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Ascent of Cannon Mountain on 2007-12-30

Climber: M (whichway) Lardiere

Others in Party:

solo

Date:

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Ascent Type:

Successful Summit Attained

Peak:

Cannon Mountain

Location:

USA-New Hampshire

Elevation:

4080 ft / 1243 m

Ascent Trip Report

Had breakfast at Peg's before heading to the very crowded Lafayette Campground parking lot. Started out on the Lonesome Lake tr which was well-traveled but not crowded. Some parts were moderately steep but not daunting. I had initially debated heading west on the Kinsman Ridge tr toward the NE Cannonball as a 2nd peak but at the trail jct found that the route toward the Cannonballs was unbroken and looked very steep for a hiker without poles. Unfortunate, as the map seemed to indicate that my goal was less than a half mile away.
I found the K. R. tr east to Cannon to be much more troublesome than the Lonesome Lake tr; pulling myself up by digging into the snow with my gloves was a common theme and a thorough exercise in humility. The Hi-Cannon tr was an option for descent, but a review of the WMG and a trio of bare-booters who came up that way convinced me otherwise.
I reached the summit lookout tower after averaging *1 mph* for the ascent. My bruised ego was renewed somewhat by comments from folks at the tower/summit ski lodge who had taken the lift or tramway up. I stayed at the lodge for a full hour (hot cocoa, pretzel) fully warming up before heading out again.
The constant foot traffic had turned the Kinsman Ridge tr into a virtual luge, making my butt-sliding (the only option) descent a bit more guided and sparing me from flying over a drop on a few occasions. Fun, despite the quantity of snow shoved up the back of my shirt.
I took a detour to the Lonesome Lake hut but found it to be crowded and somewhat cold, so I signed in on the register and headed back to the car.

Summary Total Data

Elevation Gain:

2310 ft / 704 m

Elevation Loss:

2310 ft / 704 m

Distance:

6.8 mi / 10.9 km

Route Conditions:

Maintained Trail, Snow on Ground, Snow Climb

Gear Used:

Snowshoes

Weather:

Pleasant, Calm, Partly Cloudy

Ascent Statistics

Elevation Gain:

2310 ft / 704 m

Distance:

3.1 mi / 5 km

Route:

Lonesome lake tr to Kinsman Ridge tr

Trailhead:

Lafayette Place Campground 1770 ft / 539 m

Time Up:

2 Hours 30 Minutes

Descent Statistics

Elevation Loss:

2310 ft / 704 m

Distance:

3.7 mi / 5.9 km

Route:

Kinsman Ridge tr to Lonesome Lake tr to Around Lon

Trailhead:

Lafayette Place Campground 1770 ft / 539 m

Time Down:

1 Hours 35 Minutes

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