I had just started to acquaint myself with the basic skills of winter travel and thought an overnight trip would be a good test. The weekend before I had gone up the Finishin’ Jimmy Trail that links Lonesome Lake and the North Kinsman summit but turned around when I encountered solid low angle ice that was a bit much for micro spikes.

This seemed like ideal terrain to start working with the crampons and ice tool, so I packed for the ice travel, planing to camp at Kinsman Pond tent site then hit the peak the following morning and descend. I was a bit nervous camping high in my UL backpacking tent but winds were forecast to be low with temps in the ~ -10 F range.

Day 1, 6 hr, 5.25 mi, 2600 ft ascent

I set off from the Flume George visitor center and made good time up to Lonesome Lake. where I took a snack and water break. I could tell that the sun would likely set while I was on the final climb to the tent site, so I racked up with headlamp, crampons, and glacier tool.

Lonesome Lake

The last section was challenging but I felt well in control. Traveling the steep, icy, trail by headlamp was one of the most exhilarating things I had experienced to this point.

I finally came to the wooden platforms and set about pitching my tent. My set up for the night was a z-packs duplex with freestanding poles, inflatable+foam pads, and a 0 F bag. Stripping off boots and stuffing my wet base layer into the bag with me, I warmed up a bar in my hands and scarfed it along with some water. Sleep was not great with winds picking up through the night.

As first light came, I caught an extra hour or two of good sleep before starting to gear up and make breakfast. After some coffee and freeze dried egg scramble I packed up camp and headed for the top.

Day 2, 5.5 hr, 6.6 mi, 850 ft ascent

Roughly halfway up the summit ridge a pack-less ultra runner blew past me and suddenly I realized that I could have left the camping gear at the the tent site and packed up on the descent, leaving me a light summit pack. Live and learn!

View of Franconia Ridge from the North Kinsman Summit

Descending through mid-day resulted in sloppy snow conditions but no major problems. I reached the car a bit cold and wet but totally psyched.