Winter Series Hike #2 - Mt. Kearsarge North

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT

TRIP DATE:  01/3/2015

TRIP LOCATION:  Mt. Kearsarge North, Intervale, NH                

MEETING TIME:          8:45 am                   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):             19                              

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       app. 5 hours

LENGTH IN MILES:      app. 6.2 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    2,574 feet

DIFFICULTY:      B                          (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):       Leslie Carson and Paul Miller

CO-LEADER NAME(S):   Barry Young and Paul Brookes

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:  Limited parking for perhaps 8 cars at trailhead on Hurricane Mountain Rd.

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:       No                   TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:  N/A

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?    No    

DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:  Hiked in and out on the Mt. Kearsarge Trail.  Trail alternated between bare dirt/rock to hard-packed snow and icy sections requiring microspikes, but not snowshoes or full crampons.  Better snowcover toward the summit.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Partly cloudy, temps in the mid 20s, light wind down below building to gustier conditions toward the summit

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.):  Nice view despite the clouds.  Ate our lunch in the fully enclosed fire tower at the summit, which enabled us to enjoy the 360-degree views without being exposed to the elements.  Everyone did fine, although several hikers overheated a bit while hiking due to inadequate layering adjustments.