Date: 2009-09-08
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Kinsman Pond Campsite
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today I planned 13 miles. And as I was starting and finishing at 3,750ft I could look forward to a nice flat day! What is it they say about statistics? Damned lies! It would be 1,900ft down, 1,600ft up, 1,100 down, 1,900 up and finally, the 'x' in this particular equation, 500ft down, all of which brings us back to that magical zero. Welcome to the White Mountains of New Hampshire.I wanted to enjoy the trip down to Kinsman Notch so delayed my departure slightly to allow the sun to peak over the hills, bringing light and warmth to my endeavours. I took one last look at the view of Franconia Ridge from the shelter and set off still early enough to ensure that I would have the trail all to myself until very near the bottom.The descent was, perhaps, not as good as I remembered, but that doesn't mean it wasn't very good. The trail followed the side of a steep mountain creek with numerous opportunities to stop. The difficulty was more in deciding just where and how often to pause. I stopped for breakfast, to dip my feet in the stream, to read, and just because I could. In the end taking 2 hours 15 minutes over the 1.5 mile descent. I would have liked to take longer.The up after the road proved to be short and sharp and not too taxing; levelling off much sooner than expected and then meandering nicely on its way. I met Chef and Chinese Tourist before Mt Wolf, stopping briefly at the lookout which turned out to be OK but nothing particularly note worthy.I passed a sign saying 1 mile to the shelter and although the miles around these parts are 'longer' than your average mile I can only assume the sign was wrong. I was keen to stop, to get some water and to check my progress but the trail went on and on. It started to drag, not because there was anything particularly wrong but because the sign had promised something else. But all things come to pass and so too did Eliza Brook Shelter.The best was still ahead however with the walk up to South Kinsman Mountain being the reverse of the descent down into the Notch. Again the trail paralleled a mountain stream, climbing up past pools and waterfalls, weaving left and right but ever upwards. At times it got steeper and at times there were minor little pieces of clambering and scrambling and the combination of the surroundings, the exertion and mental stimulation made for an exhilarating and thoroughly enjoyable. Onwards I went, passed a pond and then up through a narrow 'cleft' in the rock where pausing to look back the views were magnificent. I thought about stopping here to appreciate teh view but when a south bound hiker told be there were views from the top I decided to head on and eat at the top.He wasn't wrong and I found myself a nice big flat area of exposed rock to eat my tin of pineapples and to enjoy the 180 degree view south. I like 180 degree views. People do go on about 360 degree views but not being an owl I find them a bit to much of a handful. Which way to look, decisions, spoilt for choice. Here I was still spoilt for choice but it was all out in front of me. I just needed to ensure I took the opportunity to enjoy it, and so that is just what I did.