Monday, January 1
Summits: North Kinsman, South Kinsman, Cannon
Start/Finish: Lafayette Place TH
Miles: 12.15
Elevation gain/loss: 5587′
I parked in the summer lot at Lafayette Place and headed out in Exospikes. The ground had a little snow but was mostly hardpacked snow and ice, making for quick conditions. I made it to Lonesome Lake quickly and walked across it, following many footsteps. I continued past the hut, and began the climb up towards the Kinsmans. It was quite icy but I made do with my spikes up and over both peaks; on the way back, I decided to switch into Hillsound Trail Crampons for the grip as I descended.
My water bottles were both frozen by the time I got back to the hut. I hadn’t been fueling properly and I was bonking. The temperature was in the teens and with the wind, I was remarkably cold; it was clear I needed to move into my winter layers but I’d underestimated how cold it was. I stopped at the hut to sit down for 10 minutes, eat 500 kcal of food, drink 3/4 L, and put on another layer. I appreciated being able to do that inside. Revitalized, I headed out across the lake to start climbing up Cannon via Hi-Cannon. Dodge cutoff had marginal snow, and the ice on the ascent was manageable in my bigger spikes. I made the summit in the dark and quickly headed back the way I’d come. I made it back to the car around 7pm, where I changed clothes again and then started the 3+ hour drive home.
Transcending Mountains 