January 4, 2009
All right! Today I will be taking a trail I haven't been on before. The only trouble with this trail is finding the trailhead. My map was showing a parking area which threw me off. There is very limited parking here, and there are no signs. If you are looking for a landmark, the trailhead is located south of Pinestead Lodge perhaps a tenth of a mile or so. I met Cath, Andy (Mountain Drew), Larisa, and Jeremy at the trailhead. It was my first time hiking with Jeremy. We got a couple tenths of a mile into the woods when Drew got a call from Steve (Unfrozen Caveman). He was on his way. We decided to wait.
Cath, Larisa, and Jeremy
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We were joined by Caveman and Tim Seaver. Tim helped me out a lot with pictures and backgrounds when I put the the 48x12 website and 48in1winter websites together. It was great to finally meet him.
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Passing by a frozen waterfall
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I got a good night's rest last night and had plenty of energy today. I kept those snowshoes movin'.
"Are you on steroids?" joked Jeremy.
"Larisa had all the fun being up front yesterday. Today's my turn," I replied.
We regrouped at the spur trail for Bald Peak. Hopefully we would have time to hit that on the way back.
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"Does someone else want a turn in front?" I asked.
"You're doing fine," replied Drew.
Off we went.
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We stopped again when we reached the junction with the Kinsman Ridge Trail.
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Cath and Drew at the junction
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We put on another layer before heading up to North Kinsman.
Jeremy was the first to reach the 4293' summit where
Larisa took a picture of Jeremy and me.
This was my 4th 4000 footer for this winter.
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On the move again as we headed to South Kinsman
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The day was mostly overcast, but we did get a few breaks of blue sky.
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Tim gets in position for another one of his great photos.
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Te see some of Tim's great photography visit Vermont Photo.
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Nearing the summit.
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I was in front and thought I would get there first.
Then I heard one of Larisa's yahoos as she went running by me.
Drew tags the 4358' summit.
This was my 5th 4000 footer for this winter.
Here's a group summit shot, courtesy of Tim.
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For a video clip of an enthusiastic Larisa on the summit click here.
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We headed back to North Kinsman. The cloud cover broke briefly, and I got a peak of Franconia Ridge.
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It was time to head down. We stopped at the junction with the spur trail for Bald Peak. Andy continued down the trail while the rest of us went to bag a bonus peak. It was an easy .2 miles over with just a little elevation gain at the end.
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Here's our group on the 2470' summit of Bald Peak.
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We prepared to head down.
"Are you going to stay and try to get some pictures?" Cath asked Tim.
"Yes, I need to be alone to get the perfect shot," Tim joked.
We continued down, catching Drew a couple minutes from the trailhead. Great hike everyone!
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