LONESOME LAKE: 2/15/13

A morning climb to an old favorite, with partly sunny skies and spring-like temperatures.

The switchbacks on the Lonesome Lake Trail always seem long...

The trail approaches the lake through beautiful open "salt-and-pepper" woods - a bushwhacker's dream.

Nice state park trail signs by the shore of the lake.

I love the view of the Kinsmans from the east shore.

A close-up of ledgy North Kinsman.

Looking north to Coppermine Col.

The cliffs on the south face of Cannon Mountain. The viewpoints along the Hi-Cannon Trail are on the upper tier.

I wandered all around the well-frozen pond, enjoying unique views of the wild, trailless SE spurs of South Kinsman from the NE end.

A ghostly South Kinsman.

The Northeast Cannon Ball, one of New England's Hundred Highest peaks.

Hikers crossing the lake under Mt. Liberty.

The upper Franconia Range was partly socked in.

The slides of the Dry Brook ravine.

The two slide-scarred ravines of Walker Brook.

Looking back at the Kinsmans.

Hikers make their way towards Lonesome Lake Hut and South Kinsman.

With a great snowshoe track and spring-like conditions, it was a quick half-hour back down to the trailhead.