I was just returning from my first trip to Colorado with an AMC group and Kinsman Ridge was my destination. Colorado had been a fantastic group over some easier peaks in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. The trails there were wide and well graded.
Next stop, Hi-Cannon. I began at Lafayette Place, it was raining lightly, humid but cool. The hiking begins on the Lonesome Lake trail which climbs really easily to it's junction with Hi-Cannon, a fairly direct route to Cannon Mountain.
I started climbing a little more steeply then allot steeper through a narrow pathway. The Balsam and Spruce were soaking wet and so was I by the time I squeezed through. I had to climb a ladder and several ledgy areas with milky views back to Franconia Parkway.
I was hoping the sun would break through but the gray murk persisted all the way to the junction with Kinsman Ridge Trail. This popular trail runs all the way from a picnic area near Tram parking (ski area) south to RT-112 at Kinsman Notch.
I usually like ridge trails and this one was nice too, it was steep in places and the rocks were wet. I didn't like the idea of coming back over this place. I reached the summit of Cannon with the tower, climbed several sets of stairs to the soaked platform on top. Not many views today, Lafayette and Lincoln were bogged down under cloud.
I headed over to the lodge near where the Tram drops off people. Got to sit and eat something hot and wring out my t-shirt. I decided to head back the way I came and across the ridge to possibly bag the Kinsmans. It poured for awhile, I got soaked again. For some reason on this day I'd forgotten my disposable poncho.
Down over slippery rocks into the col and then I climbed up Cannon Ball and then another, one of which is an official 100 highest peak. From here the path descended into some boggy areas that had split logs to help you across. They were deep mud sucking places. The trail heads due south from here to the junction with Fishin Jimmy Trail. I was feeling pretty good, a little wet and cold but OK.
I passed a few others who were as ill-prepared as I up the very wet and slippery ledges that go to North Kinsman and reached the 4293 foot high summit about in time for lunch. It was just drizzling still and no views so I decided to push for South Kinsman for some snacks.
I thought it was an incredibly easy walk from North to South Peak. The summit was broad with plenty of places to sit and relax. It was still wet but the rain had stopped. The sun struggled to break through, man this had been a rainy August!
I decided to head on, was a little cold but the legs felt good. Pretty basic stuff, one tricky spot down over some wet ledges I saw two teenagers run down. I picked my way down and then began the long steep descent of Fishin' Jimmy.
What a trail this is! Rocky, wet, steep, slippery. I managed to not fall but now my thighs were taking a pounding. It felt good to see Lonesome Lake Hut and the end of that mess. I relaxed a while in the hut, wrung out my shirt again, filled water bottles and soon was off again.
Lonesome Lake is a pretty spot, I walked around the shores then down the nice gentle inclines with switchbacks. It started raining again and was my only companion down off the mountain. Reached the car and felt one of the greatest feelings ever, pulling on dry clothes, oh yeah!
This is a long loop for most but a great one. I'd like to do it in winter someday.