liberty and Mount Flume from the summit of South Kinsman.
On the way back to North Kinsman so I can head back to the car. I could see pretty far into Vermont and Northern New Hampshire from up here. Kinsman Pond is visible below North Kinsman and there is someone ice fishing there.
Last shot of the day of Franconia Ridge on my way back to North Kinsman.
Looking north towards Mount Cabot and the Pliny Range from the summit of North Kinsman.
An old sugarhouse that you pass on the way up (and down, if you do this as an out and back).
I passed one other person today so it was nice to have the trails pretty much to myself. The weather wasn't bad and even with the wind, it felt nice. No snow falling so overall it was a really good hike. Doing both peaks, in my opinion, is easier this way.
Two more winter peaks are done and only two more left for my Winter 4k's (Owls Head and Mount Jefferson), which I will finish next year obviously.
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